Could non-HDL-cholesterol be a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background/objectiveObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with dyslipidemia, a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is accepted as a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is a better marker of atherogenic dyslipidemia and recommended as a target of lipid lowering therapy. We aimed to assess the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia, and relationship between OSA severity and serum LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels in OSA patients.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated treatment naïve 2361 subjects admitted to the sleep laboratory of a university hospital for polysomnography. All subjects’ lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-HDL-cholesterol were measured.ResultsOut of 2361 patients (mean age 49.6 ± 11.9 years; 68.9% male, apnea-hypopnea index 36.6 ± 28.4/h), 185 (7.8%) had no OSA and 2176 (92.2%) had OSA. Atherogenic dyslipidemia prevalence was high (57–66%) in OSA patients, and especially increased in severe OSA compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Though total and LDL-cholesterol did not differ between those with and without OSA, non-HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.020), and triglycerides (p = 0.001) were higher and HDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.018) were lower in OSA patients than non-OSA. Non-HDL-cholesterol was significantly correlated with OSA severity (p < 0.001) and hypoxia parameters (p < 0.01), whereas LDL-cholesterol showed no correlation.ConclusionsAtherogenic dyslipidemia is highly prevalent and non-HDL-cholesterol levels are significantly increased, predominantly in severe OSA patients. Non-HDL-cholesterol but not LDL-cholesterol, is significantly correlated with OSA severity and hypoxia parameters. Therefore, it could be better to use non-HDL-cholesterol, which is a guideline recommended target of lipid therapy, as a marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in OSA patients.     

增产菊胺酯对雄性小鼠生殖激素的影响

为了探讨增产菊胺酯引起小鼠精了生成障碍的可能机理，本文研究了增产菊胺酯对雄性小鼠卵泡刺激素（ＦＳＨ）、黄体生成素（ＬＨ）及睾酮（Ｔ）的影响。小鼠经口染毒，隔天一次，连续１０次，第３５天处死。检验因清ＦＳＨ、ＬＨ没有明显变化，而睾丸组织睾酮含量出现剂理依赖性降低，高剂量组与对照组比较有显著性差异（Ｐ〈０．０５），结果表明，增产菊胺酯不影响ＦＳＨ、ＬＨ，而影响Ｔ的合成和分泌。这可能是增产菊胺酯对小鼠精     

血清保存方法对促甲状腺激素结果的影响观察

目的 :观察血清保存方法对促甲状腺激素 (TSH)结果的影响。方法 :将甲状腺功能正常、异常患者共 10份血清 ,采用不同血清量、不同条件分组保存后测定 TSH。结果 :保存方法对 TSH结果有一定的影响。结论 :用于 TSH血清的保存量要多、要密封管口、低温保存。     

Physiological neutrophilia of pregnancy is not associated with a rise in plasma granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)

A patient with neutropenia and life-threatening infections secondary to T-γ lymphoproliferative disease, who did not respond to treatment with recombinant human G-CSF (filgrastim), was treated with filgrastim plus cyclosporine A (CyA). The patient achieved a good response in the absolute neutrophil count and subsequently required a dose reduction in the filgrastim. The patient was eventually discontinued from the CyA but continues on filgrastim alone. While on therapy, the large granular lymphocytes disappeared from the circulation and the beta-TCR rearrangement, which was present prior to beginning therapy, became undetectable. The patient had no significant toxicity to the CyA or the filgrastim and he has not experienced any serious infections or required hospitalization. Filgrastim has proven to be relatively nontoxic and of some benefit to patients with this disease and should probably be utilized first when treatment is necessary. However, if improvement is not observed, these findings suggest that a trial of the combination of CyA plus filgrastim may be beneficial.     

