Association of Polymorphism in beta3-Adrenergic Receptor Gene with Fat Distribution / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Reasons for obesity include environmental factors and, more largely so, genetic factors. There have been many studies on these genetic factors. So far, genes related to obesity such as Leptin, Uncoupling Protein(UCP), Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma(PPAR-gamma), and Beta3-adrener-gic receptor(beta3-AR) gene have been discovered. Among these, beta3-AR is expressed in visceral adipose tissue and is thought to contribute to the regulation of resting metabolic rate and lipolysis. The missense mutation of beta3-AR gene, resulting in replacement of tryptophan by arginine at position 64(Trp64Arg), is associated with decreased resting metabolic rate and weightgain. We performed this study to determine if Trp64Arg polymorphism of beta3-AR gene is associatedwith obesity in Koreans. METHOD: We investigated the relationship between the beta3-AR gene mutation and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio(WHR), area of subcutaneous fat, area of visceral fat, visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio(VSR), and lipid profile. 198 subjects were included in this study of which 97 were of normal weight and 101 were obese. Anthropometric data was obtained from physical examination and medical records. RESULT: In the cases of beta3-AR gene mutation of the obese group, the ratio of Trp/Arg and Arg/Arg are 43% and 5%, respectively, which were higher than the normal group(36%, 1%), although a statistical significant was not found. There was significant difference in the are of subcutaneous fat. Normal group(Trp/Trp) measured at 213.9+/-109.6cm2 versus 244.0+/-127.7cm2 (Trp/Arg) and 323.9+/-189.9cm2(Arg/Arg) for the mutation groups. Circumference of waist, circumference of hip, WHR, area of visceral fat, and VSR were higher in the mutation groups than in normal subject, but not significantly different. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a genetic mutation in the beta3-AR gene can affect body fat composition, and is associated with obesity in Korean adults.

Change of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression by Ultraviolet B Irradiation on the Skin of a Rat

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is known to mediate ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin inflammation However, there is still ambiguity as to which NOS isotype mediates the process in vivo. Furthermore, contradictory results have been reported on which cell types respond to UVB irradiation in vitro. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the change of inducible NOS (iNOS) expression in vivo as a result of UVB radiation on the skin of a rat. METHOD: To examine the time-course change in iNOS expression in the rat skin, the rats were exposed to 400 ml/cm2 of UVB radiation, and skin samples were taken at various time intervals up to 48 h. iNOS expression on the skin of a rat was evaluated by both Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: From Western blot analysis, UVB irradiation induced inducible NOS (iNOS) expression in the epidermis at 12-48 h postirradiation with a peak expression at 24 h. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that UVB-induced iNOS expression was localized to the epidermis and infiltrating inflammatory cells in the upper dermis of the rat. CONCLUSION: iNOS was induced by UVB irradiation on the skin of a rat, mainly in the epidermis. Therefore, iNOS is supposed to be one of the major mediators with regard to inducing an inflammatory response in UVB-irradiated rat skin in vivo.

Evaluation of Lung Permeability in Patients with Connective Tissue Disease using 99mTc-DTPA Aerosol Scintigraphy / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: The association between the connective tissue diseases and lung diseases is well established. DLCO and 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy are used for evaluation of the alvelolar-capillary permeability. This study evaluated the changes in permeability of alveolar-capillary membrane and the utility of the 99mTc-DTPA aerosol clearance to detect lung involvement in patients with connective tissue diseases. METHODS: The patient group consisted of the patients with any proven connective tissue diseases (27 rheumatoid arthritis, 17 systemic lupus erythematosus, 7 other connective tissue diseases) and the control group consisted of healthy 12 persons. The patients and controls were non-smokers and had no concomitant diseases that could affect the result (diabetes, any lung diseases etc). Chest X-ray, spirometric measurements of lung volumes, flow idices, diffusing capacities and 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy were performed in the patient group and control group. 99mTc-DTPA aerosol (1110 MBq) was used with the aero-vent jet nebulizer as a lung delivery system. Patients in sitting position inhaled for 5 minutes at normal tidal oral breathing, Scintigraphic data were recorded using the Picker Prism 2000 gamma cammera, 15 frames of the lung were obtained as the area of interest anteriorly and posteriorly (120 msec at each frame, for 30 minutes). 99mTc-DTPA clearance rate was calculated as the time to half clearance (T1/2). RESULTS: The mean clearance rates of 99mTc-DTPA were 64.0+/-24.1 min (RA 70.7+/-26.2 min, SLE 61.6+/-14.0 min, Others 43.9+/-24.7 min), and 47.0+/-10.3 min in the patient group and the control group respectively. Significant correlation was not found between the pulmonary clearance rate of 99mTc-DTPA and other parameters (disease duration, ESR, CRP, DLCO and FEV1/FVC). CONCLUSION: 99mTc-DTPA clearance in the patient group (RA, SLE, others) was significantly decreased than that in control group (p<0.05). In the patient group with normal chest X-ray, 99mTc-DTPA clearance in the connective tissue disorders was significantly decreased than control group (p<0.05). We suggest that 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy may be one of useful technique for early detection of the lung involvement in the connective tissue disorders.

