Influence of multiple insulin injections on quality of life, anxiety levels, and depression in type 2 diabetics / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Treatment using multiple daily insulin (MDI) should give diabetic patients many benefits. Nevertheless, few studies have examined the impact of an increased frequency of daily insulin injection on quality of life, anxiety levels, and depression in diabetic patients, and individual's continued compliance with MDI is unclear. This study examined these issues using standardized questionnaires. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, randomized study. Ninety-nine insulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients (mean age 53.1+/-12 years, mean duration of diabetes 10.3+/-6.5 years) were divided a group (n=50) who injected insulin four times daily (mean age 49.6+/-12.3 years, mean duration of diabetes 6.5+/-6.4 years) and a group (n=49) who injected insulin once or twice daily (mean age 56.4+/-11.6 years, mean duration of diabetes 11.5+/-5.8 years). All patients independently completed the Korean Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version and standardized Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for Koreans. RESULTS: No significant differences were evident with respect to age, gender, and duration of diabetes between the two groups (p<0.05). No significant differences were evident in the results of the questionnaires between the two groups, except for the physical health domain (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Multiple daily insulin injections had nearly no influence on quality of life, anxiety levels, or depression in type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore, treatment with MDI should be considered for patients who would benefit from this.

A case of primary empty sella syndrome combined with Cushing's disease / 대한내과학회지

Empty sella is defined as a sella which, regardless of its size, is completely or partly filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and is divided into two groups, primary or secondary. Secondary empty sella syndrome is associated with a prior surgery, radiation therapy or medical treatment of pituitary gland, and otherwise primary. The endocrine function of primary empty sella syndrome is usually normal, but sometimes, this syndrome is associated with complete or partial pituitary insufficiency and rarely pituitary hypersecretion. In the cases of hypersecretion of pituitary hormones, hyperprolactinemia, acromegaly and hypersecretion of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) has been reported. but, hypersecretion of ACTH is rarely reported. We describe a patient of primary empty sella syndrome combined with Cushing's disease. So we present this case with a review of the literature.

Homocysteine, folate, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism in korean normal subjects / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascualr disease. Recently, a mutation (677C-->T) was identified in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene leading to the substitution of valine(V) for alanine(A). This mutation causes a reduced folate-dependent enzyme activity which leads to increased homocysteine. In this study, we examined the association between the V allele of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gen and serum total homocysteine and folate concentrations in Korean healthy subjects. METHODS: In 198 healthy subjects, the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction followed by HinfI digestion. Serum total homocysteine and folate concentrations were measured in age- and sex-matched 14 healthy subjects in each of three methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes. RESULTS: Homozygosity for 677C-->T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene was found in 31 (15.7%) of 198 healthy subjects. In healthy subjects, those bearing the VV genotype tend to have higher serum total homocysteine concentrations 1.5 micromol/L(18.6%) than AA genotype but this was not statistically significant. Correlation between serum total homocysteine concentrations and other clinical variables showed that serum folate and creatinine were significant. CONCLUSION: We conclude that although the frequency of VV genotype in Korean healthy subjects is higher than that of other reports, this mutation is not associated with increased serum total homocysteine concentrations in Korean healthy subjects.

Effects of pertussis and cholera toxin on oxidized low density lipoprotein induced apoptosis in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: Oxidized LDL is thought to play a key role in atherogenesis. Among their wide variety of biological properties, oxidized LDL injures the endothelium as an early event of atherogenesis. However, the mechanisms by which oxidized LDL injures endothelial cells are not definitely known. In order to evaluate the involvement of GTP-binding protein on the mechanism of apoptosis, we studied the effects of pertussis and cholera toxin on oxidized LDL-induced apoptosis in bovine aortic endothelial cells(BAECs). METHODS: Oxidized LDL elicited apoptosis in cultured BAECs as shown by characteristic morphological and biochemical changes. Chromatin condensation and nucleus fragmentation were visualized by using fluorescence microscopy of intact cells staining by acridine orange/ ethidium bromide. DNA fragmentation was quantified by an ELISA with specific antibody for bromodeoxyuridine- labelled DNA fragments and confirmed with DNA ladder formation. RESULTS: Studies using a combination of bacterial toxins which change the function of GTP-binding protein suggest that oxidized LDL-induced apoptosis was regulated by GTP-binding protein. Oxidized LDL-induced apoptosis was not changed by pretreatment of BAECs with pertussis toxin. In contrast, pretreatment with cholera toxin completely prevented the oxidized LDL- induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION: These results show that oxidized LDL induces apoptosis of BAECs and suggest that cholera toxin-sensitive G-proteins are involved in signal transduction of oxidized LDL-induced apoptosis of BAEC.

A case of mediastinal parathyroid adenoma presenting as fracture of brown tumor / 대한내과학회지

Primary hyperparathyroidism is characterized by hypercalcemia and increased intact parathyroid hormone, and associated with reduced bone density and bony change. We experienced the case of a 18-year-old man presenting as fracture of brown tumor. And then ectopic superior mediastinal parathyroid adenoma was detected by preoperative localization studies (Tc-99m sestamibi scan, neck CT). The patient presented with fracture of the right 5th proximal phalanx which was brown tumor, and was diagnosed as having primary hyperparathyroidism due to elevated serum calcium level (12.1 mg/dl) and intact parathyroid hormone levels (1631.8 pg/ml). Ultrasonography, Tl-201/Tc-99m subtraction scan, Tc-99m sestamibi scan, computed tomography was performed, and then revealed an enlarged parathyroid gland in the superior mediastinum. Tumor was removed via a transcervical approach. Pathologically, the tumor was confirmed to be a parathyroid adenoma. After his operation, his calcium level rapidly returned to within normal ranges, and increased bone density and some remineralization of brown tumor has occurred after eight months.

Relationship between magnesium and calcium to glucose stimulated insulin secretion in the perfused rat pancreas

No abstract available.