Undercarboxylated osteocalcin is positively associated with free testosterone in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Although a recent study showed that undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) is important for male fertility and testosterone production by testes, little is known about the relationship between ucOC and testosterone in humans. We found for the first time that ucOC is positively associated with free testosterone in men with type 2 diabetes.

INTRODUCTION

The ucOC has been shown to play a key role in energy metabolism as an endocrine hormone. Although a recent animal study demonstrated that ucOC is also important for male fertility and testosterone production by the testes, association between serum osteocalcin and testosterone levels has not been understood in humans.

METHODS

Sixty-nine male patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited and chemical bone markers [total osteocalcin (TOC), ucOC, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and urinary N-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (uNTX)], gonadotropic hormones [luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)], and free testosterone (FT) were measured.

RESULTS

Multiple regression analysis showed that ucOC and ucOC/TOC ratio were associated positively with FT and negatively with LH (for ucOC, β = 0.30, p = 0.042 and β = -0.52, p = 0.048; for ucOC/TOC ratio, β = 0.31, p = 0.031 and β = -0.54, p = 0.036, respectively) independently of age, duration of diabetes, body mass index, and hemoglobin A1c. ucOC and ucOC/TOC ratio were significantly associated with FT even after adjusting for LH and FSH (β = 0.24, p = 0.042 and β = 0.25, p = 0.031, respectively). However, neither TOC, BAP, nor uNTX was associated with the gonadotropic hormones or FT levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study indicates for the first time that ucOC is associated positively with FT and negatively with LH in type 2 diabetes. These findings support the recent evidence that ucOC is involved in testosterone production in male subjects.

Effects of a single injection of teriparatide on bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women

This study investigated the effects of a single administration of teriparatide on bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women. Teriparatide caused a transient increase in bone resorption and inhibition of bone formation followed by a subsequent increase in bone formation and a decrease in resorption that lasted at least 1 week.

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to investigate the effects of a single subcutaneous administration of teriparatide on bone turnover markers to elucidate why once weekly intermittent administration of teriparatide is effective on osteoporosis.

METHODS

Pharmacokinetics and calcium metabolism and bone turnover parameters were measured in 30 postmenopausal women after two doses of teriparatide (28.2 or 56.5 μg injection) or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

RESULTS

Teriparatide plasma concentration increased in a dose-dependent manner, and the maximum concentration was achieved 1 h after injection. Serum levels of calcium and phosphorus were transiently increased and decreased after teriparatide injection, respectively. Calcium metabolism returned to baseline levels 24 h later. Two days after injection, the serum level of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D was increased by ~80 % from baseline for both doses of teriparatide. Serum levels of osteocalcin and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide decreased during the first 24 h followed by a ~10 % increase for 14 days. The serum level of cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX) of type I collagen increased during the first 24 h followed by a 10 to 12 % dose-dependent suppression from baseline for 14 days. Urinary cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen changes occurred in the same direction as serum NTX, but not dose dependently.

CONCLUSION

A single administration of teriparatide caused an immediate, transient increase in bone resorption and inhibited bone formation followed by an increase in bone formation and decrease in resorption for ≥1 week. These findings may provide proof for the effect of a once-weekly regimen of teriparatide on bone turnover.

A MYCN-amplified cell line derived from a long-term event-free survivor among our sixteen established neuroblastoma cell lines

Although more than 110 neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines have been established, there have been neither reports on the rate of success to establish NB cell lines, nor well-documented NB cell lines from long-term-survivors. We attempted to establish NB cell lines from 114 patients. Sixteen NB cell lines were established from 12 patients. The success rates to establish cell lines were 1.4% (1/70) from patients in early stages, 25.0% (11/44) from those in advanced stages, and 10.5% (12/114) from those in all stages respectively. Eleven of these 12 patients eventually died. The surviving patient, who was in stage 4 with MYCN-amplification, has been event-free for 19 years after completing therapy. The serum MYCN DNA level in patient TK was very high before therapy, decreased after chemotherapy, and has remained at the normal levels until now. The gene expression profiling of the primary tumor and the K-N-TK cell line was analyzed with an NB-specific cDNA microarray, and indicated that the probability of 5-year survival was extremely low. Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis indicated that genomic aberration profiles of the cell line were uncommon, with MYCN amplification, 17q gain and 11q loss. A unique KP-N-TK cell line, established from an event-free survivor, will be a useful tool for investigating how a patient can survive a tumor with an extremely poor prognosis.

