Ruptured triple hormone-secreting adrenal cortical carcinoma with hyperaldosteronism, hypercortisolism, and elevated normetanephrine: a case report.

We report a case of a ruptured triple hormone-secreting adrenal mass with hyperaldosteronism, hypercortisolism, and elevated normetanephrine levels, diagnosed as adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) by histology. A 53-year-old male patient who initially presented with abdominal pain was referred to our hospital for angiocoagulation of an adrenal mass rupture. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a heterogeneous 19×11×15 cm right adrenal mass with invasion into the right lobe of the liver, inferior vena cava, retrocaval lymph nodes, and aortocaval lymph nodes.

Photoresponsive Hydrogels for Studying Mechanotransduction of Cells.

Hydrogels are important platform materials for in vitro cellular studies. Mechanistic studies on durotaxis, the directional movement of a cell affected by a spatial gradient of stiffness of the underlying substrate, requires materials such as polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol, or PDMS, in which the stiffness can be controlled in a spatiotemporal manner. Here, we describe the synthesis of an o-nitrobenzyl-based photocleavable cross-linker and its incorporation into a polyacrylamide hydrogel to render it photoresponsive.

Adsorption mechanisms on perfluorooctanoic acid by FeCl modified granular activated carbon in aqueous solutions.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an emerging organic pollutant that is persistent in the environmental, and has been detected in humans, and wildlife. Several technologies, such as activated carbon (AC) adsorption have been used to remove PFOA from water. In this study, Fe-impregnation with/without post-thermal treatment of AC was applied to improve the adsorption of PFOA.

A Not-So-Ancient Grease History: Click Chemistry and Protein Lipid Modifications.

Protein lipid modification involves the attachment of hydrophobic groups to proteins via ester, thioester, amide, or thioether linkages. In this review, the specific click chemical reactions that have been employed to study protein lipid modification and their use for specific labeling applications are first described. This is followed by an introduction to the different types of protein lipid modifications that occur in biology.

Disinfection by-product formation potential of algogenic organic matter from Microcystis aeruginosa: Effects of growth phases and powdered activated carbon adsorption.

Algae can exhibit different disinfection by-product formation potential (DBPFP) depending on the characteristics of the algogenic organic matter (AOM) released during growth. In this study, the amount of AOM released by Microcystis aeruginosa and its DBPFP were compared between the exponential growth phase and the death phase. Moreover, the efficiency of DBPFP removal through powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption was evaluated.

Effects of 6 Months of Dapagliflozin Treatment on Metabolic Profile and Endothelial Cell Dysfunction for Obese Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients without Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease, but the effect of these inhibitors on early cardiovascular disease remains unknown. This study evaluated the effect of dapagliflozin on the metabolic profiles and endothelial cell function in obese patients with T2DM without established cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We enrolled 140 patients with a mean age, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of 47 years, 83 kg, and 30.

Serum Transferrin Predicts New-Onset Type 2 Diabetes in Koreans: A 4-Year Retrospective Longitudinal Study.

Background: It is well known that high serum ferritin, a marker of iron storage, predicts incident type 2 diabetes. Limited information is available on the association between transferrin, another marker of iron metabolism, and type 2 diabetes. Thus, we investigated the association between transferrin and incident type 2 diabetes.

Natural organic matter removal from algal-rich water and disinfection by-products formation potential reduction by powdered activated carbon adsorption.

Algal blooms intensified operational problems in water treatment due to the increases of taste- and odor-causing compounds and natural organic matter (NOM). Effects of powdered activated carbon (PAC) addition during algal blooms on NOM removal was investigated in this study using an algal-rich water. Water quality analyses including dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV) and specific UV absorbance (SUVA) were performed to elucidate characteristics of NOM removal by PAC adsorption.

Monitoring biofouling based on aerobic respiration in reverse osmosis system.

A monitoring method of biofouling in reverse osmosis (RO) system was proposed based on the fluorescent signal of resorufin, which is reduced by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide released from viable cells during aerobic respiration. The fluorescent signal of resorufin reduced by planktonic cells and microorganisms of biofilm showed linearity, indicating its feasibility to monitor biofouling in a RO system. For the application of the method to the lab-scale RO system, the injection concentration of resazurin and the injection flow rate were optimized.

