Klotho Overexpression Is Frequently Associated With Upstream Rearrangements in Fusion-Negative Phosphaturic Mesenchymal Tumors of Bone and Sinonasal Tract.

Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors (PMT) are uncommon neoplasms that cause hypophosphatemia/osteomalacia mainly by secreting fibroblast growth factor 23. We previously identified FN1::FGFR1/FGF1 fusions in nearly half of the PMTs and frequent KL (Klotho or α-Klotho) overexpression in only those with no known fusion. Here, we studied a larger cohort of PMTs for KL expression and alterations. By FN1 break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reappraisal of previous RNA sequencing data, 6 tumors previously considered "fusion-negative" (defined by negative results of FISH for FN1::FGFR1 fusion and FGF1 break-apart and/or of RNA sequencing) were reclassified as fusion-positive PMTs, including 1 containing a novel FN1::ZACN fusion. The final cohort of fusion-negative PMTs included 33 tumors from 32 patients, which occurred in the bone (n = 18), soft tissue (n = 10), sinonasal tract (n = 4), and brain (n = 1). In combination with previous work, RNA sequencing, RNA in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry showed largely concordant results and demonstrated KL/α-Klotho overexpression in 17 of the 28 fusion-negative and none of the 10 fusion-positive PMTs studied. Prompted by a patient in this cohort harboring germline KL upstream translocation with systemic α-Klotho overexpression and multifocal PMTs, FISH was performed and revealed KL rearrangement in 16 of the 33 fusion-negative PMTs (one also with amplification), including 14 of the 17 cases with KL/α-Klotho overexpression and none of the 11 KL/α-Klotho-low fusion-negative and 11 fusion-positive cases studied. Whole genomic sequencing confirmed translocation and inversion in 2 FISH-positive cases involving the KL upstream region, warranting further investigation into the mechanism whereby these rearrangements may lead to KL upregulation. Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and sequencing suggested no major role of promoter methylation in KL regulation in PMT. Interestingly, KL-high/-rearranged cases seemed to form a clinicopathologically homogeneous group, showing a predilection for skeletal/sinonasal locations and typically matrix-poor, cellular solitary fibrous tumor-like morphology. Importantly, FGFR1 signaling pathways were upregulated in fusion-negative PMTs regardless of the KL status compared with non-PMT mesenchymal tumors by gene set enrichment analysis, perhaps justifying FGFR1 inhibition in treating this subset of PMTs.

Prognosis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws in metastatic prostate cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to find out the prognosis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) in prostate cancer patients who received two different types of antiresorptive agents for bone metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively surveyed a cohort of 95 metastatic prostate cancer patients with 122 MRONJ lesions treated in a single medical center. Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors were investigated. The cumulative complete response rate was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and significance was examined with the log-rank and Breslow tests. Cox regression was used for the univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors. RESULTS: The cumulative complete response rate of all patients at 12 months was 37.8%, and that of patients treated with zoledronic acid and denosumab was 22.9% and 70.5%, respectively. Denosumab, pretreatment C-terminal telopeptide of collagen I (CTX) level > 150 pg/ml, and anemia were identified as independent prognostic factors in a multivariate analysis with adjusted hazard ratios of 3.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-8.11), 3.24 (95% CI, 1.39-7.53), and 0.42 (95% CI, 0.19-0.93), respectively. CONCLUSION: A higher pretreatment level of CTX, using denosumab as the antiresorptive agent and without anemia, indicates a better treatment outcome of MRONJ in prostate cancer patients.

Prognosis of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws in cancer patients using antiresorptive agent zoledronic acid.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Anti-resorptive agents are commonly used in cancer patients with bone metastasis or multiple myeloma (MM). An adverse event termed medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) was discovered in patients using these agents but relatively little attention has been paid to its prognosis. Our aims were to find out the treatment outcomes and prognostic indicators of MRONJ in cancer patients who received zoledronic acid as antiresorptive therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively surveyed a cohort of 133 cancer patients who received zoledronic acid. A total of 150 MRONJ lesions were included for investigation. Cumulative complete response rate after treatment was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and significance was examined with the log-rank tests. Cox regression was used for univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors. RESULTS: The cumulative complete response rate of all patients at 24 months was 53.2%, and those of patients with MM, breast cancer and prostate cancer were 27.8%, 60.7% and 68.0%, respectively. Having MM was identified as an independent prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.28 (95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.83). CONCLUSION: For cancer patients with ONJ related to zoledronic acid, patients with MM endure a worse treatment outcome.

