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Hsiao-Yun Yeh Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Hung-Ta Hondar Wu Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Division of Musculoskeletal Section, Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Hsiao-Chin Shen Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan

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Tzu-Hao Li Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan
School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan

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Ying-Ying Yang Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Kuei-Chuan Lee Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Yi-Hsuan Lin Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Chia-Chang Huang Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan

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Ming-Chih Hou Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Objective

Previous studies have suggested that body mass index (BMI) should be considered when assessing the relationship between fatty liver (FL) and osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to investigate future fracture events in people with FL, focusing on the effect of BMI in both sexes.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study, spanning from 2011 to 2019, enrolled 941 people, including 441 women and 500 men, aged 50 years or older who underwent liver imaging (ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance image) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (for bone mineral density measurements). The study examined predictors of osteoporosis in both sexes and the effect of different ranges of BMI (18.5–24, 24–27, and ≥27 kg/m2) on the risk of future fracture events in FL patients.

Results

The average follow-up period was 5.3 years for women and 4.2 years for men. Multivariate analysis identified age and BMI as independent risk factors of osteoporosis in both sexes. Each unit increase in BMI decreased the risk of osteoporosis by ≥10%. In both women and men with FL, a BMI of 24–27 kg/m2 offered protection against future fractures, compared to those without FL and with a BMI of 18.5–24 kg/m2.

Conclusion

The protective effect of a higher BMI against future fractures in middle-aged and elderly female and male patients with FL is not uniform and diminishes beyond certain BMI ranges.

Open access
Marie Auzanneau Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, ZIBMT, Medical Faculty of Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany

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Alexander J Eckert Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, ZIBMT, Medical Faculty of Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany

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Andreas Fritsche German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Tübingen, Germany
Institute of Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

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Martin Heni Institute of Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Department of Internal Medicine 1, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Department for Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

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Andrea Icks German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
Institute of Health Services Research and Health Economics, Center for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
Institute of Health Services Research and Health Economics, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Leibniz Centre for Diabetes Research at Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

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Annabel S Mueller-Stierlin Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University Hospital Ulm, Um, Germany
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, University Hospital Ulm, Um, Germany

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Ana Dugic Department of Gastroenterology, Klinikum Bayreuth, Medizincampus Oberfranken der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Bayreuth, Germany

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Alexander Risse Diabetes Center at Sophie-Charlotte-Platz, Diabetes Foot Unit, Berlin, Germany

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Stefanie Lanzinger Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, ZIBMT, Medical Faculty of Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany

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Reinhard W Holl Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, ZIBMT, Medical Faculty of Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany

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Objective

To analyze the proportion of diabetes among all hospitalized cases in Germany between 2015 and 2020.

Methods

Using the nationwide Diagnosis-Related-Groups statistics, we identified among all inpatient cases aged ≥ 20 years all types of diabetes in the main or secondary diagnoses based on ICD-10 codes, as well all COVID-19 diagnoses for 2020.

Results

From 2015 to 2019, the proportion of cases with diabetes among all hospitalizations increased from 18.3% (3.01 of 16.45 million) to 18.5% (3.07 of 16.64 million). Although the total number of hospitalizations decreased in 2020, the proportion of cases with diabetes increased to 18.8% (2.73 of 14.50 million). The proportion of COVID-19 diagnosis was higher in cases with diabetes than in those without in all sex and age subgroups. The relative risk (RR) for a COVID-19 diagnosis in cases with vs without diabetes was highest in age group 40–49 years (RR in females: 1.51; in males: 1.41).

Conclusions

The prevalence of diabetes in the hospital is twice as high as the prevalence in the general population and has increased further with the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the increased morbidity in this high-risk patient group. This study provides essential information that should help to better estimate the need for diabetological expertise in inpatient care settings.

Open access
Charissa van Zwol-Janssens Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Aglaia Hage Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Kim van der Ham Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Birgitta K Velthuis Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

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Ricardo P J Budde Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Maria P H Koster Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Arie Franx Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Bart C J M Fauser Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Utrecht & University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

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Eric Boersma Department of Cardiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Daniel Bos Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Joop S E Laven Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Yvonne V Louwers Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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the CREW consortium
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the CREW consortium

Besides age, estrogen exposure plays a crucial role in changes in bone density (BD) in women. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are conditions in reproductive-aged women in which the exposure to estrogen is substantially different. Women with a history of preeclampsia (PE) are expected to have normal estrogen exposure. Within the CREw-IMAGO study, we investigated if trabecular BD is different in these women because of differences in the duration of estrogen exposure. Trabecular BD was measured in thoracic vertebrae on coronary CT scans. Women with a reduced estrogen exposure (POI) have a lower BD compared to women with an intermediate exposure (PE) (mean difference (MD) −26.8, 95% CI −37.2 to −16.3). Women with a prolonged estrogen exposure (PCOS) have the highest BD (MD 15.0, 95% CI 4.3–25.7). These results support the hypothesis that the duration of estrogen exposure in these women is associated with trabecular BD.

