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.

Association of Blood Pressure With Cardio-Renal Events and Mortality in Type 2 DM: A National Health Insurance Database.

Context: The relationship of blood pressure (BP) with cardio-renal events and all-cause mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is still controversial.

Objective: To investigate the optimal BP target in Korean individuals with T2DM.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance System database, data of individuals with T2DM who underwent regular health checks from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2007, were extracted (N = 1 800 073).

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.

Association between the Diabetes Drug Cost and Cardiovascular Events and Death in Korea: A National Health Insurance Service Database Analysis.

Backgruound: This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of diabetes drug costs on cardiovascular (CV) events and death.

Methods: This retrospective observational study used data from 2009 to 2018 from the National Health Insurance in Korea. Among the patients with type 2 diabetes, those taking antidiabetic drugs and who did not have CV events until 2009 were included.

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).

Germline mutation of Glu70Lys is highly frequent in Korean patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an inherited tumor syndrome caused by germline mutations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene. It is characterized by hemangioblastoma in the central nervous system and retina, renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic tumor and cysts, and pheochromocytoma. In this study, we detected 26 germline mutations in the VHL gene of Korean patients, of which 1 was a novel mutation, c.

Predictive factors of durability to sitagliptin: Slower reduction of glycated hemoglobin, older age and higher baseline glycated hemoglobin.

Aims/introduction: The goal of the present study was to evaluate predictive factors for good efficacy and durability to sitagliptin with ongoing metformin or metformin plus glimepiride therapy in a real practice situation. The present observational study was carried out over a 60-week period and involved Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: A total of 100 mg of sitagliptin were added once daily to the two most popular therapy regimens (group 1: metformin, group 2: metformin plus glimepiride).

Testosterone replacement and bone mineral density in male pituitary tumor patients.

Background: Hypopituitarism is associated with osteoporosis and osteopenia especially when hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is present. Despite hypopituitarism being an important cause of secondary osteoporosis, osteoporosis in patients receiving surgery for pituitary tumors in Korea has not been studied. In this study, we evaluated the effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in postoperative hypogonadal patients with pituitary tumors.

A quasi-solid-state rechargeable lithium-oxygen battery based on a gel polymer electrolyte with an ionic liquid.

A quasi-solid-state lithium-oxygen battery constructed using a gel polymer electrolyte with an ionic liquid is proposed. The battery architecture incorporates a design feature that can be easily scaled up in size for use in large systems. The feasibility study demonstrates that the battery operates successfully for repeated discharge-charge cycles.

Sequential treatment of HPV E6 and E7-expressing TC-1 cells with bortezomib and celecoxib promotes apoptosis through p-p38 MAPK-mediated downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK2.

Interruption of the cell cycle is accompanied by changes in several related molecules that result in the activation of apoptosis. The present study was performed to verify the apoptotic effects of sequential treatment with bortezomib and celecoxib in TC-1 cells expressing the human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 proteins. In TC-1 cells sequentially treated with bortezomib and celecoxib, apoptosis was induced through decreased expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3), cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2, which are major regulators of the G0/G1 cell cycle checkpoint.

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).

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.

Promoting Li2O2 oxidation by an La(1.7)Ca(0.3)Ni(0.75)Cu(0.25)O4 layered perovskite in lithium-oxygen batteries.

We demonstrate for the first time that La(1.7)Ca(0.3)Ni(0.

Euthyroid status after total thyroidectomy due to functioning lung metastases from a clear cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Although functioning thyroid cancer metastases have been reported, they have almost never been reported for the clear cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Here we describe a patient with disseminated lung metastases of the clear cell variant of PTC who presented in the euthyroid state despite discontinuance of levothyroxine after total thyroidectomy.

Patient Findings: A 49-year-old woman underwent total thyroidectomy for the clear cell variant of PTC in March 2002.

Ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid tissue mimicking metastatic tissue.

Background: Ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid is extremely rare, with only about two cases reported in the literature. These cases were found either during the work-up of a solitary pulmonary nodule or at autopsy. Here, we report a case of ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid mimicking multiple pulmonary metastases from an endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus.

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.

Cancer cells containing nanoscale chemotherapeutic drugs generate antiovarian cancer-specific CD4+ T cells in peritoneal space.

Owing to the poor prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer, new treatment strategies immediately need to be developed. Although several immunotherapeutic approaches have been examined for the treatment of advanced stage ovarian cancer, their implementation in clinical practice remains low. We previously showed doxorubicin-treated murine ovarian cancer cells [murine ovarian surface epithelial cells (MOSECs)] are able to deliver drug to adjacent cells in vivo to eradicate tumor cells.

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.

Anti-proliferative effect and action mechanism of dexamethasone in human medullary thyroid cancer cell line.

Introduction: Dexamethasone is known to inhibit the cell proliferation of certain transformed cell lines. In this study, the effect and action mechanism of dexamethasone were examined in the human medullary thyroid cancer cell line, TT cells.

Methods: TT cells were treated with or without dexamethasone.