Rare coincidence: Macro-thyroid-stimulating hormone and multiple manufacturer-specific interferences in thyroid hormone immunoassays.

Immunoassays are widely used for laboratory assessment of endocrine functions including thyroid hormones. While usually adequate for patient evaluation, they are known to potentially suffer from interference from a variety of factors. We report the case of a 44 year-old male patient without clinical symptoms of thyroid disease who presented for specialist evaluation after pathological thyroid function tests prompted a transferal by his primary care practitioner.

Intersectionality of Net Worth and Race Relative to Utilization of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Although the number of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) increases, individuals of color continue to be less likely to undergo these procedures. Socioeconomic status may be a key influencer of THA and TKA utilization and outcomes. We explore the influence of net worth and race on THA and TKA utilization and outcomes of length of stay and readmissions using a large patient database.

Growth hormone treatment adherence in prepubertal and pubertal children with different growth disorders.

Background/aims: Treatment of children with growth disorders with recombinant human growth hormone is necessary for improved outcomes, including final height.

Methods: Adherence data from the Observational Study Saizen®-online, recorded with the easypod™ device collected between October 2009 and May 2011, were analyzed in pediatric patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone treatment for a variety of growth disorders.

Results: Data from 75 children (46 boys, 29 girls) with different growth disorders were analyzed over a period of 343 ± 201 (SD) days.

Association of COLIA1 Sp1 polymorphism with the effect of subcutaneously injected recombinant hGH in GH-deficient adults.

Objective: Collagen type I is a common structural protein in bone and skin. Similar to its association with the mechanical properties of the skeleton and, thus, bone-fracture risk, the collagen type I alpha (COLIA)-1 specific protein (Sp)-1 polymorphism may be related to variations in the collagen type I-containing subcutaneous tissue and its biological properties. In this study, we analyzed a possible influence of the COLIA1 Sp1 polymorphism on the effect of subcutaneously injected recombinant human growth hormone (hGH) in GH-deficient adults.

Short stature and decreased insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)/growth hormone (GH)-ratio in an adult GH-deficient patient pointing to additional partial GH insensitivity due to a R179C mutation of the growth hormone receptor.

Objective: Genetic factors play an expanding role in understanding growth hormone (GH) disorders, therefore the German KIMS Pharmacogenetics Study was initiated with the aim of genotyping various GH-/IGF-I-axis-related genes of GH-deficient adult patients to investigate genotype:phenotype relationships and response to GH therapy.

Patients And Methods: 129 consecutively enrolled GH-deficient adult patients were genotyped for variant 1 (V1) of the alternatively spliced noncoding exons in the 5'-untranslated region and for the nine coding exons of the GH receptor (GHR) gene, which obviously play a striking role in the function of the GH-IGF-I-axis. After detection of a heterozygous, non-synonymous mutation R179C in exon 6 in one single patient with acquired GH-deficiency (GHD) in late adulthood, analysis of her clinical data followed, leading to the diagnosis of mild short stature (-1.

Antidiabetic PPAR gamma-activator rosiglitazone reduces MMP-9 serum levels in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are critically involved in the development of unstable plaques. Although arteriosclerotic lesions in patients with diabetes mellitus are more unstable than those of nondiabetic subjects, nothing is known about serum levels of MMPs in these patients or about mechanisms to modulate MMP levels. We investigated MMP levels in diabetic and nondiabetic coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and performed a clinical trial to assess the effect of the PPARgamma-activating, antidiabetic thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone on MMP levels in diabetic CAD patients.

Intravenous zoledronic acid in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density.

Background: Bisphosphonates are effective agents for the management of osteoporosis. Their low bioavailability and low potency necessitate frequent administration on an empty stomach, which may reduce compliance. Gastrointestinal intolerance limits maximal dosing.

Improved innate immunity of endotoxin-tolerant mice increases resistance to Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium infection despite attenuated cytokine response.

During infection with gram-negative bacteria, exposure of immune cells to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the bacterial cell membrane induces a rapid cytokine response which is essential for the activation of host defenses against the invading pathogens. Administration of LPS to mice induces a state of hyporesponsiveness, or tolerance, characterized by reduced cytokine production upon subsequent LPS challenge. In the model of experimental Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection of mice, we assessed the question of whether complete LPS tolerance induced by repetitive doses of LPS interfered with cytokine production and host defense against gram-negative bacteria.