Evaluation of Lung Permeability in Patients with Connective Tissue Disease using 99mTc-DTPA Aerosol Scintigraphy / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: The association between the connective tissue diseases and lung diseases is well established. DLCO and 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy are used for evaluation of the alvelolar-capillary permeability. This study evaluated the changes in permeability of alveolar-capillary membrane and the utility of the 99mTc-DTPA aerosol clearance to detect lung involvement in patients with connective tissue diseases. METHODS: The patient group consisted of the patients with any proven connective tissue diseases (27 rheumatoid arthritis, 17 systemic lupus erythematosus, 7 other connective tissue diseases) and the control group consisted of healthy 12 persons. The patients and controls were non-smokers and had no concomitant diseases that could affect the result (diabetes, any lung diseases etc). Chest X-ray, spirometric measurements of lung volumes, flow idices, diffusing capacities and 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy were performed in the patient group and control group. 99mTc-DTPA aerosol (1110 MBq) was used with the aero-vent jet nebulizer as a lung delivery system. Patients in sitting position inhaled for 5 minutes at normal tidal oral breathing, Scintigraphic data were recorded using the Picker Prism 2000 gamma cammera, 15 frames of the lung were obtained as the area of interest anteriorly and posteriorly (120 msec at each frame, for 30 minutes). 99mTc-DTPA clearance rate was calculated as the time to half clearance (T1/2). RESULTS: The mean clearance rates of 99mTc-DTPA were 64.0+/-24.1 min (RA 70.7+/-26.2 min, SLE 61.6+/-14.0 min, Others 43.9+/-24.7 min), and 47.0+/-10.3 min in the patient group and the control group respectively. Significant correlation was not found between the pulmonary clearance rate of 99mTc-DTPA and other parameters (disease duration, ESR, CRP, DLCO and FEV1/FVC). CONCLUSION: 99mTc-DTPA clearance in the patient group (RA, SLE, others) was significantly decreased than that in control group (p<0.05). In the patient group with normal chest X-ray, 99mTc-DTPA clearance in the connective tissue disorders was significantly decreased than control group (p<0.05). We suggest that 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy may be one of useful technique for early detection of the lung involvement in the connective tissue disorders.

Vertebral compression fractures: distinction between benign and malignant causes with Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy / 영남의대학술지

We evaluated the effectiveness of Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy in differentiating the causes of vertebral compression fracture. This study involved 16 patients with vertebral compression fracture; 8 were due to trauma or osteoporosis, 3 were due to metastasis and 5 were due to tuberculous spondylitis. We retrospectively analyzed the location and the extent of decreased tracer uptake in tomographic images of Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy. Eight patients had a 16 vertebral compression fractures due to trauma or osteoporosis , three patients had a 3 vertebral compression fractures due to metastasis and 5 patients had a 6 vertebral compression fractures due to tuberculous spondylitis. Sixteen vertebral compression fractures by trauma or osteoporosis showed a normal tracer uptake in pedicle, laminar and spinous process, but there was noted with 6 decreased uptake, 8 absence of tracer uptake and 2 normal tracer uptake in the vertebral body. Two vertebral compression fractures by metastasis showed the absence of uptake in vertebral body, pedicle, laminar and spinous process, and one showed an absence of vertebral body and spinous process. Six vertebral compression fractures by tuberculous spondylitis showed the absence of uptake in six compression fractures, the absence of pedicle in five compression fractures. We concluded Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy may be helpful to differentiate the causes of vertebral compression fractures.