[en] Objective: To develop a new method for rapid detection of serum anti-sperm antibody in infertile couples. Methods: Human sperm antigen was prepared from pooled semen specimens of fertile males. Nitro-cellulose membrane was used as solid-phase carrier of the antigen. Colloidal gold pellet combined goat anti-human IgG was taken as labelled antibody. A dot-immunogold filtration assay system was established for test of serum anti-human sperm antibody. Serum specimens from 137 infertile couples were tested and the result compared with flat from ELISA. Results: The human sperm antigen would react with the anti-sperm antibody in the tested serum over the cellulose membrane through filtration and the result could be read with naked eye within 6 minutes. In this study of 137 infertile coupled, the anti-sperm antibody was positive in 21.9% of the female serum specimens and 13.19% of the males. Compared with the result from ELISA, the consistency rate was 96.1%. The sensitivity of the assay was 90.2% and specificity was 95.4%. The p reparation was stable after 6 months refrigerator storage. Conclusion: This newly developed DIGFA is very adequate for rap id detection of anti-sperm antibody and deserves popularization. (authors)

[en] Objective: To study the changes of serum TI, C-peptide, GAD-Ab and INS-Ab in different groups of patients with DM2 (age,course of disease and degree of obesity). Methods: Serum C-peptide(with CLIA), INS-Ab(with RIA) and TI, GAD-Ab(with ELISA) contents were measured in altogether 428 patients with DM2. Relationship between changes of the above parameters and different groups of patients was studide in accordance with age, course of disease and degree of obesity respectively. Results: 1)Relationship among different age groups:(below 50, n=86, 51-70, n=216, over 71 n=126). The serum levels of the 4 parameters were significantly higher in all age group than those in the controls(n=40). Among the various age groups, the levels of all parameters were significantly lower in age group below 50 than the levels,in the other 2 groups with the only exception of INS-Ab, which was not significantly different from that in age group 51-70.The levels were significantly different between age-group 51-70 and age groups over 70, with the only exception of GAD-Ab, which was about the same in the two age-groups. 2)Relationship between changes of serum levels and course of disease(below 5yrs n=157, 6-10yrs n=168,over 1yrs,n=103). The serum levels in patients with disease less than 5years were significantly lower than those in other groups with the exception of GAD-Ab, which was not significantly different from that in patients with disease 6-10 years. 3) Relationship among different degree of obesity(non-obese, BMI<25 n=176, obese 32>BMI≥25, n=202, super-obese BMI≥32 n=50): The serum levels of all the parameters were significantly lower in the non-obese subjects than those in the other two groups.The levels in the super-obese group were also significantly higher than those in the obese group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion: Serum levels of the 4 parameters (TI, C-peptide, GAD-Ab, INS-Ab)were significantly increased in patients with DM2, especially in the older patients with prolonged course of disease as well as in the very obese subjects. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the value of detection of HPL-expressing intermediate trophoblasts in endometrial specimens for diagnosis of intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies. Methods: The examined specimens included: (1) Group I, 35 specimens with suspected intermediate trophoblast in decidua (2) Group II, 30 specimens with decidua-like plump endometrial stroma cells and/ or A-S phenomena in glandular epithelium (3) 30 specimens from proven intrauterine pregnancies serving as controls. Histochemistry (SP method) was used for HPL detection in all these specimens. Results: In the 30 proven intrauterine pregnancies, decidua and villa were present in all the specimens. Only 24 of the 30 were found to be HPL(+) with 6 HPL negatives (20%). In Group I , 28 of the 35 specimens were found to be HPL(+) and all of 28 were from intrauterine pregnancies: Of the 7 HPL negative cases, 5 were later confirmed as with ectopic pregnancy, the remaining 2 were with intrauterine pregnancy. In Group II, 22 of 30 specimens were HPL(+) and all were from intrauterine pregnancy. Of the 8 HPL negative cases, 6 were later confirmed as with ectopic pregnancy and 2 were with intrauterine pregnancy. Combining the data from Group I and II, we could see that in the total 15 HPL negative cases, 11 were with ectopic pregnancy (11/15=73.3%) and 4 were with intrauterine pregnancy (4/15=26.7%). Conclusion: In specimens of intrauterine contents, demonstration of HPL (+) cells could be regarded as confirmative evidence of intrauterine pregnancy. However, the reverse did not hold true. Many of the HPL negative specimens were from intrauterine pregnancies (in this study 4/15 or 26.7%). Therefore, in HPL negative cases, there was a high possibility of ectopic pregnancy but further examinations were required to ascertain the diagnosis. (authors)

