No abstract available.

Arginine vasotocin has long been known as an antidiuretic hormone in non-mammalian vertebrates. The peptide has also been found in mammalian tissues. The physiological significance of the peptide, however, has not yet been clarified in mammals. To define the effect of arginine vasotocin on the water and electrolyte balance in mammalian vertebrates, experiments have been done. Intrarenal arterial infusion of arginine vasotocin, 0.01-10ng/kg/min resulted in dose-dependent decreases in urine volume and free water clearance and an increase in urinary osmolarity. Arginine vasotocin, in a dose of 0.03ng/kg/min, induced an increase in water reabsorption without changes in glomerular filtration rate. Intrarenal infusion of arginine vasotocin in doses ranging from 0.1 to 3.0 or 10.0ng/kg/min resulted in decreases in glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow. However, no dose dependence were observed. Intrarenal infusion of arginine vasotocin from 0.3 to 10 ng/kg/min induced dose-dependent natriuretic and kaliuretic effects with concomitant suppression of renin secretion. The renal effects of arginine vasotocin were blocked by arginine vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist [d(CH2)5, D-Phe2, Ile4, Ala9-NH2]-vasopressin but were not blocked by[d(CH2)5, D-Ile2, Ile4, Arg8]- vaso pression. These data suggest that the effect of arginine vasotocin on the renal function are similar to that of vasopressin in mammalian vertebrates. The data also suggest that the renal effects of arginine vasotocin may be coupled to the receptor system which is similar, if not identical, to that of arginine vasopressin.
Arginine Vasopressin ; Arginine* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Mammals ; Osmolar Concentration ; Renal Plasma Flow ; Renin ; Vasopressins ; Vasotocin* ; Vertebrates ; Water ; Water-Electrolyte Balance

OBJECTIVE: The cardiovascular system maintains homeostasis through a series of adaptive responses to physiological requirements. However, little is known about the adaptation of fetal cardiac function to gravity, according to gestational age. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the adaptive responses of cardiac function to postural changes, using Tei index measurements. METHODS: Fetal echocardiography and Doppler examination were performed on 114 women with vertex singleton pregnancies at 19 to 40 weeks' gestation. Participants were placed in an upright seated position, and the Tei index for fetal left ventricular cardiac function was measured. The women were then moved into a supine position and the Tei index was re-measured. RESULTS: The mean Tei index when measured in an upright seated position was significantly lower than that measured in a supine positioning for all fetuses (0.528±0.103 vs. 0.555±0.106, P=0.014, respectively). This difference was also noted in fetuses with a gestational age of 28–40 weeks (0.539±0.107 vs. 0.574±0.102, P=0.011, respectively). However, there was no difference in the Tei index between an upright seated and a supine position among fetuses with a gestational age of <28 weeks (0.505±0.091 vs. 0.516±0.103, P=0.571, respectively). CONCLUSION: Postural changes from an upright seated to a supine position result in an increased Tei index after a gestational age of 28 weeks. This appears to reflect maturation in the adaptive responses of the fetal cardiovascular system to postural changes.
Cardiovascular System ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Fetus ; Gestational Age* ; Gravitation ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Posture ; Pregnancy ; Supine Position

OBJECTIVE: Patients with schizophrenia are at a higher risk for developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, few studies have examined abdominal fat and mid-thigh low-density muscle areas, which are known risk factors for insulin resistance and T2DM, in patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, we measured the abdominal fat and mid-thigh low-density muscle areas of schizophrenics and compared them with normal controls. METHODS: Nineteen (four men and 15 women) drug-naive or -free subjects who met the DSM IV criteria for schizophrenia and 19 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. We measured weight, height, waist circumference, and percent body fat, and calculated the body mass index (BMI). Abdominal fat and mid-thigh low-density muscle areas were evaluated using computed tomography. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in terms of age and BMI between the two groups. The areas of abdominal fat (262.4+/-101.8 vs. 257.1+/-93.8 cm2 ; p=0.919), subcutaneous fat (182.4+/-72.8 vs. 180.5+/-75.1 cm2 ; p=0.988), visceral fat (79.9+/-47.2 vs. 76.6+/-49.3 cm2 ; p=0.872), and mid-thigh low-density muscle (15.0+/-9.9 vs. 15.4+/-5.2 cm2, p=0.373) did not differ between schizophrenics and controls. CONCLUSION: Abdominal obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for developing certain medical conditions such as insulin resistance and T2DM. We demonstrated that drug-naive or- free patients with schizophrenia do not have increased visceral fat or mid-thigh low-density muscle areas, which might have explained the higher prevalence of insulin resistance and T2DM in these patients.
Abdominal Fat* ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Schizophrenia* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Waist Circumference

