Objective To explore the mutation of RET gene exon 11 in sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma and to clarify the relationship between RET mutation and sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from 17 sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma tissues. Exon 11 of RET gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, analyzed by automated DNA sequencer after purification and results were compared with normal sequence. Results RET mutation was detected in 1 of 17 cases and the mutation revealed the wrong base at the position 15165(G→A) and the missense codon at 691 (ser 691 →lys). Conclusion The low rate of RET exon 11 mutation in sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas indicate that the key gene mutations may locate on other exons of RET gene or other genes.

Background
The Pacific Islands is an area with one of the world's highest prevalence of obesity and diabetes. The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is an independent country of the Micronesian that extends along latitude 4 to 18 degrees north. In the past, several studies reported regarding the prevalence of diabetes among the people of the Pacific Islands. However, there is no report yet with respect to diabetes in Majuro, the capital of RMI. In RMI, diabetes and obesity are also recognized to be a serious problem, but the present state of affairs prevents an understanding of the situation.
Objectives
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the present situation and the prevalence of diabetes and obesity in Majuro.
Methods
The participants were Marshallese visited our thyroid cancer-screening program. Among those participants who undertook thyroid cancer screening, the Body Mass Index (BMI) and hemoglobinA1c (HbA1c) levels were taken of 850 participants. Participants with an HbA1c level of 6.5% or more were put into the diabetes group and participants with a BMI of 30 and over were the obese group. Prevalence was adjusted using the Majuro population based on 1999 national census and using world standard population of Segi.
Results
The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes in aged 20 years and over in Majuro was 22.1%. After standardization, the prevalence was 31.0%.
Conclusion
The results suggest there is a high rate of diabetes in RMI similar to other pacific islands. It could be concluded, based on this research, that there is a crisis situation with regards to diabetes in the RMI. There is also a need for epidemiological research to be on a random sample of the population.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diffuse or segmental irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct (MPD), as observed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), is a characteristic feature of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). METHODS: ERCP findings were retrospectively examined in 40 patients with AIP in whom irregular narrowing of the MPD was detected near the orifice. The MPD opening sign was defined as the MPD within 1.5 cm from the orifice being maintained. The distal common bile duct (CBD) sign was defined as the distal CBD within 1.5 cm from the orifice being maintained. Endoscopic findings of a swollen major papilla and histological findings of specimens obtained from the major papilla were examined in 26 and 21 patients, respectively. RESULTS: The MPD opening sign was detected in 26 of the 40 patients (65%). The distal CBD sign was detected in 25 of the 32 patients (78%), which showed stenosis of the lower bile duct. The patients who showed the MPD opening sign frequently showed the distal CBD sign (p=0.018). Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, but not dense fibrosis, was histologically detected in biopsy specimens obtained from the major papilla. CONCLUSIONS: On ERCP, the MPD and CBD adjacent to the major papilla are frequently maintained in patients with AIP involving the pancreatic head. These signs are useful for diagnosing AIP on ERCP.
Autoimmune Diseases/*diagnosis/pathology ; *Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas/pathology ; Pancreatic Ducts/pathology ; Pancreatitis/*diagnosis/pathology ; Retrospective Studies

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a potentially multiorgan disorder. In this study, clinical and serological features from 132 IgG4-RD patients were compared about organ correlations. Underlying pathologies comprised autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) in 85 cases, IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) in 12, IgG4-related sialadenitis (IgG4-SIA) in 56, IgG4-related dacryoadenitis (IgG4-DAC) in 38, IgG4-related lymphadenopathy (IgG4-LYM) in 20, IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis (IgG4-RF) in 19, IgG4-related kidney disease (IgG4-KD) in 6, IgG4-related pseudotumor (IgG4-PT) in 3. Sixty-five patients (49%) had multiple IgG4-RD (two affected organs in 36 patients, three in 19, four in 8, five in 1, and six in 1). Serum IgG4 levels were significantly higher with multiple lesions than with a single lesion (P<0.001). The proportion of association with other IgG4-RD was 42% in AIP, the lowest of all IgG4-RDs. Serum IgG4 level was lower in AIP than in other IgG4-RDs. Frequently associated IgG4-RDs were SIA (25%) and DAC (12%) for AIP; AIP (75%) for IgG4-SC; DAC (57%), AIP (38%) and LYM (27%) for IgG4-SIA; AIP (26%) and LYM (26%) for IgG4-DAC; SIA (75%), DAC (50%) and AIP (45%) for IgG4-LYM; SIA (58%), AIP (42%) and LYM (32%) for IgG4-RF; AIP (100%) and SIA (67%) for IgG4-KID; and DAC (67%) and SIA (67%) for IgG4-PT. Most associated IgG4-RD lesions were diagnosed simultaneously, but IgG4-SIA and IgG4-DAC were sometimes identified before other lesions. About half of IgG4-RD patients had multiple IgG4-RD lesions, and some associations were seen between specific organs.
Adult ; Aged ; Autoimmune Diseases/*epidemiology/*immunology ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/*immunology ; Japan/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure/*epidemiology/*immunology ; Organ Specificity/immunology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Statistics as Topic