RESUMO
Our previous study showed that circulating microvesicles (cMVs) of diabetic mice have negative effects on the function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Whether this is true in diabetic patients deserves further study. In this study, the effects of cMVs and EPC-derived MVs (EPC-MVs) on EPC migration, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in healthy controls, well-controlled, and uncontrolled diabetic patients were investigated. The levels of miR-126 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in cMVs, EPC-MVs, and/or EPCs were analyzed. Moreover, miR-126 inhibitor or mimic was applied to EPCs to modulate the miR-126 level in EPC-MVs. We found the following: 1) the circulating EPC level was reduced but the circulating EPC-MV level increased in uncontrolled diabetic patients; 2) the cMVs and EPC-MVs of healthy controls had beneficial effects on EPCs (migration, apoptosis, ROS), whereas the effects were reversely changed in the cMVs and EPC-MVs of uncontrolled diabetic patients; and 3) the cMVs and EPC-MVs of uncontrolled diabetic patients carried less miR-126 and had downregulated VEGFR2 expression in EPCs. Manipulating the miR-126 level in EPC-MVs with inhibitor or mimic changed their function. The effects of cMVs and EPC-MVs are compromised in diabetes due to the reduction of their carried miR-126, which might provide a therapy target for diabetic vascular complications.
Assuntos
Micropartículas Derivadas de Células/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Células Progenitoras Endoteliais/citologia , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , Receptor 2 de Fatores de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/metabolismo , Adulto , Apoptose , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Movimento Celular , Regulação para Baixo , Feminino , Citometria de Fluxo , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a positive urine screen for cocaine on thyrotropin (TSH, also thyroid-stimulating hormone) concentrations. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients admitted to the mental health unit at an academic inpatient setting with a diagnosis of cocaine dependence or cocaine intoxication were routinely screened with urine drug toxicology tests and TSH concentrations. TSH concentrations from patients who tested positive for cocaine on urine toxicology were compared with patients having negative cocaine screenings. RESULTS: A total of 192 patients were included: 122 with a positive cocaine screen and 70 with a negative cocaine screen. All patients were screened using a highly sensitive TSH assay. A positive cocaine screen was not associated with a statistically significant difference in TSH concentrations compared with a negative cocaine screen. The percentage of patients with hypothyroidism (TSH >4.50 µIU/mL) or hyperthyroidism (TSH <0.40 µIU/mL) were similar in both study groups. CONCLUSIONS: The study failed to show that a positive urine screen for cocaine was associated with a significant effect on serum TSH levels in patients admitted to a mental health unit with a diagnosis of cocaine dependence or cocaine intoxication. Our findings support those of a prior study that cocaine use does not affect routine thyroid function tests. The present study does not support the clinical practice of ordering a serum TSH screening test on patients admitted to inpatient psychiatry units soley because the urine screen is positive for cocaine.
Assuntos
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/diagnóstico , Cocaína/urina , Pacientes Internados , Tireotropina/sangue , Adulto , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/sangue , Feminino , Unidades Hospitalares , Hospitais Universitários , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Valores de Referência , Estudos Retrospectivos , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Testes de Função TireóideaRESUMO
A nine-weeks pregnant, 27-year-old female was admitted for hypertension with a blood pressure of 213/110 mm Hg, headaches, palpitations, and anxiety. There was no previous history of hypertension or pre-eclampsia. She had elevated urinary normetanephrine, plasma-free normetanephrine, and plasma-free metanephrine concentrations. Phenoxybenzamine and labetalol were initiated for presumed pheochromocytoma. At thirteen weeks of pregnancy, a noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen failed to identify an adrenal or extra-adrenal mass. At 21-weeks gestation, an abdominal [18-F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography demonstrated an extra-adrenal lesion. The patient underwent a laparotomy during the second trimester with successful removal of a benign paraganglioma.
Assuntos
Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/diagnóstico por imagem , Paraganglioma/diagnóstico por imagem , Feocromocitoma/diagnóstico por imagem , Complicações Neoplásicas na Gravidez/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/diagnóstico , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/patologia , Adulto , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Fluordesoxiglucose F18 , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Paraganglioma/complicações , Paraganglioma/patologia , Feocromocitoma/diagnóstico , Feocromocitoma/patologia , Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons , Gravidez , Complicações Neoplásicas na Gravidez/patologia , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios XRESUMO
The authors estimated the fetal radiation dose from [(18)F]-FDG in a rare case of a woman who underwent a PET/CT scan during the second trimester of pregnancy. The patient, a 27-y-old female with a paraganglioma, received 181.3 MBq [(18)F]-FDG. From the concentrations of radioactivity measured on the images, the time-integrated activity coefficients of the fetus and the placenta were derived. The time-integrated activity coefficients of the mother's organs were taken from the standard values of ICRP publication 106. The final fetal dose was calculated using the 6-mo pregnant model of the OLINDA/EXM software. The fetus showed an overall low and homogeneous [(18)F]-FDG uptake, with an average concentration of 2.41 kBq cm(-3). The uptake in the placenta was generally higher (average concentration = 3.69 kBq cm(-3)). The estimated time-integrated activity coefficients were 0.0130 and 0.0058 Bq h Bq(-1) for the fetus and the placenta, respectively. The final average dose to the fetus was 1.97 × 10(-2) mGy MBq(-1) (3.6 mGy in this patient who received 181.3 MBq). Therefore, the dose to the fetus from [(18)F]-FDG administration during the second trimester of pregnancy is low. When medically indicated, pregnancy should not be a categorical basis for withholding [(18)F]-FDG PET scans.
Assuntos
Feto/metabolismo , Fluordesoxiglucose F18/farmacocinética , Doses de Radiação , Compostos Radiofarmacêuticos/farmacocinética , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons , Gravidez , Segundo Trimestre da GravidezRESUMO
One-dollar bills were collected from the general community in western Ohio to survey for bacterial contamination. Pathogenic or potentially pathogenic organisms were isolated from 94% of the bills. These results suggest a high rate of bacterial contamination of one-dollar bills.