Marked increase in bone mineral density with oral phosphate and calcitriol in tumour-induced osteomalacia.

Patients with osteomalacia have a low bone mineral density (BMD) and are often misdiagnosed as osteoporosis. A marked increase in BMD is noticed following successful treatment of osteomalacia. The biochemical hallmark of tumour-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is hypophosphatemia. Patients with TIO often have severe hypophosphatemic osteomalacia and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry may demonstrate low BMD. Surgical removal of the phosphatonin-secreting lesion restores serum phosphate, corrects osteomalacia and is associated with a dramatic increase in BMD. We report two patients with TIO and low BMD, who were treated with oral phosphate and calcitriol supplementation. The percentage increase in BMD at 33 months was as high as 94.3% in areas with the lowest BMD at baseline. The BMD at 33 months was higher than the +2SD of the population-specific reference ranges, a finding not reported in surgically treated patients with TIO. An intermittent rise in parathyroid hormone following oral phosphate supplementation might have resulted in such findings.

Rickets in proximal renal tubular acidosis: a case series of six distinct etiologies.

OBJECTIVES: Proximal renal tubular acidosis (pRTA) is characterized by a defect in the ability of the proximal convoluted tubule to reabsorb bicarbonate. The biochemical hallmark of pRTA is hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap, accompanied by appropriate acidification of the urine (simultaneous urine pH <5.3). Isolated defects in bicarbonate transport are rare, and pRTA is more often associated with Fanconi syndrome (FS), which is characterized by urinary loss of phosphate, uric acid, glucose, amino acids, low-molecular-weight proteins, and bicarbonate. Children with pRTA may present with rickets, but pRTA is often overlooked as an underlying cause of this condition. CASE PRESENTATION: We report six children with rickets and short stature due to pRTA. One case was idiopathic, while the remaining five had a specific underlying condition: Fanconi-Bickel syndrome, Dent's disease, nephropathic cystinosis, type 1 tyrosinemia, and sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter 1-A (NBC1-A) defect. CONCLUSIONS: Five of these six children had features of FS, while the one with NBC1-A defect had isolated pRTA.

Histopathological Evidence of Thyroid Dermopathy and its Correlation with Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy in Patients with Graves' Disease having Normally Appearing Pretibial Skin: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: Thyroid dermopathy (TD), reportedly encountered in less than 5% of patients with Graves' disease (GD), is supposed to coexist only with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO). However, clinically inapparent TD, detected non-invasively by thermal imaging or ultrasonography, seems to be present in a larger proportion of GD. Histopathological examination (HPE), though considered as gold standard for detecting TD, has not been performed widely to identify subclinical TD in GD. Materials and Methods: In this single-centre, cross-sectional, case-control study, 50 patients with GD (cases) and normal appearing pretibial skin were compared with 45 age- and sex-matched individuals (39 healthy volunteers, 3 with toxic multinodular goitre and 3 with solitary toxic nodule) (control). All patients were evaluated clinically for presence of TAO. Punch biopsy specimens were obtained from the pretibial skin in all 95 participants. Tissue sections were examined under light microscopy for mucin deposition, splitting of collagen fibrils and perivascular lymphocytic infiltration. Results: Sixty per cent of patients with GD demonstrated at least one of the above three histological features, while 52% had any combination of two features and 46% harboured all the three features. Mucin deposition, splitting of collagen fibrils and lymphocytic infiltration were found overall in 52%, 54% and 52% of GD, respectively; 4.4-11.1% of controls also had some evidence of TD on HPE. Subclinical TD was not related to age, duration of disease and TAO in our study. Conclusions: TD, particularly in its subclinical form, Seems to be widely prevalent in GD (46-60%) and exists even in absence of TAO. HPE, though more sensitive than the various non-invasive tests, is not specific (ranges from 89% to 95%) for TD. However, HPE can accurately diagnose TD in appropriate clinical background.

Secondary distal renal tubular acidosis and sclerotic metabolic bone disease in seronegative spondyloarthropathy.

Adults with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) commonly present with hypokalaemia (with/without paralysis), nephrolithiasis/nephrocalcinosis and vague musculoskeletal symptoms. All adults with dRTA should be thoroughly evaluated for systemic diseases, certain medications and toxins. The leading cause of acquired or secondary dRTA in adults is primary Sjögren syndrome (SS); however, other collagen vascular diseases (CVDs) including seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SSpA) may at times give rise to secondary dRTA. Metabolic bone disease is often encountered in adults with dRTA, and the list includes osteomalacia and secondary osteoporosis; sclerotic metabolic bone disease is an extremely rare manifestation of dRTA. Coexistence of dRTA and sclerotic bone disease is seen in primary dRTA due to mutation in CA2 gene and acquired dRTA secondary to systemic fluorosis. Primary SS and SSpA, rarely if ever, may also lead to both secondary dRTA and osteosclerosis. Circulating autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase II and possibly calcium sensing receptor may explain both these features in patients with CVD.

