Vascular endothelial growth factor expression levels of gingiva in gingivitis and periodontitis patients with/without diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: The aim of this study was to determine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression levels in gingival tissues of gingivitis and periodontitis patients with diabetes mellitus and those without. The hypothesis tested is that expression of VEGF, considered the effective cytokine in the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease, is differentially affected in gingivitis and periodontitis patients with or without diabetes mellitus compared to healthy controls. METHODS: Forty-five subjects were evaluated in five groups; individuals with gingivitis (group 1; n = 10), individuals with periodontitis (group 2; n = 10), individuals with gingivitis + type II diabetes (group 3; n = 10), individuals with periodontitis + type II diabetes (group 4; n = 10), and individuals without periodontal and systemic disease (group 5; n = 5). VEGF mRNA levels in gingival tissues were measured by quantitative real-time PCR using Lightcycler. RESULTS: Expression of VEGF mRNA was detected in all groups. There was no significant difference in expression levels of VEGF mRNA between groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: VEGF expression is probably related to both maintenance of periodontal health and periodontal tissue destruction. It can be concluded that systemic condition in type II diabetes mellitus under good metabolic control does not seem to have additional effects on gingival tissue VEGF mRNA levels in gingivitis and periodontitis patients.

Association between adiponectin, resistin, insulin resistance, and colorectal tumors.

PURPOSE: In this study, we have examined the correlation between colorectal cancer (CRC) and serum adiponectin and resistin levels, body mass index and insulin resistance. METHODS: The relation between serum adiponectin and resistin levels, obesity and insulin resistance in 36 CRC patients and 37 controls was examined. RESULTS: Insulin and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) levels were higher, and adiponectin levels were significantly decreased in patients versus controls, whereas, resistin levels were significantly increased. A negative correlation between adiponectin, HOMA-IR, and insulin and a positive correlation between HOMA-IR, insulin, and stage were detected. There was no correlation between the stage and resistin. Adiponectin level negatively correlated with the stage. Adiponectin and resistin could play a role in colon cancer carcinogenesis, and adiponectin could be responsible for poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.

Assessment of genotoxicity in rats treated with the antidiabetic agent, pioglitazone.

Pioglitazone (PIO), a member of the thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic agents, specifically targets insulin resistance. Drugs of this class act as ligands for the gamma subtype of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. Although troglitazone, another drug in this class, displayed unacceptable hepatotoxicity, PIO was approved for human use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To our knowledge, there are no published reports on the genotoxicity of PIO; however, the package insert indicates that it has minimal genotoxicity. In this study, we used the comet assay to investigate the DNA damage in the peripheral blood and liver cells of rats treated with PIO. Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into four groups, and dosed daily for 14 days by oral gavage with 0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/day PIO. A dose-dependent increase in DNA damage, as assessed by % tail DNA, was observed in both hepatocytes and blood lymphocytes of the PIO-treated groups, with significant increases detected between the rats treated with all the doses of PIO and the control, and between the rats treated with different PIO doses (P < 0.005 to P < 0.0001). Treating nuclei from the exposed animals with an enzyme cocktail containing Fpg and Endonuclease III prior to performing the comet assay increased the level of DNA damage, which reflects oxidized purine and pyrimidine. Taken together, our data indicate that PIO is able to dose-dependently induce DNA damage in both the liver and blood lymphocytes of rats, which is partially due to the generation of oxidative lesions.

Hypothyroid myopathy with manifestations of Hoffman's syndrome and myasthenia gravis.

Although hypothyroid myopathy is seen frequently and the relationship with autoimmune hypothyroidism and myasthenia gravis is well known, specific forms of hypothyroid myopathy such as Hoffman's syndrome (HS) are rarely described. Here we describe a 40-year-old patient with Hashimoto thyroiditis showing symptoms and signs of two discrete forms of hypothyroid myopathy (HS and myasthenic syndrome) together. To our knowledge this is the first reported case with features of both of these syndromes. We discuss the diagnosis, speculate whether this patient may represent a unique form of hypothyroid myopathy, and report the 6-month follow-up of the patient both clinically and electrophysiologically.

Genotoxicity in rats treated with the antidiabetic agent, rosiglitazone.

Rosiglitazone (RSG), a member of the thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic agents, improves glycemic control by increasing insulin sensitivity. The therapeutic mode of action of RSG involves its activity as a highly selective and potent agonist for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma. Although other drugs in this class have displayed unacceptable hepatotoxicity, RSG was approved for human use. The package insert indicates that RSG has minimal genotoxicity, but information on the genotoxicity of RSG is not available in the published literature. In this study, we used the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)/Comet assay to investigate the DNA damage in peripheral blood and liver cells of rats treated with RSG. Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into four groups, and dosed daily by oral gavage with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg/day RSG. The rats dosed with 2.0 mg/kg/day RSG received an approximately 10-times the area under the curve concentration of the maximum recommended human daily dose. After 14 days of treatment, the rats were euthanized, and peripheral blood and liver were collected and processed for the Comet assay. A dose-dependent increase in DNA damage (as assessed by % tail DNA and Olive Tail Moment) was observed in the hepatocytes of RSG-treated groups, with significant increases detected between rats treated with all the doses of RSG and the control, and between rats treated with different RSG doses (P < 0.05 - P < 0.0001). In contrast, DNA damage was detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes only in rats treated with the higher RSG doses (1.0 and 2 mg/kg/day). Taken together, the data indicate that RSG is able to induce primary DNA damage in rats, with greater damage being detected in liver cells than lymphocytes.

