Serum Trace Elements Profile in Graves' Disease Patients with or without Orbitopathy in Northeast China.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate serum trace elements in Graves' disease (GD) patients with or without orbitopathy in Northeast China. METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed Graves' disease (HyGD) (n = 66), GD patients with euthyroid status or subclinical thyroidism after treatment (EUGD) (n = 55), GO patients with euthyroid status or subclinical thyroidism after treatment (GO) (n = 57), and normal controls (NC) (n = 66) were enrolled in this study. Serum trace elements were measured with ICP-MS. RESULTS: Serum selenium (Se) levels in EUGD group (median: 7.53 µg/dL), HyGD group (median: 6.76 µg/dL), and GO group (median: 7.40 µg/dL) were significantly lower than those in NC group (median: 9.20 µg/dL, all P < 0.01). Serum copper (Cu) levels in GO group (median: 95.93 µg/dL) were significantly lower than those in the NC group (median: 113.59 µg/dL, P = 0.015). After being adjusted for multivariables, thyroid-specific antibodies grade was associated with low Se levels. Hyperthyroidism and thyroid-specific antibodies grade were associated with high Cu levels. In addition, orbitopathy was associated with low Cu levels. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid autoimmunity was associated with low Se levels. Hyperthyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity may be associated with relatively high serum Cu levels. Alternatively, ophthalmopathy may be related to low serum Cu levels.

Hypercholesterolemia-induced ocular disorder: Ameliorating role of phytotherapy.

The ocular region is a complex structure that allows conscious light perception and vision. It is of ecto-mesodermal origin. Cholesterol and polyunsaturated fatty acids are involved in retinal cell function; however, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes impair its function. Retinal damage, neovascularization, and cataracts are the main complications of cholesterol overload. Dietary supplementation of selected plant products can lead to the scavenging of free reactive oxygen species, thereby protecting the ocular regions from the damage of hypercholesterolemia. This review illustrates the dramatic effects of increased cholesterol levels on the ocular regions. The effect of phytotherapy is discussed in relation to the different regions of the eye, including the retina, cornea, and lens.

Vegetable-borne lutein, lycopene, and beta-carotene compete for incorporation into chylomicrons, with no adverse effect on the medium-term (3-wk) plasma status of carotenoids in humans.

BACKGROUND: The results of epidemiologic studies have consistently shown associations between dietary intake or plasma carotenoid status and incidence of cancers and cardiovascular and eye diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess whether vegetable-borne carotenoids (lycopene, lutein, and beta-carotene) compete for intestinal absorption and whether this affects the plasma status of carotenoids in the medium term (ie, after 3 wk). DESIGN: During 3-wk periods separated by 3-wk washout periods, 20 women were supplemented with either 96 g tomato purée/d (14.98 mg lycopene + 1.50 mg beta-carotene), 92 g cooked chopped spinach/d (11.93 mg lutein + 7.96 mg beta-carotene), 96 g tomato purée/d + 92 g chopped spinach/d, 96 g tomato purée/d + 2 lutein pills (12 mg lutein), or 92 g chopped spinach/d + 1 lycopene pill (15 mg lycopene). Plasma carotenoids were measured before and after each supplementation period. The subjects also participated in postprandial experiments in which they ingested meals containing double amounts of the supplements described above. Carotenoids were measured in chylomicrons to assess the interaction of carotenoids on absorption. RESULTS: Adding a second carotenoid to a meal that provided a first carotenoid diminished the chylomicron response to the first carotenoid. However, cosupplementation with a second carotenoid of a diet supplemented with a first carotenoid did not diminish the medium-term plasma response to the first carotenoid. CONCLUSION: Consumption of carotenoids from different vegetable sources does not diminish plasma carotenoid concentrations in the medium term, despite the finding in postprandial testing of competitive inhibitory interactions among different carotenoids.