Significance statement

Our results suggest that middle-aged women with PCOS have a higher BD and women with POI have a lower BD. We hypothesized that this is due to either a prolonged estrogen exposure, as seen in women with PCOS, or a reduced estrogen exposure, as in women with POI. In the counseling of women with reproductive disorders on long-term health issues, coronary CT provides a unique opportunity to assess both coronary artery calcium score for cardiovascular screening as well as trabecular BD.

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R H M Dykgraaf Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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S Schalekamp-Timmermans Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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M C Adank Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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S A A van den Berg Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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B M N van de Lang-Born Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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T I M Korevaar Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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A Kumar Ansh Labs, Webster, Texas, USA

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B Kalra Ansh Labs, Webster, Texas, USA

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G V Savjani Ansh Labs, Webster, Texas, USA

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E A P Steegers Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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Y V Louwers Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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J S E Laven Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

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Objective

The primary objective of this study is to establish maternal reference values of anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) in a fertile multi-ethnic urban pregnant population and to evaluate the effect of gestational age. The secondary objective of this study is to explore the association between AMH and placental biomarkers.

Design

This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, an ongoing population-based prospective cohort study from early pregnancy onwards.

Setting

City of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, out of hospital setting.

Patients

In 5806 women, serum AMH levels were determined in early pregnancy (median 13.5 weeks; 95% range 10.5–17.2).

Intervention(s)

None.

Main outcome measures

Maternal AMH levels in early pregnancy and its association with placental biomarkers, including human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT), and placental growth factor (PLGF).

Results

A nomogram of AMH in early pregnancy was developed. Serum AMH levels showed a decline with advancing gestational age. Higher AMH levels were associated with a higher level of the placental biomarkers hCG and sFLT in early pregnancy. This last association was predominantly mediated by hCG. AMH levels were negatively associated with PLGF levels.

Conclusion

In this large study, we show that AMH levels in early pregnancy decrease with advancing gestational age. The association between AMH and the placental biomarkers hCG, sFLT, and PLGF suggests a better placental development with lower vascular resistance in mothers with higher AMH levels. Hence, AMH might be useful in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes due to impaired placental development.

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Xu-Feng Chen X Chen, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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Cong He C He, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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Peng-Cheng Yu P Yu, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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Wei-Dong Ye W Ye, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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Peizhen Han P Han, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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Jia-Qian Hu J Hu, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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Yulong Wang Y Wang, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is of great benefit to clinical practice in terms of identifying genetic alterations. This study aims to clarify the gene background and its influence on thyroid tumor in Chinese population. NGS data and corresponding clinicopathological features (sex, age, tumor size, extrathyroidal invasion, metastasis, multifocality and TNM stage) were collected and analyzed retrospectively from 2844 individual thyroid tumor samples during July 2021 to August 2022. 2337 (82%) of the cohort possess genetic alterations including BRAF (71%), RAS (4%), RET/PTC (4%), TERT (3%), RET (2.2%) and TP53 (1.4%). Diagnostic sensitivity before surgery can be significantly increased from 0.76 to 0.91 when cytology is supplemented by NGS. Our results show that BRAF positive papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients tend to have elder age, smaller tumor size, less vascular invasion, more frequent tumor multifocality and significantly higher cervical lymph node metastatic rate. Mutation at RET gene codon 918 and 634 is strongly correlated with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), However it did not display more invasive clinical characteristics. TERT positive patients are more likely to have elder age, larger tumor size, more tumor invasiveness, and more advanced TNM stage, indicating poor prognosis. Patients with TERT, RET/PTC1 and CHEK2 mutation are more susceptible to lateral lymph node metastasis. In conclusion. NGS can be a useful tool which provides practical gene evidence in the process of diagnosis and treatment in thyroid tumors.

