Complementary effects of dapagliflozin and lobeglitazone on metabolism in a diet-induced obese mouse model.

Thiazolidinedione, an insulin sensitizer, has beneficial effects on glucose metabolism; however, there are concerns regarding weight gain and heart failure. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors can reduce body weight, increase diuresis, and play a protective role in heart failure. We examined the complementary effects of dapagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, and lobeglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice.

Effect of atorvastatin on lipoxygenase pathway-related gene expression in an in vitro model of lipid accumulation in hepatocytes.

Lipid accumulation in hepatocytes can result from an imbalance between lipid acquisition and lipid catabolism. In recent years, it has been discovered that eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid (AA) have the potential to create specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators to actively resolve inflammation, but it is not clear whether AA and lipoxygenases exert effects on hepatic inflammation. Here, the effects of atorvastatin on the expression of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and lipoxygenase pathway genes (ALOX5, ALOX12, ALOX15, and ALOX15B) were evaluated in an in vitro model of palmitic acid (PA)-induced hepatocyte lipid accumulation in McA-RH7777 (McA) cells.

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity and Mode of Action of Magainin 2 against Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising therapeutic agents for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Previous studies showed that magainin 2 (isolated from African clawed fogs ) has antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The present study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial activity of magainin 2 against .

Diagnostic accuracy of plasma free metanephrines in a seated position compared with 24-hour urinary metanephrines in the investigation of pheochromocytoma.

The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of free metanephrines in plasma samples drawn in the seated position compared with 24-h urinary metanephrines in detecting pheochromocytomas in Asian patients. This prospective study was conducted at Samsung Medical Center between May 2010 and July 2011. The study contained 245 subjects, including 28 patients with histologically-proven pheochromocytoma, 44 with histologically-proven non-pheochromocytoma, 112 controls suspected of having tumors but with negative investigations during two or more years of follow-up, and 45 healthy normotensive volunteers.

Inhibitory effect of snake venom toxin on NF-κB activity prevents human cervical cancer cell growth via increase of death receptor 3 and 5 expression.

We previously found that snake venom toxin inhibits nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity in several cancer cells. NF-κB is implicated in cancer cell growth and chemoresistance. In our present study, we investigated whether snake venom toxin (SVT) inhibits NF-κB, thereby preventing human cervical cancer cell growth (Ca Ski and C33A).

Prognostic implications of radioiodine avidity and serum thyroglobulin in differentiated thyroid carcinoma with distant metastasis.

Background: Although differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) rarely develops distant metastases, the present study was performed to evaluate factors that affect the survival of patients with DTC who present with distant metastasis.

Methods: Among 4,989 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for DTC, 82 presenting with distant metastasis were analyzed. Based on radioiodine ((131)I) avidity and the thyroid-stimulating hormone-stimulated serum thyroglobulin (sTg) level at the time of metastasis, patients were divided into three groups: group 1 ((131)I uptake + sTg ≤ 215 ng/mL, n = 46), group 2 ((131)I uptake + sTg > 215 ng/mL, n = 24), group 3 (no (131)I uptake, n = 12).

Site-specific PEGylation enhances the pharmacokinetic properties and antitumor activity of interferon beta-1b.

Interferon beta (IFN-β) is widely used to ameliorate disease progression in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. IFN-β has a short half-life in humans, necessitating frequent administration for optimum effectiveness. Covalent modification of IFN-β with polyethylene glycol (PEG) improves the pharmacokinetic properties of the protein, but can adversely affect the protein's in vitro bioactivity.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma recurring as squamous cell carcinoma 10 years after total thyroidectomy: lessons from rapidly progressive papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the thyroid is very rare. There are no reports of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) converting to SCC in cervical lymph nodes following total thyroidectomy due to conventional PTC. An 86-year-old woman with a remote history of total thyroidectomy due to PTC underwent palliative neck surgery to treat recurrent bleeding originating from a metastatic tumor of the cervical lymph nodes.

ERK phosphorylation is not increased in papillary thyroid carcinomas with BRAF(V600E) mutation compared to that of corresponding normal thyroid tissues.

