The diabetic muscle.

The muscle is an important organ-system of the body, which contributes to, and is impacted by, viscerometabolic health. This brief communication presents a structured discussion of the role of skeletal muscle in the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of diabetes.

Transgender medicine in primary care.

This review focuses on transgender medicine, and its importance in South Asia. It describes the various facets of transgender medicine that are relevant to primary health care providers. The authors call for greater sensitivity towards the needs of the transgender community, so that they can receive quality care at the primary level.

Zinc transporter-8 autoantibodies can replace IA-2 autoantibodies as a serological marker for juvenile onset type 1 diabetes in India.

INTRODUCTION: Zinc transporter-8 (ZnT8) is an islet cell secretory granule membrane protein recently identified as an autoantigen in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of antibodies to ZnT8 (ZnT8A) in juvenile onset T1D and to determine the utility of ZnT8A as an independent marker of autoimmunity either alone in antibody-negative subjects or in conjunction with glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and insulinoma-2 antigen antibodies (GADA and IA2A). RESEARCH DESIGN: ZnT8A, GADA, and IA2A were measured in sera of consecutive T1D patients (n = 88, age range 2-18 years) within 4 years of diagnosis and 88 sex-matched controls. RESULTS: The prevalences of GADA, ZnT8a, and IA2A were 64.7%, 31.8% and 19.3%, respectively. In newly diagnosed patients, the frequency of ZnT8A was 45%. ZnT8A were positive in 26% of patients negative for both GADA and IA2A. IA2A were positive only in two patients who were negative for other two antibodies. Combined use of ZnT8A and GADA could detect 97% of antibody positive patients. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the performances of GADA and ZnT8As were better than that of IA2A; and AUCs of GADA, ZnT8A, and IA2A for the prediction of T1D were 0.8, 0.65, and 0.59, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ZnT8A complements GADA and increases the diagnostic sensitivity for detection of autoimmunity in juvenile-onset T1D. Inclusion of ZnT8A increases the proportion of patients with antibody positivity to nearly 80%. ZnT8A can replace IA2A as a serological marker for autoimmunity in Indian T1D patients without loss of sensitivity and specificity.

Lymphocytic hypophysitis masquerading as pituitary adenoma.

INTRODUCTION: Pituitary hypophysitis (PH) is characterized by pituitary infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells that could lead to loss of pituitary function. Hypophysitis may be autoimmune or secondary to systemic diseases or infections. Based on the histopathological findings PH is classified into lymphocytic, granulomatous, xanthomatous, mixed forms (lymphogranulomatous, xanthogranulomatous), necrotizing and Immunoglobulin- G4 (IgG4) plasmacytic types. OBJECTIVE: To report a case of lymphocytic hypophysitis (LH). CASE REPORT: A 15-year-old girl presented with history of headache, amenorrhea, and history of polyuria for past 4 months. Initial evaluation had suppressed follicular stimulating hormone (<0.01 mIU/ml), high prolactin levels (110.85 ng/ml) and diabetes insipidus (DI). Magnetic resonance imaging of sella was suggestive of pituitary macroadenoma with partial compression over optic chiasma. Patient underwent surgical decompression. Yellowish firm tissue was evacuated and xanthochromic fluid was aspirated. Histopathology was suggestive of LH. She resumed her cycles postoperatively after 4 months, prolactin levels normalized, however, she continues to have DI and is on desmopressin spray. This case has been presented here for its rare presentation in an adolescent girl because it is mostly seen in young females and postpartum period and its unique presentation as an expanding pituitary mass with optic chiasma compression. CONCLUSION: Definitive diagnosis of LH is based on histopathological evaluation. Therapeutic approach should be based on the grade of suspicion and clinical manifestations of LH.

Vitamin D deficiency presenting like hypophosphatemic osteomalacia.

INTRODUCTION: Osteomalacia is one of the most common osteometabolic diseases. It is typically caused by lack of vitamin D and is characterized by mineralization deficiency of the osteoid matrix in the cortical and trabecular bone. Indians are at particularly high risk for developing osteomalacia, because of their traditional clothing style and skin color. This condition is frequently misdiagnosed and it can present with bone pain and muscle weakness. OBJECTIVE: We report a case of osteomalacia with predominant hypophosphatemia. CASE REPORT: A 41-year-old male presented with gradually progressive quadriparesis for past 6 months. Patient had low phosphorous (1.9 mg/dl) with calcium being 8.1 mg/dl and 25(OH)Vitamin D3 levels being 8.12 ng/ml. The patient was thought to have concomitant Vitamin D deficiency with possibility of tumor-induced osteomalacia. Further evaluation for the same was planned. However, patient was given a trial of Vitamin D supplementation before further investigations and had dramatic improvement in the form that muscle power improved gradually over next 6 weeks and was able to climb stairs after 2 months. Retrospectively patient gave a history of being at home for many months and there was no exposure to sunlight at all. The biochemical parameters normalized within 4 weeks of starting Vitamin D and serum alkaline phosphatase showed drastic reduction after 6 weeks. All his family members were screened and found to have Vitamin D deficiency including recent born twins having rachitic changes. This was a case of vitamin D deficiency, in 41-year-old male, which presented more like hypophosphatemic osteomalacia but characteristic history of lack of sunlight exposure and dramatic improvement with only vitamin D3 supplementation confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The presentation of vitamin D deficiency can be varied and high index of suspicion is important for treatment of this common but frequently misdiagnosed condition.