Continuous and progressive 'wash-in' without 'wash-out' of contrast in adrenal mass: a useful feature of ganglioneuroma.

Computed tomography (CT) scan is a useful and widely performed diagnostic modality to evaluate adrenal masses. Nature of the mass determines the degree of attenuation both in unenhanced and in different phases of contrast enhancement. Benign neurogenic tumours like ganglioneuroma mimicks pheochromocytoma and adrenocortical carcinoma in non-contrast CT scan. The 'adrenal protocol' routinely calculates the wash-out pattern at delayed venous phase (DVP) (15 min) following contrast administration to differentiate majority of benign masses from the malignant ones. Ganglioneuromas typically exhibit continuous wash-in of contrast where enhancement gradually increases to attain its peak in DVP. Such wash-in pattern is different from the wash-out pattern observed in pheochromocytomas or adrenocortical adenomas or carcinomas. Presence of this wash-in pattern provides a useful clue to the clinician for underlying ganglioneuroma in hormonally inactive adrenal masses with suspicious morphological appearances. This wash-in pattern also effectively rules out any malignant potential of ganglioneuroma, and thus helps in preoperative decision-making.

Cushing's syndrome in early infancy due to isolated sporadic bilateral micronodular adrenocortical disease associated with myosin heavy chain 8 mutation: diagnostic challenges, too many!

Endogenous Cushing's syndrome (CS) is rare in infancy. Bilateral micronodular adrenocortical disease (BMAD), either primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease or the non-pigmented isolated micronodular adrenocortical disease is an important aetiology of CS in this age group, which requires bilateral adrenalectomy for cure. BMAD may be isolated, or a component of Carney complex. Isolated sporadic BMAD without other systemic manifestations poses a diagnostic challenge. Paradoxical cortisol response to dexamethasone suggests, while adrenal histopathology and mutational analysis of the culprit genes confirm BMAD. BMAD was suspected in 6-year-old infant with midnormal adrenocorticotrophic hormone, inconclusive adrenal and pituitary imaging and paradoxical increase in cortisol following high dose of dexamethasone. Exome sequencing revealed heterozygous c.354+1G>C (5' splice site) variant in the myosin heavy chain gene (MYH8), located in chromosome 17. This particular variant has not been reported in the literature. In view of suspected phenotype and its absence in the population databases, the variant was classified as pathogenic.

Child with '46, XX' disorder of sex development: clues to diagnose aromatase deficiency.

A diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in a '46, XX' newborn with ambiguous genitalia is like a 'knee jerk reaction' of the paediatrician because of its higher frequency and life-threatening consequences if remain undiagnosed and hence untreated. Aromatase deficiency (AD), a rare cause of '46, XX' disorder of sex development, mimics virilising CAH in many aspects; thus, the disease is often overlooked. Diagnosis of AD in women is much easier around puberty due to the presence of primary amenorrhoea, undeveloped breasts, androgen excess and tall stature with eunuchoid proportions. Diagnosing AD with confidence immediately after birth or during early childhood is a challenging task without genetic analysis. In resource-restricted settings, AD remains a diagnosis of exclusion particularly in this age group and history of maternal virilisation, non-progressive genital ambiguity, elevated gonadotrophins (follicle-stimulating hormone >>luteinising hormone), mildly delayed bone age with/without enlarged polycystic ovaries serve as important clues to the underlying AD.

Primary male factor infertility due to asthenospermia in maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 5 (MODY 5): uncommon presentation of an uncommon disease.

Mutations in hepatocyte nuclear factor-1ß gene result in a multisystemic syndrome where a monogenic form of diabetes (maturity-onset diabetes of young type 5; MODY 5) and renal anomalies, usually bilateral multiple cysts are the most characteristic findings. Many of them have pancreatic structural abnormalities as well. A plethora of extrapancreatic manifestations like altered liver function tests, hypomagnesaemia, hyperuricaemia with/without gout and urogenital malformations, particularly in females are also components of the syndrome. Structural malformation of male urogenital tract is rare in MODY 5, even rarer is asthenospermia. We encountered a young non-obese individual having insulin-requiring diabetes following secondary oral agent failure with primary male factor infertility secondary to asthenospermia. A suggestive family history, lack of acanthosis, negative pancreatic autoimmunity, hypomagnesaemia, bilateral renal and epididymal cysts, and absence of body and tail of pancreas pointed towards underlying MODY 5.

Hypersomatotropism induced secondary polycythaemia leading to spontaneous pituitary apoplexy resulting in cure of acromegaly and remission of polycythaemia: 'The virtuous circle'.