Status of endocrinology and metabolism specialists in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The literature emphasizes the importance of matching the demand and supply of endocrinology and metabolism (EM) specialists. This study analyzed the current status of EM specialists in Taiwan. The gender effects on the workplace of EM specialists were also evaluated. METHODS: The number of internal medicine (IM) specialists was obtained from the websites of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Data about EM specialists were retrieved from the database of the Endocrine Society of the Republic of China (ESROC; Taiwan). Differences in age distribution and workplace levels or locations between female and male EM specialists were analyzed. RESULTS: Since 1988, 809 physicians were certified as EM specialists. The average age of 739 EM specialists (509 male, 230 female) who remained as active members of the ESROC was 49.9 ± 11.1 years. The age distribution (p < 0.001) and workplace location (p = 0.043) were significantly different between male and female EM specialists. Divided by decades, the ratio of female-to-male EM specialists revealed an increasing tendency (p < 0.001). The percentage of EM specialists among IM specialists, certified 2 years previously, declined from 14.0% in 2017 to 7.9% and 8.3% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. CONCLUSION: The female-to-male ratio of EM specialists increased gradually. Compared to males, female EM specialists were relatively younger, and more of them had clinical practice in northern Taiwan. The percentage of IM specialists becoming EM specialists declined in the last 2 years. The equilibrium between the supply and demand of EM specialists deserves further investigation.

Immediate knowledge improvement and long-term teaching confidence after general medicine faculty training program.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: This study analyzed the effects of the General Medicine Faculty Training Program (GMFTP), which was implemented in 2009. The training program includes a 7-hour basic training (BT) to introduce ways of teaching and assessing the 6 core competencies identified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and a 40-hour clinical training program. METHODS: Physicians from different hospitals attended the GMFTPs. Since 2010, we have been using quick tests to assess trainees' familiarity of core competencies. Knowledge improvement (KI) was defined as the difference between post-BT and pre-BT test scores. Since 2013, we have been annually mailing questionnaires to assess trainees' teaching confidence (TC) of core competencies. We analyzed the correlations between trainees' characteristics, KIs, and TCs. RESULTS: Between year 2009 and 2017, a total of 319 attending physicians (257 male, 62 female), with a mean age of 39.1 ± 6.2 years, completed the GMFTPs. Significant KI (32.6-55.4) was noted. There were no correlations between trainees' characteristics and KIs. The mean TCs for the 6 core competences were all above 4.0 (based on a 5-point Likert scale). TCs were positively correlated with age during GMFTP training, age when responding to the questionnaire, and duration between training and the last time responding to the questionnaire. TC showed no correlation with sex, hospitals, departments, or KI. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of teaching core competencies improved immediately after BT, but KIs did not correlate with TCs in long-term follow-up. After the training program, physicians' teaching confidence increased over time.

Chronic kidney disease predicts a lower probability of improvement in patient-reported experience measures among patients with fractures: a prospective multicenter cohort study.

Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) are integral component of care for fracture patients. Using a multicenter cohort, we showed that the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) attenuated the probability of PREM improvement in fracture patients. INTRODUCTION: Assessing PREM can assist physicians in improving patients' experiences. Patients with CKD are at an increased risk of exhibiting poor PREM and developing fractures. We aimed to assess whether CKD influences the probability of PREM improvement during follow-up among patients with fractures. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with hip or vertebral fractures from different institutes into a fracture liaison service program. After registering clinical histories, they received a baseline PREM assessment based on EuroQol group-5 dimension content, including self-care, daily activity, and pain severity using a 5-point Likert scale. A follow-up PREM assessment was arranged 4 months later, and we evaluated whether baseline CKD was predictive of PREM improvement. RESULTS: Among 593 fracture patients (18% with CKD), 37.3% and 62.7% presented with hip and vertebral fractures, respectively. Self-care, daily activity, and pain severity improved after follow-up in 32%, 27%, and 43% participants; those with CKD exhibited worse self-care ability and daily activity than those without. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that baseline CKD was significantly associated with lower possibility of improvement in daily activity (odds ratio [OR] 0.58, p = 0.049) and pain severity (OR 0.52, p = 0.01), and an insignificant change in the possibility of improvement in self-care ability (OR 0.61, p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of CKD predicts a significantly lower probability of PREM improvement among fracture patients. An early emphasis on renal function during fracture care should be considered.

Thyrotropin receptor antibodies and a genetic hint in antithyroid drug-induced adverse drug reactions.

BACKGROUND: Antithyroid drugs (ATDs) are known to cause various adverse drug reactions (ADRs) that can lead to treatment complexity and unpredictable risks. With the aim of ensuring safer drug use, we assessed whether thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) titers are associated with ATD-induced cutaneous reactions and/or hepatotoxicity, and examined potential genetic predisposition factors. METHODS: We compared TRAb titers of 37 Graves' disease (GD) patients who had experienced carbimazole/methimazole-induced cutaneous reactions and/or hepatotoxicity with those of 40 normal individuals, or 78 GD patients without the aforementioned ATD-induced ADRs. We performed a genome-wide association study and/or human leukocyte antigen genotyping on GD patients [first stage (chart reviews): 24 cases with ADRs and 423 controls; second stage (actively recruited): 45 cases with ADRs and 137 controls]. RESULTS: For patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism, individuals with higher TRAb titers showed a predisposition to carbimazole/methimazole-induced cutaneous reactions and/or hepatotoxicity, with an estimated odds ratio of 5.19 (cut-off value: 64%). Potential associations with the rs144542704 and rs61893841 on chromosomes 17 and 11, respectively, warrant further genetic association analysis. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the use of carbimazole/methimazole in patients with low TRAb titers to ensure safer drug use. The identified genetic associations warrant further research.

The influence of alendronate and tooth extraction on the incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw among osteoporotic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Although bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) develops mainly after tooth extractions (TEs), the strength of the association between them and how the existence of the disease among bisphosphonate (BP)-treated osteoporotic patients exposed to TE remain uncertain. METHODS: A nationwide retrospective cohort study investigated the influence of alendronate and TE on the development of ONJ. RESULTS: Incidence of ONJ following long-term alendronate therapy was 262/100,000 person-years, while no event developed in the control group on raloxifene. Overall prevalence of ONJ in osteoporotic subjects receiving alendronate was estimated at 0.34% which rose to 2.16% after TE. Multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted for the potential confounders, showed TE (adjusted odds ratio, 9.60 [4.33-21.29]), drug duration exceeding 3 years (3.00 [1.33-6.76]), and concomitant rheumatoid arthritis (4.94 [1.64-14.90]) were independent predictors of ONJ. CONCLUSIONS: This article strengthens the relationship between ONJ and BPs. Among osteoporotic patients exposed to alendronate, TE confers a 9.6-fold increased risk for ONJ and it should be performed with caution irrespective of drug duration.

Moxifloxacin Improves Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Ofloxacin-Resistant Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