Dyskeratosis congenita: Unusual onset with isolated neutropenia at an early age

A 3.5 year old male patient with dyskeratosis congenita (DC) presented at the age of 13 months with isolated neutropenia preceding characteristic skin findings. The average absolute neutrophil count of 500/mm³ persisted without the presence of anemia or thrombocytopenia during the follow up. Neutropenia responded to granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) at a dose of 10 μg/kg per day. Immunologic findings were normal as was the chromosomal stability and sister chromatid exchange.     

东部马脑炎病毒E2基因与GM-CSF共表达质粒的构建及其免疫原性初步研究

目的:利用粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)作为基因佐剂,提高东部马脑炎病毒E2基因重组质粒的免疫效果.方法:分别扩增E2基因与GM-CSF基因,连接进入含有内部核糖体插入位点(IRES)的真核表达载体中,构建共表达质粒.Lipofectamine2000介导转染真核细胞BHK-21,反转录PCR检测E2和GM-CSF两个基因的转录,Western印迹法和间接免疫荧光法(IFA)检测细胞内E2基因表达产物的抗原性.通过肌肉注射免疫BALB/c小鼠,IFA法测定血清抗体效价,FACS测定免疫小鼠脾细胞中CD4 /CD8 淋巴细胞构成比,初步观察共表达质粒的免疫原性.结果:经酶切鉴定与序列测定证明重组共表达质粒中含有E2和GM-CSF两个基因且序列正确.转染细胞的反转录PCR可见E2和GM-CSF两个基因的转录.Western印迹结果可见转染细胞的裂解液在相对分子质量50 000位置有特异性条带.将转染细胞制成荧光抗原片,经IFA检测可见胞浆中出现特异荧光.免疫小鼠的最高血清抗体效价为1:160,但细胞免疫未观察到明显的提高.结论:构建的共表达质粒pE2-IRES-mGM-CSF具有良好的免疫原性,能有效刺激小鼠特异性体液免疫应答,提高了E2基因重组质粒诱导的血清抗体效价.     

玄胡索散通过下调粒细胞集落刺激因子抑制脾脏髓源抑制细胞分化发挥抗乳腺癌作用

目的:探讨玄胡索散抑制乳腺癌小鼠脾脏髓源抑制细胞(MDSC)分化的作用机制。方法:4～5周龄BALB/c雌性小鼠48只,其中6只为正常对照组,其他42只采用小鼠左侧第二对乳腺皮下脂肪垫接种4T1细胞构建乳腺癌荷瘤小鼠模型,分为粒细胞集落刺激因子(G-CSF)对照组、G-CSF敲减组、模型对照组、玄胡索散小剂量组、玄胡索散中剂量组、玄胡索散大剂量组和环磷酰胺组,每组6只。其中G-CSF对照组和G-CSF敲减组分别采用shRNA慢病毒转染联合嘌呤霉素构建相应4T1稳转细胞模型。各组造模48 h后,玄胡索散小剂量组、玄胡索散中剂量组、玄胡索散大剂量组分别按2、4、8 g·kg^-1·d^-1玄胡索散灌胃,每天一次;环磷酰胺组按30 mg/kg腹腔注射环磷酰胺,隔天一次;其他组给予等体积0.5%羟甲基纤维素纳。各组连续给药25 d。苏木精-伊红染色观察脾脏组织病理学改变,流式细胞术测定脾脏MDSC亚群比例,免疫荧光法检测脾脏CD11b、Ly6G共表达,酶联免疫吸附测定外周血G-CSF浓度。在体外,建立荷瘤小鼠脾脏与4T1稳转株共培养体系,玄胡索散(30μ...     