Background: An association between a BRAF(V600E) mutation and upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in human papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues has not been demonstrated well outside of in vitro studies. The aims of this study were to evaluate the activation status of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in human PTCs with BRAF(V600E) mutations compared to that of corresponding normal thyroid tissue and to determine the expressions of Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) and MAPK phosphatase 3 (MKP-3), possible regulators of ERK1/2 activation.

Methods: We analyzed the presence of BRAF(V600E) mutation and the expressions of BRAF, total ERK, p-ERK, RKIP, and MKP-3 in 33 PTCs and corresponding normal thyroid gland tissues using western blot analysis.

Postoperative-stimulated serum thyroglobulin measured at the time of 131I ablation is useful for the prediction of disease status in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Background: This study was conducted to identify the relevant cutoff value and to evaluate the usefulness of postoperative-stimulated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) at the time of (131)I ablation for the prediction of disease status in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) who received high-dose (131)I ablation therapy after total thyroidectomy.

Methods: We analyzed 218 consecutively enrolled patients who were diagnosed with DTC and underwent total thyroidectomy. All patients underwent (131)I ablation at doses of 100-200 mCi, and stimulated serum Tg was measured at the time of (131)I ablation therapy.

BRAFV600E mutation in fine-needle aspiration aspirates: Association with poorer prognostic factors in larger papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Background: Recent studies have shown that BRAF(V600E) mutation is associated with poor prognostic factors in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, there are no studies about the association of the BRAF(V600E) mutation with poor prognostic factors according to tumor size in PTC.

Methods: We investigated the prevalence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation and its association with prognostic factors according to tumor size of PTC.

Characteristics of Killian-Jamieson diverticula mimicking a thyroid nodule.

Background: Killian-Jamieson (K-J) diverticula have been incidentally detected on neck ultrasonography and could be misdiagnosed as thyroid nodules. The purpose of this study was to define the clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of K-J diverticula.

Methods: We analyzed 13 patients with K-J diverticula mimicking thyroid nodules including 4 of our patients and 11 previously reported cases between 1984 and August 2009.

The ability of β-cells to compensate for insulin resistance is restored with a reduction in excess growth hormone in Korean acromegalic patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of diabetes and to study the effects of excess growth hormone (GH) on insulin sensitivity and β-cell function in Korean acromegalic patients. One hundred and eighty-four acromegalic patients were analyzed to assess the prevalence of diabetes, and 52 naïve acromegalic patients were enrolled in order to analyze insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. Patients underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test with measurements of GH, glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels.

Postoperative spindle cell nodule after thyroidectomy: a case mimicking recurrence with anaplastic transformation of thyroid cancer.

Background: Here, we report a case of a postoperative spindle cell nodule that mimicked recurrence with anaplastic transformation after thyroidectomy.

Methods: The course of the disease is described. The mass was studied morphologically and immunohistochemically.

Identification of a cut-off for the MACIS score to predict the prognosis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and young adults.

Background: The metastases, age at diagnosis, completeness of resection, invasion, size of the tumor (MACIS) scoring system was developed to predict disease-specific survival in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), mainly for adults, with a cut-off score of 6. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its ability to predict prognosis of DTC in children and young adults.

Methods: The medical records of 66 children and young adult (<21 years old) patients with DTC were reviewed retrospectively.

Parafibromin immunohistochemical staining to differentiate parathyroid carcinoma from parathyroid adenoma.

Background: Parafibromin is a protein encoded by the HRPT2 oncosuppressor gene, and the expression is reported to be decreased or absent in parathyroid carcinomas.

Methods: A total of 26 tumor specimens from 18 patients with adenoma and 8 patients with carcinoma were immune-stained with an antibody against parafibromin.

Results: Parafibromin immunostaining showed strong positivity in 17 of 18 adenomas.

Diagnostic value of a chimeric TSH receptor (Mc4)-based bioassay for Graves' disease.

Background/aims: Graves' disease (GD) is caused by thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI). We used a recently introduced, technically enhanced TSI bioassay to assess its diagnostic value and determine the cut-off in patients in high iodine intake area.

Methods: In a cross-sectional setting, we collected serum from 67 patients with untreated GD, 130 with GD under treatment, 22 with GD in remission, 42 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 12 with subacute thyroiditis, 20 with postpartum thyroiditis, and 93 euthyroid controls.

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.