Concomitant Cushing's Disease and Marked Hyperprolactinemia: Response to a Dopamine Receptor Agonist.

A 38-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of amenorrhea, multiple bone fractures, and a Cushingoid appearance. Endocrinological investigations revealed that she had co-existing Cushing's disease and prolactinoma, with a serum level of prolactin (PRL) at 1,480 ng/mL, corticotropin (ACTH) at 81.3 pg/mL, and cortisol at 16.

Plasma leptin level is associated with cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes: HSCAA study.

Background: It has been shown that visceral fat accumulation is associated with autonomic dysfunction, though the precise mechanism remains unclear. A recent basic study found that leptin can directly modulate autonomic function through the dorsomedial hypothalamus in relation to obesity. Here, we investigated the mutual relationships among plasma leptin, visceral fat accumulation, and cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Nonpharmacological Management of Gout and Hyperuricemia: Hints for Better Lifestyle.

We reviewed lifestyle factors that influence serum uric acid levels and risk of gout flare, and how to improve their deleterious effects. Since obesity increases uric acid and weight gain increases gout risk, weight reduction by daily exercise and limiting intake of excess calories is recommended. However, strenuous exercise, which causes adenine nucleotide degradation; starvation, which decreases uric acid excretion; and dehydration may raise the level of uric acid in serum and trigger gout.

Partial HPRT Deficiency with a Novel Mutation of the HPRT Gene in Combination with Four Previously Reported Variants Associated with Hyperuricemia.

A 15-year-old boy was referred to our department due to gout. The laboratory findings showed hyperuricemia with a decreased erythrocyte hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) activity. The HPRT cDNA sequence was revealed to be 206A>T, which has not been previously reported.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma accompanied by uncontrollable eosinophilia.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a rare disease, and cases associated with eosinophilia are even rarer. We herein report a case of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma accompanied by remarkable and uncontrollable eosinophilia. A 71-year-old man was diagnosed with end-stage anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Oncostatin M Promotes Osteoblastic Differentiation of Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Through JAK3-STAT3 Pathway.

Vascular calcification is a clinically significant component of atherosclerosis and arises from chronic vascular inflammation. Oncostatin M (OSM) derived from plaque macrophages may contribute to the development of atherosclerotic calcification. Here, we investigated the stimulatory effects of OSM on osteoblastic differentiation of human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMC) derived from various arteries including umbilical artery, aorta, and coronary artery and its signaling pathway.

Acute Effects of Oral Tofisopam on Plasma Concentration and Urinary Excretion of Uric Acid and Oxypurinol "Preliminary Communication".

The effects of tofisopam, a GABA-receptor agonist, following oral administration (300mg) with and without allopurinol pretreatment on the plasma concentration and renal transport of uric acid and oxypurinol were investigated in 5 healthy subjects. Fractional and urinary excretions of uric acid were both significantly increased at 2-3 hours after tofisopam administration (559% and 459%, respectively), while plasma uric acid concentration was significantly decreased (36%) at 2.5 hours, suggesting that tofisopam affects uric acid metabolism via the tubular transport system.

Sleep, cardiac autonomic function, and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with cardiovascular risks: HSCAA study.

Objectives: Behavioral and psychosocial factors have been gaining increased attention in regard to cardiovascular diseases. We evaluated sleep conditions, cardiac autonomic function, and carotid atherosclerosis in subjects who participated in the Hyogo Sleep Cardio-Autonomic Atherosclerosis (HSCAA) Study.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 330 serial patients registered in the HSCAA study who were free from past cardiovascular diseases, and prescribing α- or β-blockers.

Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor and reverse dipping pattern of nocturnal blood pressure in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.

Context: Basic studies have shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has critical roles in the survival, growth, maintenance, and death of central and peripheral neurons, while it is also involved in regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Furthermore, recent clinical studies have suggested potential role of plasma BDNF in the circulatory system.

Objective: We investigated the mutual relationships among plasma BDNF, patterns of nocturnal blood pressure changes (dippers, non-dippers, extra-dippers, and reverse-dippers), and cardiac autonomic function as determined by heart rate variability (HRV).

Direct, acute effects of Klotho and FGF23 on vascular smooth muscle and endothelium.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is regarded as a state of Klotho deficiency and FGF23 excess. In patients with CKD a strong association has been found between increased serum FGF23 and mortality risk, possibly via enhanced atherosclerosis, vascular stiffness, and vascular calcification. The aim of this study was to examine the hypothesis that soluble Klotho and FGF23 exert direct, rapid effects on the vessel wall.

Vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease: are biomarkers useful for probing the pathobiology and the health risks of this process in the clinical scenario?

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a particularly high risk for cardiovascular disease. Vascular calcification (VC) is considered a cardiovascular risk marker, so in CKD patients screening for the presence of VC is suggested in current guidelines. VC is the result of both passive and active processes that involve a variety of proteins and factors.

Vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease: a review.

Vascular calcification (VC), an independent and strong predictor of cardiovascular risk, is often found in CKD patients. The degree of VC is providing incremental prognostic value over traditional risk markers. There is interest in improving our understanding of mechanisms, establishing diagnostic methods and effective prevention and treatment modalities.

The clinical impact of plasma leptin levels in a cohort of chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: Recent research has clarified the relationship between adipokines, metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The results of animal and clinical studies have revealed a positive relationship between leptin and vascular smooth muscle cell counts and calcification, arterial rigidity, carotid thickness and the incidence of CVD. However, despite leptin fulfilling the definition of a uremic toxin, its exact role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) has yet to be determined.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway regulates inflammatory mediators-induced calcification of human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Background: Vascular calcification is a clinically significant component of atherosclerosis and may be promoted by inflammatory stimuli. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of cell metabolism, survival, migration, and inflammatory responses in various cell types.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the roles of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in human vascular smooth muscle cell (HVSMC) calcification induced by the inflammatory mediators (IM) including interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, oncostatin M, and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.