Aggressive posterior paraganglioma presenting with generalized weakness, anemia, hypertension, and weight loss: A case report.

Paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors that originate from chromaffin cells in the extra-adrenal autonomic nervous system's ganglia. The diagnosis of PGL is made based on clinical characteristics, biochemical tests, imaging, functional studies, and pathology reports. Catecholamines and chromogranin A levels should be evaluated prior to biopsy or surgical excision. We present a case of aggressive PGL in a 55-year-old woman presented with weakness, blurred vision, hypertension, and weight loss.

Effects of Indonesian Shortfin Eel (Anguilla bicolor) By-Product Oil Supplementation on HOMA-IR and Lipid Profile in Obese Male Wistar Rats.

The prevalence of people being overweight and obese has increased globally over the past decades. The use of omega-3 fatty acids-a compound usually primarily found in fish oil-has been known to improve the metabolic profile of obese patients. As the demand for eels increases, the number of waste products from the eels increases and creates environmental problems. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a newly discovered Indonesian Shortfin eel by-product oil supplementation on the Homeostasis Model Assessment-Estimated Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and lipid profiles of obese male (Lee index ≥ 0.3) Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). The oil was extracted from waste products (heads). Fifteen obese rats were divided into three groups and were administered NaCl (C), commercial fish oil (CO), and Indonesian shortfin eel by-product oil (EO). All groups had statistically significant differences in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels (p < 0.05). The CO and EO group showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride after treatment. However, no significant difference was found in HDL levels and HOMA-IR. The supplementation of Indonesian shortfin eel by-product oil significantly improved lipid profile while effectively mitigating environmental challenges.

Amputation in diabetic foot ulcer: A treatment dilemma.

Diabetic foot is a clinical manifestation of diabetes with a wide range of symptoms, including ulceration, osteomyelitis, osteoarticular destruction, and gangrene, as a consequence of advanced disease. Some diabetic foot cases present general indications for amputation, including dead limb, threat to the patient's life, pain, loss of function, or nuisance. Various tools have been introduced to help decision-making in amputation for diabetic foot. However, it remains a conundrum because diabetic foot involves multiple pathomechanisms and factors that hinder its outcomes. Sociocultural issues often impede treatment from the patient's side. We reviewed different perspectives in diabetic foot management, particularly related to amputation. In addition to deciding whether to amputate, physicians should address amputation level, timing, and ways to avoid patient deconditioning. Surgeons should not be autocratic in these circumstances and should be aware of beneficence and maleficence when considering whether to amputate. The main goal should be improving the patients' quality of life rather than preserving the limb as much as possible.

The effect of diabetes mellitus on COVID-19 mortality among patients in a tertiary-level hospital in Bandung, Indonesia.

Immune system dysregulation in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of acquiring severe infection. We compared the clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with and without DM and estimated the effect of DM on mortality among COVID-19 patients. A retrospective cohort study collecting patients' demographic, clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and treatment outcomes from medical records was conducted in a hospital in Bandung City from March to December 2020. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the association between DM and death. A total of 664 COVID-19 patients with positive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were included in this study, of whom 147 were with DM. Half of DM patients presented HbA1c ≥10%. DM patients were more likely to present with comorbidities and severe to critical conditions at admission (P <0.001). Laboratory parameters such as neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase were higher in the DM group. In the univariate analysis, variables associated with death were COVID-19 severity at baseline, neurologic disease, DM, age ≥60 years, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. DM remained associated with death (aOR 1.82; 95% CI 1.13-2.93) after adjustment with sex, age, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. In conclusion, COVID-19 patients with DM are more likely to present with a very high HbA1c, comorbidities, and severe-critical illness. Chronic inflammation in DM patients may be aggravated by the disruption of immune response caused by COVID-19, leading to worse laboratory results and poor outcomes.

An Interesting Case of Hepatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare solid tumor with an incidence of 0.5 to 2 cases per million per year. It affects women more commonly than men with a ratio of 1.5:1. Ectopic ACC are considered to be extremely rare with no exact incidence data yet. We report an interesting case of hepatic ACC in a young woman with clinical signs of virilization.A-21-year old Sundanese woman visited our endocrine clinic with progressive hirsutism over the face, body, and extremities starting 14 years previously. She had irregular, heavy periods when she was 7 years old. She also experienced pubertal development of her breasts. However, both menstrual cycle and breast development ceased when she was 8 years old. She noticed voice deepening and alopecia. Physical examination showed male-type alopecia and intense hirsutism. Tanner stage was 3 for breast tissue and 5 for pubic hair. There was no galactorrhea. Body mass index was 21.4 kg/m2. Hormonal evaluation revealed increased level of free testosterone (>1500 ng/dl; NV: 8.4-48.1 ng/dl), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (>1000 ug/ml; NV: 65.1-369 ug/ml), and estradiol (533.60 pg/ml; NV: 14-124 pg/ml), low level of LH (<0.07 mIU/ml; NV: 1.7-11 mIU/ml) and FSH (<0.30 mIU/ml; NV: 1.34-9.40 mIU/ml), slight increased in morning serum cortisol (26.61 ug/ml; NV: 4.3-22.4 ug/ml), normal serum thyroid stimulating hormone (3.2 mIU/l; NV: 0.34-4.25 mIU/l) and prolactin (14.70 ng/ml; NV: 3.30-15.80 ng/ml). Gynecological ultrasound and brain MRI examination showed no structural abnormality. Abdominal CT scan demonstrated contrast enhanced solid inhomogenous mass sized 11.6 x 14.2 x 15.6 cm in right liver lobe. Neither suprarenal mass nor paraaortic lymphadenopathy was seen in the abdominal CT scan. Chromosomal examination revealed normal female karyotype (46, XX). Further liver biopsy showed morphology and immunohistochemistry (positive for CD 56, HEP 1, and NSE) consistent with adrenocortical carcinoma. Surgical therapy with referral to other institution was offered to the patient as first line treatment. Meanwhile, the patient got spironolactone 100 mg OD.Virilizing tumors are rare and few of them are androgen-producing adrenal tumors. Ectopic adrenal tumors are even rarer. Ectopic adrenal tissue can be found close to the adrenal glands, or along the path of descent or in association with gonad. Moreover, they have ever been reported in nervous system, stomach, gall bladder, and liver. There have been several case reports of adrenal rest tumor of liver; however, our literature review found no report of ectopic ACC of liver. Cortical tissue, embrologically derived from mesoderm, seems to be the sole component of the tumor which can undergo malignant transformation or become hormonally functional. Functioning tumors are more frequent in women. Our case demonstrated virilization as chief complaint. The ectopically located functioning tumors display the same clinical picture as tumors located in adrenal gland, with Cushing's syndrome and virilization are the most frequent symptoms in order of frequency. The virilization, as shown in our case, is due to excessive androgen production of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone. The distinction of ACC from benign adrenocortical tumor is important. Since there is no previous report of hepatic ACC and surgery is the keystone of curative treatment modality for ACC at adrenal gland, we planned the patient for surgical resection. Adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy (mitotane and combination of cytotoxic drugs), irradiation might be considered in ACC treatment. To control androgen effects, spironolactone was administered in our patient. However, there was no significant improvement in symptoms.In conclusion, we present the first reported case of hepatic ACC. A thorough history, physical examination, and appropriate laboratory, imaging examination are critical in evaluating virilized female patients. Elevated serum concentration of  dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone might direct clinician to functioning adrenal cortical tissue as etiology, with further investigation of exact tumor site.