Hepatic injury is rarely associated with undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD). We report, here, a case of a middle-aged woman with UCTD-related hepatic injury, including its case history, clinical manife...Hepatic injury is rarely associated with undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD). We report, here, a case of a middle-aged woman with UCTD-related hepatic injury, including its case history, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and its short-term effect. The patient was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of fatigue, anorexia, low-grade fever and skin rashes. She had a past history of left knee joint replacement. Laboratory tests showed elevated levels of serum transaminase, IgG and globulin, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eosinophilia and a high titer of antinuclear antibodies (1:320). Imaging studies showed interstitial pneumonitis and hydropericardium. Liver biopsy showed the features which were consistent with those of connective tissue diseases-related polyangitis. After treatment with a low-dose of oral prednisone, both symptoms and laboratory findings were significantly improved. UCTD-related hepatic injury should be considered in the differential diagnosis of connective tissue diseases with abnormal liver function tests. Low- dose prednisone may effectively improve both symptoms and laboratory tests.展开更多
In the present paper, the authors report their results of treatment of 5 cases of steriod resistant asthma with acupoint-injection, body acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping. Bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) are used for acu...In the present paper, the authors report their results of treatment of 5 cases of steriod resistant asthma with acupoint-injection, body acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping. Bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) are used for acupoint injection of mixture solution of placenta tissue injectio (2 mL), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinesis) injectio (2 mL) and Huangqi (Radix Astragli seu Hedysari) injectio (4 mL), with 4 mL for each acupoint. Acupoints used for puncturing are bilateral Yuji (LU 10), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Feishu (BL 13), Fengmen (BL 12), Gaohuangshu (BL 43), Taiyuan (LU 9), Fenglong (ST 40), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36), etc.. Dazhui (GV 14), Tanzhong (CV 17), and Zhongwan (CV 12) are moxibustioned after insertion of acupuncture needles and achieving needling sensations. Cupping is applied to bilateral Dingchuan (EX-B 1) after removing acupuncture needles with a little blood out. Following 3 days’ treatment, these 5 asthma patients who have no apparent response to conventional medication treatment are relieved strikingly in the attack frequency, till the 7th day of the treatment, they have no any asthmatic onset again. One month’s follow-up shows no recurrence. Results indicate that acupuncture with moxibustion and cupping is fairly effective in relieving steriod resistant asthma patients who have no effect in responding to glucocorticoid treatment.展开更多
We validated a radioimmunoassay-based method quantifying fecal glucocorticoid metabolites （FGMs） from captive male and female Richardson＇s ground squirrels Urocitellus richardsonii. Blood samples were drawn to expl...We validated a radioimmunoassay-based method quantifying fecal glucocorticoid metabolites （FGMs） from captive male and female Richardson＇s ground squirrels Urocitellus richardsonii. Blood samples were drawn to explore the correlation between plasma cortisol and FGM concentrations. We also injected groups of squirrels with normal saline （CTL; control）, adre- nocorticotropic hormone （ACTH; stimulating adrenal activity）, or dexamethasone （DEX; suppressing adrenal activity）. Potential correlations between stress and behaviour were explored through quantification of fecal pellet production and the intervention necessary to elicit defecation, as well as the behaviour of subjects in the context of handling. Changes in plasma cortisol concen- tration between capture （baseline）, and following handling （stress-induced） were also quantified for free-living squirrels. While glucocorticoid concentrations recovered from feces during our captive-animal study were not well correlated with plasma eortisol concentrations, and uncorrelated with defecation or behaviour, FGM concentrations did reflect the activation of the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis. FGM concentrations increased significantly during initial captivity, but declined to baseline level as individuals acclimated to the novel environment. Injection of subjects with ACTH increased FGMs above baseline, confirming activation of the HPA axis. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased significantly with induced stress, indicating that capture and handling activated the glucocorticoid stress response even among previously handled, free-living subjects. Our findings validate a non-invasive tool that will afford new insight into the physiological processes underlying social, reproductive and antipredator behaviour of Richardson＇s ground squirrels [Current Zoology 60 （5）： 591-601, 2014 ].展开更多
Glucocorticoids play a key role in mediating stress responses in vertebrates. Corticosterone （CORT） is the main glucocorticoid produced in amphibians, birds, and reptiles, and regulates several metabolic functions. ...Glucocorticoids play a key role in mediating stress responses in vertebrates. Corticosterone （CORT） is the main glucocorticoid produced in amphibians, birds, and reptiles, and regulates several metabolic functions. The most common methods for quantifying CORT are competitive binding immunoassays： radioimmunoassay （RIA） and enzyme immunoassay （EIA）. RIA has been broadly used since the 1980＇s but it requires radioactivity. Commercial EIA kits permit quantifying hormone levels without radioactivity although the requirement for a larger sample volume may be a strong limitation for measurements involving larval amphibians. Here we used Xenopus laevis tadpoles to compare the performance of three commonly used procedures for determination of CORT： RIA on a chloroform extract of whole-body homogenate, EIA on plasma, and EIA on supematant of whole-body homogenate. We treated tadpoles with exogenous CORT at 0, 25, 50, and 100 nM. RIA could distinguish between 0 and 25 nM, and EIA on plasma between 0 and 50 nM, whereas whole-body homogenate EIA only detected significant differences between 0 and 100 riM. Each procedure presents advantages and disadvantages regarding sensitivity, the use of radioactivity, sample size, handling time, and economic cost. RIA is preferred when studying small-bodied animals from which blood samples cannot be obtained. When CORT level differences are intermediate and blood sampling is possible, EIA on plasma is a good non-radioactive alternative. EIA on whole-body homogenates may be useful to assess qualitative changes in CORT levels when considerable differences are expected. Finally, we discuss our findings in the context of previous studies on CORT in amphibians [Current Zoology 61 （5）： 835-845, 2015].展开更多
文摘Hepatic injury is rarely associated with undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD). We report, here, a case of a middle-aged woman with UCTD-related hepatic injury, including its case history, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and its short-term effect. The patient was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of fatigue, anorexia, low-grade fever and skin rashes. She had a past history of left knee joint replacement. Laboratory tests showed elevated levels of serum transaminase, IgG and globulin, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eosinophilia and a high titer of antinuclear antibodies (1:320). Imaging studies showed interstitial pneumonitis and hydropericardium. Liver biopsy showed the features which were consistent with those of connective tissue diseases-related polyangitis. After treatment with a low-dose of oral prednisone, both symptoms and laboratory findings were significantly improved. UCTD-related hepatic injury should be considered in the differential diagnosis of connective tissue diseases with abnormal liver function tests. Low- dose prednisone may effectively improve both symptoms and laboratory tests.