Polymorphisms at the ligand binding site of the vitamin D receptor gene and osteomalacia.

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have been suggested as possible determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) and calcium metabolism. In this study, our aim was to determine whether there is an association between VDR gene polymorphism and osteomalacia or not. We determined ApaI and TaqI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene in 24 patients with osteomalacia and 25 age-matched healthy controls. Serum calcium, phosphorus, ALP, PTH, 25OHD levels were also examined. We used PCR and RFLP methods to test for an association between osteomalacia and polymorphisms within, intron 8 and exon 9 of the VDR gene. When the control and patients were compared for their ApaI and TaqI genotypes there was no relationship between VDR gene allelic polymorphisms and osteomalacia. Whereas a nearly significant difference for A allele was found in the allellic distribution of the patients (p=0.08). Also no association between biochemical data and VDR gene polymorphisms was observed.

Serum leptin and body composition in polycystic ovarian syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The role of leptin in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is unclear. We investigated the relationship between serum leptin levels, body composition and insulin resistance in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: We analyzed differences between 27 patients with PCOS and 25 control subjects in serum glucose and leptin levels, insulin resistance, body fat mass, lean body mass, and water volume. RESULTS: Serum leptin was significantly correlated with basal insulin levels, BMI and IR in both groups (P<0.01). Fat mass, fat percentage, lean mass and water volumes were positively correlated and lean percentage and water percentage were negatively correlated with leptin levels (P<0.05). Leptin levels were significantly different between the groups in a multivariate regression analysis after correcting for the difference in BMI and body fat percentage (P<0.05). When the effects of fat percentage on serum leptin were eliminated, the levels were significantly different between the PCOS and control groups, and were statistically more powerful than BMI (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: These findings support the idea that factors other than excess fat mass or fat-free mass might be important in the regulation of serum leptin levels in PCOS.

Inter-aorta-caval located tumor: a case report.

A paraganglioma is a rare tumor that develops out of extra-adrenal chromaffin cells and pheochromocytomas originating from the adrenal medulla. Early diagnosis and surgical planning are crucial, since the tumor secretes catecholamine and is adjacent to large vessels in the abdomen. Furthermore, since complete resection improves the prognosis, we recommend a meticulous surgical technique. Here, we present a case of paraganglioma in a 32-year-old male patient who initially presented with a stomachache. After conducting the required tests, we resected the tumor that was pressing against the vena cava in the interaortocaval region.

Evaluation of left atrial functions by color tissue Doppler imaging in adults with body mass indexes >or=30 kg/m(2) versus those <30 kg/m (2).

Evaluation of atrial function has received less attention than that of the ventricle although normal atrial function is required for optimal overall cardiac function. Obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this study, we compared left atrial functions in obese adults (body mass index = BMI >or=30 kg/m(2)) with those in non-obese adults (BMI <30 kg/m(2)) by color tissue Doppler parameters. There were 37 adults with BMI >or=30 kg/m(2) (mean age 36 +/- 11 years) and 26 adults with BMI <30 kg/m(2) (mean age 35 +/- 5 years). Mean BMI was 38 +/- 6 kg/m(2) in the obese group whereas that was 24 +/- 2 kg/m(2) in the non-obese group. For color tissue Doppler imaging, sample volumes were placed on the mid left atrium at the septum, lateral, inferior, and anterior walls. The peak systolic strain (S(s)), peak systolic strain rate (SR(s)), peak early diastolic SR (SR(e)), peak late diastolic SR (SR(a)), peak systolic tissue velocity (TV(s)), peak early diastolic TV (TV(e)) and peak late diastolic TV (TV(a)) values were measured. For each measurement, values in three consecutive cardiac cycles were measured and then averaged. To simplify the analysis, the values at each wall were combined and averaged to obtain mean values. All left atrial systolic function parameters (S(s), SR(s), TV(s)) were similar between the groups. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference at left atrial diastolic function parameters (SR(e), SR(a), TV(e), TV(a)). We could not find any significant difference between obese and non-obese adults at left atrial functions assessed by color tissue Doppler parameters.

Lack of association between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism (BsmI) and osteomalacia.

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism has been reported to be a determinant of bone formation and intestinal calcium absorption. We carried out this study to assess the role of VDR gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of osteomalacia. We investigated BsmI polymorphisms in the gene encoding the 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D receptor in 38 patients with osteomalacia and 31 healthy controls, along with examination of serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, and 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels. VDR allelic variants were: BB, 31.6%; Bb, 44.7%; and bb, 23.7% in the osteomalacia patients and BB, 19.4%; Bb, 61.3%; and bb, 19.4% in the controls. Although heterozygotes (Bb) were more frequent than other genotypes in both groups, the BB genotype was found to be more prevalent in osteomalacia than in controls. There was no statistical relationship between VDR genotype and osteomalacia. It is concluded that, in this small group of patients, there was no relationship between VDR allelic polymorphisms and osteomalacia.