It is unclear whether the use of moxifloxacin (MFX), a newer synthetic fluoroquinolone, results in better outcomes in patients with ofloxacin (OFX)-resistant multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). During the period from April 2006 to December 2013, a total of 2,511 patients with culture-confirmed tuberculosis (TB) were treated at a TB referral hospital in southern Taiwan. Of the 2,511 patients, 325 (12.9%) had MDR-TB, and of those 325 patients, 81 (24.9%) had OFX-resistant MDR-TB and were included in the study. Among the 81 patients with OFX-resistant MDR-TB, 50 (61.7%) were successfully treated and 31 (38.3%) had unfavorable outcomes, including treatment failure (n = 25; 30.9%), loss to follow-up (n = 2; 2.5%), and death (n = 4; 4.9%). Patients treated with MFX had a significantly higher rate of treatment success (77.3% versus 43.2%; odds ratio [OR] = 4.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.710 to 11.646, P = 0.002) than patients not treated with MFX, especially among those infected with MFX-susceptible isolates (40.7%) or isolates with low-level resistance to MFX (28.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that treatment with MFX (adjusted odds ratio = 6.54, 95% CI = 1.44 to 29.59, P = 0.015) was the only independent factor associated with treatment success. Mutation at codon 94 in the gyrA gene was the most frequent mutation (68.0%) associated with high-level MFX resistance. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that treatment with MFX was also an independent factor associated with early culture conversion (hazard ratio = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.48 to 6.54, P = 0.003). Our results show that a significant proportion of OFX-resistant MDR-TB isolates were susceptible or had low-level resistance to MFX, indicating that patients with OFX-resistant MDR-TB benefit from treatment with MFX.

Mutations in gyrA and gyrB among Fluoroquinolone- and Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates.

In order to correlate the mutations inside the entiregyrAandgyrBgenes with the level of resistance to ofloxacin (OFX) and moxifloxacin (MFX) in isolates of multidrug-resistantMycobacterium tuberculosis(MDR-TB), a total of 111 isolates were categorized into OFX-susceptible (MIC, ≤2 µg/ml) and low-level (MIC, 4 to 8 µg/ml) and high-level (MIC, ≥16 µg/ml) OFX-resistant isolates and MFX-susceptible (MIC, ≤0.5 µg/ml) and low-level (MIC, 1 to 2 µg/ml) and high-level (MIC, ≥4 µg/ml) MFX-resistant isolates. Resistance-associated mutations inside thegyrAgene were found in 30.2% of OFX-susceptible and 72.5% and 72.2% of low-level and high-level OFX-resistant isolates and in 28.6% of MFX-susceptible and 58.1% and 83.9% of low-level and high-level MFX-resistant isolates. Compared with OFX-susceptible isolates, low-level and high-level OFX-resistant isolates had a significantly higher prevalence of mutations atgyrAcodons 88 to 94 (17.0%, 65.0%, and 72.2%, respectively;P< 0.001) and a higher prevalence of thegyrBG512R mutation (0.0%, 2.5%, and 16.7%, respectively;P= 0.006). Similarly, compared with MFX-susceptible isolates, low-level and high-level MFX-resistant isolates had a significantly higher prevalence of mutations atgyrAcodons 88 to 94 (14.3%, 51.6%, and 80.6%, respectively;P< 0.001) as well as a higher prevalence of thegyrBG512R mutation (0.0%, 0.0%, and 12.9%, respectively;P= 0.011). D94G and D94N mutations ingyrAand the G512R mutation ingyrBwere correlated with high-level MFX resistance, while the D94A mutation was associated with low-level MFX resistance. The prevalence of mutations atgyrAcodons 88 to 94 and thegyrBG512R mutation were higher among fluoroquinolone (FQ)-susceptible East Asian (Beijing) and Indo-Oceanic strains than they were among Euro-American strains, implying that molecular techniques to detect FQ resistance may be less specific in areas with a high prevalence of East Asian (Beijing) and Indo-Oceanic strains.

Genetic determinants of antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis by human leukocyte antigen genotyping and genome-wide association study.

Graves' disease is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism affecting 1.0-1.6% of the population. Antithyroid drugs are the treatment cornerstone, but may cause life-threatening agranulocytosis. Here we conduct a two-stage association study on two separate subject sets (in total 42 agranulocytosis cases and 1,208 Graves' disease controls), using direct human leukocyte antigen genotyping and SNP-based genome-wide association study. We demonstrate HLA-B*38:02 (Armitage trend Pcombined=6.75 × 10(-32)) and HLA-DRB1*08:03 (Pcombined=1.83 × 10(-9)) as independent susceptibility loci. The genome-wide association study identifies the same signals. Estimated odds ratios for these two loci comparing effective allele carriers to non-carriers are 21.48 (95% confidence interval=11.13-41.48) and 6.13 (95% confidence interval=3.28-11.46), respectively. Carrying both HLA-B*38:02 and HLA-DRB1*08:03 increases odds ratio to 48.41 (Pcombined=3.32 × 10(-21), 95% confidence interval=21.66-108.22). Our results could be useful for antithyroid-induced agranulocytosis and potentially for agranulocytosis caused by other chemicals.