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J, Yu J, Yuan L, Yurkewicz A, Zaidan R, Zaitsev AM, Zajacova Z, Zalite YK, Zanello L, Zarzhitsky P, Zaytsev A, Zeitnitz C, Zeller M, Zema PF, Zemla A, Zendler C, Zenin AV, Zenin O, Ženiš T, Zinonos Z, Zenz S, Zerwas D, Zevi della Porta G, Zhan Z, Zhang D, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Zhao L, Zhao T, Zhao Z, Zhemchugov A, Zhong J, Zhou B, Zhou N, Zhou Y, Zhu CG, Zhu H, Zhu Y, Zhuang X, Zhuravlov V, Zieminska D, Zilka B, Zimmermann R, Zimmermann S, Zimmermann S, Ziolkowski M, Zitoun R, Živković L, Zmouchko VV, Zobernig G, Zoccoli A, Zolnierowski Y, Zsenei A, zur Nedden M, Zutshi V, Zwalinski L. Search for lepton flavour violation in the eμ continuum with the ATLAS detector in [Formula: see text]pp collisions at the LHC

This paper presents a search for the t-channel exchange of an R-parity violating scalar top quark ([Formula: see text]) in the e±μ∓ continuum using 2.1 fb-1 of data collected by the ATLAS detector in [Formula: see text]pp collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. Data are found to be consistent with the expectation from the Standard Model backgrounds. Limits on R-parity-violating couplings at 95 % C.L. are calculated as a function of the scalar top mass ([Formula: see text]). The upper limits on the production cross section for pp→eμX, through the t-channel exchange of a scalar top quark, ranges from 170 fb for [Formula: see text] to 30 fb for [Formula: see text].

Effects of intensive glycemic control on serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in Type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Although accumulating evidence shows that aging hormones are involved in glucose metabolism, effects of glycemic control on serum IGF-I and DHEAS levels are still unclear.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

To investigate the effects of glycemic control on these hormone levels, we conducted a 1-month longitudinal study of 49 Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. We measured serum levels of IGF-I and DHEA-S before and after 1-month glycemic control and analyzed the association of changes in IGF-I and DHEA-S with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

RESULTS

HbA1c was decreased at 1 month with mean changes of -1.2% (p<0.001). Serum IGF-I was increased with mean changes of 11 ng/ml (p<0.05), while serum DHEA-S was decreased with mean changes of -19 μg/dl (p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that changes in DHEA-S were inversely associated with changes in fasting plasma glucose (β=-0.36, p=0.027) and HbA1c (β=-0.33, p=0.028), while changes in IGF-I were not.

CONCLUSION

The present longitudinal study showed that intensive glycemic control for 1 month increased serum IGF-I level and decreased serum DHEA-S level in Japanese patients with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes. Further studies are needed to clarify the hormonal changes in IGF-I and DHEA-S after intensive glycemic control would affect diabetic complications.

Dose-response study of denosumab on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

The efficacy and safety of denosumab were evaluated in Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Total hip and distal 1/3 radius bone mineral densities (BMDs) were increased, and lumbar spine BMD was increased in magnitude with increasing dose. Bone turnover markers significantly decreased compared with placebo. Denosumab was well tolerated in Japanese subjects.

INTRODUCTION

The efficacy and safety of three doses of denosumab were compared with a placebo over 12 months in Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

METHODS

In this phase 2 multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 226 subjects were randomized and 212 subjects received at least 1 dose of investigational product, subcutaneously. All subjects also received daily supplements of at least 600 mg elemental calcium and 400 IU vitamin D from the beginning of screening through 12 months of treatment.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo, denosumab (14, 60, and 100 mg) showed significant increases in percent BMD values of lumbar spine (5.25, 6.27, and 7.00) and total hip (3.90, 3.69, and 4.35) from baseline in 12 months. Distal 1/3 radius BMD was also significantly increased except at the 100-mg dose (1.82, 1.35, and 1.15). Denosumab significantly decreased the serum C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type 1 collagen and urinary N-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type I collagen/urinary creatinine levels in 8 days, and bone alkaline phosphatase in 3 months. No new vertebral fracture was observed on spinal radiographs in either group. The overall incidences of adverse events were similar in the denosumab groups and the placebo group. No subject developed antibodies to denosumab. These results were similar to those obtained in the US phase 2 study.

CONCLUSIONS

Denosumab 60 mg could be an effective dose for Japanese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis as was shown in the Caucasian population.

