[en] Objective: To observe the clinical significance of dynamic changes of content of plasma endothelin (ET-1), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage. Methods: Plasma ET-1, CGRP (with RIA) and NSE (with RIA) contents were measured dynamically on d2, d7 and d21 after onset of disease in 60 patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage and once in 60 controls. Results: Plasma contents of ET-1, CGRP and NSE in the patients were significantly higher than those in controls all the time tested (P<0.01). The plasma contents of ET-1 and CGRP in patients on d2 and d7 were not significantly different (P>0.05), but the contents on d2 were significantly higher than those on d21 (P<0.01). Plasma contents of NSE in patients on d2 were significantly higher than those on d7 and d21 (P<0.01), but contents on d7 and d21 were not significantly different (P>0.05). Conclusion: Plasma ET-1, CGRP and NSE levels in patients with cerebral hemorrhage patients were significantly increased on the 2nd day, then decreased gradually during convalescence. Determination of plasma ET-1, CGRP and NSE levels would help to diagnose cerebral hemorrhage earlier and predict prognosis with important clinical value. (authors)

[en] To study the levels of serum procollagen type III(PC III), hyaluronic acid(HA), collagen type (C-IV) and laminin (LN) and thier clinical significance in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, these four marks were measured by RIA in 52 patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis and 42 volunteers(as control) and 38 patients treated with antifibrosis. The levels of four marks in 52 patients were much higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The levels of four marks in 38 patients treated with antifibrosis were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). The levels of PC III, HA, C-IV and LN are of value in diagnosing and assessing prognosis of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. (authors)

[en] Objective: To study the clinical significance of changes of levels of serum sex hormones in the diagnosis of the types of secondary amenorrhea. Methods: Serum sex hormones levels were measured with chemiluminescence in 100 patients with secondary amenorrhea and 42 controls. The serum hormones determined were: estradiol (E₂)-, progesterone (PROG), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-, luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (TSTO). Results: Patients with secondary amenorrhea had significantly higher levels of serum FSH, LH and PRL ( P<0.01) and lower level of E₂ (P<0.05) than those in the controls. Serum levels of PROG and TSTO were about the same in the patients and controls. Conclusion: Determination of serum hormones levels with chemiluminescence is clinically useful for diagnosis of the types of secondary amenorrhea. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the effect of nimodipine on the changes of plasma ET-1 and CGRP levels in patients with cerebral hemorrhage. Methods: Sixty patients with hemorrhage were randomly divided into two groups: nimodipine-treated and conventionally treated (both n=30). The plasma ET-1 and CGRP level were measured both before and after treatment in both groups as well as in 30 controls. Results: Plasma levels of ET-1 and CGRP were significantly increased in the patients before treatment and decreased markedly after treatment in both groups. The magnitude of decrease of the plasma ET-1 and CGRP levels in the nimodipine -treated group was significantly larger than that in the conventionally treated group (P<0.01). Size of the hematoma in both groups was positively correlated with the plasma ET-1, CGRP levels both before and after treatment. Conclusion: The plasma ET-1 and CGRP levels in patients with cerebral hemorrhage were remarkably increased and markedly decreased after treatment with nimodipine. (authors)

[en] Objective: The chief clinical characteristics of Graves disease are hyperthyroidism and ophthalmopathy. To assess the values of using immunosuppression in Graves ophthalmopathy. Method: 415 patients with Graves hyperthyroidism were studied. They were randomly assigned to receive radioiodine, methimazole from 1.5 to 2 years, radioiodine followed by a 3-month course of prednisone. The changes in thyroid function and progression of ophthalmopathy were evaluated. Results: Among the 138 patients treated with radioiodine, 19 patients had new or worsening ophthalmopathy; 117 had no changes in their eyes; 2 patients had improvement in their eye disease. Among the 138 patients treated with methimazole, 3 patients had new or worsening ophthalmopathy; 133 had no changes in their eyes; 2 patients had improvement in their eye disease. Among the 139 patients treated with radioiodine and prednisone, no patient had new or worsening ophthalmopathy; 107 had no changes in their eyes; 32 patients had improvement in their eye disease. The frequency of improvement of ophthalmopathy was significantly higher in the radioiodine-prednisone group than in either the radioiodine group or the methimazole group (P<0.001 for both comparisons). Conclusions: The administration of prednisone after radioiodine therapy was associated with improvement of ophthalmopathy. Worsening of ophthalmopathy after radioiodine therapy is often transient and can be prevented by the administration of prednisone