[Effects of activated autoplasma on platelet aggregation in patients with vascular diseases of the fundus oculi]. / Vliianie aktivirovannoi autoplazmy na agregatsiiu trombotsitov u bol'nykh s sosudistymi zabolevaniiami glaznogo dna.

Activated autoplasma (AAP) was used in the treatment of patients with central chorioretinal dystrophy and diabetic retinopathy. The therapeutic effect of AAP injected intrabulbarly and its effect on platelet aggregation in the peripheral blood after intramuscular and intravenous injections were assessed. Intravenous AAP was found to exert a manifest disaggregating effect, whereas intramuscular injections did not affect platelet aggregation.

[Study on mechanism of eye-signs in blood stasis syndrome].

Through a study of 504 cases of observation group with eye-signs in blood stasis syndrome (BSS) and 112 cases of control group without eye-signs in BSS, it has been found that in the observation group, the scores of the blood concentration, viscosity, aggregability and coagulability, level of plasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha were obviously higher than those in the control group, but level of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was obviously lower than that in the control group; the above-mentioned parameters of blood hyperviscosity syndrome, was obviously higher than that in the control group (90.08%:2.68%); comparisons between the two groups were significantly different (P < 0.001). Certain findings of the pathological base of eye-signs in BSS were found in the investigations.

Increased serum neopterin levels in patients with Graves' disease.

Neopterin (NPT) a marker of activation of the T-lymphocyte/monocyte axis has been measured in serum of 89 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (72 patients with Graves' disease and 17 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis) and compared to a group of 24 normal controls and 24 patients with nontoxic goitre. There was a significant correlation between NPT levels and age in the patients with nontoxic goitre (r = 0.447, p < 0.001) but not in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. Significantly higher NPT levels were found in all patients with Graves' disease (GD) compared to age and sex matched healthy controls, and patients with nontoxic goitre (5.7 +/- 2.4 vs 4.1 +/- 1.7, and 4.0 +/- 1.5, p < 0.01). However, there was no difference in NPT levels between each group of patients with GD when subdivided in: hyperthyroid newly diagnosed GD, treated GD, GD in remission and relapse. Patients with autoimmune thyroiditis did not have abnormal NPT levels compared to age and sex matched normal controls. Neopterin serum levels were not influenced by hyperthyroidism as no significant differences in NPT levels could be found in 24 patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease and 13 patients with toxic goitre or toxic adenoma when compared to age and sex matched euthyroid patients with Graves' disease or normal controls. Moreover, there was no significant difference in mean NPT levels 1. before and after restoration of euthyroidism in 10 patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease and 2. before and under T3 supplementation in 18 patients with Graves' disease in remission who underwent a T3 thyroid suppression test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The red eye of renal failure: a crystal induced inflammation?

Of 57 patients with chronic renal failure and calcification of the anterior membranes of the eye eight developed inflammatory reactions, clinically indistinguishable from pingueculitis. In three patients an acute inflammatory reaction of the episcleral tissue and the conjunctiva over it developed which we considered to represent the red eye of renal failure. In these patients massive shedding of calcium phosphate salts was clinically evident. Histopathologically in all these patients calcific deposits were observed. Although sporadically polymorphonuclear leucocytes were present in the inflamed tissues we could not demonstrate crystal phagocytosis. We believe that in the red eyes in renal failure and, more specifically, in the red eyes of renal failure a crystal induced inflammatory mechanism is not operative.

Behçet's disease. Relation of serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rates to disease activity.

In a prospective study of 150 patients with Behçet's disease, significant associations were shown between CRP positivity and the presence of erythema nodosum (p less than 0.02) and acute thrombophlebitis (p less than 0.05) and between ESR and erythema nodosum (p less than 0.01), acute thrombophlebitis (p less than 0.001), and acute arthritis (p less than 0.01). Mucocutaneous, ocular, or central nervous system activities did not show significant associations with these indices of inflammation. In 50 patients in whom quantitative CRP determinations were performed, clinical disease activity was accompanied by slight to moderate increases in CRP and ESR.