ABSTRACT
Obesity is associated with several endocrine disorders, including hypersensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a high carbohydrate diet on structural and ultrastructural features of steroidogenic tissue, as well to evaluate adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and insulin levels in the blood and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression in the adrenals of gerbils. In electron microscopy, the most pronounced effect of the hypercaloric diet was observed in the zona fasciculata. Plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol, and insulin also showed significant increases. However, no significant change was noted in StAR protein levels. There is evidence that high carbohydrate intake brings about remarkable morphological and functional modifications. This could ultimately lead to mitochondrial alteration and accumulation of lipid droplets, which may lead to inflammation and degeneration of adrenal cells.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex/pathology , Adrenal Glands/metabolism , Obesity/metabolism , Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/blood , Animals , Dietary Carbohydrates/administration & dosage , Female , Gerbillinae/metabolism , Hydrocortisone/blood , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/metabolism , Male , Phosphoproteins/metabolism , Pituitary-Adrenal System/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The spiral computed tomographic (CT) arthrography of the knee represents an alternative for MRI in the diagnosis of intraarticular lesions of the knee. METHODS: We compared, in our retrospective study relates to fifty knees presenting meniscal or anterior cruciate ligament or cartilage lesions, the data of spiral computed tomographic (CT) arthrography and arthroscopy taken as "Gold Standard". The purpose was to determine the reliability of the spiral CT arthrography in the diagnosis of intraarticular derangements of the knee. RESULTS: We found that sensibility and specificity of spiral CT tomography were respectively 86% and 81% for the detection of meniscal tears. They were respectively 60% and 86% for the detection of the cartilage lesions. The sensibility and specificity were respectively 47% and 94% for the detection of anterior cruciate ligament lesion. CONCLUSION: the spiral CT arthrography, with its submillimeter spatial resolution, was reliable in the diagnosis of the meniscal and cartilage lesions whereas its value in the diagnosis of the anterior cruciate ligament tears remains to be determined.