No abstract available.
Humans ; Octreotide ; Peptides, Cyclic ; Somatostatin

BACKGROUND: Interactions between the receptor activator of the NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and its receptor, RANK, are important in the terminal differentiation and activation of osteoclasts. In the current investigation, we examine the feasibility of using genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), C3H10T1/2 cells as a platform for the sustained systemic delivery of therapeutic proteins into the circulation in an osteoporosis model, and investigate retroviral-mediated gene therapy of RANK-Fc as a means of ameliorating ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone resorption. METHODS: C3H10T1/2 cells were transduced with a MSCV-based retroviral vector containing cDNA of a fusion protein combining the extracellular domain of murine RANK with the human immunoglobulin constant domain (MSCV-RANK-Fc-eGFP). Young adult female mice were subjected to OVX or sham surgery, followed by treatment with transduced cells or PBS 4 weeks later. The expression of RANK-Fc by these cells was assessed, both in vitro and in vivo. Total bone mineral density (BMD) was measured and GFP expression was examined. RESULTS: Transduced cells produced biologically active RANK-Fc in vitro and in vivo. Mice that were subjected to OVX followed by treatment with cells transduced with MSCV-RANK-Fc-eGFP 4 weeks later contained no significant but higher total BMD than either the control vector or PBS-treated mice after 8 weeks. Higher GFP expression was attained in the liver, spleen, and intra-abdominal fat of mice treated with MSCV-RANK-Fc-eGFP. CONCLUSION: The data collectively indicate that C3H10T1/2 cells are effectively transduced with a MSCV-based retrovirus, and are capable of secreting biologically active RANK-Fc in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, gene therapy facilitating the sustained delivery of RANK-Fc may be an effective method to reverse OVX-induced osteoporosis.
Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone Resorption ; DNA, Complementary ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Liver ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice* ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis* ; Ovariectomy* ; Retroviridae* ; Spleen ; Young Adult ; Zidovudine

Anaplastic transformation of differentiated thyroid cancer at distant metastatic sites is extremely rare and has a poor prognosis. It usually occurs in the thyroid gland or cervical lymph nodes. Here we report a case of anaplastic transformation arising at multiple distant metastatic sites including the lung, liver, adrenal gland, bone, and lymph nodes in a patient 3 years after total thyroidectomy for follicular thyroid cancer.
Adrenal Glands* ; Humans ; Liver* ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND: NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), which is an obligate two-electron reductase that utilizes NAD(P)H as an electron donor and is involved in the protection against oxidative stress, is likely involved in beta-cell destruction. We evaluated the frequency of the NQO1 polymorphism and its association with blood glucose levels. METHODS: Genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism-based assay in 56 patients and 48 healthy subjects. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles were measured and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-insulin resistance (IR) was calculated from fasting glucose and insulin levels in the healthy subjects. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of NQO1 polymorphism were C/C (56.7%), C/T (42.3%), and T/T (1.0%). There were no associations between the NQO1 polymorphism and body mass index, blood pressure, lipid profile, HbA1c, postprandial glucose, and HOMA-IR. However, NQO1 mutants (C/T and T/T) showed weak but significantly higher fasting blood glucose levels compared with wild type (C/C). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that NQO1 609 C --> T polymorphism may be associated with glucose metabolism.
Benzoquinones ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Electrons ; Fasting ; Genotype ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxidoreductases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Tissue Donors

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis has been reported in Graves' disease patients treated with antithyroid drugs (ATDs), especially propylthiouracil. ATD-induced ANCA-associated vasculitis usually involved the kidneys followed by the respiratory organs and skin. The treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis induced by ATDs is to stop ATD therapy immediately, which often leads to an overall good prognosis. We report a case of ANCA-associated vasculitis in the peripheral nerves of the lower extremities in a 66-year-old woman who was treated with methimazole (MMI) for Graves' disease. To our knowledge, this is the third case of peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement of ATD-induced vasculitis and the first case of PNS vasculitis associated with MMI.
Aged ; Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Antithyroid Agents ; Female ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lower Extremity ; Methimazole ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Prognosis ; Propylthiouracil ; Skin ; Vasculitis

Mucinous cystadenoma of the testis is a very rare tumor. Herein, we report a case of mucinous cystadenoma arising in the testis of a 61-year-old man, along with a literature review. Computed tomography showed a 2.5-cm-sized poorly enhancing cystic mass. Grossly, the tumor was a unilocular cystic mass filled with mucinous material and confined to the testicular parenchyma. Histologically, the cyst had a fibrotic wall lined by mucinous columnar epithelium without atypia. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for cytokeratin 20 and CDX2, as well as focally positive for cytokeratin 7. The pathologic diagnosis was mucinous cystadenoma.