Performance Assessment of the BluePoint MycoID Plus Kit for Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Including Rifampin- and Isoniazid-resistant Isolates, and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria.

The performance of the BluePoint MycoID plus kit (Bio Concept Corporation, Taichung, Taiwan), which was designed to simultaneously detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), rifampin- and isoniazid-resistant MTB, and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) was first evaluated with 950 consecutive positive cultures in Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) system (BACTEC, MGIT 960 system, Becton-Dickinson, Sparks) from clinical respiratory specimens. The discrepant results between kit and culture-based identification were finally assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and clinical diagnosis. The accuracy rate of this kit for identification of all Mycobacterium species was 96.3% (905/940). For MTB identification, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the kit were 99.7%, 99.3%, 99.0% and 99.8%, respectively. For rifampicin-resistant MTB identification, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the kit were 100.0%, 99.4%, 91.3%, and 100.0%, respectively, while the corresponding values of isoniazid-resistant MTB identification were 82.6%, 99.4%, 95.0%, and 97.6%, respectively. In identifying specific NTM species, the kit correctly identified 99.3% of M. abscessus (147/148) complex, 100% of M. fortuitum (32/32), M. gordonae (38/38), M. avium (39/39), M. intracellulare (90/90), M. kansasii (36/36), and M. avium complex species other than M. avium and M. intracellulare (94/94). In conclusions, the diagnostic value of the BluePoint MycoID plus kit was superior to culture method for recoveries and identification of NTM to species level. In addition, the diagnostic accuracy of BluePoint MycoID plus kit in MTB identification was similar to conventional culture method with high accuracy rate of rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis identification.

Thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy and thyroid cancer diagnosis: a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine gland malignancy and fine-needle aspiration biopsy is widely used for thyroid nodule evaluation. Repeated aspiration biopsies are needed due to plausible false-negative results. This study aimed to investigate the overall relationship between aspiration biopsy and thyroid cancer diagnosis, and to explore factors related to shorter diagnostic time. METHODS: This nationwide retrospective cohort study retrieved data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database in Taiwan. Subjects without known thyroid malignancies and who received the first thyroid aspiration biopsy after 2004 were followed-up from 2004 to 2009 (n = 7700). Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazards model were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of 7700 newly-aspirated patients, 276 eventually developed thyroid cancer (malignancy rate 3.6%). Among the 276 patients with thyroid cancer, 61.6% underwent only one aspiration biopsy and 81.2% were found within the first year after the initial aspiration. Cox proportional hazards model revealed that aspiration frequency (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.06-1.08), ultrasound frequency (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03), older age, male sex, and aspiration biopsies arranged by surgery, endocrinology or otolaryngology subspecialties were all associated with shorter time to thyroid cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: About 17.4% of thyroid cancer cases received more than two aspiration biopsies and 18.8% were diagnosed one year after the first biopsy. Regular follow-up with repeated aspiration or ultrasound may be required for patients with clinically significant thyroid nodules.

Identification of a novel GATA3 mutation in a deaf Taiwanese family by massively parallel sequencing.

