Relationships between alanine aminotransferase levels, abnormal liver echogenicity, and metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Elevated alanine aminotransferase (e-ALT) and abnormal liver echogenicity (ab-echo), as determined by sonography, have been linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, which of these is more closely related to MetS, especially among older men, remains unknown. METHODS: Data from 3065 men aged 65 years or older who were undergoing a routine health examination and who were not taking any medications for MetS were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into 4 groups: group N (n= 1228; patients have normal ALT and liver echogenicity); group A (n=110; patients have e-ALT but normal liver echogenicity); group E (n=1381; patients have ab-echo but normal ALT); group AE (n=346; patients have both e-ALT and ab-echo). RESULTS: Among the 3065 subjects, 714 participants were found to have MetS (23.3%). It is not surprising that MetS components were highest in group AE. More interestingly, compared with group A, group E had higher levels of MetS components (except that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lower). Similar findings were confirmed by logistic regression. Group E had a significantly higher odds ratio of having MetS than group A (2.73; 95% CI, 1.565-4.763). CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that both e-ALT and ab-echo are related to a higher incidence of MetS among Taiwanese older men. Of these 2 abnormalities, ab-echo seems to be more closely related to MetS. Further studies are needed to elucidate the complex relationships between these factors in other age and ethnic groups.

Influence of diabetes on homocysteine-lowering therapy in chronic hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of homocysteine (Hcy)-lowering therapy may be different in hemodialysis (HD) patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Stable HD patients with uremia were administered folic acid and vitamin B for 3 months. The impact of treatment was compared in patients with and without DM. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients (31 men and 30 women) aged 56 ± 13 y completed the study. Among these, 44 patients (72%) did not have DM and 17 (28%) had DM. At baseline, total Hcy and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were similar. After treatment, the levels of total Hcy and hsCRP were significantly decreased in the nondiabetic group (total Hcy level decreased from 33.63 ± 14.13 µmol/l to 18.94 ± 8.46 µmol/l, p<0.001; hsCRP level decreased from 0.58 mg/dl [range, 0.21-1.05 mg/dl] to 0.22 mg/dl [range, 0.11-0.53 mg/dl], p<0.001) but not in the diabetic group (total Hcy level decreased from 34.97 ± 17.12 µmol/l to 29.53 ± 11.36 µmol/l, p=0.057; hsCRP level decreased from 0.80 mg/dl [range, 0.24-1.47 mg/dl] to 0.49 mg/dl [range, 0.45-0.98 mg/dl], p=0.28). Serial monitoring of total Hcy level showed a more sustained effect of therapy on patients without DM. CONCLUSION: Folic acid and vitamin B administration significantly lower total Hcy and hsCRP levels in HD patients without DM but not in those with DM.

Serum IL-6, albumin and co-morbidities are closely correlated with symptoms of depression in patients on maintenance haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression may be associated with activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased long-term mortality in patients on maintenance haemodialysis (MHD). There are numerous reports regarding the association of depression with inflammatory status, co-morbidities and nutritional condition, but few of these studies have explored the possible correlations between depression, age and economic status. The study explores the possible correlations between depression and demographic, socio-economic, clinical and laboratory variables. METHODS: One hundred and forty-six MHD patients (65 males and 81 females, mean age: 63.8±15.2 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Demographic and socio-economic status as well as clinical and laboratory variables including co-morbidities were obtained. The self-administered Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to determine the presence or absence of depression symptoms. Biochemical parameters (serum albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, etc.) and dialysis dosage delivery (Kt/V and urea reduction rate or URR) were examined. All the patients were on high-flux biocompatible dialysers for MHD. The presence of an inflammatory state was assessed by determinations of plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression (BDI≥14) was 45.9%. In patients found to have symptoms of depression, no statistically significant difference was shown with respect to age, gender, smoking habits or clinical characteristics. However, these patients were more likely to have a number of co-morbidities. They also had higher levels of serum IL-6 and total cholesterol as well as lower serum albumin and Kt/V values. The BDI correlated significantly with Kt/V values (r=-0.19; P<0.05), levels of serum albumin (r=-0.28; P<0.005) and serum IL-6 (r=0.47; P<0.001). Multivariate stepwise forward logistic regression analysis showed a direct correlation between BDI and IL-6 levels (P=0.001; OR=1.537) and between BDI and co-morbidities (P=0.037; OR=3.584). There was an inverse correlation between BDI and serum albumin levels (P=0.006; OR=0.145) and between BDI and age (P=0.007; OR=0.96). The rate of depression was significantly lower for the elderly patients (age≥75 years) compared with those below 64 years of age. The percentage of personal monthly disposable income at or above Taiwan dollar (TWD)>10,000 was similar in patients aged≥75 and those below 64 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance haemodialysis patients with symptoms of depression may have higher serum IL-6 and lower serum albumin levels. The prevalence of depression was lower in elderly patients at or above 75 years old, and no correlation was found with socio-economic status. Factors including co-morbid conditions, serum IL-6, albumin and age may help predict which patients may be predisposed to develop symptoms of depression.

Coexistence of adult-onset Still's disease and autoimmune hyperthyroidism in a patient who responded to corticosteroids and ß-blocker.

The pathogenesis of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), which is currently thought to be an autoimmune disorder, may share similarities with autoimmune hyperthyroidism. This report describes a middle-aged woman in whom hyperthyroidism and Still's disease developed concurrently. During the course of her illness, the hyperthyroidism was observed to be aggravated whenever her AOSD was in the active stage. After her AOSD activity was controlled, her hyperthyroidism improved clinically. The extent of activation of her hyperthyroidism was observed in parallel to the extent of activation of her AOSD. Furthermore, the patient developed neutropenia after receiving either propylthiouracil (PTU) or methimazole, both of which are standard accepted medications for treatment of hyperthyroidism. Immune mechanisms contributed to PTU induced neutropenia have been proposed, and hyperthyroid patients treated with standard antithyroid agents should be monitored for blood cell counts especially for AOSD patients. Corticosteroid may effect Graves' disease activity, and steroids may play a role in the treatment of hyperthyroidism if a patient had drug allergies to antithyroid agents.