Newly Developed Central Diabetes Insipidus Following Kidney Transplantation: A Case Report

Polyuria after kidney transplantation is a common, usually self-limiting disorder. However, persistent polyuria can cause not only patient discomfort, including polyuria and polydipsia, but also volume depletion that can produce allograft dysfunction. Herein, we have report a case of central diabetes insipidus newly diagnosed after kidney transplantation. A 45-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation. Two months after the transplantation, she was admitted for persistent polyuria, polydipsia, and nocturia with urine output of more than 4 L/d. Urine osmolarity was 100 mOsm/kg, which implied that the polyuria was due to water rather than solute diuresis. A water deprivation test was compatible with central diabetes insipidus; desmopressin treatment resulted in immediate symptomatic relief. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated diffuse thickening of the pituitary stalk, which was considered to be nonspecific finding. MRI 12 months later showed no change in the pituitary stalk, although the patient has been in good health without polyuria or polydipsia on desmopressin treatment. The possibility of central diabetes insipidus should be considered in patients presenting with persistent polyuria after kidney transplantation.     

Meju, unsalted soybeans fermented with Bacillus subtilis and Aspergilus oryzae, potentiates insulinotropic actions and improves hepatic insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Although soybeans have the ability to attenuate insulin resistance, it is insufficient to alleviate type 2 diabetic symptoms and different types of fermented soybeans may have even better anti-diabetic effects. Meju, unsalted fermented soybeans exhibited better insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic actions than unfermented cooked soybeans (CSB). We investigated whether meju fermented in the traditional (TMS) manner for 60 days and meju fermented in the standardized (MMS) method inoculating Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus oryzae for 6 days modulated insulin resistance, insulin secretion, and pancreatic beta-cell growth and survival in 90% pancreatectomized (Px) diabetic rats, a moderate and non-obese type 2 diabetic animal model. METHODS: Diabetic rats were divided into 3 groups: 1) TMS (n = 20), 2) MMS (n = 20) or 3) casein (control; n = 20). Rats were provided with a high fat diet (40 energy % fat) containing assigned 10% meju for 8 weeks. At the end of experiment insulin resistance and insulin secretion capacity were measured by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp and by hyperglycemic clamp, respectively. Additionally, beta-cell mass and islet morphohometry were determined by immunohistochemistry and insulin signaling in the liver was measured by western blot. RESULTS: TMS and MMS increased isoflavonoid aglycones much more than CSB. CSB and TMS/MMS improved glucose tolerance in diabetic rats but the mechanism was different between treatments (P < 0.05). CSB enhanced peripheral insulin sensitivity including hepatic insulin sensitivity better than the control but TMS and MMS enhanced only hepatic insulin sensitivity through activating insulin signaling in diabetic rats (P < 0.05). However, TMS and MMS, but not CSB, potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and beta-cell mass (P <0.05). MMS had better insulinotropic actions than the control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The anti-diabetic action of MMS, especially when fermented with Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus oryzae, was superior to CSB by increasing isoflavonoid aglycones and small peptides with regard to type 2 diabetic rats.     

香港地区肿瘤放射治疗发展简史

通过回顾香港地区肿瘤放射治疗设备、人员、技术等情况的进展,可为广大读者提供一个简单清晰的脉络,并帮助了解香港地区肿瘤放射治疗学创建与发展过程。此报告是对香港地区肿瘤放射治疗学发展的宣传与肯定,也更是为扩大放射肿瘤学科交流和发展提供契机。     

Comparative Genomics of Korean Infectious Bronchitis Viruses (IBVs) and an Animal Model to Evaluate Pathogenicity of IBVs to the Reproductive Organs

