A Protective Role for Heme Oxygenase-1 in INS-1 Cells and Rat Islets that are Exposed to High Glucose Conditions

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been described as an inducible protein that is capable of cytoprotection via radical scavenging and the prevention of apoptosis. Chronic exposure to hyperglycemia can lead to cellular dysfunction that may become irreversible over time, and this process has been termed glucose toxicity. Yet little is known about the relation between glucose toxicity and HO-1 in the islets. The purposes of the present study were to determine whether prolonged exposure of pancreatic islets to a supraphysiologic glucose concentration disrupts the intracellular balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and HO-1, and so this causes defective insulin secretion; we also wanted to evaluate a protective role for HO-1 in pancreatic islets against high glucose levels. The intracellular peroxide levels of the pancreatic islets (INS-1 cell, rat islet) were increased in the high glucose media (30 mM glucose or 50 mM ribose). The HO-1 expression was induced in the INS-1 cells by the high glucose levels. Both the HO-1 expression and glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was decreased simultaneously in the islets by treatment of the HO-1 antisense. The HO-1 was upregulated in the INS-1 cells by hemin, an inducer of HO-1. And, HO-1 upregulation induced by hemin reversed the GSIS in the islets at a high glucose condition. These results suggest HO-1 seems to mediate the protective response of pancreatic islets against the oxidative stress that is due to high glucose conditions.

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis with Central Diabetes Insipidus: A Case Report / 영남의대학술지

Central diabetes insipidus (DI) is a syndrome characterized by thirst, polydipsia and polyuria. Langerhans cell histiocytosis is one of the etiologies of DI. Recently we experienced a central DI associated with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The 44 years old female patient complained right hip pain, polydipsia and polyuria. We carried out water deprivation test. After vasopressin injection, urine osmotic pressure was increased from 109 mOsmol/kg to 327 mOsmol/kg (300%). Brain MRI showed a thickened pituitary stalk and air bubble like lesions sized with 5cm, 7cm was shown on fifth L-spine and right hip bone at hip bone CT. CT guided biopsy revealed abnormal histiocytes proliferation and abundant lymphocytes. The final diagnosis was central DI associated with systemic Langerhans cell histiocytosis invading hip bone, L-spine and pituitary stalk. Desmopressin and etoposide chemotherapy were performed to the patient.

Lipid profiles in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were the identification of the abnormalities in lipid profiles and the correlations between serum lipid profiles and inflammatory parameters in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS: The subjects were 50 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who have been treated in rheumatology clinic, Yeungnam University Hospital. Serum lipids and apolipoproteins were measured and compared with those of age- and sex-matched controls. In systemic lupus erythematosus group, disease activities were assessed by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. RESULTS: All lipid profiles were within normal range but most of lipoprotein levels were higher in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus than controls. Triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein and very-low-density lipoprotein were statistically significant (p=0.001, p=0.023, and p=0.001 respectively). Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were significantly increased in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with proteinuria (>or=100 mg/dL/24hr) than in patients without proteinuria. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein had positive correlations and apolipoprotein A-II had negative correlation with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index. Low-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein B had positive correlations, high-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein A-II had negative correlations with erythrocyte sedimentation rate. But differences of lipid profiles according to the duration of disease and total doses of steroid were not significant. CONCLUSION: This study showed that triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and very-low-density lipoprotein in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were higher than controls. Total cholesterol and LDL in patients with SLE had positive correlations with disease activities.

Evaluation of Lung Epithelial Permeability in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus using 99mTc-DTPA Aerosol Scintigraphy / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is often accompanied by complicated microangiopathy, such as, retinopathy, nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy or macroangiopathy, as well as by coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease. However, there have been few reports concerning the pulmonary involvement of diabetes. Recently, capillary basement membrane thickening, nonenzymatic glycosylation of tissue proteins, abnormalities of endothelial cells and increased damage by free radicals were reported as the underlying basis for the reduced lung permeability. 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy is a noninvasive, accurate method, which evaluates the permeability of lung epithelial membranes. The clearance rate of 99mTc-DTPA in lungs may correlate inversely with the lung's epithelial permeability. We investigated the relationship between microangiopathies and the lung epithelial permeability in patients with diabetes using 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy. METHODS: The study group comprised of 33 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with no clinical evidence of past or present respiratory disease. The patients were divided into two groups in relation to the complications. Group 1: 16 patients with more than one of the complications of retinopathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and/or peripheral neuropathy, and comprised of 3 males and 13 females, with a mean age of 52.9 +/- 9.6 years. Group 2: 17 patients with no complications, and comprised of 5 males and 12 females with a mean age of 52.8 +/- 11.5 years. Group 3: as a control group, comprised of 11 healthy people: 4 males 4 and 7 females with a mean age of 44.2 +/- 12.5 years. 99m-Tc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy was performed in the subjects by inhalation of 30 mCi 99mTc-DTPA aerosol and oxygen (9 l/min) using an aero-vent jet nebulizer as the lung delivery system. To evaluate the diabetic complications, CAN (Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy), and NCV (Nerve Conduction Velocity) tests for peripheral neuropathy, fundoscopy for retinopathy and 24 hours urine microalbumin for nephropathy were performed. RESULTS: The mean durations of diabetes in Groups 1 and 2 were 11.1 +/- 4.7 years and 3.8 +/- 2.1 years, respectively (p<0.05). The mean clearance rates of 99mTc-DTPA were found to be 72.1 +/- 19.5min, 52.6 +/- 19.7 min, and 47.1 +/- 10.9 min for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The mean clearance rate of Group 1 was significantly longer than for Groups 2 and 3 (p<0.05). In other words, the pulmonary epithelial permeability was reduced in diabetic patients with complications compared to the patients without complication and/or the normal controls. Significant positive correlation was found between the pulmonary clearance rate of 99mTc-DTPA, and peripheral neuropathy and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (p<0.05). Conclusions: The lungs may be a target organ for diabetes, and impaired pulmonary epithelial permeability seems to be closely related to other diabetic microangiopathies. Therefore, we recommend that 99mTc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy be used as a technique for assessing lung injury in diabetic patients.

The Clitoral Size of the Korean Female Newborn / 영남의대학술지

BACKGROUND: To determine mean clitoral and glans size of Korean female newborn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The size of glans and clitoris of 68 Korean female newborns born at Yeungnam University Medical Center were measured from May in 1999 to August in 1999. RESULTS: The mean size of the 68 newborns were 2.38+/-1.14 mm in glans length, 2.55+/-1.48 mm in glans width and 4.66+/-1.93 mm in clitoral length. In the premature infants the mean clitoral size was 1.92+/-1.58 mm in glans length, 1.78+/-1.24 mm in glans width and 3.86+/-2.16 mm in clitoral length. In the full term infants 2.53+/-1.12 mm in glans length, 2.75+/-1.58 mm in glans width and 4.94+/-1.89 mm in clitoral length. In low birth weight infants clitoral size was measured 1.55+/-1.10 mm in glans length, 2.04+/-2.03 mm in glans width and 3.29+/-1.87 mm in clitoral length. In normal birth weight infants 2.53+/-1.13 mm in glans length, 2.68+/-1.48 mm in glans width and 4.92+/-1.91 mm in clitoral length. In high birth weight infants 1.54+/-0.50 mm in glans length, 1.63+/-0.53 mm in glans width and 3.18+/-1.04 mm in clitoral length. CONCLUSION: There was no significant correlation between gestational age and clitoral size or glans size, but significant negative correlation was found between birth weight and clitoral size or glans size.