No abstract available.
Chromatography, Liquid* ; Ciprofloxacin* ; Therapeutic Equivalency*

In the present study, we used the microdialysis technique combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrochemical detection to measure the extracellular levels of norepinephrine (NE) in the posterior hypothalamus in vivo, and to examine the effects of various drugs, affecting central noradrenergic transmission, on the extracellular concentration of NE in the posterior hypothalamus. Microdialysis probes were implanted stereotaxically into the posterior hypothalamus (coordinates: posterior 4.3 mm, lateral 0.5 mm, ventral 8 mm, relative to bregma and the brain surface, respectively) of rats, and dialysate collection began 2 hr after the implantation. The baseline level of monoamines in the dialysates were determined to be: NE 0.17 +/- 0.01, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) 0.94 +/- 0.07, homovanillic acid (HVA) 0.57 +/- 0.05 pmol/sample (n=8). When the posterior hypothalamus was perfused with 90 mM potassium, maximum 555% increase of NE output was observed. Concomitantly, this treatment significantly decreased the output of DOPAC and HVA by 35% and 28%, respectively. Local application of imipramine (50microM) enhanced the level of NE in the posterior hypothalamus (maximum 200%) compared to preperfusion control values. But, DOPAC and HVA outputs remained unchanged. Pargyline, an irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor, i.p. administered at a dose of 75 mg/kg, increased NE output (maximum 165%), while decreased DOPAC and HVA outputs (maximum 13 and 12%, respectively). These results indicate that NE in dialysate from the rat posterior hypothalamus were neuronal origin, and that manipulations which profoundly affected the levels of extracellular neurotransmitter had also effects on metabolite levels.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid ; Animals ; Brain* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dialysis Solutions ; Homovanillic Acid ; Hypothalamus ; Hypothalamus, Posterior* ; Imipramine ; Microdialysis* ; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Norepinephrine* ; Pargyline ; Potassium ; Rats*

The C-terminus ends of the second putative transmembrane domains of both M-1 and M-2 Muscarinic receptors contain a triplet of amino acid residues consisting of leucine (L), tyrosine (Y) and threonine (T). This triplet is repeated as LYT-TYL in M-1 receptors at the interface between the second transmembrane domain and the first extracellular loop. Interestingly, however, it is repeated in a transposed fashion (LYT-LYT) in the sequence Of M-2 receptors. In our previous work, we investigated the possible significance of this unique sequence diversity for determining the distinct differential receptor function at the two receptor subtypes. However, we found mutation of the LYTTYL sequence of M-1 receptors to the corresponding M-2 receptor LYTLYT sequence demonstrated markedly enhanced the stimulation of phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis by carbachol without a change in its coupling to increased cyclic AMP formation. In this work, thus, the enhanced stimulation of PI hydrolysis in the LYTLYT M-1 receptor mutant was further investigated. The stimulation of PI hydrolysis by carbachol was enhanced in the mutant M-1 receptor, and this change was not due to alterations in the rate of receptor desensitization or sequestration. The observed larger response to carbachol at mutant M-1 receptors was also not due to an artifact resulting from selection of CHO cells which express higher levels of G-proteins or phospholipase C. Our data suggest that although the LYTTYL sequence in M-1 muscarinic receptors is not involved in determining receptor pharmacology, mutation of the sequence enhanced the coupling of M-1 receptors to the stimulation of phospholipase C.
Animals ; Artifacts ; Carbachol ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cyclic AMP ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Leucine ; Pharmacology ; Phospholipases* ; Receptors, Muscarinic* ; Threonine ; Trinucleotide Repeats* ; Triplets* ; Type C Phospholipases* ; Tyrosine

BACKGROUND: The sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) has an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of well differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The relationship between the uptake of thallium- 201 scan (201Tl scan) and the expression of sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) was studied in thyroid nodules. METHODS: Patients that had undergone operations for thyroid nodules, and who received a 201Tl scan before their operations, were investigated. Anti-NIS antibodies were used to analyze the presence and distribution of the hNIS protein by immunohistochemical staining of their thyroid tissues. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (papillary carcinoma; 18, follicular adenoma; 11, adenomatous goiter; 14, nonspecific thyroiditis; 1) 30 with no immunoreactivity and 14 with a positive reaction to the anti-NIS antibody, were included. The NIS negative patients (12/30) had no 201Tl uptake, but all others were positive on 201Tl scan, and the NIS-positive patients (13/14) had positive 201Tl uptake, with 1 negative on 201Tl scan, with significant difference (p=0.035). Of the 18 patients with a papillary thyroid carcinoma, the NIS negative patients (2/10) had no 201Tl uptake and the others were positive on 201Tl scan, but without significant difference. NIS positive patients (1/8) with a papillary thyroid carcinoma had no 201Tl uptake, and the others were positive on 201Tl scan, but without significant difference. Whether the results of NIS staining and 201Tl scan were positive or not did not affect the responses of radioactive iodine therapy in our study. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that thallium-201 uptake may be correlated with hNIS expression in thyroid nodules
Adenoma ; Antibodies ; Diagnosis ; Goiter ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Iodine ; Ion Transport* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Thyroiditis