Hypocalcemia can be complicated, on rare occasions, by congestive heart failure and may also be associated with labor and lactation in some cases. Herein, we report a 30-year-old woman with hypocalcemia-induced heart failure secondary to primary idiopathic hypoparathyroidism precipitated by lactation. The patient presented with chest pain and paresthesia in both arms and legs during breast-feeding after her second delivery. She had severe hypocalcemia and low parathyroid hormone levels. Hypocalcemia-induced rhabdomyolysis further aggravated her hypocalcemia symptoms. The echocardiogram showed global hypokinesia with an ejection fraction of 47%. After calcium and vitamin D replacement, her symptoms and ventricular function improved. Hypocalcemia needs to be considered in patients with heart failure, because it is readily reversible. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with heart failure and rhabdomyolysis induced by primary hypoparathyroidism during lactation.
Adult ; Arm ; Calcium ; Chest Pain ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypokinesia ; Hypoparathyroidism ; Lactation ; Leg ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Paresthesia ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Ventricular Function ; Vitamin D

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In type 2 diabetic patients, coronary artery disease (CAD) is usually detected at an advanced stage due to a lack of symptoms. The aim of this study was to define which clinical parameters or non-invasive tests predict CAD in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: One hundred fourteen asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients were divided into two groups based on the number of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (group A > or =2, group B < or =1). Treadmill exercise ECG tests (TMT) were conducted in all cases, and coronary artery angiography was performed on TMT-positive patients. Clinical parameters, diabetic status, and coronary angiographic findings were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAD was 41.0% in group A and 16.7% in group B. The number of risk factors was significantly correlated with the prevalence of CAD, but not with the severity of CAD. Multivariate analysis showed that family history of CAD (odds ratio [OR]=9.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-55.49) and diabetes duration > or =10 years (OR=3.28; 95% CI, 1.29-8.84) were independent CAD risk factors in asymptomatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend a routine screening for CAD in type 2 diabetic patients who have a longer (> or =10 years) diabetic duration or a family history of CAD, even if they are asymptomatic for CAD.
Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease/*diagnosis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*complications ; Early Diagnosis ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate acceptability and usefulness of the Korean version of Self-report Standardized Assessment of Personality-Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS-SR) as an instrument for screening patients with a personality disorder. METHODS: The Korean version of the SAPAS-SR was administered to a non-random sample of 186 psychiatric patients (155 patients with a personality disorder and 31 patients with no personality disorder). The International Classification of Diseases 10th version Personality Assessment Schedule was used as a gold standard in diagnosis of personality disorder. Receiver-operant-characteristics and validity indicators were determined. In addition, the SAPAS-SR was administered to 22 healthy men to examine the test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The area under the curve for the SAPAS-SR was 0.69 (95% confidence interval 0.59-0.79). The SAPAS-SR score of 4 or more correctly classified 67.2% of patients with a personality disorder. Sensitivity (0.67) and specificity (0.68) were slightly lower compared with the original English version. CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary evidence of the usefulness of the Korean version of the SAPAS-SR as a self-administered instrument for screening personality disorders in the clinical population.
Appointments and Schedules ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Personality Assessment ; Personality Disorders* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Sweet's syndrome, or acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, occurs in association with autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis but is rare in Graves' disease, in which all cases are induced by propylthiouracil (PTU). We report a case of Sweet's syndrome in a patient with Graves' disease treated with methimazole (MMI) during three weeks. A 34-year-old man presented with the acute onset of high fever, skin rashes on the whole body, arthralgia, and acroparesthesia. Laboratory results showed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein. MMI first stopped and antibiotics and antihistamine therapy started, but his symptoms dramatically improved after oral prednisolone. Graves' disease has again been treated by MMI because of his aggravated ophthalmopathy. After one year of retreatment with MMI, there has been no recurrence of Sweet's syndrome, supporting that Sweet's syndrome in this case was not related to MMI exposure. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Sweet's syndrome associated with Graves' disease per se but not PTU or MMI use.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthralgia ; Autoimmune Diseases ; C-Reactive Protein ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Methimazole ; Prednisolone ; Propylthiouracil ; Recurrence ; Retreatment ; Sweet Syndrome* ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis