Immunoreactive Corticotrophin Levels in Adrenocortical Insufficiency

Plasma concentrations of immunoreactive corticotrophin (ACTH) have been determined in 14 patients with untreated Addison''s disease and in 42 patients with secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. Basal morning plasma ACTH levels were markedly raised in those with Addison''s disease but were either in the normal range or undetectable in the group with secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. In the group with Addison''s disease circulating ACTH values showed a definite nyctohemeral rhythm, a pronounced rise in response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, and an immediate fall following the intravenous injection of corticosteroids, with a half-life of between 13·5 and 44·2 minutes. When assays were performed with antisera directed against the portion of the ACTH molecule responsible for corticosteroidogenesis (the N-terminal portion) the apparent ACTH concentrations were lower than with antisera directed against the non-steroidogenic (C-terminal) portion of the molecule. This emphasizes that different antisera may give different apparent hormone concentrations, and that the ranges of values obtained in normal and abnormal states must be established for each antiserum.     

Increased Levels of Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) in Plasma of Metabolic Syndrome Patients

Recent developments in lipid mass spectrometry enable extensive lipid class and species analysis in metabolic disorders such as diabesity and metabolic syndrome. The minor plasma lipid class sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) was identified as a ligand for lipid sensitive G-protein coupled receptors playing a key role in cell growth, differentiation, motility, calcium signaling, tissue remodeling, vascular diseases and cancer. However, information about its role in diabesity patients is sparse. In this study, we analyzed plasma lipid species in patients at risk for diabesity and the metabolic syndrome and compared them with healthy controls. Our data show that SPC is significantly increased in plasma samples from metabolic syndrome patients but not in plasma from patients at risk for diabesity. Detailed SPC species analysis showed that the observed increase is due to a significant increase in all detected SPC subspecies. Moreover, a strong positive correlation is observed between total SPC and individual SPC species with both body mass index and the acute phase low grade inflammation marker soluble CD163 (sCD163). Collectively, our study provides new information on SPC plasma levels in metabolic syndrome and suggests new avenues for investigation.     

Plasma and Urinary 11-Hydroxycorticosteroids in Differential Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome

Morning plasma 11-hydroxycorticoids, urinary 11-hydroxycorticoids, and urinary 17-oxogenic steroids were measured before and during a dexamethasone suppression test. This consisted in the administration by mouth of 2 mg of dexamethasone daily for 48 hours, followed by 8 mg daily for 48 hours. In addition midnight plasma 11-hydroxycorticoids were measured before the start of the test. The subjects investigated were 21 patients with Cushing''s syndrome, 27 obese female patients, 10 female patients with the Stein-Leventhal syndrome, and 8 female patients with idiopathic hirsutism.The results showed that the clearest distinction between the groups was made by measurement of the basal urinary 11-hydroxycorticoid excretion, where, in the group of patients with Cushing''s syndrome, all the levels were well above the upper limit of normal. In addition raised midnight plasma 11-hydroxycorticoid levels were of great diagnostic value. By using these results together with those of the dexamethasone suppression tests it was possible to make a firm preoperative diagnosis of pituitary-dependent Cushing''s syndrome in 90% of patients in this series.     

Elevated Soluble CD163 Plasma Levels Are Associated with Disease Severity in Patients with Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome

Background

Hantaan virus is a major zoonotic pathogen that causesing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Although HFRS pathogenesis has not been entirely elucidated, the importance of host-related immune responses in HFRS pathogenesis has been widely recognized. CD163, a monocyte and macrophage-specific scavenger receptor that plays a vital function in the hosts can reduce inflammation, is shed during activation as soluble CD163 (sCD163). The aim of this study was to investigate the pathological significance of sCD163 in patients with HFRS.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 81 hospitalized patients in Tangdu Hospital from October 2011 to January 2014 and from 15 healthy controls. The sCD163 plasma levels were measured using a sandwich ELISA, and the relationship between sCD163 and disease severity was analyzed. Furthermore, CD163 expression in 3 monocytes subset was analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results

The results demonstrated that sCD163 plasma levels during the HFRS acute phase were significantly higher in patients than during the convalescent stage and the levels in the healthy controls (P<0.0001). The sCD163 plasma levels in the severe/critical group were higher than those in the mild/moderate group during the acute (P<0.0001). A Spearman correlation analysis indicated that the sCD163 levels were positively correlated with white blood cell, serum creatine, blood urea nitrogen levels, while they were negatively correlated with blood platelet levels in the HFRS patients. The monocyte subsets were significantly altered during the acute stage. Though the CD163 expression levels within the monocyte subsets were increased during the acute stage, the highest CD163 expression level was observed in the CD14++CD16+ monocytes when compared with the other monocyte subsets.

