Smaller Mean LDL Particle Size and Higher Proportion of Small Dense LDL in Korean Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Background: Small dense low density lipoprotein (sdLDL) has recently emerged as an important risk factor of coronary heart disease.

Methods: The mean LDL particle size was measured in 203 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 212 matched subjects without diabetes using polyacrylamide tube gel electrophoresis. Major vascular complications were defined as stroke, angiographically-documented coronary artery disease or a myocardial infarction.

Daily urine iodine excretion while consuming a low-iodine diet in preparation for radioactive iodine therapy in a high iodine intake area.

Objective: Recommended durations of low-iodine diet (LID) in preparation for radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) vary among major guidelines and are important for patients in areas where iodine intake is high. The aim of this study was to investigate daily changes in urine iodine excretion after starting a LID.

Design: The daily iodine/creatinine (I/Cr) ratios and simple iodine concentration (simple I) of morning spot urine from 19 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were measured for 2 weeks from the start of LID for RAIT preparation.

A case of resistance to thyroid hormone with thyroid cancer.

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder that is difficult to diagnose because of its rarity and variable clinical features. The magnitude of RTH is caused by mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TR beta) gene. We recently treated a 38-yr-old woman with RTH who had incidental papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Trophic molecules derived from human mesenchymal stem cells enhance survival, function, and angiogenesis of isolated islets after transplantation.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), also known as multipotent progenitor cells, release several factors that support cell survival and enhance wound healing. We hypothesized that MSC-secreted molecules would induce a trophic effect in pancreatic islet culture conditions.

Methods: Pancreatic islets were co-cultured with MSCs, and ADP/ATP ratios, glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), and DNA fragmentation were evaluated to measure islet quality and viability in vitro.

Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia caused by an activating mutation of the calcium-sensing receptor gene: the first case report in Korea.

Hypoparathyroidism is an abnormality of calcium metabolism characterized by low serum levels of parathyroid hormone in spite of hypocalcemia. The causes of hypoparathyroidism are numerous. Activating mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) gene are well-known causes of familial isolated hypoparathyroidism, also known as autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH).

Usefulness of iodine/creatinine ratio from spot-urine samples to evaluate the effectiveness of low-iodine diet preparation for radioiodine therapy.

Objective: The success of a low-iodine diet (LID) is best determined by measurement of 24-h urine iodine (U-I) excretion. The aim of this study was to determine reliable estimates for 24-h U-I based on spot-urine samples and to provide cut-offs to determine the effectiveness of LID preparation.

Design: We prospectively measured iodine levels in 193 patients based on 24-h- and spot-urine samples before radioactive iodine therapy.

Overtly manifested diabetes mellitus after resection of insulinoma.

Insulinoma is the most common cause of endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in adults. However, the coincidence of insulinoma and diabetes is extremely uncommon. We describe a rare, but very interesting case of diabetes mellitus which was masked by insulinoma and was overtly manifest after the removal of the insulinoma.