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Peter Ergang Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic

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Anna Mikulecká Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic

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Martin Vodicˇka Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

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Karla Vagnerová Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic

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Ivan Mikšík Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic

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Jirˇí Pácha Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

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Stress is an important risk factors for human diseases. It activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and increases plasma glucocorticoids, which are powerful regulators of immune system. The response of the target cells to glucocorticoids depends not only on the plasma concentrations of cortisol and corticosterone but also on their local metabolism. This metabolism is catalyzed by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases type 1 and 2, which interconvert glucocorticoid hormones cortisol and corticosterone and their 11-oxo metabolites cortisone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone. The goal of this study was to determine whether stress modulates glucocorticoid metabolism within lymphoid organs – the structures where immune cells undergo development and activation. Using the resident-intruder paradigm, we studied the effect of social stress on glucocorticoid metabolism in primary and secondary lymphoid organs of Fisher 344 (F344) and Lewis (LEW) rats, which exhibit marked differences in their HPA axis response to social stressors and inflammation. We show that repeated social defeat increased the regeneration of corticosterone from 11-dehydrocorticosterone in the thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymphatic nodes (MLN). Compared with the F344 strain, LEW rats showed higher corticosterone regeneration in splenocytes of unstressed rats and in thymic and MLN mobile cells after stress but corticosterone regeneration in the stroma of all lymphoid organs was similar in both strains. Inactivation of corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone was found only in the stroma of lymphoid organs but not in mobile lymphoid cells and was not upregulated by stress. Together, our findings demonstrate the tissue- and strain-dependent regeneration of glucocorticoids following social stress.

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T P McVeigh Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

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R J Mulligan Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

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U M McVeigh Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

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P W Owens Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

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N Miller Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

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M Bell Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

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F Sebag Department of Endocrine Surgery Centre hospitalo-universitaire de La Conception, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France
Aix-Marseille Université, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France

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C Guerin Department of Endocrine Surgery Centre hospitalo-universitaire de La Conception, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France
Aix-Marseille Université, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France

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D S Quill Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

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J B Weidhaas David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

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M J Kerin Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

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A J Lowery Discipline of Surgery, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland

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Introduction

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that exert post-transcriptional effects on gene expression by binding with cis-regulatory regions in target messenger RNA (mRNA). Polymorphisms in genes encoding miRNAs or in miRNA–mRNA binding sites confer deleterious epigenetic effects on cancer risk. miR-146a has a role in inflammation and may have a role as a tumour suppressor. The polymorphism rs2910164 in the MIR146A gene encoding pre-miR-146a has been implicated in several inflammatory pathologies, including cancers of the breast and thyroid, although evidence for the associations has been conflicting in different populations. We aimed to further investigate the association of this variant with these two cancers in an Irish cohort.

Methods

The study group comprised patients with breast cancer (BC), patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and unaffected controls. Germline DNA was extracted from blood or from saliva collected using the DNA Genotek Oragene 575 collection kit, using crystallisation precipitation, and genotyped using TaqMan-based PCR. Data were analysed using SPSS, v22.

Results

The total study group included 1516 participants. This comprised 1386 Irish participants; 724 unaffected individuals (controls), 523 patients with breast cancer (BC), 136 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and three patients with dual primary breast and thyroid cancer. An additional cohort of 130 patients with DTC from the South of France was also genotyped for the variant. The variant was detected with a minor allele frequency (MAF) of 0.19 in controls, 0.22 in BC and 0.27 and 0.26 in DTC cases from Ireland and France, respectively. The variant was not significantly associated with BC (per allele odds ratio = 1.20 (0.98–1.46), P  = 0.07), but was associated with DTC in Irish patients (per allele OR = 1.59 (1.18–2.14), P = 0.002).

Conclusion

The rs2910164 variant in MIR146A is significantly associated with DTC, but is not significantly associated with BC in this cohort.

Open access
Eva Novoa Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinic of Endocrinology, Head and Neck Surgery

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Marcel Gärtner Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinic of Endocrinology, Head and Neck Surgery

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Christoph Henzen Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinic of Endocrinology, Head and Neck Surgery

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Objective

The study aimed to assess the possible systemic effects of intratympanic dexamethasone (IT-Dex) on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, inflammation, and bone metabolism.

Design

A prospective cohort study including 30 adult patients of a tertiary referral ENT clinic treated with 9.6 mg IT-Dex over a period of 10 days was carried out.

Methods

Effects on plasma and salivary cortisol concentrations (basal and after low-dose (1 μg) ACTH stimulation), peripheral white blood cell count, and biomarkers for bone turnover were measured before (day 0) and after IT-Dex (day 16). Additional measurements for bone turnover were performed 5 months after therapy. Clinical information and medication with possible dexamethasone interaction were recorded.