The K-I and nephropathogenic K-II genotypes of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have been isolated since 1995 and 1990, respectively, in Korea and commercial inactivated oil-emulsion vaccines containing KM91 (K-II type) and Massachusetts 41 strains have been used in the field. To date, genomic analyses of Korean IBV strains and animal models to test the pathogenicity of Korean IBVs to the reproductive organs have been rare. In the present study, comparative genomics of SNU8067 (K-I type) and KM91 IBVs was performed, and an animal model to test the pathogenicity of SNU8067 was established and applied to vaccine efficacy test. The genome sizes of SNU8067 (27,708 nt) and KM91 (27,626 nt) were slightly different and the nucleotide and amino acid identities of the S1 (79%, 77%), 3a (65%, 52%), and 3b (81%, 72%) genes were lower than those of other genes (94%–97%, 92%–98%). A recombination analysis revealed that SNU8067 was a recombinant virus with a KM91-like backbone except S1, 3a, and 3b genes which might be from an unknown virus. An SNU8067 infection inhibited formation of hierarchal ovarian follicles (80%) and oviduct maturation (50%) in the control group, whereas 70% of vaccinated chickens were protected from lesions.     

Effect of dissolved oxygen in alcoholic beverages and drinking water on alcohol elimination in humans

Oxygen plays an important role in the metabolism of alcohol. An increased dissolved oxygen level in alcoholic beverages reportedly accelerates the elimination of alcohol. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of dissolved oxygen in alcohol and the supportive effect of oxygenated water on alcohol pharmacokinetics after the excessive consumption of alcohol, i.e., 540 ml of 19.5% alcohol (v/v). Fifteen healthy males were included in this randomized, 3 × 3 crossover study. Three combinations were tested: X, normal alcoholic beverage and normal water; Y, oxygenated alcoholic beverage and normal water; Z, oxygenated alcoholic beverage and oxygenated water. Blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were determined by conversion of breath alcohol concentrations. Four pharmacokinetic parameters (C_max, T_max, K_el, and AUCall) were obtained using non-compartmental analysis and the times to reach 0.05% and 0.03% BAC (T_0.05% and T_0.03%) were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's post hoc test. With combination Z, the BAC decreased to 0.05% significantly faster (p < 0.05) than with combination X. Analyzing the pharmacokinetic parameters, the mean K_el was significantly higher for combination Z than for combinations X and Y (p < 0.05), whereas the mean values of C_max, T_max and AUCall did not differ significantly among the combinations. Dissolved oxygen in drinks accelerates the decrease in BAC after consuming a large amount of alcohol. However, the oxygen dissolved in the alcoholic beverage alone did not have a sufficient effect in this case. We postulate that highly oxygenated water augments the effect of oxygen in the alcoholic beverage in alcohol elimination. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the supportive effect of ingesting additional oxygenated water after heavy drinking of normal alcoholic beverages.     

Glucocorticoid-Induced Hyperglycemia

ObjectivesProvide treatment guidelines for glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia and to understand the clinical implications of glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia.MethodsThe authors analyzed an electronic search (Medline) and a literature review of the pertinent articles published from 1980 to September 2012.ResultsIn patients treated with glucocorticoids, the odds ratio for development of new-onset diabetes mellitus has been reported to be 1.36 to 2.31. The prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism in post renal transplant patients taking glucocorticoids has been reported to be 17% to 32%. Sustained glucocorticoid treatment increases the potential for future cardiovascular disease through multiple pathways, resulting in a trade-off between benefit and harm. Complications related to glucocorticoid treatments are associated with the total glucocorticoid dose and duration of therapy. Other risk factors include age and body mass index. Understanding the pharmacodynamics and clinical implications of glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia can promote recognition and improvement of its treatment.ConclusionsGlucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia has significant clinical implications in patients with diabetes mellitus and without diabetes mellitus. Early recognition and proper proactive management of glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia should enhance care for patients receiving glucocorticoid treatment. Furthermore, treatment has been effective for both the inpatient and the outpatient settings.     

尖叶清风藤化学成分的研究

从尖叶清风藤(Sabia swinhoei Hmsl.exForb.etHemsl.)的地上部分分离出8个化合物,经理化常数测定和光谱解析,证明其中2个为新成分,分别命名为清风藤内酯(I)和清风藤酮(II),另外6个为已知化合物,即没药烯(III)、三十烷醇(IV)、β-谷甾醇(V)、二十八烷酸(VI)、齐墩果酸(VII)和胡萝卜甙(VIII)。