Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether leptin has any effect on growth plate chondrocytes. Methods: We studied the effects of exogenous leptin on cultured rabbit growth plate chondrocytes. This involved assessing [3H]thymidine incorporation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, proteoglycan production, leptin receptor (Ob-R) activity, and detection of Ob-R using Western blot analysis. Results: The existence of Ob-R in growth plate chondrocytes was revealed by Western blot and Ob-R activity. Prior to semiconfluence, leptin increased [3H]thymidine incorporation while at the semiconfluent and early confluent stages, leptin promoted ALP activity and tended to promote proteoglycan production. Conclusion: Growth plate chondrocytes possess Ob-Rs, and leptin enhance chondrocyte proliferation and subsequent cell differentiation.
Although cortisone acetate is approved worldwide as corticosteroid substitution
therapy in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (21-hydroxylase deficiency), its effectiveness
is uncertain since its biologic activity depends on activation by
11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). We sought to
compare the effect of cortisone acetate with that of hydrocortisone. In 10 patients with
congenital adrenal hyperplasia, cortisone acetate was replaced with hydrocortisone in
substitution therapy. During this change, blood concentrations of 17-hydroxy-progesterone,
adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), and requirements for each drug were monitored. Concentrations
of 17-hydroxyprogesterone decreased (mean 10.1 vs. 48.6 ng/ml), as did those of ACTH.
Cortisone acetate dose requirements averaged 33.9 mg/m2, while hydrocortisone
dose requirements averaged only 20.3 mg/m2. In one of the patients resistant to
cortisone acetate therapy, DNA sequences in the coding regions and promoter of the
11β-HSD gene were analyzed, detecting no genetic abnormalities.
Cortisone acetate is inferior to hydrocortisone as substitution therapy in patients with
congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Limb lengthening was performed on a patient with achondroplasia.The first operation was performed without growth hormone (GH) therapy, and the second operation was performed with GH therapy. The effect of GH on limb lengthening was studied. For the lengthening of limbs, the Orthofix device was used on the femur, and the Ilizarov method was used on the tibia.It took more time for the consolidation of the callus and severe narrowing of the femur was observed at the second limb lengthening. GH treatment was of no benefit for the consolidation of the callus in this patient.
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN-2A) is an autosomally dominant familial disorder and includes pheochromocytoma (PH), medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and occasionally parathyroid hyperplasia. We present a case of MEN-2A diagnosed as bilateral adrenal PH and MTC. Preoperative prazosin was effective for improving abnormal hemodynamic state. Intraoperative cardiovascular changes were controlled by the use of prostaglandin E1, nicardipine and diltiazem. Following bilateral total adrenalectomy, total thyroidectomy was performed under hormone replacement therapy. By the screening test for the patient's family, his son was diagnosed MEN-2A. He underwent excision of adrenal PH and MTC. In the treatment of MEN-2A, there are two important points. First, removal of PH should be scheduled before removal of MTC. Second, a screening test for the patient's children should be carried out.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.