Endocrine Abstracts

Purpose: Agouti-related protein (AgRP) is known as an orexigenic neuropeptide which is expressed in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. It’s possible AgRP is an important molecule in glucocorticoid (GC) induced obesity (e.g. Cushing syndrome), because GC positively regulate hypothalamic AgRP. To clarify the role of AgRP in GC-induced obesity, we investigate here the effect of GC on AgRP deficient mice.Methods: Male wild-type littermates (n=20...

Purpose: Glucocorticoid is one of the key hormones that regulates energy balance. Glucocorticoid excess induce hyperphagia and obesity (e.g. Cushing syndrome), however, its mechanisms are not fully elucidated. On the other hand, Agouti-related protein (AgRP) is known as an orexigenic neuropeptide, which is expressed in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. To clarify the role of Agouti-related protein (AgRP) in glucocorticoid-induced obesity, we investigate here the effect of gluc...

Background: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), which is one of the most aggressive endocrine tumors. Primary thyroid carcinoma typically does not interfere with thyroid function and presentation of ATC with thyrotoxic state is extremely rare. We present here an ATC patient who is complicated with thyrotoxicosis.Case: A 69-year-old man presented with neck swelling and pointed out thyroid tumor with calcification two years ago. He appeared general fatigue...

Background: Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFR) is a rare but fatal infection that occurs primarily in immunocompromized individuals. It is characterized by fungal invasion into the mucosa and submucosal structures of the paranasal sinuses with extension into adjacent structures, including the paranasal soft tissues, orbit and cranial vault. We present here a case of hypopituitarism due to AIFR with intracranial lesion.Case: A 59-year-old man, wh...

The renin–angiotensin system is known to enhance erythropoiesis. (Pro)renin receptor ((P)RR), a specific receptor for renin and prorenin, has recently been identified. We have recently shown expression of (P)RR in a human erythroid cell line, YN-1. It is known that triiodothyronine (T3) and angiotensin-II (A-II) stimulate proliferation of erythroid cells. The aim of the present study is to clarify effects of T3 and A-II on expression of (P)RR in the ...

Kisspeptins are the product of the KiSS-1 gene, a metastasis suppressor gene, and play important physiological roles in the hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal axis and reproduction. It was reported that kisspeptin-10 stimulated the aldosterone synthesis in H295R human adrenal cancer cells (Nakamura et al., 2007). However, expression of kisspeptin and its receptor has not been studied in tumor tissues of adrenocortical tumors. The aim of the present study was therefore to clarify ex...

Purpose: Glucocorticoid excess causes obesity and hyperphagia (e.g. Cushing syndrome), but the molecular mechanism of glucocorticoid-induced hyperphagia is not fully understood. To clarify this point, we investigated here the phenotype of leptin and Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) double knockout mice (DKO).Methods: Leptin-deficient ob/ob mice were bred with CRH-deficient mice for generation of DKO mice. We examined body weight, food consumption an...

Insulin resistance and type II diabetes (T2D) are associated with activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System (RAAS) in part via regulation of its principal effector molecule, Angiotensin II (AngII). Endothelial cell activation leads to, among other factors, increased extracellular protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), a multifunctional protein that is critical to thrombus formation and regulation of reactive oxygen species. However, the effects of RAAS on PDI are unkn...

Background: α-Klotho was first identified as an aging gene and was later shown to be a regulator of phosphate metabolism. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is the key regulator of phosphate metabolism. Serum levels of soluble α-Klotho in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have not previously been determined, especially in relation with FGF23 and creatinine levels. This study was designed to investigate whether serum soluble α-Klotho levels are modulated by ...

HR-pQCT assesses peripheral sites (distal radius and distal tibia). The technique has all the advantages of quantitative CT; it makes a volumetric assessment of bone mineral density (rather than the areal measurement made by DXA), it is less affected by overlying soft tissue than DXA, and it can separate cortical and trabecular compartments. Because it measures peripheral sites in a purpose-built device, it can use high energy radiation to obtain high resolution images, with a...