Alendronate increases bone density and bone strength at the distal radius in postmenopausal women.

In addition to the alendronate Osteoporosis Intervention Trial (FOSIT) core protocol 901-0A of 1908 enrolled patients, the use of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was explored for the assessment of response to therapy. Bone mineral and strength related parameters at two different sites at the distal radius were explored in a subset of the multicenter core study. One hundred and three patients were entered into the substudy and given either a daily dose of 10 mg of alendronate or placebo for 1 year.

Randomized trial of effect of cyclical etidronate in the prevention of corticosteroid-induced bone loss. Ciblos Study Group.

Osteoporosis is a well-recognized adverse effect of corticosteroid therapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of etidronate, intermittent cyclical therapy, in the prevention of corticosteroid-induced bone loss. Patients with various medical conditions starting high-dose corticosteroid therapy were enrolled in the study.

Serum concentrations of procollagen I C-terminal propeptide, osteocalcin and insulin-like growth factor-I in patients with non-lethal osteogenesis imperfecta.

Serum concentrations of procollagen I C-terminal propeptide (PICP) were studied in 74 patients with various forms of non-lethal osteogenesis imperfecta and 27 unaffected family members. Using the standard deviation (SD) score, PICP concentrations were found to be > or = -1 SD in 16%, between -1 and -2 SD in 26% and < or = -2 SD in 58% of the patients with osteogenesis imperfecta compared to healthy controls. PICP values were lowest in osteogenesis imperfecta type I (-2.

Beta-adrenergic blood pressure regulation in Shy-Drager syndrome and pheochromocytoma.

Both Shy-Drager syndrome and pheochromocytoma are characterized by an abnormal catecholamine secretion, e.g. a reduced secretion in Shy-Drager syndrome, and an excessive stimulation in pheochromocytoma resulting in adrenergic dysfunction and in adrenergic hyperactivity, respectively.

[Bone loss in female patients with anorexia nervosa].

Osteoporosis is occasionally seen in young women with episodes of anorexia nervosa. To study anorectic osteopenia we have examined 10 patients aged 18 to 37 years before, during and after treatment. Treatment consisted of hospitalization for correction of underweight by tube feeding and subsequent psychotherapy.

Long-term fluoride therapy of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The benefit of sodium fluoride (NaF) in the therapy of osteoporosis is still controversial. For 3 years we monitored patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis subjected to a continuous treatment with 80 mg NaF/day and patients without fluoride treatment. Every 3 months peripheral total and trabecular bone densities were evaluated with high-precision low-dose quantitative computed tomography, every 6 months biochemical parameters were measured, and every year new crush fractures were determined.

Reduced parathyroid hormone response to peroral phosphate in osteoporotic patients.

To determine whether PTH secretion can be stimulated in osteoporosis by peroral phosphate (1.5 g phosphorus), we have compared serum PTH and urinary cyclic AMP responses in 8 osteoporotic patients with vertebral compression fractures to those of 7 age-matched control subjects. While there was no statistically significant difference in the rise of serum phosphate and urinary phosphate excretion and in the fall of serumionized calcium concentrations, serum PTH and urinary cyclic AMP were increased in control subjects, but not in osteoporotic patients (osteoporotics vs.

Diagnostic evaluation of measurements of carboxyl-terminal flanking peptide (PDN-21) of the human calcitonin gene in human serum.

Calcitonin and its carboxyl-terminal flanking peptide (PDN-21), also encoded by the calcitonin gene, were measured by RIA in unextracted serum of normal subjects and patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and surgically verified and suspected medullary thyroid carcinoma. Serum PDN-21 was detectable (greater than 0.005 ngeq/ml) in the large majority of normal subjects (92%), and the values increased significantly more in men than women (4.

[Comparative studies of short-term anesthesia with alfentanil/etomidate and alphaxalone/alphadolone in cats].

In a clinical study alfentanil/etomidat-short-active anaesthesia was used in 150 cats. The anaesthesia progress was compared to usual steroid anaesthesia by using clinical parameters as respiratory and pulse frequency as well as reflexes. Surgical tolerance in both anaesthesia was 6 minutes without and 7 minutes with azaperon premedication.