More than a third of men younger than 50 years with testosterone deficiency and infertility or sexual dysfunction had decreased bone mineral density. Testosterone treatment increased bone mineral density while estrogen modulators such as clomiphene citrate or aromatase inhibitors decreased bone mineral density. These results suggest that dual energy x-ray absorptiometry may be warranted in young men with testosterone deficiency.
The result of this study showed that more years of experience was significantly associated with reported utilization of flaps or grafts in practice. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between years in practice and number of stages per case.
Key Clinical MessagePorokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus (PEODDN) is a rare eccrine hamartoma, with treatment generally being unsatisfactory. The unique features of PEODDN presented include bilateral and facial lesions, and extensive body involvement. Management with CO2 laser was successful, and follow‐up will be necessary to monitor for recurrent lesions.
BackgroundSX-fraction (SXF) is a bioactive glycoprotein with hypoglycemic activity that has been demonstrated in our pilot clinical study. However, how it would actually work in diabetic patients remains unclear. To explore such a mechanism, the effects of SXF on the insulin signal transduction pathway were investigated using skeletal muscle L6 cells in vitro.MethodsL6 cells were first differentiated to myotubes expressing several biochemical parameters that were examined in this study. Myotubes were exposed to a high concentration (35 mM) of glucose (Glc) alone or in combination with SXF or insulin for 24 hours. Possible effects of these agents on activities of insulin receptor (IR), IR substrate 1 (IRS-1), and Akt, which are key elements involved in the signal pathway, were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Any changes in Glc uptake were also determined.ResultsHigh Glc indeed led to inactivation of IR, IRS-1, and subsequent Akt in myotubes, indicating an interruption of the signal pathway. However, such inactivation was reversed or reactivated by SXF, presumably aiding the occurrence of successive signaling events. Measurement of Glc uptake to assess the outcome of this signaling cascade showed that high Glc decreased Glc uptake (interfering with the signal pathway), but SXF was capable of overcoming such a suppressive effect, resulting in the increased Glc uptake. Insulin was used as a positive control in this study and all results were nearly compatible to those obtained from SXF.ConclusionThe present study suggests that SXF may specifically target the insulin signal pathway, and, in particular, the IR and IRS-1 therein that trigger the subsequent signaling events. As a result, SXF could activate such an impaired signal pathway through high Glc or under a hyperglycemic milieu, thereby ultimately facilitating Glc uptake. This may then account for possible hypoglycemic action of SXF.
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