The utility of voriconazole therapeutic drug monitoring in a multi-racial cohort in Southeast Asia.

Objectives: Voriconazole serum concentration, which is affected by several factors, is associated with treatment response and toxicity. There is paucity of data on voriconazole therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) among Southeast Asians, who exhibit a higher prevalence of CYP2C19-poor metabolisers compared with Caucasians and East Asians. Hence, there are concerns for higher risk of voriconazole accumulation and toxicity.

Nasal high-mobility group box 1 and caspase in bronchiolitis.

Objective: Nasal biomarkers have potential to add objectivity to the clinical assessment of the child with bronchiolitis. We aim to study, if nasal caspase and high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) levels differ between patients who were hospitalized and those discharged from the emergency department (ED), among patients with bronchiolitis.

Methods: Using an observational cross-sectional study design, we recruited patients younger than 24 months presenting to the ED from September 1, 2015 to May 31, 2017 with a diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis.

Alterations in branched-chain amino acid kinetics in nonobese but insulin-resistant Asian men.

Background: Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are elevated in the insulin-resistant (IR) state. The reasons for this increase remain unclear, but it may be related to abnormalities in BCAA metabolism and free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism.

Objective: In this study, we quantified BCAA and FFA kinetics of IR and insulin-sensitive (IS) nonobese Asian men with the use of stable-isotope tracers.

Comprehensive Assessment of the Effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy on Glucose, Lipid, and Amino Acid Metabolism in Asian Individuals with Morbid Obesity.

Background: Obesity-induced insulin resistance leads to abnormalities in glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. Our study examined the differences in insulin-mediated glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism between morbidly obese subjects with non-obese controls and the associated changes following sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

Methods: Non-obese controls and individuals with morbid obesity and scheduled for SG were recruited.

Physiological and Metabolic Changes During the Transition from Hyperthyroidism to Euthyroidism in Graves' Disease.

Background: The serum metabolomic profile and its relationship to physiological changes during hyperthyroidism and restoration to euthyroidism are not known. This study aimed to examine the physiological, adipokine, and metabolomic changes that occur when subjects with Graves' disease transition from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism with medical treatment.

Methods: Chinese women between 21 and 50 years of age and with newly diagnosed Graves' disease attending the endocrine outpatient clinics in a single institution were recruited between July 2012 and September 2014.

The Effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass on Branched-Chain Amino Acid Metabolism 1 Year After Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Weight loss, early after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GB) surgery, is associated with reduced concentrations of plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and improved insulin sensitivity. Herein, we evaluated whether changes in BCAAs and insulin sensitivity persist with weight stabilization (1 year) after GB or sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

Methods: We prospectively examined 22 severely obese patients (mean age 40.

Thyroid Autoimmune Antibodies and Major Depressive Disorder in Women.

Introduction: Anti-thyroid antibodies are associated with extra-thyroid diseases such as Graves' ophthalmopathy and Hashimoto's encephalopathy. Some evidence suggests that anti-thyroid antibodies are also associated with depression. Interleukin (IL)-17 appears to play an important role in autoimmune thyroid disease.

Hypoxia increases adipogenesis and affects adipocytokine production in orbital fibroblasts-a possible explanation of the link between smoking and Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Aim: To assess the effects of hypoxia on human orbital fibroblasts (OF) on adipogenesis and adipocytokine production.

Methods: Human OF were derived from tissues obtained from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and from patients without known thyroid diseases undergoing blepharoplasty. The OF were cultured separately under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

Vasopressin and copeptin levels in children with sepsis and septic shock.

Purpose: Levels of vasopressin and its precursor copeptin in pediatric sepsis and septic shock are not well defined. The main aim of this study is to compare the serum levels of vasopressin and copeptin in children with septic shock or sepsis and in healthy children. We hypothesized that vasopressin and copeptin levels are elevated in early and late stages of pediatric septic shock.

Detection of thyroid peroxidase mRNA and protein in orbital tissue.

Objective: We have previously reported that the absence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) in Graves' disease (GD) was associated with an increased risk of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). This observation raised the possibility that TPOAb could act as a protective factor. However, the presence of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in the orbit has not been previously reported.