Fifteen percent of patients with Cushing's syndrome could be accompanied with nonpituitary tumors that secrets ACTH-the ectopic ACTH syndrome. Among them, bronchial carcinoid is one of the rare causes of the ectopic ACTH syndrome. We experienced a 60-year-old woman who showed conditions of weight gain, generalized edema, hypokalemia, diabetes mellitus, and right middle lung mass. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed with bronchial carcinoid and was confirmed as an ectopic ACTH syndrome through immunohistochemical staining of ACTH. After resection of the lung mass, blood sugar, electrolytes, generalized weakness, and blood pressure improved.
ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic* ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Cushing Syndrome ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Edema ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Weight Gain

A primary thyroid lymphoma is rare among all types of thyroid malignancy. Usually, a thyroid lymphoma is associated with underlying chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Recently, we experienced a primary thyroid mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma, with an incidental micropapillary thyroid carcinoma, but lacking evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. A female patient visited our hospital for further evaluation of a rapidly enlarging, painless thyroid mass which had been stable for 8 years. Lymphocytic thyroiditis or a lymphoma was suspected from fine needle aspiration performed at another hospital. The thyroid function test and other routine laboratory tests were normal. The histopathological findings after a total thyroidectomy revealed a MALT lymphoma with a micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. There was no evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case report of a MALT lymphoma arising from the thyroid gland without evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in Korea
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune*

A primary thyroid lymphoma is rare among all types of thyroid malignancy. Usually, a thyroid lymphoma is associated with underlying chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Recently, we experienced a primary thyroid mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma, with an incidental micropapillary thyroid carcinoma, but lacking evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. A female patient visited our hospital for further evaluation of a rapidly enlarging, painless thyroid mass which had been stable for 8 years. Lymphocytic thyroiditis or a lymphoma was suspected from fine needle aspiration performed at another hospital. The thyroid function test and other routine laboratory tests were normal. The histopathological findings after a total thyroidectomy revealed a MALT lymphoma with a micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. There was no evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case report of a MALT lymphoma arising from the thyroid gland without evidence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in Korea
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune*

We experienced a Korean patient with complete form of pachydermoperiostosis. He presented with typical features consisting of clubbing with spade like enlargement of the hand and feet, thickening of facial skin and scalp, irregular thickening of cortex with periosteal new bone formation involving radii, ulnae, tibiae, and fibulae. Classically, pachydermoperiostosis is characterized by a triad of finger clubbing, periostitis, skin and soft tissue changes, giving an acromegaloid look. A variety of associated abnormalities have been described such as cranial suture defects, female escutcheon, bone marrow failure. There are a few reports documenting gastric ulcer, hypertrophic gastropathy and Crohn's disease as accompanying diseases. The patient had upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by hemorrhagic gastritis and duodenal ulcer. A case is herein reported of pachydermoperiostosis accompanied by peptic ulcer disease.
Acromegaly ; Bone Marrow ; Cranial Sutures ; Crohn Disease ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Female ; Fibula ; Fingers ; Foot ; Gastritis ; Hand ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic* ; Osteogenesis ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Periostitis ; Scalp ; Skin ; Stomach Ulcer ; Tibia ; Ulna

Situs inversus totalis is a rare condition with a genetic predisposition that is autosomal recessive. We report an elderly patient with situs inversus, multiple choledocholithiasis, and he was treated via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy, and then his multiple CBD stones were removed with basket and balloon. This paper further expands the application of these techniques and shows that they can be safely and effectively applied in the setting of situs inversus, although attention must be paid to the details of left-right reversal.
Aged ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledocholithiasis* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Situs Inversus*

Vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) is a 28-amino acid peptide, which may cause secretory diarrhea by stimulating the production of adenylate cyclase. Neuroendocrine tumors, secreting vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), are almost always of a pancreatic in origin. However, a pheochromocytoma may produce several neuropeptides, containing VIP, as they are considered to be neuroendocrine tumors. A 57-year-old woman, who presented with chronic watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, weight loss and a left adrenal mass, is described. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as a pheoch-romocytoma, with ganglioneuronal differentiation, and was histochemically confirmed to produce a vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. A left adrenal VIP-producing pheochromocytoma was successfully resected. After surgery, her diarrhea subsided and the electrolytes, affected neuroendocrine hormone levels, blood pressure and blood sugar level were normalized.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Diarrhea ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Middle Aged ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Neuropeptides ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide* ; Weight Loss