An independent positive relationship between the serum total osteocalcin level and fat-free mass in healthy premenopausal women.

Context: It is widely reported that osteocalcin is negatively associated with fat mass. However, there are few reports describing its correlation with fat-free mass, particularly in women.

Objectives: The objective of the current study was to investigate the possible relationship between osteocalcin and fat-free mass in healthy, nonobese women.

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure on fat mass and serum leptin concentrations have no impact on bone mineral densities in non-obese premenopausal women.

Objectives: Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure may promote obesity, but its effect on bone mineral density (BMD) has not been reported in humans. We aimed to examine the relationships between BPA exposure, body composition, serum estradiol, leptin, osteocalcin levels and BMDs in healthy premenopausal women.

Design And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 246 healthy premenopausal women aged 20 years and older with regular menstrual cycles were investigated.

Two unusual cases of intractable hyperthyroidism responsive to octreotide: Munchausen syndrome or not?

Background: The effective treatment for patients with resistant hyperthyroidism is difficult.

Methods: In this case report with 4-year follow-up data, we present 2 unusual cases of hyperthyroidism that were unresponsive to almost all antithyroid treatments including total thyroidectomy, but both were controlled with octreotide.

Results: Cases 1 and 2 were both middle-aged women.

IGF-1 as an early marker for low bone mass or osteoporosis in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

To find out which of the following parameters-serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), osteoprotegerin (OPG), leptin, osteocalcin (OC), and urinary excretion of N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx), can be used as an early marker for osteopenia/osteoporosis in women diagnosed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), 282 premenopausal and 222 postmenopausal women aged 20-75 years were investigated by the measurement of bone mineral densities (BMDs) at lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) by DXA, together with serum concentrations of IGF-1, OPG, leptin, OC, and urinary NTx. The characteristics of the earliest marker(s) were tested with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity parameters were determined.

[Study of the impact of candidate genes on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women].

Objective: To investigate the impact of multiple candidate genes on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in 205 postmenopausal women. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing technique were used to identify osteoprotegerin gene polymorphism.

The influence of Lys3Asn polymorphism in the osteoprotegerin gene on bone mineral density in Chinese postmenopausal women.

The objective was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exons of the osteoprotegerin gene and to analyze the relationship between the SNPs and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing methods to identify SNPs and genotypes in 205 postmenopausal women. BMD at the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck (FN) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

[The relationships between changes of serum osteoprotegerin, nuclear factor-kappa B ligand receptor activator, and age, menopause, bone biochemical markers and bone mineral densities in women aged 20 - 75].

Objective: To investigate the relationships between the serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) with age, menopause, bone biochemical markers and bone mineral densities (BMDs) in pre- and postmenopausal women and to determine the contributing factors for serum OPG and RANKL.

Methods: 504 pre- and postmenopausal women aged between 20 and 75 years were enrolled in this study. BMDs at lumbar spine and proximal femur were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorption meter.

[The relationship between body composition measured with bioelectric impedance analysis and bone mass in female].

Objective: To investigate the effect of fat mass and fat-free mass on bone mineral density (BMD) in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Methods: 282 premenopausal women with regular menstruation and 205 postmenopausal women were enrolled in this study. BMD at lumbar spine (L(2 - 4)) and femoral neck (FN) were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Relationship between body composition and bone mineral density in healthy young and premenopausal Chinese women.

This study investigated the relative contribution of fat mass and lean mass to bone mineral density (BMD) in young and premenopausal healthy Chinese women. The study was performed in 282 young and premenopausal healthy women with regular menstrual cycles. The BMD at lumbar spine (L2-L4), total hip and total body, together with fat mass and lean mass were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA); body height, weight, waist and hip circumference were also measured, and body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio were calculated.

[Association of calcitonin receptor gene polymorphism with bone mineral density in Shanghai women].

Objective: To investigate the association of calcitonin receptor (CTR) gene polymorphism with bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Methods: CTR genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 184 premenopausal women and 199 postmenopausal women in Shanghai area. BMD at lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck (FN) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

[Relationship between body composition and bone mineral density in healthy premenopausal women].

Objective: To investigate the relative contribution of fat mass and lean mass on bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal healthy women.

Methods: The BMD at lumbar spine, proximal femur and total body, together with fat mass and lean mass was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), the body height, weight, waist, and hip circumference were also measured, and body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio were calculated in 282 premenopausal women.

Results: Fat mass was a major determinant for BMI, BMI and lean mass were positively related with L2-4, proximal femur and total body BMD (P = 0.

[Effect of berberine on the differentiation of adipocyte].

Objective: To observe the effect of berberine on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes and to elucidate its mechanism.

Methods: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured and then divided into 7 groups into whose media were added berberine of the concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 micro mol/L, 100 nmol/Linsulin, and 10 micro mol/L berberine + 100 nmol/L insulin.

[A case report and pedigree study of a single point mutation in RET proto-oncogene and type 2B multiple endocrine neoplasia].

Objective: To determine the relationship between a single point mutation in RET proto-oncogene and the occurrence of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN-2B) in a Chinese pedigree.

Methods: We used the methods of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and direct gene sequencing of PCR products by an automated DNA sequencer to scan the entire exon 16 of RET proto-oncogene in the tumor (c)DNA from one patient with MEN-2B and the leukocyte DNA from this patient and both of his parents.

Results: We found the same mutation Met(ATG)-->Thr(ACG) at codon 918 in exon 16 of RET proto-oncogene in both the tumor (c)DNA and leukocyte DNA of the MEN-2B patient in the form of homozygous missense mutation, but there was no corresponding mutation in leukocytes DNA of his parents.

[Combined effect of interleukin-6 and estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms on bone mass in postmenopausal women].

Objective: To examine the individual and combined effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and estrogen receptor (ER) gene polymorphisms on the Z score of bone mineral density (BMD).

Methods: BMD at lumbar spine (L(2 - 4)) and femoral neck (FN) were analyzed in 205 postmenopausal Chinese women by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Polymorphic 3'flanking region of IL-6 gene and the allelic variance in ER gene PvuII and XbaI sites were studied by polymerase chain reaction.

A complex heterozygous mutation of His373Leu and Asp487-Ser488-Phe489 deletion in human cytochrome P450c17 causes 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency in three Chinese sisters.

Cytochrome P450c17 deficiency is one of the rare forms of enzyme disorders in steroid biosynthesis, resulting from defects in 17alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities. The disease is caused by the mutations in CYP17 gene, inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. We reported a Chinese family with three sisters suffering from P450c17 deficiency based on their clinical features and molecular genetics.