A case of an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule combined with subacute thyroiditis / 대한내과학회지

The most common cause of thyrotoxicosis is Graves' disease, followed by toxic adenoma, multiple nodular toxic goiter, and temporary thyroiditis. At initial presentation, however, it is often difficult to recognizinge subacute thyroiditis as a thyroid disease is often difficult. In many cases, subacute thyroiditis may be mistaken for certain upper respiratory infectious diseases, due to their similar clinical manifestations. Additionally, when subacute thyroiditis coexists with a thyroid nodule or is accompanied by severe thyrotoxicosis, it can be misdiagnosed as a thyroid tumor, toxic adenoma, or Graves' disease. Here we report the case of an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule combined with subacute thyroiditis, which was nearly misdiagnosed as toxic adenoma. This is the first reported case in Korea of a patient who had an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule combined with subacute thyroiditis, which was nearly misdiagnosed as toxic adenoma.

Cystatin C is a Valuable Marker for Predicting Future Cardiovascular Diseases in Type 2 Diabetic Patients / 당뇨병

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that serum Cystatin C is both a sensitive marker for renal dysfunction and a predictive marker for cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate the association between Cystatin C and various biomarkers and to find out its utility in estimating risk for cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: From June 2006 to March 2008, anthropometric measurements and biochemical studies including biomarkers for risk factors of cardiovascular diseases were done in 520 type 2 diabetic patients. A 10-year risk for coronary heart diseases and stroke was estimated using Framingham risk score and UKPDS risk engine. RESULTS: The independent variables showing statistically significant associations with Cystatin C were age (beta = 0.009, P < 0.0001), hemoglobin (beta = -0.038, P = 0.0006), serum creatinine (beta = 0.719, beta < 0.0001), uric acid (beta = 0.048, P = 0.0004), log hsCRP (beta = 0.035, P = 0.0021) and homocysteine (beta = 0.005, P = 0.0228). The levels of microalbuminuria, carotid intima-media thickness, fibrinogen and lipoprotein (a) also correlated with Cystatin C, although the significance was lost after multivariate adjustment. Calculated risk for coronary heart diseases increased in proportion to Cystatin C quartiles: 3.3 +/- 0.4, 6.2 +/- 0.6, 7.6 +/- 0.7, 8.4 +/- 0.7% from Framingham risk score (P < 0.0001); 13.1 +/- 0.9, 21.2 +/- 1.6, 26.1 +/- 1.7, 35.4 +/- 2.0% from UKPDS risk engine (P < 0.0001) (means +/- SE). CONCLUSIONS: Cystatin C is significantly correlated with various emerging biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases. It was also in accordance with the calculated risk for cardiovascular diseases. These findings verify Cystatin C as a valuable and useful marker for predicting future cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetic patients.

The Effects of Exendin-4 on IRS-2 Expression and Phosphorylation in INS-1 Cells / 당뇨병

BACKGROUND: Insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2) is a key regulator of beta cell proliferation and apoptosis. This study was aimed to investigate effect of the glucolipotoxicity on apoptosis in INS-1 cell, and the effect of Exendin-4, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, on IRS-2 expression in the glucolipotoxicity induced INS-1 cell. The goal was to discover the new action mechanism and function of Exendin-4 in beta cell apoptosis. METHOD: INS-1 cells were cultured in glucolipotoxic condition for 2, 4 or 6 days and were categorized as G groups. Another group in which 50 nM Exendin-4 was added to INS-1 cells, cultured in glucolipotoxic condition, were named as Ex-4 groups. We investigated the expression of IRS-2 by RT-PCR, phosphorylated IRS-2 and phosphorylated Akt protein levels by western blot. We measured the apoptosis ratio of INS-1 cell in glucolipotoxic condition by TUNEL staining in both groups. RESULT: IRS-2 expression of INS-1 cells decreased with correlation to the time of exposure to glucolipotoxic condition. pIRS-2 and pAkt protein levels decreased in the similar pattern in glucolipotoxicity group. However, this effect of glucolipotoxicity on INS-1 cell was inhibited by the Exendin-4 treatment. In the Ex-4 groups, IRS-2 expression, pIRS-2 and pAkt protein levels remained at the similar level to low glucose condition state. Also, apoptosis induced by glucolipotoxicity was suppressed by Exendin-4 treatment significantly. CONCLUSION: We showed that the long-term treatment of Exendin-4 inhibited the apoptosis of beta cells significantly in glucolipotoxic condition and that this effect of Exendin-4 was related with IRS-2 and Akt among the beta cell's intracellular signal transduction pathway.

