Significant inverse relationship between serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin and glycemic control in maintenance hemodialysis patients

SUMMARY

Increased levels of serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin, which were associated with bone metabolism markers, correlated inversely with indices of glucose metabolism (plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and glycated albumin) in hemodialysis patients with abnormalities of bone metabolism.

INTRODUCTION

Undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), a possible marker of bone metabolism and one of the osteoblast-specific secreted proteins, has recently been reported to be associated with glucose metabolism. We tested the hypothesis that ucOC levels are associated with indices of glucose metabolism in chronic hemodialysis patients with abnormalities of bone metabolism.

METHODS

Serum ucOC, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP, a bone formation marker), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b, a bone resorption marker) were measured in 189 maintenance hemodialysis patients (96 diabetics and 93 non-diabetics), and their relationships with glucose metabolism were examined.

RESULTS

ucOC correlated positively with BAP (ρ = 0.489, p < 0.0001), TRACP-5b (ρ = 0.585, p < 0.0001) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH; ρ = 0.621, p < 0.0001). Serum ucOC levels in the diabetic patients were lower than those of non-diabetic patients (p < 0.001), although there were no significant differences in serum BAP or TRACP-5b between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Serum ucOC correlated negatively with plasma glucose (ρ = -0.303, p < 0.0001), hemoglobin A1C (ρ = -0.214, p < 0.01), and glycated albumin (ρ = -0.271, p < 0.001), although serum BAP or TRACP-5b did not. In multiple linear regression analysis, log [plasma glucose], log [hemoglobin A1C], and log [glycated albumin] were associated significantly with log [ucOC] after adjustment for age, gender, hemodialysis duration, and body mass index but were not associated with log [BAP], log [TRACP-5b], or log [intact PTH].

CONCLUSION

Increased levels of serum ucOC, which were associated with bone metabolism markers, were inversely associated with indices of glucose metabolism in hemodialysis patients.

Value of metastin receptor immunohistochemistry in predicting metastasis after radical nephrectomy for pT1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma

KISS-1 is a metastasis-suppressor gene of human melanoma, and encodes metastin, which was identified as the ligand of a G-protein-coupled receptor (metastin receptor). The precursor protein is cleaved to 54 amino acids, which may be further truncated into carboxy-terminal fragments. Previous studies showed that lack of metastin receptor in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with tumor progression, but the prediction of metastasis in patients with pT1 clear cell RCC after radical nephrectomy is difficult. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of metastin receptor immunohistochemistry in predicting metastasis after nephrectomy for pT1 clear cell RCC. After verification of the correlation between immunostaining and mRNA expression, we evaluated the clinical value of metastin receptor immunohistochemistry. Fifty-four patients were enrolled in this study; following radical nephrectomy, seven patients were found to have lung metastasis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value with negative immunostaining of metastin receptor were 85.7, 97.6, 46.2, and 97.6 %, respectively. Metastasis-free survival rates were significantly higher in patients with positive staining (97.6 %) than in patients with negative staining (53.8 %) (P < 0.001). In univariate analysis for metastasis-free survival, negative immunostaining of metastin receptor was a significant risk factor for metastasis (P = 0.001). Furthermore, negative immunostaining of metastin receptor was an independent predictor for metastasis in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 3.735; 95 % CI 0.629-22.174; P = 0.002). In conclusion, our study suggests that negative expression of metastin receptor in clear cell RCC is significantly related to metastasis.

[A case of complete response of multiple lung metastases of renal cell carcinoma with the flexible administration of sunitinib]

A 72-year-old male underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy of left renal cell carcinoma in March 2010. Pathological findings revealed clear cell renal cell carcinoma, G3, pT1b, INFα and v1. At 3 months after operation, computed tomography (CT) showed multiple metastases in bilateral lungs. Sunitinib was administered with a scheduled cycle of drug administration for 4 weeks at a dose of 37.5 mg/day followed by 2 weeks of rest. Administration of sunitinib was interrupted at day 18 due to common terminology criteria for adverse events v 3.0 (CTCAE) grade 2 thrombocytopenia. After 3 weeks, sunitinib was restarted with a scheduled cycle of drug administration for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest at the same dose. After 6 cycles, CT revealed complete response of lung metastasis and there was no evidence of the disease at 12- month follow-up.