Conclusion

sCD163 may be correlated with disease severity and the disease progression in HFRS patients; however, the underlying mechanisms should be explored further.     

Elevated Levels of Procoagulant Plasma Microvesicles in Dialysis Patients

Cardiovascular (CV) death remains the largest cause of mortality in dialysis patients, unexplained by traditional risk factors. Endothelial microvesicles (EMVs) are elevated in patients with traditional CV risk factors and acute coronary syndromes while platelet MVs (PMVs) are associated with atherosclerotic disease states. This study compared relative concentrations of circulating MVs from endothelial cells and platelets in two groups of dialysis patients and matched controls and investigated their relative thromboembolic risk. MVs were isolated from the blood of 20 haemodialysis (HD), 17 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and 20 matched controls. Relative concentrations of EMVs (CD144^{+ ve}) and PMVs (CD42b^{+ ve}) were measured by Western blotting and total MV concentrations were measured using nanoparticle-tracking analysis. The ability to support thrombin generation was measured by reconstituting the MVs in normal plasma, using the Continuous Automated Thrombogram assay triggered with 1µM tissue factor. The total concentration of MVs as well as the measured sub-types was higher in both patient groups compared to controls (p<0.05). MVs from HD and PD patients were able to generate more thrombin than the controls, with higher peak thrombin, and endogenous thrombin potential levels (p<0.02). However there were no differences in either the relative quantity or activity of MVs between the two patient groups (p>0.3). Dialysis patients have higher levels of circulating procoagulant MVs than healthy controls. This may represent a novel and potentially modifiable mediator or predictor of occlusive cardiovascular events in these patients.     

Inverse Association of Plasma IgG Antibody to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and High C-Reactive Protein Levels in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Periodontitis

The association between clinically diagnosed periodontitis, a common chronic oral infection, and metabolic syndrome has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of plasma IgG levels against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia, C-reactive protein, and periodontal status with metabolic syndrome. Plasma IgG levels and C-reactive protein were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and salivary levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Among 127 individuals aged 35–76 years, 57 participants had metabolic syndrome and severe periodontitis, 25 had metabolic syndrome and an absence of severe periodontitis, 17 healthy individuals had severe periodontitis, and 28 healthy individuals were without severe periodontitis. Patients with metabolic syndrome had reduced humoral immune response to A. actinomycetemcomitans (p = 0.008), regardless of their salivary levels or periodontitis status compared with healthy participants. The IgG antibody response to P. gingivalis, regardless of their salivary levels or participants’ health condition, was significantly higher in severe periodontitis patients (p<0.001). Plasma IgG titers for P. intermedia were inconsistent among metabolic syndrome or periodontal participants. Our results indicate that the presence of lower levels of IgG antibodies to A. actinomycetemcomitans (OR = 0.1; 95%CI 0.0–0.7), but not P. gingivalis, a severe periodontitis status (OR = 7.8; 95%CI 1.1–57.0), high C-reactive protein levels (OR = 9.4; 95%CI 1.0–88.2) and body mass index (OR = 3.0; 95%CI 1.7–5.2), are associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome. The role of the decreased IgG antibody response to A. actinomycetemcomitans, increased C-reactive protein levels on the association between periodontal disease and metabolic syndrome in a group of Thai patients is suggested.     