[en] Objective: To investigate the changes of serum NSE levels in patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage and the effect of nimodepine treatment. Methods: Serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) levels were measured with CLIA in 60 patients with cerebral hemorrhage both before and after treatment as well as in 30 controls. Half of the patients (n=30) were treated with nimodepine and the their half were not. Results: In all the 60 patients, serum NSE levels were significantly higher than those in Controls (P<0.01). After treatment, the NSE levels dropped markedly in all the patients. However, the decrease in the patient group treated with nimodepine was significantly higher than that in the patient group treated without nimodepine (P<0.01). Conclusion: Nimodepine treatment is efficient for reducing the serum NSE levels, which may be related to the residual hematoma size. (authors)

[en] Objective: To study the Iodine-131 dose, indications and effect of radioiodine treatment of non-toxic goiter (NTG). Methods: 35 patients with large non-toxic goiters were treated with ¹³¹I. 5 had previous thyroidectomy with goiter recurrence, 15 had symptoms of respiratory obstruction after thyroxin treatment without adequate effect, 3 were older patients who were at high operative risk, 5 had cardiopulmonary disease, 7 refused surgery. ¹³¹I was given at a dose of 2.96-70.3 MBq/g total thyroid mass corrected to a 100% ¹³¹I uptake in 24 hours. Thyroid size was measured by sonography during 12-36 months follow-up. Results: In 35 patients treated with ¹³¹I the thyroid mass was reduced from 86.5 ± 20.3 g to 40.3 ± 13.6 g at 12 months (P<0.001). The average reduction was 57.0% ± 10.6%. All patients had a reduction in thyroid volume. Side effects were few: only one case of radiation thyroiditis. 3 patients developed hypothyroidism which was easily managed by thyroxin treatment. Conclusions: A substantial reduction in thyroid volume can be achieved in ¹³¹I therapy for NTG. ¹³¹I therapy for NTG appears to be an acceptable, cost-effective, simple therapy for large NTG, especially for older patients who are at high operative risk, have had previous thyroidectomy with goiter recurrence, contraindications to or refusal of surgery

[en] To investigate the effect of naloxone on the changes of plasma ET-1 and CGRP levels in patients with traumatic brain injury, ninety patients with traumatic brain injury were randomly divided into naloxone treated group and conventionally treated group (both n=45). The plasma levels of ET-1 and CGRP in both groups before and after treatment and in 30 healthy controls were measured by RIA. The results showed that the plasma levels of ET-1 were significantly increased in the patient before treatment and decreased markedly after treatment in both groups. The magnitude of decrease of the plasma ET-1 levels in the naloxone treated group was significantly higher than that in the conventionally treated group (P<0.01). The plasma levels of CGRP were significantly decreased in the patients before treatment and increased markedly after treatment in both groups. The magnitude of increase of the plasma CGRP levels in the naloxone treated group was significantly higher than that in the conventionally treated group (P<0.01). The plasma ET-1 levels in patients with traumatic brain injury was remarkably increased and markedly decreased after treatment with naloxone. The plasma CGRP levels in patients with traumatic brain injury was remarkably decreased and markedly increased after treatment with naloxone. Naloxone has a favorable effect on patient with traumatic brain injury, it may protect the neural cells and improve their living quality. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the effect of edaravone treatment on plasma ET-1 and CGRP levels changes in patients with traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods: Plasma ET-1 and CGRP levels were measured with RIA in 40 patients with traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage both before and after treatment with 60mg of edaravone i. v. q. d. for 5 days, 40 patients both before and after treatment with conventional treatment only (without edaravone) and 30 controls (once only). Results: The plasma ET-1 levels were significantly increased in all the patients at admission than those in controls. After treatment, the levels in all the patients dropped significantly, but the levels were significantly lower in edaravone-treated patients than those in non-edaravone-treated patients (P<0.01). The reverse was true for plasma CGRP levels. Conclusion: Edaravone treatment could correct the abnormal plasma ET-1 and CGRP levels in patients with traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage and might be beneficial to recovery. (authors)

[en] Objective: To define the rule of changes of serum thyroid hormones levels in elderly patients with cardiac decompensation. Methods: Serum thyroid hormones (TT₃, FT₃, TT₄, FT₄) levels were measured with RIA in 130 elderly (65-80 yr) patients with different grades of candicac decompensation as well as in 40 controls. Results: In patients with Grade I and II decompensation, the serum TT₃ and FT₃ levels were significantly lower than those in the controls (p<0.01). However, the TT₄ and FT₄ levels in the patients were not much different from those in the controls. With deterioration of cardicac function to Grade III and IV, besides the lowering of TT₃ and FT₃, FT₄ levels were also significantly decreased (vs controls, p<0.05) but TT₄ levels remained stationary. Conclusion: Lowering of serum thyroid hormones levels correlated well to the deterioration of cardiac function in eldderly patients and could be taken for reference. Conversely, unexpected hypothyroid state deserves cardiac function investigation