Measurement of the ZZ production cross section and limits on anomalous neutral triple gauge couplings in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A measurement of the ZZ production cross section in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.02 fb(-1) recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC is presented. Twelve events containing two Z boson candidates decaying to electrons and/or muons are observed, with an expected background of 0.3 ± 0.3(stat)(-0.3)(+0.4)(syst) events. The cross section measured in a phase-space region with good detector acceptance and for dilepton masses within the range 66 to 116 GeV is σ(ZZ → ℓ+ ℓ- ℓ+ ℓ-)(fid) = 19.4(-5.2)(+6.3)(stat)(-0.7)(+0.9)(syst) ± 0.7(lumi) fb. The resulting total cross section for on-shell ZZ production, σ(ZZ)(tot) = 8.5(-2.3)(+2.7)(stat)(-0.3)(+0.4)(syst) ± 0.3(lumi) pb, is consistent with the standard model expectation of 6.5(-0.2)(+0.3) pb calculated at the next-to-leading order in QCD. Limits on anomalous neutral triple gauge boson couplings are derived.

A case of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

We report on an 11-year-old girl who developed steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (NS) at the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and clinical and renal histological findings suggested that her NS would be associated with SLE-related podocytopathy. Although initial treatment with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone was ineffective, following treatment with cyclosporine and an angiotensin receptor blocker was effective for her nephrotic proteinuria. She had developed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was started instead of cyclosporine. At present, 45 months after the onset, she is in remission of both NS and SLE. This case indicates that NS associated with SLE-related podocytopathy should be included in the spectrum of glomerulopathy accompanying SLE, also in the pediatric population.

Sensitivity of malignant rhabdoid tumor cell lines to PD 0332991 is inversely correlated with p16 expression

Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a rare and highly aggressive neoplasm of young children. MRT is characterized by inactivation of integrase interactor 1 (INI1). Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), which acts downstream of INI1, is required for the proliferation of MRT cells. Here we investigated the effects of PD 0332991 (PD), a potent inhibitor of CDK4, against five human MRT cell lines (MP-MRT-AN, KP-MRT-RY, G401, KP-MRT-NS, KP-MRT-YM). In all of the cell lines except KP-MRT-YM, PD inhibited cell proliferation >50%, (IC(50) values 0.01 to 0.6 μM) by WST-8 assay, and induced G1-phase cell cycle arrest, as shown by flow cytometry and BrdU incorporation assay. The sensitivity of the MRT cell lines to PD was inversely correlated with p16 expression (r=0.951). KP-MRT-YM cells overexpress p16 and were resistant to the growth inhibitory effect of PD. Small interfering RNA against p16 significantly increased the sensitivity of KP-MRT-YM cells to PD (p<0.05). These results suggest that p16 expression in MRT could be used to predict its sensitivity to PD. PD may be an attractive agent for patients with MRT whose tumors express low levels of p16.

Preoperative analysis of 11q loss using circulating tumor-released DNA in serum: a novel diagnostic tool for therapy stratification of neuroblastoma

Allelic deletion of the long arm of chromosome 11 (11q loss) is closely associated with the prognosis of neuroblastoma (NB). Here we examined 11q loss using tumor-released DNA fragments in the sera of 24 cases. The allelic intensity score of a panel of polymorphic markers in 11q23 in serum DNA was significantly different between the 11q loss-positive group and the11q loss-negative group. The 11q loss-positive and -negative groups did not overlap when a cut-off value of 0.5 was chosen for the allelic intensity score. Our serum-based 11q loss analysis could predict the allelic status of 11q in tumors.

Comparisons of serum sclerostin levels among patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis, primary hyperparathyroidism and osteomalacia

Wnt-β-catenin signaling is important for bone formation. Sclerostin inhibits bone formation mainly by suppressing this signal, and several studies suggest that the suppression of sclerostin expression contributes to the bone anabolic action of parathyroid hormone (PTH). We therefore examined serum sclerostin levels using enzyme-linked immunosolvent assay in 18 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis, 9 postmenopausal women with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and 7 patients with osteomalacia. Serum levels of sclerostin were significantly lower in the group with pHPT, compared with those with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Moreover, serum sclerostin levels were significantly lower in the group with tumor-induced osteomalacia, but not in the group with osteomalacia without tumor, compared with those with postmenopausal osteoporosis. In patients with pHPT, serum sclerostin levels were significantly and negatively correlated to serum calcium and PTH levels. In patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis, serum levels of sclerostin levels were significantly and positively related to serum calcium and creatinine levels. In conclusion, we showed that serum sclerostin levels are decreased presumably through endogenous PTH elevation in postmenopausal women with pHPT, compared with the patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.