Recurrent Anti-GQ1b Antibody Syndrome

Anti-GQ1 antibody is found in patients with Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS), atypical MFS, and Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE). These conditions are various manifestations of post-infectious autoimmune disorders, and anti-GQ1b antibodies play a core pathogenic role. So they are referred as the 'anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome'. We report two cases of recurrent anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome.

The Role of Androgen in the Adipose Tissue of Males

Adipose tissue, where various metabolic hormones are secreted, plays a role in metabolizing different substances including androgen. Within fat tissue, enzymes such as aromatase and aldo-keto reductase 1C are responsible for metabolizing testosterone into estrogen and 5-dihydrotestosterone into inactive metabolites. Adipose tissue can also affect the secretion of gonadotropin, which influences the formation of androgen in the testes. At the same time, androgen has an impact on the distribution and proliferation of adipose tissue. The adrenoreceptors for catecholamines, which have been proven to play an essential role in controlling lipolysis, function by being up-regulated by androgens. Furthermore, androgens regulate the activity of lipoprotein lipase, a key enzyme involved in intracellular esterification of adipose tissue.