Zinc and Homocysteine Levels in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Patients with Insulin Resistance

In this study, our objective was to evaluating the value of serum zinc levels as an etiologic and prognostic marker in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. We conducted a prospective study, including 53 women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and 33 healthy controls. We compared serum zinc levels, as well as clinical and metabolic features, of the cases. We also compared serum zinc levels between patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome with insulin resistance. Mean zinc levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome than healthy controls. Multiple logistic regression analysis of significant metabolic variables between polycystic ovarian syndrome and control groups (serum zinc level, body mass index, the ratio of triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and homocysteine) revealed that zinc level was the most significant variable to predict polycystic ovarian syndrome. Mean serum zinc levels tended to be lower in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome with impaired glucose tolerance than patients with normal glucose tolerance, but the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, zinc deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome and may be related with its long-term metabolic complications.     

Prader-Willi Syndrome: Relationship of Adiposity to Plasma Leptin Levels

Objective : Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is an autosomal dominant disorder involving the proximal long arm of chromosome 15, in which obesity is common. However, there is limited information on the underlying physiological mechanisms promoting obesity in this population. We tested whether there was a significant positive association between leptin and total body fat (TBF) in subjects with PWS, and whether this association was stronger among subjects with than without PWS. Research Methods and Procedures : We studied 21 PWS patients and 64 non-PWS controls on whom we measured serum leptin, total body fat, glucose, insulin, and resting energy expenditure. We tested whether the slope of the regression line between leptin and TBF (in kg), measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, was the same for PWS patients and aon-PWS controls. Results : Regression analyses indicated that the leptin-TBF association was significantly stronger among PWS patients. In contrast, the slope of the leptin-body mass index association did not significantly differ between PWS patients and non-PWS controls. None of the other outcome variables showed associations with leptin. Discussion : Results suggest that the role of leptin in promoting obesity may be greater among subjects with PWS than among non-PWS controls.     

4-Hydroxy-2-Nonenal Levels Increase in the Plasma of Patients with Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome as Linoleic Acid Appears to Fall

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been applied to the analysis of plasma linoleic acid and one of its oxidation products, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), in adult patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Peak areas of total ion chromatograms showed there to be negative correlations between loss of linoleic acid and formation of HNE (measured by selective ion monitoring) in 7 out 10 patients studied. When HNE was quantitated by selective ion monitoring, with reference to a pure standard of HNE and an internal standard of nonanoic acid, ARDS patients showed significantly increased levels of HNE (0.412 ± 0.023 nmol/ml) compared with normal healthy controls (0.205 ± 0.018 nmol/ml).     

IMSAOPP患者血浆和肽素水平变化的临床研究

目的探讨急性有机磷农药中毒中间综合征(IMSAOPP)患者血浆和肽素水平变化及临床意义。方法根据IMSAOPP患者预后情况分为死亡组31例和存活组50例,并选择35例健康体检者作为对照组,检测各组血浆和肽素水平,记录各组APACHEⅡ评分分值,并与血浆和肽素水平作相关分析。结果存活组和对照组血浆和肽素水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);死亡组血浆和肽素水平明显高于存活组和对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。而且IMSAOPP患者血浆和肽素水平与APACHEⅡ评分呈正相关。结论血浆和肽素水平与IMSAOPP病情相关,可作为评估预后的重要指标。IMSAOPP患者血清合肽素水平越高,提示病情越重;和肽素水平20ng/ml,死亡危险性较大。     

急性冠脉综合征患者r-GGT、Hs-CRP水平变化研究

目的：比较急性冠脉综合征患者与健康人血清中γ- 谷氨酰转移酶（γ-GGT）、高敏C- 反应蛋白（Hs-CRP）浓度,探究其水平 变化与急性冠脉综合征的相关性。方法：选取我院心血管科收治的急性冠脉综合征患者60 例。根据病情的不同,分为不稳定型心 绞痛组30 例和急性心肌梗死组30 例,选取同期进行健康体检的健康人30 例,作为对照组。对三组患者血清中γ-GGT 与 Hs-CRP 水平进行比较。结果：①三组患者血清γ-GGT、Hs-CRP 水平比较：患者血清γ-GGT 水平比较,不稳定型心绞痛组及急性心 肌梗死组显著高于对照组,且急性心肌梗死组显著高于不稳定型心绞痛组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;患者血清Hs-CRP 水平 比较,不稳定型心绞痛组及急性心肌梗死组显著高于对照组,且急性心肌梗死组显著高于不稳定型心绞痛组,差异有统计学意义 （P＜0.05）;②单支、双支、三支病变组与冠脉64 排螺旋CT 检查阴性组酌-GGT、Hs-CRP水平比较：单支、双支、三支病变组血清中 γ-GGT、Hs-CRP水平明显高于冠脉64 排螺旋CT 检查阴性对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;血清中 γ-GGT、Hs-CRP浓度在 单支、双支、三支病变组中与病变支数成正向相关。结论：急性冠脉综合征患者血清γ-GGT、Hs-CRP水平显著高于正常值,临床上 可根据两者水平变化,进行早期诊断,同时由于血清γ-GGT、Hs-CRP变化较为敏感,可根据观测两者水平,判断冠状动脉病变的 严重程度,对急性冠脉综合征患者的早期诊断、病情预测有着重要意义,值得临床广泛应用。     

