Giant Cell Lesions Associated with Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Aims and Objective

To evaluate the prevalence, clinical features, diagnostic laboratory values and treatment outcome of giant cell lesions (brown tumors) associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in oral and maxillofacial region.

Study Design

A 5 year retrospective data was analyzed wherein all histopathologically proven cases of giant cell lesions involving oral and maxillofacial region were evaluated. Out of these cases, those associated with PHPT were tabulated. Correlation was established with other concomitant clinical features and also with the laboratory values of altered serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphate and parathormone. Follow up of these cases after the correction of PHPT was also noted.

Result

Out of 85 cases of histopathologically proven giant cell lesions, five cases were associated with PHPT. There was involvement of maxilla and mandible in one case each. Only frontal bone was involved in two cases. Fifth case had multiple lytic lesions in maxilla and frontal bone. All patients consistently showed very high values of alkaline phosphate and parathormone. Hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia was noted in four cases. All cases showed regression of the lytic lesion after parathyroidectomy obviating the need for surgical excision of the jaw lesions.

Conclusion

Giant cell lesions (brown tumors) associated with PHPT in oral and maxillofacial region are rare clinical entities. The prevalence of PHPT associated giant cell lesions is 5.9 %. They are clinically, radiologically and histopathologically similar to any other peripheral or central giant cell tumor. Relevant history may alert the clinician and altered biochemical values may help in correlating the oral and maxillofacial findings with the underlying systemic disease. At times, the brown tumor maybe the only presenting sign leading to the diagnosis of PHPT.     

Renin angiotensin system modulates mTOR pathway through AT2R in HIVAN

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been reported to contribute to the development of HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). We hypothesized that HIV may be activating renal tissue mTOR pathway through renin angiotensin system (RAS) via Angiotensin Receptor Type II receptor (AT2R). Renal tissues of Vpr transgenic and Tg26 (HIVAN) mice displayed enhanced phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K. Aliskiren, a renin inhibitor attenuated phosphorylation of both mTOR and p70S6K in renal tissues of HIVAN mice. Interestingly, Angiotensin Receptor Type I (AT1R) blockade did not modulate renal tissue phosphorylation of mTOR in HIVAN mice; on the other hand, AT2R blockade attenuated renal tissue phosphorylation of mTOR in HIVAN mice. In vitro studies, both renin and Ang II displayed enhanced mouse tubular cell (MTC) phosphorylation of p70S6K in a dose dependent manner. HIV/MTC also displayed enhanced phosphorylation of both mTOR and p70S6K; interestingly this effect of HIV was further enhanced by losartan (an AT1R blocker). On the other hand, AT2R blockade attenuated HIV-induced tubular cell phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K, whereas, AT2R agonist enhanced phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K. These findings indicate that HIV stimulates mTOR pathway in HIVAN through the activation of renin angiotensin system via AT2R.     

Nutritional Rehabilitation of Children < 6 mo with Severe Acute Malnutrition

The authors studied the outcome of 108 infants <??6 mo with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admitted in the Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRC) at a teaching hospital. The most common symptom that the children presented with, was acute diarrhoea (35.2 %) followed by failure to gain weight (26.9 %). Seventy five (69.4 %) infants were cured after nutritional rehabilitation and 29 (26.8 %) were non responders. Fifty two (48 %) infants showed good weight gain after proper counseling or supplementary suckling technique alone.     

300,000 IU or 600,000 IU of oral vitamin D3 for treatment of nutritional rickets: A randomized controlled trial

Objective

To evaluate the non-inferiority of a lower therapeutic dose (300,000 IU) in comparison to standard dose (600,000) IU of Vitamin D for increasing serum 25(OH) D levels and achieving radiological recovery in nutritional rickets.

Design

Randomized, open-labeled, controlled trial.

Setting

Tertiary care hospital.

Participants

76 children (median age 12 mo) with clinical and radiologically confirmed rickets.

Intervention

Oral vitamin D3 as 300,000 IU (Group 1; n=38) or 600,000 IU (Group 2; n=38) in a single day.

Outcome variables

Primary: Serum 25(OH)D, 12 weeks after administration of vitamin D3; Secondary: Radiological healing and serum parathormone at 12 weeks; and clinical and biochemical adverse effects.

Results

Serum 25(OH)D levels [geometric mean (95% CI)] increased significantly from baseline to 12 weeks after therapy in both the groups [Group 1: 7.58 (5.50–10.44) to 16.06 (12.71–20.29) ng/mL, P<0.001]; Group 2: 6.57 (4.66–9.25) to 17.60 (13.71–22.60, P<0.001]. The adjusted ratio of geometric mean serum 25(OH)D levels at 12 weeks between the groups (taking baseline value as co-variate) was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.65–1.29). Radiological healing occurred in all children by 12 weeks. Both groups demonstrated significant (P<0.05) and comparable fall in the serum parathormone and alkaline phosphatase levels at 12 weeks. Relative change [ratio of geometric mean (95% CI)] in serum PTH and alkaline phosphatase, 12 weeks after therapy, were 0.98 (0.7–1.47) and 0.92 (0.72–1.19), respectively. The serum 25(OH)D levels were deficient (<20 ng/mL) in 63% (38/60) children after 12 weeks of intervention [Group 1: 20/32 (62.5%); Group 2: 18/28 (64.3%)]. No major clinical adverse effects were noticed in any of the children. Hypercalcemia was documented in 2 children at 4 weeks (1 in each Group) and 3 children at 12 weeks (1 in Group 1 and 2 in Group 2). None of the participants had hypercalciuria or hypervitaminosis D.

Conclusion

A dose of 300,000 IU of vitamin D3 is comparable to 600,000 IU, administered orally, over a single day, for treating rickets in under-five children although there is an unacceptably high risk of hypercalcemia in both groups. None of the regime is effective in normalization of vitamin D status in majority of patients, 3 months after administering the therapeutic dose.