Objective To explore the role of serum fibrotic indices including hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III NH_ 2-terminal peptide (PCIIIP), and laminin (LN) in assessing the severity of myocardial fibrosis in chroni...Objective To explore the role of serum fibrotic indices including hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III NH_ 2-terminal peptide (PCIIIP), and laminin (LN) in assessing the severity of myocardial fibrosis in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF).Methods Serum levels of HA, PCIIIP, and LN in 39 patients with CHF[14 with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II, 21 with class III, 4 with class IV]and in 46 patients with NYHA functional class I were assessed by radioimmunoassay.Results The serum concentrations of HA, PCIIIP, and LN were 359.75±84.59 μg/L, 77.88±24.67 μg/L, 86.73±23.90 μg/L in CHF group, and 211.60±54.80 μg/L, 64.82±23.99 μg/L, 82.26±23.98 μg/L in NYHA functional class I group, respectively. The HA level was significantly higher in CHF patients as compared with NYHA functional class I group (P<0.05). However, no difference was found in the levels of PCIIIP and LN between CHF group and NYHA functional class I group. The serum HA concentration was negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.71, P<0.05).Conclusion Serum HA level may act as an indicator for myocardial fibrosis.展开更多
AIM:To test whether colchicine would be an effective antif ibrotic agent for treatment of chronic liver diseases in patients who could not be treated with α-interferon.METHODS:Seventy-four patients(46 males,28 female...AIM:To test whether colchicine would be an effective antif ibrotic agent for treatment of chronic liver diseases in patients who could not be treated with α-interferon.METHODS:Seventy-four patients(46 males,28 females) aged 40-66 years(mean 53±13 years) participated in the study.The patients were affected by chronic liver diseases with cirrhosis which was proven histologically(n=58);by chronic active hepatitis C(n=4),chronic active hepatitis B(n=2),and chronic persistent hepatitis C(n=6).In the four patients lacking histology,cirrhosis was diagnosed from anamnesis,serum laboratory tests,esophageal varices and ascites.Patients were assigned to colchicine(1 mg/d) or standard treatment as control in a randomized,double-blind trial,and followed for 4.4 years with clinical and laboratory evaluation.RESULTS:Survival at the end of the study was 94.6% in the colchicine group and 78.4% in the control group(P=0.001).Serum N-terminal peptide of type Ⅲ procollagen levels fell from 34.0 to 18.3 ng/mL(P=0.0001),and pseudocholinesterase levels rose from 4.900 to 5.610 mU/mL(P=0.0001) in the colchicine group,while no signif icant change was seen in controls.Best results were obtained in patients with chronic hepatitis C and in alcoholic cirrhotics.CONCLUSION:Colchicine is an effective and safe antifibrotic drug for long-term treatment of chronic liver disease in which fi brosis progresses towards cirrhosis.展开更多
文摘Objective To explore the role of serum fibrotic indices including hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III NH_ 2-terminal peptide (PCIIIP), and laminin (LN) in assessing the severity of myocardial fibrosis in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF).Methods Serum levels of HA, PCIIIP, and LN in 39 patients with CHF[14 with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II, 21 with class III, 4 with class IV]and in 46 patients with NYHA functional class I were assessed by radioimmunoassay.Results The serum concentrations of HA, PCIIIP, and LN were 359.75±84.59 μg/L, 77.88±24.67 μg/L, 86.73±23.90 μg/L in CHF group, and 211.60±54.80 μg/L, 64.82±23.99 μg/L, 82.26±23.98 μg/L in NYHA functional class I group, respectively. The HA level was significantly higher in CHF patients as compared with NYHA functional class I group (P<0.05). However, no difference was found in the levels of PCIIIP and LN between CHF group and NYHA functional class I group. The serum HA concentration was negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.71, P<0.05).Conclusion Serum HA level may act as an indicator for myocardial fibrosis.
文摘AIM:To test whether colchicine would be an effective antif ibrotic agent for treatment of chronic liver diseases in patients who could not be treated with α-interferon.METHODS:Seventy-four patients(46 males,28 females) aged 40-66 years(mean 53±13 years) participated in the study.The patients were affected by chronic liver diseases with cirrhosis which was proven histologically(n=58);by chronic active hepatitis C(n=4),chronic active hepatitis B(n=2),and chronic persistent hepatitis C(n=6).In the four patients lacking histology,cirrhosis was diagnosed from anamnesis,serum laboratory tests,esophageal varices and ascites.Patients were assigned to colchicine(1 mg/d) or standard treatment as control in a randomized,double-blind trial,and followed for 4.4 years with clinical and laboratory evaluation.RESULTS:Survival at the end of the study was 94.6% in the colchicine group and 78.4% in the control group(P=0.001).Serum N-terminal peptide of type Ⅲ procollagen levels fell from 34.0 to 18.3 ng/mL(P=0.0001),and pseudocholinesterase levels rose from 4.900 to 5.610 mU/mL(P=0.0001) in the colchicine group,while no signif icant change was seen in controls.Best results were obtained in patients with chronic hepatitis C and in alcoholic cirrhotics.CONCLUSION:Colchicine is an effective and safe antifibrotic drug for long-term treatment of chronic liver disease in which fi brosis progresses towards cirrhosis.