心脏瓣膜病患者围手术期血浆BNP水平的表达及与心功能的关系

目的:通过探讨心脏瓣膜病患者围手术期血浆脑钠肽(BNP)水平的表达与心功能的关系,为相关治疗提供参考。方法:选择2014年10月~2015年10月本院收治的心脏瓣膜病患者共50例,分别于术前1 d、术后6 h、24 h、48 h和术后7 d测量患者血浆BNP水平,并观测患者左心射血分数(LVEF)、心功能分级、术后呼吸机辅助时间以及住院期间并发症发生情况。结果:术前不同心功能分级患者血浆BNP水平的总体差异有统计学意义(F=45.767,P0.05),心功能分级越高,血浆BNP水平越高;心脏功能IV级患者血浆BNP水平高于Ⅲ级,Ⅲ级患者血浆BNP水平高于II级(P0.05)。术后LVEF50%和LVEF≥50%患者,术前1 d血浆BNP水平分别为(724.21±132.16)pg/m L和(428.64±149.31)pg/m L,差异有统计学意义(t=6.628,P0.001)。不同时间点患者血浆BNP水平的总体差异有统计学意义(F=29.003,P0.001)。与术前比较,术后24 h、术后48 h和术后7 d时血浆BNP水平均显著升高(P0.05);术后48h时BNP浓度最高,随后开始下降。术后呼吸机辅助使用时间24 h和≥24 h的患者,术前1 d血浆BNP水平的差异有统计学意义(t=2.378,P=0.021)。结论:心脏瓣膜病患者围手术期血浆BNP水平的变化能够准确的反映患者心功能情况,对患者术前病情评估和术后临床处理具有一定的指导意义。`     

Plasma Free Metanephrine and Normetanephrine Levels are Increased in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

ObjectivePatients with impaired renal function, particularly those on dialysis, frequently exhibit high blood pressure and hemodynamic instability, which often lead to pheochromocytoma assessment. Our objective was to assess plasma free metanephrine (MN) and normetanephrine (NMN) in chronic kidney disease patients (CKD) with or without dialysis.MethodsIn this prospective observational study we performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to evaluate plasma free MN and NMN in 48 CKD patients (15 with stage 3-5 CKD without dialysis, 26 on hemodialysis [HD], and 7 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis [CAPD]), 30 patients with histologically proven pheochromocytoma, and 43 hypertensive patients. Adrenal masses were ruled out by abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans in all CKD and control hypertensive patients.ResultsAll 3 CKD groups (HD, CAPD, and CKD without dialysis) had significantly higher plasma free MN and NMN levels than the control hypertensive group (P < .0055). HD and CAPD patients had significantly lower plasma free NMN (P < .0055), but free MN levels were not significantly different than those observed in pheochromocytoma patients. In patients with HD, CAPD, and CKD without dialysis, plasma free MN and NMN were higher than manufacturer’s upper limits of normal in 57.7% and 28.5%, 13.3% and 61.5%, and 85.7% and 26.6%, respectively. Regression models showed that the number of dialysis years was significantly correlated with plasma free MN (r = 0.615, P < .001) but not free NMN.ConclusionPlasma free MN and NMN levels are frequently elevated in CKD patients, particularly in those on dialysis. Plasma free MN levels significantly overlap with the range in pheochromocytoma patients and correlate with the number of years on dialysis. (Endocr Pract. 2014;20:139-144)