A young man with subtle clinical features suggestive of hypersomatotropism presented with acute-onset severe headache. Relevant investigations confirmed polycythaemia and growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary macroadenoma with apoplexy. Secondary polycythaemia and myeloproliferative disorders were ruled out. At follow-up after 3 months, resolution of polycythaemia and acromegaly was observed, evident on normal haemoglobin levels, a normocellular marrow, and normal insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) with glucose-suppressed GH levels. Direct mitogenic properties of GH-IGF-1 axis on bone marrow progenitor cells may very rarely lead to erythroid hyperplasia and subsequent polycythaemia, reversible with successful therapy of acromegaly. In this case, polycythaemia secondary to hypersomatotropism likely resulted in pituitary apoplexy with subsequent remission of both acromegaly and resultant polycythaemia.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA (Morquio A): a close differential diagnosis of spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia.

Patients with mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) have a plethora of multisystemic manifestations depending on the particular type, and atypical presentations are not uncommon. MPS type IVA (Morquio A syndrome) has predominant musculoskeletal system involvement and corneal clouding with normal intelligence and can be misdiagnosed as primary skeletal disorders in clinical practice. The absence of corneal clouding with normal urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) level in a proportion of patients with MPS IVA makes the correct diagnosis even more challenging for physicians. Healthcare providers across specialties should have a high degree of suspicion for MPS IVA in all patients with suspected spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia as early diagnosis and early treatment significantly improve the clinical outcome and activity of daily living.

Adrenal myelolipoma(s) as presenting manifestation of subclinical Cushing's disease (eutopic ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome).

Primary adrenal myelolipomas, relatively rare benign tumours of the adrenal cortex are typically unilateral, hormonally inactive and asymptomatic, hence often diagnosed as 'adrenal incidentaloma'. Bilateral adrenal myelolipomas, in particular, may be associated with underlying endocrinopathies associated with elevated circulating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration. Subclinical cortisol hypersecretion, irrespective of its ACTH dependency, does not manifest typical clinical phenotype of hypercortisolemia, and thus termed subclinical Cushing's syndrome. In this article, hormonal evaluation in a middle-aged woman with diabetes, hypertension and incidentally discovered unilateral adrenal myelolipoma revealed underlying subclinical Cushing's disease. Abdominal CT revealed another tiny focus in the contralateral adrenal gland, probably representing incipient myelolipoma.

Structure dependent selective efficacy of pyridine and pyrrole based Cu(II) Schiff base complexes towards in vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis and DNA-bases binding in ground and excited state.

This work highlights a systematic and comparative study of the structure-dependent influence of a series of biologically active Cu(II) Schiff base complexes (CSCs) on their in vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis and binding with polymeric DNA-bases in ground and photo-excited states. The structure-activity relationship of the closely resembled CSCs towards in vitro cytotoxicity and apoptosis against cervical cancerous HeLa and normal human diploid WI-38 cell lines has been investigated by MTT assay and FACS techniques respectively. The steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic studies have also been carried out to explore the selective binding affinities of the potential complexes towards different polymeric nucleic acid bases (poly d(A), poly d(T), poly d(G), poly d(C), Poly d(G)-Poly d(C)), which enlighten the knowledge regarding their ability in controlling the structure and medium dependent interactions in 'ground' and 'excited' states. The pyridine containing water soluble complexes (CuL(1) and CuL(3)) are much more cytotoxic than the corresponding pyrrole counterparts (CuL(2) and CuL(4)). Moreover the acidic hydrogens in CuL(1) increase its cytotoxicity much more than methyl substitution as in CuL(3). The results of MTT assay and double staining FACS experiments indicate selective inhibition of cell growth (cell viability 39% (HeLa) versus 85% (WI-38)) and occurrence of apoptosis rather than necrosis. The ground state binding of CuL(1) with polymeric DNA bases, especially with guanine rich DNA (Kb=6.41±0.122×10(5)), that enhances its cytotoxic activity, is further confirmed from its binding isotherms. On the other hand the pyrrole substituted CuL(4) complex exhibits the structure and medium dependent selective electron-transfer in triplet state as observed in laser flash photolysis studies followed by magnetic field (MF) effect.

Bilateral adrenal myelolipoma in Cushing's disease: a relook into the role of corticotropin in adrenal tumourigenesis.

Adrenal myelolipomas are infrequently encountered benign tumours of unknown aetiology. In the majority of cases they are unilateral, and clinically and hormonally silent, only requiring periodic follow-up. However, bilateral adrenal myelolipomas are sometimes associated with endocrine disorders and warrant appropriate evaluation. Though the understanding of the pathophysiology of adrenal myelolipomas has long been elusive, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) has been proposed as the main tropic factor in a number of studies. Cushing's disease is rarely associated with bilateral and sometimes giant myelolipomas. In this article, the association of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas with Cushing's disease has been discussed and the role of ACTH in the tumourigenesis has been reviewed.