Recombinant human colony stimulating factor-granulocyte/macrophage and -granulocyte,but not macrophage induce the development of a respiratory burst in primary human myeloid leukemic cells in vitro

Summary Respiratory burst develops in myeloid blast cells if they differentiate functionally along the monocytic or granulocytic lineage. Using the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay we studied the effects of recombinant human granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhuGM-CSF), rhuG-CSF and rhuM-CSF on development of respiratory burst activity in primary blast cells from patients with myeloid leukemia. Assessing suspension cultures containing cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n=13) or myeloidblast crisis (myBC) of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML, n=5) it was found that the percentage of NBT positive cells was increased by at least 20% as compared to control cultures by rhuGM-CSF in 6/17 cases, by rhuG-CSF in 7/17 cases and by rhuM-CSF in 0/16 cases, representing in responders a mean increase of 267% and 270% in the absolute number of NBT positive cells by rhuGM-CSF and rhuG-CSF, respectively. Morphological examination of cultured cells from responders, as compared to controls, showed decreased blast cell content but generally no evidence of terminal differentiation. The demonstration of Auer rods in NBT positive cells indicates that respiratory burst developed in a leukemic clone. These findings may be of physiological, pathophysiological and clinical relevance.     

Recombinant follicle stimulating hormone: development of the first biotechnology product for the treatment of infertility. Recombinant Human FSH Product Development Group

Genes encoding the common gonadotrophin subunit and folliclestimulating hormone (FSH)-specific ß subunit wereisolated from a DNA library derived from human fetal liver cells,and inserted into separate expression vectors containing a selectable/amplifiablegene. These vectors were inserted into the genome of the Chinesehamster ovary cell line, resulting in expression of large amountsof biologically active human (h)FSH. This cell line was culturedon microcarrier beads in a large-scale bioreactor. hFSH in thecell culture supernatant was purified to homogeneity by a multistepprocess. The mature ß subunit had seven fewer aminoacid residues than reported in the literature and three otherdifferences were found in the sequence. Similar oligosaccharidestructures were present on recombinant (r)-hFSH and a purifiedurinary (u)-hFSH preparation. In-vitro and in-vivo, the biologicalactivities of u- and r-hFSH were indistinguishable, r-hFSH wasformulated in ampoules containing 75 IU FSH activity ( 7.5 µgFSH), which accounts for >99% of the protein content of thepreparation. Studies in non-human primates and human volunteersshowed the pharmacokinetics of u- and r-hFSH to be similar.In healthy volunteers, r-hFSH stimulated follicular developmentand induced significant increases in serum oestradiol and inhibin.Clinical experience with r-hFSH has shown it is more effectiveat stimulating ovarian follicle growth than urinary gonadotrophins.It is also effective at initiating spermatogenesis when giventogether with human chorionic gonadotrophin.     

Endocrinology: Comparative pharmacokinetics of two urinary human follicle stimulating hormone preparations in healthy female and male volunteers

These studies were designed to compare the pharmacokinetic characteristicsof a very highly purified urinary human follicle stimulatinghormone (FSH-HP) preparation (sp. act. 9000 IU FSH/mg of protein),Metrodin HP^®, with a standard urinary FSH preparation Metrodin^®(FSH). The two preparations were administered in a balanced,random-order, cross-over sequence as single doses of 150IU,separated by 1 week of washout to 12 female volunteers by i.v.injection and to 12 male volunteers by i.m. and s.c. routes.FSH concentrations were measured by immunoradiometric assayand by an in-vitro rat granulosa cell aromatase bioassay. Afteran i.v. bolus, the pharmacokinetics of the two FSH preparationswere identical. Total clearance was 0.5 and 0.15 1/h respectivelyfor immunoassay and bioassay data. Immunoassay showed that thetwo preparations were similar for renal clearance (0.1 1/h),volumes of distribution at steady state (9 1), distributionand terminal half-lives (2 and 17 h, respectively). After parenteraladministrations, the absorption half-life of FSH was 3 h andthe apparent terminal half-life was 1.5 days. Both preparationshad relative bio-availabilities close to 100% for i.m. and s.c.administrations. Immunopurification, which results in a veryhighly purified FSH-HP, does not modify the pharmacokineticproperties of FSH. This study also confirmed that s.c. and i.m.doses of FSH-HP are equivalent from the pharmacokinetic andpharmacodynamic points of view.