Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension and increases the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases. When PA coexists with autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS), the cardiovascular risk increases significantly, especially in cases of bilateral adrenal adenomas with asymmetric hormone secretion, which poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 50-year-old female presented with hypertension and hypokalemia. PA was diagnosed based on elevated aldosterone levels, suppressed plasma renin activity, and the results of various dynamic endocrine tests. Imaging revealed bilateral adrenal adenomas, and adrenal venous sampling (AVS) confirmed aldosterone hypersecretion from the left adrenal gland and cortisol hypersecretion from both adrenal glands. The patient subsequently underwent left adrenalectomy, which resolved the aldosterone hypersecretion and normalized blood pressure and potassium levels. However, the cortisol hypersecretion persisted. This case highlights the importance of AVS in identifying the sources of hormone secretion and enabling targeted surgical treatment while avoiding bilateral adrenalectomy, which can lead to lifelong adrenal insufficiency. Comprehensive endocrine evaluation, including ACS assessment, in patients with PA is essential to help reduce the cardiovascular risks associated with PA and ACS and thus improve treatment outcomes.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension and increases the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases. When PA coexists with autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS), the cardiovascular risk increases significantly, especially in cases of bilateral adrenal adenomas with asymmetric hormone secretion, which poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 50-year-old female presented with hypertension and hypokalemia. PA was diagnosed based on elevated aldosterone levels, suppressed plasma renin activity, and the results of various dynamic endocrine tests. Imaging revealed bilateral adrenal adenomas, and adrenal venous sampling (AVS) confirmed aldosterone hypersecretion from the left adrenal gland and cortisol hypersecretion from both adrenal glands. The patient subsequently underwent left adrenalectomy, which resolved the aldosterone hypersecretion and normalized blood pressure and potassium levels. However, the cortisol hypersecretion persisted. This case highlights the importance of AVS in identifying the sources of hormone secretion and enabling targeted surgical treatment while avoiding bilateral adrenalectomy, which can lead to lifelong adrenal insufficiency. Comprehensive endocrine evaluation, including ACS assessment, in patients with PA is essential to help reduce the cardiovascular risks associated with PA and ACS and thus improve treatment outcomes.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension and increases the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases. When PA coexists with autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS), the cardiovascular risk increases significantly, especially in cases of bilateral adrenal adenomas with asymmetric hormone secretion, which poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 50-year-old female presented with hypertension and hypokalemia. PA was diagnosed based on elevated aldosterone levels, suppressed plasma renin activity, and the results of various dynamic endocrine tests. Imaging revealed bilateral adrenal adenomas, and adrenal venous sampling (AVS) confirmed aldosterone hypersecretion from the left adrenal gland and cortisol hypersecretion from both adrenal glands. The patient subsequently underwent left adrenalectomy, which resolved the aldosterone hypersecretion and normalized blood pressure and potassium levels. However, the cortisol hypersecretion persisted. This case highlights the importance of AVS in identifying the sources of hormone secretion and enabling targeted surgical treatment while avoiding bilateral adrenalectomy, which can lead to lifelong adrenal insufficiency. Comprehensive endocrine evaluation, including ACS assessment, in patients with PA is essential to help reduce the cardiovascular risks associated with PA and ACS and thus improve treatment outcomes.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension and increases the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases. When PA coexists with autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS), the cardiovascular risk increases significantly, especially in cases of bilateral adrenal adenomas with asymmetric hormone secretion, which poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 50-year-old female presented with hypertension and hypokalemia. PA was diagnosed based on elevated aldosterone levels, suppressed plasma renin activity, and the results of various dynamic endocrine tests. Imaging revealed bilateral adrenal adenomas, and adrenal venous sampling (AVS) confirmed aldosterone hypersecretion from the left adrenal gland and cortisol hypersecretion from both adrenal glands. The patient subsequently underwent left adrenalectomy, which resolved the aldosterone hypersecretion and normalized blood pressure and potassium levels. However, the cortisol hypersecretion persisted. This case highlights the importance of AVS in identifying the sources of hormone secretion and enabling targeted surgical treatment while avoiding bilateral adrenalectomy, which can lead to lifelong adrenal insufficiency. Comprehensive endocrine evaluation, including ACS assessment, in patients with PA is essential to help reduce the cardiovascular risks associated with PA and ACS and thus improve treatment outcomes.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of antenatal ambroxol administration to the mothers who were imminent preterm delivery on preventing the neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Forty-two preterm newborn infants who were delivered at Yeungnam University Hospital from January 1996 to December 1997 were divided into two groups, twenty-one ambroxol-treated group and twenty-one control group. Six cases of respiratory distress syndromes developed from 21 ambroxol-treated infants. but thirteen cases of RDS developed from 21 control infants. It indicated significant reduction of occurrence of RDS by antenatal administration of ambroxol (p<0.05). There were no differences in the occurrence of adverse effects of ambroxol in mothers between two groups, ambroxol-treated and control groups. There was also no difference between pre- and post-treatment hematologic and biochemical parameters in ambroxol-treated group. In conclusion, when premature delivery is expected, administration of ambroxol before delivery enhances lung maturation in premature newborn infants and prevents the occurrence of respiratory distress syndromes without significant adverse effects.