A case of nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma with macroglobulinemia / 대한내과학회지

Macroglobulinemia is the result of an uncontrolled proliferation of lymphocytes and plasma cells in which a large IgM M protein is produced. IgM monoclonal gammopathy is recognized in a variety of lymphoproliferative diseases and Waldenstr?m's macroglobulinemia (WM) is the most frequent disease in this group. We report a case of nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (Nodal MZBCL) accompanied by monoclonal macroglobulinemia. A 58-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with chronic fatigue and dyspnea. Physical examination revealed cervical, subaxillary, and inguinal lymphadenopathy. Histopathologically, monocytoid B cells with abundant pale cytoplasm and small nuclei infiltrated the cervical lymph node. The neoplastic cells were positive for CD 20, bcl-2, and IgM. The serum and urine electrophoresis showed monoclonal spike in the globulin region and immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated immunoglobulin of IgM, kappa type. Immunohistochemically, this monoclonal gammaglobulinemia (IgM, Kappa) was produced and secreted from the nodal MZBCL. This is the first report of nodal MZBCL accompanying macroglobulinemia in Korea.

A Case of Turner's Syndrome(45,X/46,XX) Associated with Patent Ductus Arteriosus

We described a 65-year-old female of 45,X/46,XX Turner's syndrome associated with patent ductus arteriosus who was admitted due to exertional dyspnea and palpitation. This patient had not spontaneous mensturation and had a short stature without webbed neck and a sexual infantilism. Chromosomal aberrations cause primarily structural defects of cardiovascular system, and a variety of structural aberrations involving the X chromosome can cause partial or complete Turner's syndrome. In Turner's syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve or coarctation of aorta is frequently combined, also aortic root dilatation, partial anomalous venous drainage, hypoplastic left heart, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect has been reported. However, this patient had not abnormality in aortic valve and whole aorta. Patent ductus arteriosus in 45,X/46,XX Turner's syndrome have not been reported in Korea. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.

Hypodipsic hypernatremia with intact AVP response to non-osmotic stimuli induced by hypothalamic tumor: A case report

Anatomical lesions of hypothalamic area associated with hypodipsic hypernatremia have been reported only rarely. We report here a case of hypodipsic hypernatremia induced by a hypothalamic lesion. A 25-yr-old man, who had been treated with radiation for hypothalamic tumor 5-yr before, was admitted for evaluation of hypernatremia and hypokalemia. He never felt thirst despite the elevated plasma osmolality and usually refused to drink intentionally. Plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) level was normal despite the severe hypernatremic hyperosmolar state and urine was not properly concentrated, while AVP secretion was rapidly induced by water deprivation and urine osmolality also progressively increased to the near maximum concentration range. All of these findings were consistent with an isolated defect in osmoregulation of thirst, which was considered as the cause of chronic hypernatremia in the patient without an absolute deficiency in AVP secretion. Hypokalemia could be induced by activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system as a result of volume depletion. However, inappropriately low values of plasma aldosterone levels despite high plasma renin activity could not induce symptomatic hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. The relatively low serum aldosterone levels compared with high plasma renin activity might result from hypernatremia. Hypernatremia and hypokalemia were gradually corrected by intentional water intake only.

A Case of Churg - Strauss Syndrome: Presented as Mimic of Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

Churg-Strauss syndrome(CSS) or allergic angiitis and granulomatosis is a disorder characterized by pulmonary and systemic small-vessel vasculitis, extravascular granulomas, and hypereosinophilia. It occurs in individuals with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The diagnosis of CSS is made on the basis of clinical and pathologic features. According to 1990 American College of Rheumatology(ACR) criteria for the classification of CSS, 6 criteria were developed. The presence of 4 or more of these criteria yielded a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 99. 7%. We describe a case of CSS in a 62-year-old female who met all of 1990 ACR criteria, but presented as like a as rheumatoid arthritis initially. Clinical symptoms, laboratory and roentgenographic findings gradually responded to high dose prednisolone treatment and resolved 3 weeks later. After discharge, she has been treated with oral prednisolone in a tapering course. Although polyarthritis with eosinophilia, vasculitis, and neuropathy are clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis, those maniestations frequently occur during the vasculitic phase of the CSS. This case suggests that thorough differentiation of extra-articular manifestations of RA from clinical manifestations of CSS is considered when we meet a patient who have polyarthritis and vasculitis.

A Case of Thyroid Abscsess in Subacute Thyroiditis During Glucocorticoid Therapy / 대한내분비학회지

Subacute thyroiditis is a frequent benign thyroid disease associated with previous viral upper respiratory tract infection. Known complications of this disease are long-standing subclinical hypothyroidism, persistent anterior neck pain and rarely Graves disease. In general, thyroid abscess is an uncommon disease because of anatomic isolation of the gland and its rich system of drainage for blood and lymph. Especially, development of thyroid abscess in subacute thyroiditis is extremely rare phenomenan, but significant bad outcomes can be resulted. Its clinical BACKGROUND containes immune-suppressed state, anatomic defect, presence of underlying other thyroid disease and of non-thyroidal infectious foci. We experienced a case of subacute thyroiditis complicated with streptococcal thyroid abscess during glucocorticoid therapy. The patient was a 19-year-old female who was admitted due to anterior neck pain for 1 month. Typical subacute thyroiditis was suggested from initial laboratory findings including CBC, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum T3, T4, TSH levels, thyroid scan & thyroid uptake. But during oral prednisolone therapy, unexpected bacterial thyroid abscess was developed. We report this unusual case with review of literatures.