文摘In the present paper, the authors report their results of treatment of 5 cases of steriod resistant asthma with acupoint-injection, body acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping. Bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) are used for acupoint injection of mixture solution of placenta tissue injectio (2 mL), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinesis) injectio (2 mL) and Huangqi (Radix Astragli seu Hedysari) injectio (4 mL), with 4 mL for each acupoint. Acupoints used for puncturing are bilateral Yuji (LU 10), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Feishu (BL 13), Fengmen (BL 12), Gaohuangshu (BL 43), Taiyuan (LU 9), Fenglong (ST 40), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36), etc.. Dazhui (GV 14), Tanzhong (CV 17), and Zhongwan (CV 12) are moxibustioned after insertion of acupuncture needles and achieving needling sensations. Cupping is applied to bilateral Dingchuan (EX-B 1) after removing acupuncture needles with a little blood out. Following 3 days’ treatment, these 5 asthma patients who have no apparent response to conventional medication treatment are relieved strikingly in the attack frequency, till the 7th day of the treatment, they have no any asthmatic onset again. One month’s follow-up shows no recurrence. Results indicate that acupuncture with moxibustion and cupping is fairly effective in relieving steriod resistant asthma patients who have no effect in responding to glucocorticoid treatment.
文摘We validated a radioimmunoassay-based method quantifying fecal glucocorticoid metabolites （FGMs） from captive male and female Richardson＇s ground squirrels Urocitellus richardsonii. Blood samples were drawn to explore the correlation between plasma cortisol and FGM concentrations. We also injected groups of squirrels with normal saline （CTL; control）, adre- nocorticotropic hormone （ACTH; stimulating adrenal activity）, or dexamethasone （DEX; suppressing adrenal activity）. Potential correlations between stress and behaviour were explored through quantification of fecal pellet production and the intervention necessary to elicit defecation, as well as the behaviour of subjects in the context of handling. Changes in plasma cortisol concen- tration between capture （baseline）, and following handling （stress-induced） were also quantified for free-living squirrels. While glucocorticoid concentrations recovered from feces during our captive-animal study were not well correlated with plasma eortisol concentrations, and uncorrelated with defecation or behaviour, FGM concentrations did reflect the activation of the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis. FGM concentrations increased significantly during initial captivity, but declined to baseline level as individuals acclimated to the novel environment. Injection of subjects with ACTH increased FGMs above baseline, confirming activation of the HPA axis. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased significantly with induced stress, indicating that capture and handling activated the glucocorticoid stress response even among previously handled, free-living subjects. Our findings validate a non-invasive tool that will afford new insight into the physiological processes underlying social, reproductive and antipredator behaviour of Richardson＇s ground squirrels [Current Zoology 60 （5）： 591-601, 2014 ].
文摘Glucocorticoids play a key role in mediating stress responses in vertebrates. Corticosterone （CORT） is the main glucocorticoid produced in amphibians, birds, and reptiles, and regulates several metabolic functions. The most common methods for quantifying CORT are competitive binding immunoassays： radioimmunoassay （RIA） and enzyme immunoassay （EIA）. RIA has been broadly used since the 1980＇s but it requires radioactivity. Commercial EIA kits permit quantifying hormone levels without radioactivity although the requirement for a larger sample volume may be a strong limitation for measurements involving larval amphibians. Here we used Xenopus laevis tadpoles to compare the performance of three commonly used procedures for determination of CORT： RIA on a chloroform extract of whole-body homogenate, EIA on plasma, and EIA on supematant of whole-body homogenate. We treated tadpoles with exogenous CORT at 0, 25, 50, and 100 nM. RIA could distinguish between 0 and 25 nM, and EIA on plasma between 0 and 50 nM, whereas whole-body homogenate EIA only detected significant differences between 0 and 100 riM. Each procedure presents advantages and disadvantages regarding sensitivity, the use of radioactivity, sample size, handling time, and economic cost. RIA is preferred when studying small-bodied animals from which blood samples cannot be obtained. When CORT level differences are intermediate and blood sampling is possible, EIA on plasma is a good non-radioactive alternative. EIA on whole-body homogenates may be useful to assess qualitative changes in CORT levels when considerable differences are expected. Finally, we discuss our findings in the context of previous studies on CORT in amphibians [Current Zoology 61 （5）： 835-845, 2015].