Serum adiponectin and bone mineral density in male hemodialysis patients

SUMMARY

Bone mineral density of the 1/3 distal radius, ultra-distal radius, and lumbar spine correlated significantly and negatively with serum adiponectin. There was a significant positive correlation between serum adiponectin and serum NTX. Thus, adiponectin may play a role in mineral and bone disorder in chronic kidney disease stage 5 dialysis (CKD 5D) patients.

INTRODUCTION

Serum adiponectin, an adipocyte-produced hormone, has been reported to correlate negatively with bone mineral density (BMD) in the general population. However, little is known about the association between adiponectin and BMD in patients with CKD.

METHODS

BMD of the 1/3 distal and ultra-distal radius, which are enriched with cortical and cancellous bone, respectively, and the lumbar spine was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry in 114 Japanese male hemodialysis patients (age 61.0 ± 11.1 years; hemodialysis duration 6.6 ± 3.0 years; 43.9% diabetics). Serum total adiponectin, bone formation marker (bone alkaline phosphatase, BAP), and bone resorption marker (cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX)) were measured.

RESULTS

The BMD of the 1/3 distal radius, ultra-distal radius, and lumbar spine correlated significantly and negatively with serum adiponectin level (r = -0.229, p = 0.014; r = -0.286, p = 0.002; r = -0.227, p = 0.013, respectively). In multiple linear regression analyses, serum adiponectin was significantly and independently associated with the BMD of the 1/3 distal radius (R(2) = 0.173, p < 0.001) and ultra-distal radius (R(2) = 0.278, p < 0.001) after adjustment of age, hemodialysis duration, body weight, %fat mass, and log [intact PTH], although it was not with the BMD of the lumbar spine. There was a significant positive correlation between serum adiponectin and serum NTX (r = 0.321, p < 0.001), although there was no significant correlation between serum adiponectin and serum BAP.

CONCLUSION

Increased levels of serum adiponectin were associated with decrease in BMD in male hemodialysis patients. Adiponectin may play a role in mineral and bone disorder, possibly in bone resorption, of patients with CKD 5D.

[A case report on a patient with inflammatory pseudotumor of the bladder]

A 43-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a bladder tumor, which was incidentally found by abdominal ultrasonography in a health examination. Cystoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging showed a 3 cm submucosal bladder tumor localized at the top of the bladder. We performed transurethral resection of bladder tumor. Histopathological features was inflammatory tumor of urinary bladder. No local recurrence was seen 6 months after surgery.

High-intensity focused ultrasound therapy for prostate cancer

Recent advances in high-intensity focused ultrasound, which was developed in the 1940s as a viable thermal tissue ablation approach, have increased its popularity. High-intensity focused ultrasound is currently utilized the most in Europe and Japan, but has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, USA, for this indication. The purpose of the present report is to review the scientific foundation of high-intensity focused ultrasound technology and the clinical outcomes achieved with commercially available devices. Recently published articles were reviewed to evaluate the current status of high-intensity focused ultrasound as a primary or salvage treatment option for localized prostate cancer. Improvements in the clinical outcome as a result of technical, imaging and technological advancements are described herein. A wide range of treatment options for organ-confined prostate cancer is available. However, high-intensity focused ultrasound is an attractive choice for men willing to choose less invasive options, although establishing the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound requires longer follow-up periods. Technological advances, together with cultural and economic factors, have caused a dramatic shift from traditional open, radical prostatectomy to minimally invasive techniques. High-intensity focused ultrasound is likely to play a significant role in the future of oncology practice.

Photooxidative cleavage of zinc 20-substituted chlorophyll derivatives: conformationally P-helix-favored formation of regioselectively 19-20 opened linear tetrapyrroles

Photoreaction of zinc methyl 20-substituted meso(pyro)pheophorbide-a prepared by modifying naturally occurring chlorophyll-a in the presence of oxygen molecules gave its C19-C20 oxidative cleavage (1-carbonyl-19-oxo-bilatrienes) as the major products and the regioisomeric C1-C20 cleavage (19-carbonyl-1-oxo-bilatrienes) as the minor products. The resulting zinc complexes of linear tetrapyrroles took a helical conformation and the P-conformers were preferential over the M-stereoisomers due to the presence of their 17S,18S-chiral centers. The helical conformers (diastereomers) of the corresponding nickel complexes were separated by reverse-phase or chiral HPLC and their conformational changes were observed in solution.