[en] Objective: To study the relationship between changes of adherence activity of erythrocyte CR1 and degree of liver function damage in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Methods: Erythrocyte CR1 adherence activity was detected with erythrocyte innate immunofunction test in 54 patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 controls. Results: The erythrocyte CR1 adherence activity in patients with liver cirrhosis was significantly lower than that in the controls (P<0.01). The changes of CR1 adherence activity were closely correlated with the changes of ALT levels. Conclusion: Changes of erythrocyte CR1 adherence activity were closely correlated with the degree of liver function damage. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of the changes of thyroid-related hormones (FT₃, FT₄, s-TSH, TGA, TPO-Ab) levels in patients with Graves' and non-Graves' hyperthyroidism. Methods: Serum FT₃, FT₄, TGA, TPO-Ab (with RIA) and s-TSH (with IRMA) were determined in 43 patients with non-Graves' hyperthyroidism, 29 patients with Graves' disease and 40 controls. Results: In both groups of hyperthyroid patients, the serum levels of FT₃ (15.01 ± 11.01 pg/ml in the non - Graves' group and 15.23 ± 9.57pg/ml in the Graves' group), FT₄ (38.30 ± 19.82, 38.87 ± 17.39pg/ml), TGA(33.89 ± 22. 43%, 49.72 ± 20.55% ) and TPO-Ab (1319.24 ± 1037.78, 2023.24 ± 621.00IU/ml) were significantly higher than those (FT₃, 6.76 ± 2.01pg/ml, FT₄ 16.16 ± 2.58pg/ml, TGA 6.76 ± 2.01%, TPO-Ab 0.01 ± 0.01IU/ml) in the controls (all P <0.01). The serum s-TSH levels in both the patient groups (0.25 ± 0.25mIu/L, 0.79 ± 0.46mIu/L) were significantly lower than those (2. 24 ± 1.26mIu/L) in the controls (P<0.01). Serum levels of TGA and TPO-Ab in patients with non-Graves' hyperthyroidism were significantly lower than those in patients with Graves' disease, but the FT₃, FT₄ and s-TSH levels in both groups were not significantly different from each other. Conclusion: In this study, serum TGA and TPO -Ab levels were lower in patients with non-Graves' hyperthyroidism than those in patients with Graves' disease. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of perioperative changes of serum levels of thyroid hormones in patients with acute appendicitis. Methods: Serum FT₃, FT₄, T₃, T₄, rT₃, TSH levels were measured with RIA in 82 patients with acute appendicitis during the peri-operative period (before operation and 1,3, 5, 7, 14 days after operation). Results: Before operation, serum levels of FT₃, FT₄, T₃, T₄ were significantly lower and rT₃ levels were significantly higher than those in controls. The levels returned to approximately normal in about 5-7 days post-operatively. However, in 5 patients complicated with abdominal or incisional abscess formation, the levels remained abnormal until resolution of the inflammation. Conclusion: Thyroid function inhibited in patients with acute appendicitis, especially in the severe cases. Delayed recovery of thyroid function postoperatively occurred in patients with complications. . (authors)

