Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 protects mice from high-fat diet-induced metabolic stress by limiting oxidative damage to the mitochondria from brown adipose tissue.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) is an NADP-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate in the mitochondrial matrix, and is critical for the production of NADPH to limit the accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we showed that high-fat diet (HFD) feeding resulted in accelerated weight gain in the IDH2KO mice due to a reduction in whole-body energy expenditure. Moreover, the levels of NADP, NADPH, NAD, and NADH were significantly decreased in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) of the HFD-fed IDH2KO animals, accompanied by decreased mitochondrial function and reduced expression of key genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, energy expenditure, and ROS resolution.

[Comparative electron microscopy study of the bone surfaces relief after ultrasonic and mechanical high-speed bone removal in orbital decompression].

Purpose: To compare the results of scanning electron microscopy studies of the surface of bone fragments of orbital lateral wall formed by mechanical and ultrasonic bone removal devices.

Material And Methods: The surfaces of 7 bone fragments have been investigated after bony orbital decompression in patients with thyroid eye disease (TED). Electron microscopy of the bone relief was performed after exposure to an ultrasonic surgical system or a high-speed drill.

[Intravitreal therapy of diabetic macular edema in Russian Federation: current state of the problem].

Currently there is a significant increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus all over the world, and Russia is not an exception. With the increase in patients with diabetic retinopathy, also rises the incidence of diabetic macular edema, which can lead to persistent loss of vision and disability dramatically affecting the quality of life. Antiangiogenic therapy that is effectively used all over world has specific features for clinical practice in Russia because of its high cost, insufficient public funding, low patient compliance, remoteness of patients from the places of medical care, and low awareness of both patients and doctors about the treatment effectiveness and required regimen.

Multi-dimensional immunoproteomics coupled with in vitro recapitulation of oncogenic NRAS identifies diagnostically relevant autoantibody biomarkers in thyroid neoplasia.

Tumor-associated antigen (TAA)-specific autoantibodies have been widely implicated in cancer diagnosis. However, cancer cell lines that are typically exploited as candidate TAA sources in immunoproteomic studies may fail to accurately represent the autoantigen-ome of lower-grade neoplasms. Here, we established an integrated strategy for the identification of disease-relevant TAAs in thyroid neoplasia, which combined NRAS oncogene expression in non-tumorous thyroid Nthy-ori 3-1 cells with a multi-dimensional proteomic technique DISER that consisted of profiling NRAS-induced proteins using 2-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) coupled with serological proteome analysis (SERPA) of the TAA repertoire of patients with thyroid encapsulated follicular-patterned/RAS-like phenotype (EFP/RLP) tumors.

[Morphofunctional features of non-functioning pituitary adenomas].

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) account for about 30% of all pituitary tumors. NFPAs are characterized by the lack of secretory potential or its weak expression insufficient for determination of the blood level of adenohypophyseal tropic hormones and for development of a specific clinical picture. Morphologically, NFPAs are a heterogeneous group of tumors, the classification of which was previously based only on immunoreactivity for pituitary tropic hormones.

[Histopatological and molecular genetic characteristics of clinically aggressive variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma].

Papillary carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed form of well-differentiated thyroid cancer that is generally characterized by a favorable prognosis. However, a number of relatively rare variants of this tumor, such as papillary carcinoma of high cells, papillary carcinoma of columnar cells, a diffuse sclerosing variant and recently described cancer of shoe nail cell type, are characterized by a less favorable clinical course, a high frequency of distant metastasis, and relatively low overall and relapse-free survival rates. In this connection, it is important to recognize these options at the stage of a primary morphological study.

The risk factors for fractures and trabecular bone-score value in patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome.

Unlabelled: In a cohort study of 182 consecutive patients with active endogenous Cushing's syndrome, the only predictor of fracture occurrence after adjustment for age, gender bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) was 24-h urinary free cortisol (24hUFC) levels with a threshold of 1472 nmol/24 h (odds ratio, 3.00 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.52-5.

Does Supplementation with Royal Jelly Improve Oxidative Stress and Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetic Patients?

Background: Animal studies have shown antioxidant effects of Royal Jelly (RJ) and its effect on insulin resistance as the most common complication of Type 2 diabetes. This study was conducted to determine the effect of RJ intake on serum total antioxidant capacity, Malondialdehyde and insulin resistance in T2DM.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, forty-six type 2 diabetic patients, aged 25-65 years, with BMI of 20-30 kg/m(2), and HbA1c of 6-8% were included.

Role of elevated serum uric acid levels at the onset of overt nephropathy in the risk for renal function decline in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims/introduction: Despite the use of intensive therapies, declining renal function is often observed during the overt nephropathy stage of type 2 diabetes. We aimed at investigating the role of serum uric acid (SUA) levels at the onset of overt nephropathy in the risk of renal function decline in type 2 diabetes patients.

Materials And Methods: The present cohort study included 290 type 2 diabetes patients who were followed from the onset of overt nephropathy.

Target antigens for perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in Iranian patients with ulcerative colitis.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) carry autoantibodies such as perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA).

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the target antigens for p-ANCA in Iranian patients with UC. METHODS p-ANCA target antigens including elastase, lactoferrin, cathepsin G, myeloproxidase, lysozyme, and bactericidal permeability increasing protein (BPI) were determined in 113 patients with UC using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Serum extracellular secreted antagonists of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

Unlabelled: Patients with endogenous hypercortisolism have higher sclerostin, but do not differ in Dickkopf 1 (Dkk1) or secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) levels as compared to healthy control.

