Seasonal adaptation of Mangalica pigs in terms of muscle morphology and metabolism.

The skeletal muscle plays an important role in maintaining body temperature, which is mediated by thermogenesis and glucose or lipid metabolism. Mangalica is a native Hungarian pig that has cold tolerance and can live in grazing environments throughout the year. We evaluated the morphological and genetic aspects of Mangalica using muscle tissues to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the tolerance to seasonal effects in grazing environments.

Clinical outcome of subclinical Cushing's syndrome after surgical and conservative treatment.

Subclinical Cushing's syndrome (SCS), a subtle cortisol hypersecretion from an adrenal tumor, may be a common adrenal disease. However, the cardiovascular prognosis and the optimal surgical and conservative treatment in SCS remain elusive. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in 16 SCS cases, their relationships to cortisol secretory activities, and the clinical outcome after surgical and medical treatment.

Expression of prosalusin in human neuroblastoma cells.

Salusins, which are derived from the prosalusin precursor molecule, regulate hemodynamics, mitogenesis and atherogenesis. The preprosalusin gene is ubiquitously expressed, while the salusin-beta peptide is present in systemic endocrine cells and the neuroendocrine system. However, the regulatory mechanisms for the preprosalusin gene and prosalusin expression remain to be investigated.

Improvement of endothelial dysfunction in acromegaly after transsphenoidal surgery.

Flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) is a vascular functional test to detect endothelial dysfunction at the early stage of cardiovascular diseases. Patients with active acromegaly have higher morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular events. To determine whether active acromegaly is associated with endothelial dysfunction, we studied 17 patients with active acromegaly for measurements of FMD, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and other biochemical parameters before and 3 months after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS).

Advanced endothelial dysfunction in diabetic patients with multiple risk factors; importance of insulin resistance.

Aim: Endothelial dysfunction is considered an early event in the development of atherosclerosis. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors and insulin resistance are associated with endothelial function in diabetic patients.

Methods: 101 patients with type 2 diabetes without macroangiopathy stratified by the number of cardiovascular risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity) and 9 normal control subjects were studied for vascular endothelial functions by measuring flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) using a high-resolution ultrasound method, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and the ankle-brachial index (ABI).

The association of HLA with young-onset keratoconus in Japan.

Purpose: To report the association of HLA antigens with keratoconus in Japanese patients.

Design: Observational consecutive case series.

Methods: In 90 consecutive Japanese keratoconus patients, HLA class I (HLA-A, -B, -C) and class II (HLA-DR, -DQ) were analyzed.