[en] Objective: To compare the clinical usefulness of serum thyroglobulin (HTg) determination with that of ¹³¹I whole body scan for follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer. Methods: There were altogether 192 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer receiving post-operative ¹³¹I therapy for 3-7 times at the dose of 50-250mCi. Serum HTg levels were measured with RIA each time before ¹³¹I treatment and whole body scans were performed 5days after treatment. Results: Among the 192 cases, serum HTg and body scan were both abnormal in 125 patients. In 12 patients, HTg levels were normal but body scans demonstrated abnormalities. On the other hand, 35 patients with normal scans had elevated HTg levels. Both examinations were negative in 20 patients. In the 35 patients with abnormal HTg levels only, image study with means other than ¹³¹I (F-18 FDG SPECT, ultrasonics......) revealed lesions in 27 patients. Taking results from other image studies as standard (CT, MRT, x-ray), the sensitively of HTg positiveness and ¹³¹I scan positiveness were 85% and 72% respectively and the specificity 97%, 83% respectively. Conclusion: Result from this study suggested that it would be able to discover more metastatic or recurrent lesions with serum HTg determination in the follow -up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. (authors)

[en] Objective: To observe the effects of glutamine on AMPK phosphorylation and insulin secretion from MIN6 cell line culture. Methods: MIN6 cells (passage 22-30) were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 25 mmol/L glucose and 15% FBS, and 100 μm β-mercaptoethanol at 37 degree C and 5% CO₂ for 24h and then were cultured for 20h in medium containing 0. 2% BSA. The cell were then incubated in 0.2% BSA KRB medium with different concentrations of glucose(5.6mmol/L, 8.7mmoL/ L, 11.1 mmoL/L and 25mmoL/L), with or without 10mmol/L glutamine respectively for 1 h and the insulin secreted was measured with RIA. Cell extraction was detected for AMPK phosphorylation. Results: Our findings showed that increase of glucose concentration from 2.8mmol/L to 22.5mmol/L could markedly reduce the phosphorylation of AMPK at Thr-172 in MIN6 cells, which was associated with a progressive decline of phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Thr-172 phosphorylation is very important for the activity of AMPK. AMPK activity is negatively related to insulin secretion. Adding 10 mmol/L glutamine could further inhibit AMPK phosphorylation and increase GSIS. Conclusion: AMPK activity was involved in the regulation of GSIS. Glutamine might regulate GSIS through the inhibition of AMPK activity. (authors)

[en] Objective: To study the rhythmic fluctuation of plasma cortisol levels in patients with EH and CHD. Methods: Plasma cortisol levels were determined with RIA at 8Am, 4Pm and midnight in 61 patients with EH, 46 patients with CHD and 36 controls. Results: The normal rhythmic fluctuation pattern of plasma cortisol levels was retained in the EH and CHD patients. However, the levels were all significantly higher in the patients than those in the controls, especially in the midnight specimens. Conclusion: Marked elevated plasma cortisol levels were observed in patients with EH and CHD, with the normal rhythmic fluctuation pattern retained. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the value of combined tumor markers detection in the clinical diagnosis for gastric cancer and colorectal cancel. Methods: The serum concentration of CEA, CA199, CA125, CA242 were measured by radioimmunoassay and Immunoradioassy in 46 patients with gastric cancer, 62 patients with colorectal cancer and 30 controls. Results: The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CEA were 37.0%, 96.7%, 59.2% respectively in gastric cancer,and 51.6%, 96.7%, 66.3% respectively in colorectal cancer, those of CA199 were 47.8%, 100.0%, 65.8% in gastric cancer, and 43.5%, 100.0%, 62, 0% in colorectal cancer, those of CA125 were 41.3%, 96.7%, 63.2% in gastric cancer, and 38.7%, 100.0%, 58.7% in colorectal cancer, those of CA242 were 54.3%, 100.0%, 71.5% in gastric cancer, and 51.6%, 100.0%, 67.4% in colorectal cancer. The diagnostic sensitivity specificity and accuracy of combined four markers were 73.9%, 93.3%, 82.9% in gastric cancer, and 77.4%, 96.7%, 83.7% in colorectal cancer. Compared with the respective value of any single marker, the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy were significantly improved (P<0.05). Conclusion: Combined tumor markers detection could improve the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy in gastric and colorectal cancers and was helpful for screening. (authors)