Recent studies have confirmed the utility of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) in addressing genetically heterogeneous hereditary hearing impairment. By applying a MPS diagnostic panel targeting 129 known deafness genes, we identified a novel frameshift GATA3 mutation, c.149delT (p.Phe51LeufsX144), in a hearing-impaired family compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. The GATA3 haploinsufficiency is thought to be associated with the hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness, and renal dysplasia (HDR) syndrome. The pathogenicity of GATA3 c.149delT was supported by its absence in the 5400 NHLBI exomes, 1000 Genomes, and the 100 normal hearing controls of the present study; the co-segregation of c.149delT heterozygosity with hearing impairment in 9 affected members of the family; as well as the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay of the mutant allele in in vitro functional studies. The phenotypes in this family appeared relatively mild, as most affected members presented no signs of hypoparathyroidism or renal abnormalities, including the proband. To our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic diagnosis of HDR syndrome before the clinical diagnosis. Genetic examination for multiple deafness genes with MPS might be helpful in identifying certain types of syndromic hearing loss such as HDR syndrome, contributing to earlier diagnosis and treatment of the affected individuals.

Ovarian cancer-related hypophosphatemic osteomalacia--a case report.

CONTEXT: Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome caused primarily by benign mesenchymal tumors. It has been associated with malignancies in rare cases. High serum levels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 reported in a group of patients with ovarian cancer had normal serum phosphate levels. There had been no ovarian cancer-related hypophosphatemic osteomalacia in a search of the literature. OBJECTIVE: We investigated a 57-year-old woman with progressive low back pain. DESIGN AND INTERVENTION: Clinical, biochemical, and radiological assessments were performed. The patient's serum phosphate and FGF23 levels were evaluated at baseline and after treatment for ovarian cancer. RESULTS: The patient presented with progressive low back pain and weight loss during the previous 6 months. Imaging studies revealed low bone mineral density and multiple suspicious spinal metastatic lesions. Laboratory examination showed hypophosphatemia, hyperphosphaturia, normocalcemia, an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level, and an elevated serum FGF23 level. Because TIO was suspected, a tumor survey was performed, and ovarian carcinoma with multiple metastasis was detected. After surgery and chemotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer, the serum phosphate and FGF23 levels returned to normal, and the low back pain improved. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first case of ovarian cancer-related hypophosphatemic osteomalacia reported in the literature. TIO should be considered in patients with ovarian cancer presenting with weakness, bone pain, and fractures. Investigation of TIO is appropriate when these patients present hypophosphatemia.

The risk of osteonecrosis of the jaws in Taiwanese osteoporotic patients treated with oral alendronate or raloxifene.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the possible association between osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) and oral alendronate or raloxifene used for osteoporosis and to estimate its absolute and attributable risks in the Taiwanese population. METHODS: Using an electronic medical records system and manual confirmation of ONJ, we identified patients who began taking alendronate or raloxifene for osteoporosis and developed ONJ between January 2000 and April 2012. RESULTS: The incidence of ONJ associated with oral alendronate for the management of osteoporosis began after 1 year of drug exposure and progressively increased with longer durations of therapy, specifically from 0.23% to 0.92% as the duration of treatment went from 2 years to 10 years. The overall frequency of ONJ related to oral alendronate over a 12-year period was 0.55%. The incidence rate of ONJ attributed to alendronate exposure was 283 per 100 000 persons per year. On multivariate Cox proportional analysis, adjusting for the potential confounders, alendronate remains an independent predictor for ONJ occurrence [hazard ratio 7.42 (1.02-54.09)] compared with raloxifene. Advanced age, drug duration, and coexisting diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are contributing factors to the development of oral alendronate-related ONJ. CONCLUSION: We provided the evidence to support the association of ONJ with oral alendronate used in the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis.

Clinical characteristics of patients with congenital long QT syndrome and bigenic mutations.