Introduction: Endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS), usually affecting young and otherwise healthy patients, is a good model to validate the effects of supraphysiological levels of glucocorticoids in humans. This study evaluates circulating levels of extracellular antagonists of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (sclerostin, Dkk1, SFRP1) in patients with CS versus healthy individuals.

Aberrant l1 cell adhesion molecule affects tumor behavior and chemosensitivity in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Purpose: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most invasive human cancers and has a poor prognosis. Molecular targets of ATC that determine its highly aggressive nature remain unidentified. This study investigated L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) expression and its role in tumorigenesis of ATCs.

Diagnostic performance of late-night salivary cortisol measured by automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in obese and overweight patients referred to exclude Cushing's syndrome.

This study estimates diagnostic performance of late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) as measured by automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA), evaluates the clinical implication of two consecutive LNSC measurements, and compares its accuracy with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum cortisol after low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in obese and overweight patients referred for suspected Cushing's syndrome (CS). One hundred twenty three consecutive obese and overweight referred patients and 98 healthy volunteers provided two saliva samples collected at 23:00 using a Salivette (Sarstedt, Germany), assayed by ECLIA (Cobas e601) and ELISA. The patients underwent DST and were further evaluated until CS was pathologically confirmed (n = 45) or excluded.

Breaking the vicious circle of obesity: the metabolic syndrome and low testosterone by administration of testosterone to a young man with morbid obesity.

Objective: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with low serum testosterone levels. Conversely, low testosterone levels induce MS. These operational mechanisms reinforce one another and induce a vicious cycle.

Improvement of the diabetic foot upon testosterone administration to hypogonadal men with peripheral arterial disease. Report of three cases.

Background: Lower extremity complications (neuropathy, ulceration, infection, and peripheral arterial disease) are common in diabetes mellitus. There is an inverse relation between plasma testosterone and insulin sensitivity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and HbA1c concentrations.

Methods: We report the beneficial effects of administration of testosterone to three men with a diabetic foot whose serum testosterone was subnormal.

The response of corticotropin and adrenal steroids to desmopressin stimulation in patients with various forms of hypercortisolism.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the direct action of desmopressin (agonist of vasopressin) on the hypophysis and the three zones of the adrenal cortex in patients with different forms of hypercortisolism.

Design: Forty-three patients with hypercortisolism-21 with Cushing's disease (14 females, 7 males), 11 with extrapituitary, ectopic tumours (5 females, 6 males), and 11 with ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome (6 females, 5 males)-were evaluated. The response of the pituitary and adrenal glands was assessed by measuring plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, aldosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) at baseline and at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after the administration of desmopressin.

Beneficial effects of testosterone administration on symptoms of the lower urinary tract in men with late-onset hypogonadism: a pilot study.

Introduction: Elderly men are bothered by lower urinary tract complaints designated as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). In epidemiological studies LUTS appears strongly associated with erectile dysfunction, and also with metabolic syndrome. LUTS occurs at an age at which plasma testosterone levels decline, in some men to hypogonadal values.

Clinical potential of growth hormone in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Substantial evidence supports a role for the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis in regulation of normal cardiac growth, structure and function. Moreover, experimental data suggest beneficial effects of GH and IGF-1 on contractility and peripheral resistance in rats with impaired cardiac function. An increased Ca(++) responsiveness is one possible underlying cause for the improvement in contractility, although effects of GH and IGF-1 on apoptosis may also play a more long term role for cardiomyocyte survival.

Augmented levels of CD44 in macrophages from atherosclerotic subjects: a possible IL-6-CD44 feedback loop?

The cell-adhesion molecule CD44 likely participates in atherosclerosis development. We have shown previously that pro-inflammatory cytokines affect CD44 expression. Therefore, this work examined the role of elevated CD44 levels in human macrophages.

Increased levels of acylation-stimulating protein in interleukin-6-deficient (IL-6(-/-)) mice.

IL-6-deficient (IL-6(-/-)) mice develop obesity at 6-7 months of age. To elucidate the mechanisms of this mature-onset obesity, global gene expression profiles of 3-month-old preobese IL-6(-/-) were compared with those of IL-6(+/+) mice using DNA arrays. Genes that were up-regulated in IL-6(-/-) mice included the factors transthyretin and properdin in white adipose tissue and adipsin in muscle.

Leukemia inhibitory factor reduces body fat mass in ovariectomized mice.

Objective: Ovariectomized (OVX) mice are known to gain body fat while exposure to estrogens decreases fat mass. We have previously shown that estrogen replacement therapy enhances the expression of receptors for the cytokine, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). LIF and other cytokines acting via the gp130 signal transducing receptor have been reported to decrease obesity.

Aspects of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I related to neuroprotection, regeneration, and functional plasticity in the adult brain.

Apart from regulating somatic growth and metabolic processes, accumulating evidence suggests that the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis is involved in the regulation of brain growth, development, and myelination. In addition, both GH and IGF-I affect cognition and biochemistry in the adult brain. Some of the effects of GH are attributable to circulating IGF-I, while others may be due to IGF-I produced locally within the brain.

Ghrelin and GHS on cardiovascular applications/functions.

Although initially recognised for their GH-releasing properties, the cardiovascular system has been recognised as a potentially important target for GH secretagogues (GHS). Moreover, a limited number of studies also indicate cardiovascular effects of ghrelin. So far reported cardiovascular effects of GHS and/or ghrelin include lowering of peripheral resistance, possible improvement of contractility and cardioprotective effects both in vivo and in vitro.