Ambroxol* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; Mothers ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn*

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate Korean Wechsler Intelligence profiles and specific abilities related to attention problem of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: The Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition (K-WISC-IV) and Advanced Test of Attention (ATA) were administered to 91 children and adolescents (age 8.5+/-2.6 years, 73 boys) with ADHD. Pearson correlation and independent t-tests were used. RESULTS: The means of Working Memory Index (WMI) and Processing Speed Index (PSI) showed a score of low average in K-WISC-IV. WMI scores for the K-WISC-IV showed clinically significant correlations with omission errors, commission errors, and response time variability on auditory ATA. PSI scores also showed significant correlations with response time and variability on visual ATA. In addition, significantly lower digit span backward scores were observed in hyperactive-impulsive/combined subtypes compared to inattentive subtype (t=3.60, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Children with ADHD showed significantly lower scores in WMI and PSI which were clinically correlated with ATA scores, and hyperactive-impulsive/combined subtypes showed poorer working memory functions in WMI. Follow-up studies are proposed.
Adolescent* ; Child* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Memory, Short-Term ; Reaction Time ; Retrospective Studies*

PURPOSE: Asthma is characterized clinically not only by episodic wheeze and reversible airway obstruction but also by excessive airway secretion. Oppenshaw- Warwick found that 77% of asthmatic subjects reported sputum production as a prominent symptom. Invasive assessment for the airway inflammation in children has been frequently limited. Induced sputum by inhalation of hypertonic saline allows monitoring of airway inflammation in children with asthma in a non-invasive way. METHODS: Thirty subjects with asthma were selected by asthma questionares and divided two groups as 14 current symptomatic asthmatics (FEV(1)<85%: PD15) and 16 stable non-symptomatic asthmatics with 4.5% hypertonic saline challenge test, and 14 normal controls were selected. They all inhaled 4.5% hypertonic saline for 10 minutes by ultrasonic nebulizer. The expectorated sputum and saliva were collected from all subjects and collected 3 hours after corticosteroid (Beclomethasone diproprionate 200microgramX2) inhalation for asthmatics and were reduced by dithiotreitol. Total cell counts and differentials were determined. RESULTS: Sputum from current asthmatics contained a significantly higher proportion of eosinophil than stable asthmatics or normal controls (7.9+/-6.0 vs. 3.8+/-4.5% vs. 0.8+/-1.4%, P<0.05). The induced sputum after corticosteroid inhalation showed significant decrease in total cell count, eosinophil proportion in current asthma and stable asthma. CONCLUSION: The cellular analysis of induced sputum was a useful non-invasive and safe study for the diagnosis of childhood asthma and assessment for the direct effects of inhaled corticosteroid on airway inflammation in children with asthma.
