Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas.

During the last 100 years in medical literature, there are only 54 reports, including the report of Pasaoglu et al (World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14: 2915-2916), with clinical descriptions of agenesis of the dorsal pancreas in humans. Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas, a rare congenital pancreatic malformation, is associated with some other medical conditions such as hyperglycemia, abdominal pain, pancreatitis and a few other diseases. In approximately 50% of reported patients with this congenital malformation, hyperglycemia was demonstrated.

Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas and associated diseases.

Background: Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas is a very rare congenital pancreatic malformation and is associated with some other diseases.

Methods: A PubMed search revealed 53 cases of agenesis of the dorsal pancreas.

Results: In 28 patients with this congenital malformation hyperglycemia was demonstrated, 27 had abdominal pain, 16 had pancreatitis, 14 had an enlarged or prominent pancreatic head visible on computed tomography, and in a few cases, polysplenia, which may occur with various congenital anomalies of visceral organs, was described.

Evaluation of conditions associated with glycated hemoglobin values below the reference range.

Background: Evaluation of conditions associated with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values below the reference range in HbA1c determinations.

Methods: Over a time period of 5 years, HbA1c results were determined with the ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method HA-8140 Menarini.

Results: Of approximately 20 000 HbA1c results analyzed, 9 were below the reference range.

Osteoprotegerin serum levels in women: correlation with age, bone mass, bone turnover and fracture status.

Pre-clinical data have shown that osteoprotegerin (OPG) inhibits osteoclast function and therefore plays an important role in bone remodelling. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of serum OPG. Do higher OPG serum levels reflect decreased bone resorption and perhaps higher bone mass in women? Serum OPG levels were measured in 177 healthy women (aged 17-85 years) and in 48 untreated patients (mean age 71 +/- 5) with established osteoporosis, and related to age, bone mass, markers of bone turnover and, in the case of patients with osteoporosis, to pre-existing vertebral fractures.