Results

IT-Dex was well tolerated, and no effect was detected on the HPA axis (stimulated plasma and salivary cortisol concentration on day 0: 758±184 and 44.5±22.0 nmol/l; day 16: 718±154 and 39.8±12.4 nmol/l; P=0.58 and 0.24 respectively). Concentrations of osteocalcin (OC) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) did not differ after dexamethasone (OC on days 0 and 16 respectively: 24.1±10.5 and 23.6±8.8 μg/l; BSAP on day 0, 16, and after 5 months respectively: 11.5±4.2, 10.3±3.4, and 12.6±5.06 μg/l); similarly, there was no difference in the peripheral white blood cell count (5.7×1012/l and 6.1×1012/l on days 0 and 16 respectively).

Conclusions

IT-Dex therapy did not interfere with endogenous cortisol secretion or bone metabolism.

Open access
Chun-feng Lu Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People’s Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, China

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Xiao-qin Ge Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People’s Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, China

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Yan Wang Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People’s Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, China

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Jian-bin Su Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People’s Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, China

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Xue-qin Wang Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People’s Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, China

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Dong-mei Zhang Clinical Medicine Research Center, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People’s Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, China

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Feng Xu Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People’s Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, China

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Wang-shu Liu Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People’s Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, China

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Min Su Department of Endocrinology, Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nantong Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nantong, China

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Background

Prolonged heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval may reflect poor prognosis of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels are related to hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation, which may participate in diabetic complications. We investigated the association of serum ADA levels with prolonged QTc interval in a large-scale sample of patients with T2D.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 492 patients with T2D were recruited. Serum ADA levels were determined by venous blood during fasting. QTc interval was estimated from resting 12-lead ECGs, and prolonged QTc interval was defined as QTc > 440 ms.

Results

In this study, the prevalence of prolonged QTc interval was 22.8%. Serum ADA levels were positively associated with QTc interval (r = 0.324, P < 0.0001). The proportion of participants with prolonged QTc interval increased significantly from 9.2% in the first tertile (T1) to 24.7% in the second tertile (T2) and 39.0% in the third tertile (T3) of ADA (P for trend < 0.001). After adjusting for other possible risk factors by multiple linear regression analysis, serum ADA level was still significantly associated with QTc interval (β = 0.217, t = 3.400, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female (OR 5.084, CI 2.379–10.864, P < 0.001), insulin-sensitizers treatment (OR 4.229, CI 1.290–13.860, P = 0.017) and ADA (OR 1.212, CI 1.094–1.343, P < 0.001) were independent contributors to prolonged QTc interval.

Conclusions

Serum ADA levels were independently associated with prolonged QTc interval in patients with T2D.

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Estíbaliz Castillero
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Ana Isabel Martín
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Maria Paz Nieto-Bona Department of Physiology, Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

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Carmen Fernández-Galaz
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María López-Menduiña
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María Ángeles Villanúa
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Asunción López-Calderón
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Chronic inflammation induces skeletal muscle wasting and cachexia. In arthritic rats, fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα (PPARA)) agonist, reduces wasting of gastrocnemius, a predominantly glycolytic muscle, by decreasing atrogenes and myostatin. Considering that fenofibrate increases fatty acid oxidation, the aim of this study was to elucidate whether fenofibrate is able to prevent the effect of arthritis on serum adipokines and on soleus, a type I muscle in which oxidative metabolism is the dominant source of energy. Arthritis was induced by injection of Freund's adjuvant. Four days after the injection, control and arthritic rats were gavaged daily with fenofibrate (300 mg/kg bw) or vehicle over 12 days. Arthritis decreased serum leptin, adiponectin, and insulin (P<0.01) but not resistin levels. In arthritic rats, fenofibrate administration increased serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin. Arthritis decreased soleus weight, cross-sectional area, fiber size, and its Ppar α mRNA expression. In arthritic rats, fenofibrate increased soleus weight, fiber size, and Ppar α expression and prevented the increase in Murf1 mRNA. Fenofibrate decreased myostatin, whereas it increased MyoD (Myod1) and myogenin expressions in the soleus of control and arthritic rats. These data suggest that in oxidative muscle, fenofibrate treatment is able to prevent arthritis-induced muscle wasting by decreasing Murf1 and myostatin expression and also by increasing the myogenic regulatory factors, MyoD and myogenin. Taking into account the beneficial action of adiponectin on muscle wasting and the correlation between adiponectin and soleus mass, part of the anticachectic action of fenofibrate may be mediated through stimulation of adiponectin secretion.

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