Serum fibroblast growth factor 23 and mineral metabolism in patients with euthyroid Graves' diseases: a case-control study.

This study investigated the alterations of mineral metabolism in patients with Graves' disease (GD) who achieved euthyroidism. They had higher fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and phosphorus as compared with healthy subjects. Serum FGF23 was negatively correlated with serum phosphorus. These indicated abnormal mineral metabolism even after 1.6 years of euthyroid status. INTRODUCTION: FGF23 is involved in the mineral homeostasis, especially the regulation of serum phosphorus. Graves' disease (GD) is associated with accelerated bone turnover, hyperphosphatemia, and elevated serum FGF23. Evidence suggested that serum FGF23 decreased after a 3-month treatment of GD. However, it remains unclear whether serum FGF23, serum phosphorus, and other markers of mineral metabolism will be normalized after euthyroid status achieved. METHODS: A total of 62 patients with euthyroid GD and 62 healthy control subjects were enrolled, and the median duration of euthyroid status was 1.6 years. Endocrine profiles including thyroid function test, autoantibodies, serum FGF23, and bone turnover markers were obtained and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Euthyroid GD patients had significantly higher serum FGF23 and phosphorus, and lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels as compared with the control group. Serum FGF23 was significantly and negatively correlated with phosphorus level after adjusted for age, gender, calcium, iPTH, and 25(OH)D in the euthyroid GD group. CONCLUSION: Serum phosphorus and FGF23 levels remain higher in GD patients even after euthyroid status has been achieved for a median of 1.6 years. Serum FGF23 was negatively correlated with serum phosphorus in euthyroid GD patients. Underlying mechanisms warrant further investigations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number: NCT01660308 and NCT02620085.

Induction of apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma Hela cells with active components of Menispermum dauricum.

Menispermum dauricum DC possesses a wide range of pharmacological effects. In this study, the mechanism of apoptosis induced by active components of M. dauricum was investigated in the human cervical carcinoma HeLa cell line. HeLa cells were treated with different M. dauricum concentrations over different time periods. The proliferation-inhibitory rate and cytotoxic effect of HeLa cells were measured by using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and the apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. Expressions of caspase-9, caspase-8, caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Fas proteins, in the apoptotic pathway, and the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were detected by SP immunocytochemistry. The MTT assay showed that active components of M. dauricum could significantly inhibit the growth of HeLa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P<0.01). The Sub-Gl peak was found by flow cytometry, and the maximal apoptosis rate was 24.93%. Immunocytochemistry showed that after treatment with M. dauricum, the expressions of caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-3, Fas protein, and NF-κB all increased, and the expression of the Bcl-2 protein decreased, with significant differences relative to the control group (P<0.01). Apoptosis in HeLa cells could be induced by active components of M. dauricum through the NF-κB signal transduction pathway and the caspase pathway, which was related to the downregulation of Bcl-2 expression and the upregulation of Fas expression.

Prednisolone non-compliance and its related factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: The combination of western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine is still exerting a pervading influence on symptom relief in Chinese society. The Medical behavior pattern may influence medication non-compliance by patients with chronic illness. METHODS: The study was designed to investigate prednisolone non-compliance and its related factors for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) under giving patients' health beliefs, the influence of prednisolone and Chinese culture. All patients of the SLE Mutual Aid Group (N=570) participated in this study. A questionnaire which included medical behavior and individual attitudes was sent each by mail. The response rate was 63.7% (N=363); 329 responses were useable in the study. RESULTS: Of the 329 patients, 27.9% had taken traditional medicine or a combination of traditional medicine with western medicine within the past month; 25.4% patients were non-compliant with prescribed prednisolone during the past week. The important reasons for non-compliance were feeling better, fearing side effects and treatment by Chinese medicine. The predicting factors for prednisolone non-compliance were the effects of the prednisolone, medical feasibility, patterns of medical behavior and perceived seriousness of the disease. Physician-patient relationship served as modifying factors which influenced individual attitudes toward prednisolone non-compliance and choice of medical behavior. Traditional beliefs, influenced by Chinese culture, indirectly affected prednisolone non-compliance, but through medical behavior patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Predisolone non-compliance is quite essential for SLE patients. Findings suggested that the attributes of prednisolone and the influences of Chinese traditional medicine should be considered as well as a health belief model, when trying to improve prednisolone compliance for SLE patients in Taiwan society.

Recall of AIDS public service announcements and their impact on the ranking of AIDS as a national problem.

The efficacy of two public service announcements from Phase V of the "America Responds to AIDS" (ARTA) campaign was assessed at two sites. Participants were randomly assigned to view a local news program, one with an ARTA public service announcement appearing six times and the other with no AIDS public service announcements. During telephone interviews with 907 participants 1 to 3 nights after viewing, 21% at Site A and 59% at Site B could correctly recall the ARTA public service announcements. Absolute mentions of AIDS as an important national issue increased.