Our aim was to study whether visceral adiposity is a predictor of diabetic fatty liver in Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this study, abdominal ultrasonography was used to assess the presence of fatty liver in 1,898 patients with type 2 diabetes. We measured visceral fat thickness by high-resolutional ultrasonography and insulin resistance by Kitt. Half of the cohort had a fatty liver (50.2%). High visceral fat thickness had the highest odds ratio for developing fatty liver in both sexes (odds ratio [S.D]: 3.14 [2.24-4.69], p<0.00 in male, 2.84 [2.04-3.93], p<0.00 in female). In addition, visceral fat thickness of 42.45 and 37.7 mm in men and women, respectively, were chosen as the discriminating value to predict the presence of fatty liver with a sensitivity of 71% and 73% and a specificity of 70% and 70% in men and women, respectively. The area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve was 0.759 in men and 0.764 in women. Therefore we could conclude that the degree of visceral adiposity predicts the presence of fatty liver type 2 diabetes mellitus, whether centrally obese or not, suggesting that hepatic fat accumulation in a diabetic fatty liver may be influenced by visceral fat accumulation regardless of waist circumference.
Aged ; Aorta/pathology ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Complications/*diagnosis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*diagnosis/pathology ; Fatty Liver/*complications/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Odds Ratio ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We report a case of prenatally diagnosed congenital perineal mass which was combined with anorectal malformation. The mass was successfully treated with posterior sagittal anorectoplasty postnatally. On ultrasound examination at a gestational age of 23 weeks the fetal perineal mass were found on the right side. Any other defects were not visible on ultrasonography during whole gestation. Amniocentesis was performed to evaluate the fetal karyotyping and acetylcholinesterase which were also normal. As the fetus grew up, the mass size was slowly increased more and more. At birth, a female neonate had a perineal mass on the right side as expected. During operation, the anal sphincteric displacement was found near the mass and reconstructed through posterior sagittal incision. This is the first reported case of prenatally diagnosed congenital perineal mass, after birth which was diagnosed as lipoblastoma and even combined with anorectal malformation. This case shows that it can be of clinical importance to be aware of this rare fetal perineal mass in prenatal diagnosis and counseling.
Adult ; Amniocentesis ; *Anal Canal/abnormalities/pathology/ultrasonography ; *Digestive System Abnormalities/diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; *Lipoma/diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Male ; *Perineum/pathology/ultrasonography ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; *Rectal Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; *Rectum/abnormalities/pathology/ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal/*methods

Acromegaly is a systemic endocrine disorder due to an excessive release of growth hormone, which increases the serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1). Elevated levels of these hormones are assumed to increase the incidence of malignant tumors in patients with acromegaly, due to by stimulating the growth and maturation of cells. In particular, IGF-1 is considered to be closely related with the development of colon polyps and colon cancers. Studies suggest that various malignant tumors, including thyroid cancer, brain tumor and renal cell carcinomas, are also more common in patients with acromegaly. Here, a case of gall bladder cancer in a patient with acromegaly, and the possible relationships between these two disorders, is reported.
Acromegaly* ; Brain Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Gallbladder Neoplasms* ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Polyps ; Thyroid Neoplasms

Acromegaly is a clinical syndrome, which is caused by an excess of growth hormone (GH), most commonly secreted from a pituitary solitary adenoma. However, our patient had bilateral GH-secreting pituitary tumors, the incidence of which has been reported in only 1.3 to 1.69% of all acromegalic patients. A 59-year-old female, with no family history of pituitary adenomas, demonstrated an increased level of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and GH not suppressed after 75 g oral glucose loading. On a preoperative MRI, only one pituitary tumor, measuring 1.1 x 0.7 cm, could be observed using sellar MRI. After surgical resection of the tumor, her headache and myalgia were sustained, and the IGF-1 level was still in a high titer. Therefore, a follow-up sellar MRI was taken, and a 0.6 x 0.7 cm sized newly growing pituitary tumor was found on the other side. With a retrospective review of radiological examinations, the patient was found to have bilateral tumors. The 0.3 cm sized tumor on the left was too small to be detected on the preoperative MRI. As the patient preferred medical treatment after surgery, she was treated with sandostatin analogues. Acromegaly with bilateral GH-secreting pituitary tumors, is a very rare disease, with no previous case having been reported in Korea. Herein, we report the case with a review of the literature.
Acromegaly* ; Adenoma ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose ; Growth Hormone ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Myalgia ; Octreotide ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Rare Diseases ; Retrospective Studies