BACKGROUND: Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an ion channelopathy associated with genetic mutations. It is well known that most LQTS patients (91%) have a single mutation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of congenital LQTS patients with bigenic mutations in Taiwan, China. METHODS: Congenital LQTS patients were recruited consecutively at Taiwan University Hospital in Taiwan from 2003 to 2009. The diagnosis of LQTS was defined by an LQTS Schwartz score greater than 4. Mutation screening in KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1, and SCN5A was performed using direct sequencing. RESULTS: Three of 16 LQTS patients (18.7%) were identified with bigenic mutations. One patient had missense mutations in KCNQ1 and KCNH2, the second in KCNQ1 and KCNE1, and the third in KCNH2 and SCN5A. The mean age at onset of LQTS for patients with bigenic mutations was (17 ± 3) years, and all of these patients were female. Two of them experienced seizure and one presented with syncope, although one of them had a family history of syncope. The mean QTc interval was (515 ± 17) ms, similar to those with single mutation or SNPs ((536 ± 74) ms, P = 0.63). Compared to those LQTS patients with single mutation or SNPs, a significantly higher percentage of LQTS patients with bigenic mutations presented with seizure and were younger at onset of the first index event (P = 0.03 and 0.001, respectively), but lower percentage of them presented with sudden cardiac death (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Although the percentage of bigenic mutations in LQTS is less than 10% in Caucasian populations, we identified 3 of 16 LQTS patients (18.7%, 95% confidence interval: 0.04-0.46) with bigenic mutations in Taiwan. However, the severity of their clinical presentations was not higher than those patients with single mutation or SNPs.

Atypical femoral fractures shortly after osteonecrosis of the jaw in a postmenopausal woman taking alendronate for osteoporosis.

CONTEXT: Bisphosphonates effectively increase bone mineral density and reduce fracture risk in patients with osteoporosis, but there are concerns about osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) and atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) in the long-term users. So far both complications have not been reported as occurring simultaneously in an osteoporotic individual on oral alendronate. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report a postmenopausal woman presenting with concomitant ONJ and AFF on oral alendronate treatment. SUBJECT, MEASURES, AND RESULT: The patient was a 63-year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis for 30 years and diabetes for 3 years. Spinal compression fractures at levels L3 and L4 were documented, and she took alendronate 70 mg weekly for 7 years. She is the first case whose dental periapical imaging and pelvic radiography documented her ONJ and AFF, which developed subsequently within 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: This case report supports the association of both ONJ and AFF with long-term oral bisphosphonate therapy.

Diabetes and thyroid cancer risk: literature review.

Diabetic patients have a higher risk of various types of cancer. However, whether diabetes may increase the risk of thyroid cancer has not been extensively studied. This paper reviews and summarizes the current literature studying the relationship between diabetes mellitus and thyroid cancer, and the possible mechanisms linking such an association. Epidemiologic studies showed significant or nonsignificant increases in thyroid cancer risk in diabetic women and nonsignificant increase or no change in thyroid cancer risk in diabetic men. A recent pooled analysis, including 5 prospective studies from the USA, showed that the summary hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for women was 1.19 (0.84-1.69) and was 0.96 (0.65-1.42) for men. Therefore, the results are controversial and the association between diabetes and thyroid cancer is probably weak. Further studies are necessary to confirm their relationship. Proposed mechanisms for such a possible link between diabetes and thyroid cancer include elevated levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, insulin, glucose and triglycerides, insulin resistance, obesity, vitamin D deficiency, and antidiabetic medications such as insulin or sulfonylureas.

A review on the association between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and thyroid cancer.

There is a concern on the risk of thyroid cancer associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs including liraglutide and exenatide. In this article, we review related experimental studies, clinical trials and observational human studies currently available. In rodents, liraglutide activated the GLP-1 receptors on C-cells, causing an increased incidence of C-cell neoplasia. Animal experiments with monkeys demonstrated no increase in calcitonin release and no C-cell proliferation after long-term liraglutide administration. Longitudinal 2-year data from clinical trials do not support any significant risk for the activation or growth of C-cell cancer in humans in response to liraglutide. However, an analysis of the FDA adverse event reporting system database suggested an increased risk for thyroid cancer associated with exenatide after its marketing. Noticeably, a recent study discovered that GLP-1 receptor could also be expressed in human papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC), but the impact of GLP-1 analogs on PTC is not known. Therefore, GLP-1 analogs might increase the risk of thyroid C-cell pathology in rodents, but its risk in humans awaits confirmation. Since GLP-1 receptor is also expressed in PTC besides C-cells, it is important to investigate the actions of GLP-1 on different subtypes of thyroid cancer in the future.