Objective: Although Graves' disease is considered an autoantibody-mediated, T-helper 2 (Th2)-dominant disease, Th1-dominance may prevail in its initial phase. We longitudinally investigated Th1/Th2 balance in untreated hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease after treatment of methimazole (MMI), an antithyroid drug. Design: University clinic outpatients were studied prospectively. Patients: Subjects included 23 untreated hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease and 17 agematched control subjects. Methods: Before and after treatment, we measured Th1-and Th2-associated chemokine receptors (CXCR)3 and CCR4, on peripheral blood lymphocytes using flow cytometry, as well as plasma concentrations of their ligands, interferon-inducible protein (IP)-10 and thymus and activationregulated chemokine (TARC).
Results: The percentage of CXCR3-expressing cells among CD4C T lymphocytes and plasma IP-10 was significantly higher in hyperthyroid Graves' disease patients than in controls. At 12 and 24 weeks after initiation of MMI, percentage of CXCR3-expressing CD4 C T lymphocytes had decreased significantly, while the percentage of CCR4-expressing CD4 C T lymphocytes had increased significantly at 24 weeks. The CXCR3/CCR4 ratio had decreased significantly at 24 weeks. Plasma concentrations of IP-10 had decreased significantly at 12 and 24 weeks. Plasma concentrations of TARC also had decreased significantly at 24 weeks. Conclusions: In hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease in the active phase, Th1 cells rather than Th2 cells predominated among peripheral blood lymphocytes. After initiation of MMI, an ongoing transition from Th1 to Th2 dominance occurred. 156 623-630
European Journal of Endocrinology
This uncontrolled study investigated the effects of using the α 1 -blocker doxazosin (2 mg or 4 mg daily for 3 months) to treat 21 hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes, including eight obese individuals (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25.0 kg/m 2 ). A significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, beginning after 1 month of treatment, was seen. There was no significant change in BMI. Although there was no obvious improvement in glucose metabolism, doxazosin treatment noticeably reduced insulin resistance and significantly lowered triglyceride and free fatty acid levels. No significant changes were found in total cholesterol, highor low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, or small or large subfractions of low-density lipoproteincholesterol. None of the patients showed any adverse effects. The beneficial effects of doxazosin on blood pressure and lipid and glucose metabolism shown in this study suggest that this drug is clinically useful as an anti-hypertensive agent for patients with diabetes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.