Recent progress in enzymatic protein labelling techniques and their applications.

Protein-based conjugates are valuable constructs for a variety of applications. Conjugation of proteins to fluorophores is commonly used to study their cellular localization and the protein-protein interactions. Modification of therapeutic proteins with either polymers or cytotoxic moieties greatly enhances their pharmacokinetics or potency.

Difference in protective effects of GIP and GLP-1 on endothelial cells according to cyclic adenosine monophosphate response.

Receptors for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) are present in vascular endothelial cells. Previous studies investigating euglycemic status have demonstrated that GIP is directly involved in the physiology of blood vessels by controlling the blood flow rate of portal veins and that GLP-1 has a protective effect on blood vessels by acting on endothelial cells. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effects of GIP and GLP-1 on endothelial cells in patients with hyperglycemia remain unknown.

Comparison of formation of disinfection by-products by chlorination and ozonation of wastewater effluents and their toxicity to Daphnia magna.

This study compared the two most frequently used disinfectants (i.e., chlorine and ozone) to understand their efficiency in wastewater effluents and the ecotoxicity of disinfection by-products created during chlorination and ozonation.

Exendin-4 increases bone mineral density in type 2 diabetic OLETF rats potentially through the down-regulation of SOST/sclerostin in osteocytes.

Aim: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor participates in the control of bone resorption in GLP-1 knockout mice. Also, GLP-1 induces an insulin- and parathyroid hormone-independent osteogenic action through osteoclasts and osteoblasts in insulin-resistant and type 2 diabetic rats. Osteocytes are now considered central to bone homeostasis.

Correlations between Glucagon Stimulated C-peptide Levels and Microvascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether stimulated C-peptide is associated with microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 192 type 2 diabetic patients. Plasma basal C-peptide and stimulated C-peptide were measured before and 6 minutes after intravenous injection of 1 mg glucagon.

Serum vitamin d status and its relationship to metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The potential relationship between vitamin D (VitD) status and metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) warrants further study. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level and various parameters in patients with T2DM. We analyzed retrospectively data from 276 Korean patients with T2DM whose serum 25(OH)D level was measured in our hospital.

Bilateral transfer in active and passive guidance-reproduction based bimanual tasks: effect of proprioception and handedness.

Recently, bilateral movement training based on robot-assisted rehabilitation systems has been attracting a lot of attention as a post-stroke motor rehabilitation protocol. Since humans generate coordinated motions based on their motor and sensory systems, investigation of the innate properties of human motor or sensory systems may provide insight into planning of effective bilateral movement training. In this study, we investigate the effects of proprioception and handedness on the movement of the contra-lateral upper limb, under both active and passive guidance conditions of the robot manipulators.

Exendin-4 Protects Against Sulfonylurea-Induced β-Cell Apoptosis.

Sulfonylurea is one of the commonly used anti-diabetic drugs that stimulate insulin secretion from β-cells. Despite their glucose lowering effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus, long-term treatment brought on secondary failure characterized by β-cell exhaustion and apoptosis. ER stress induced by Ca depletion in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is speculated be one of the causes of secondary failure, but it remains unclear.

Exendin-4 protects against sulfonylurea-induced β-cell apoptosis.

Sulfonylurea is one of the commonly used anti-diabetic drugs that stimulate insulin secretion from β-cells. Despite their glucose lowering effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus, long-term treatment brought on secondary failure characterized by β-cell exhaustion and apoptosis. ER stress induced by Ca(2+) depletion in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is speculated be one of the causes of secondary failure, but it remains unclear.

Basal C-peptide Level as a Surrogate Marker of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Background: Recent studies have revealed that C-peptide induces smooth muscle cell proliferation and causes human atherosclerotic lesions in diabetic patients. The present study was designed to examine whether the basal C-peptide levels correlate with cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods: Data was obtained from 467 patients with T2DM from two institutions who were followed for four years.

Exendin-4 protects oxidative stress-induced β-cell apoptosis through reduced JNK and GSK3β activity.

Oxidative stress induced by chronic hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes plays a crucial role in progressive loss of β-cell mass through β-cell apoptosis. Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has effects on preservation of β-cell mass and its insulin secretory function. GLP-1 possibly increases islet cell mass through stimulated proliferation from β-cell and differentiation to β-cell from progenitor cells.