Airway Obstruction ; Asthma* ; Cell Count ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inhalation ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Saliva ; Sputum* ; Ultrasonics

Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland(MTC) constitutes approximatesly 3% to 10% of all malignant thyroid tumors. It appears in both familial and sporadic forms. Metastases are frequently present at diagnosis and are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgical resection of the primary tumor and the metastases is the mainstay of treatment. Although MTC can be detected by elevated serum calcitonin, localization of residual or metastatic foci may be difficult. Many scintigraphic methods have been used for identification of the residual tumor or metastasis. However, most of them have either low sensitivity or low specificity. MTC frequently secretes somatostatin and may express somatostatin receptors. Recently, somatostatin-receptor imaging has been known to be useful for the detection of residual and recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma. A 25 year-old woman who was dignosed as medullary carcinoma by biopsy of thyroid mass is presented. Thirteen years ago, she underwent left thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer(MTC). Laboratory tests revealed an increase in the levels in serum CEA(CEA=557.6 ng/ml) and calcitonin(calcitonin= 720 pg/ml). The second patient, a 30 year-old female, complained of a palpable mass in the left anterior neck. Ten years ago, she underwent a right lobectomy of thyroid gland due to adenomatous goiter. Laboratory tests revealed an increase in the levels in serum CEA(CEA=617 ng/ml) and Calcitonin (Calcitonin=2,300 pg/ml). In both cases, pre- and postoperative In-111 pentetreotide scintigraphy were done and compared with "'I scintigraphy. In-111 pentetreotide scan may be useful for the localization of residual or metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma. Further study is warranted to define the sensitivity and specificity of the technique.
Biopsy ; Calcitonin ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Goiter ; Humans ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Radiotherapy ; Receptors, Somatostatin ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Somatostatin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) was originally identified as a paroxysm proliferator activated receptor-alpha target gene product and is a hormone involved in metabolic regulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diurnal variation of serum FGF21 concentration in obese and non-obese healthy volunteers. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from five non-obese (body mass index [BMI] < or =23 kg/m2) and five obese (BMI > or =25 kg/m2) healthy young men every 30 to 60 minutes over 24 hours. Serum FGF21 concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Anthropometric parameters, glucose, free fatty acid, insulin, leptin, and cortisol concentrations were also measured. RESULTS: The serum FGF21 concentrations displayed various individual oscillation patterns. The oscillation frequency ranged between 6 and 12 times per day. The average duration of oscillation was 2.52 hours (range, 1.9 to 3.0 hours). The peaks and troughs of FGF21 oscillation showed no circadian rhythm. However, the oscillation frequency had a diurnal variation and was lower during the light-off period than during the light-on period (2.4 vs. 7.3 times, P<0.001). There was no difference in the total frequency or duration of oscillations between non-obese and obese subjects, but obese individuals had increased numbers of larger oscillations (amplitude > or =0.19 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: Various oscillation patterns in serum FGF21 concentration were observed, and reduced oscillation frequencies were seen during sleep. The oscillation patterns of serum FGF21 concentration suggest that FGF21 may be secreted into systemic circulation in a pulsatile manner. Obesity appeared to affect the amplitude of oscillations of serum FGF21.
Circadian Rhythm ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; Fibroblasts ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Insulin ; Leptin ; Male ; Obesity ; Radioimmunoassay

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Statins act as antineoplastic agents through the inhibition of cell proliferation. This study sought to demonstrate the effects of statins on extrahepatic bile duct cancer cell apoptosis and to document the changes in protein expression involved in tumor growth and suppression. METHODS: Human extrahepatic bile duct cancer cells were cultured. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed to determine the effect of statins on cell proliferation. Apoptosis was measured by a cell death detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and caspase-3 activity assay, and flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of cells in each phase of the cell cycle. The protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and Akt was measured by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Simvastatin suppressed cell proliferation by inducing G1 phase cell cycle arrest in bile duct cancer cells. Furthermore, it induced apoptosis via caspase-3 activation, downregulated the expression of the Bcl-2 protein, and enhanced the expression of the Bax protein. Moreover, simvastatin suppressed the expression of the IGF-1 receptor and IGF-1-induced ERK/Akt activation. CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin induces apoptosis in bile duct cancer cells, which suggests that it could be an antineoplastic agent for bile duct cancer.
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology ; Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Cell Cycle/drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents/*pharmacology ; Receptor, IGF Type 1/*drug effects ; Simvastatin/*pharmacology