Surgical resection using retroperitoneal approach for solitary fibrous tumor in the pelvis

This report concerns a case of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) for which surgical resection was performed using a retroperitoneal approach. A 41-year-old man was referred to our hospital with urinary retention. Abdominal ultrasound sonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) showed a hypervascular mass lesion in the pelvis. Transrectal biopsy showed SFT. Surgical resection was carried out using a retroperitoneal approach and preserving the neural network related to urinary and erectile functions. Based on immunohistochemical findings, the tumor was diagnosed to be malignant SFT in the pelvic cavity. Urinary function improved post-operation. There was no change to IIEF-5 and it continued to function well. The patient showed no sign of recurrence 12 months after surgery and required no additional therapy.

Reduction of whole PTH/intact PTH ratio as a predictor of bone metabolism in cinacalcet treatment of hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism

In cinacalcet treatment of hemodialysis (HD) patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), not only intact parathyroid hormone (I-PTH), whole PTH (W-PTH), and bone markers, but also W-PTH/I-PTH ratio as proportion of active PTH(1-84) molecules were decreased. Changes in W-PTH/I-PTH ratio significantly correlated and predicted changes in bone marker.

INTRODUCTION

Cinacalcet partly suppresses the secretion of PTH by enhancing PTH(1-84) degradation into N-truncated fragments. The objectives of this study is to investigate the significance of the N-truncated PTH/PTH(1-84) ratio for the prediction of the effect of cinacalcet in HD patients.

METHODS

Serum parameters were measured during 12 weeks of oral cinacalcet administration at 25 mg daily in 39 HD patients with SHPT.

RESULTS

Serum Ca, Pi, W-PTH, I-PTH, and W-PTH/I-PTH ratio all decreased significantly in a time-dependent manner during cinacalcet administration. Serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) 5b reflected these changes more precisely than serum N-telopeptide of type-I collagen. At 1 week, changes in I-PTH and W-PTH correlated significantly with those in serum Pi, but not Ca. Changes in serum Pi (but not Ca) and serum W-PTH also correlated significantly with changes in serum TRAP5b at both 4 and 12 weeks, while changes in serum I-PTH correlated significantly with those in serum TRAP5b only at 12 weeks. Changes in the serum W-PTH/I-PTH ratio correlated significantly with those in serum TRAP5b at both 4 and 12 weeks, and changes in serum W-PTH/I-PTH ratio at 4 weeks showed a tendency for a correlation with changes in serum TRAP5b at 12 weeks. HD patients with a reduced W-PTH/I-PTH ratio after 4 weeks had a significantly greater reduction of TRAP5b over 12 weeks.

CONCLUSION

W-PTH and the W-PTH/I-PTH ratio allow estimation of the potency of cinacalcet in enhancement of PTH degradation, and thus no less reliable markers than I-PTH for reflecting cinacalcet-induced bone resorption.

Efficacy and safety of pregabalin for treating neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a 14 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

AIMS

To evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of pregabalin in treating neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Japanese patients.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre 14 week clinical trial was conducted. Japanese patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (n = 317) were randomized to receive placebo or pregabalin at 300 or 600 mg/day. The primary efficacy measure was a change of mean pain score from baseline to end-point from patients' daily pain diaries.

RESULTS

Significant reductions in pain were observed in patients treated with pregabalin at 300 and 600 mg/day vs. placebo (P < 0.05). Improvements in weekly pain scores were observed as early as week 1 and were sustained throughout the study period (300 and 600 mg/day difference from placebo at study end-point, -0.63 and -0.74, respectively). Pregabalin produced significant improvements in weekly sleep interference scores, the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep Scale, the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey scale, and the Patient and Clinical Global Impression of Change. Patient impressions of numbness, pain and paraesthesia were also significantly improved. Regarding treatment responders, 29.1 and 35.6% of patients treated with 300 and 600 mg/day, respectively, reported ≥ 50% improvement in mean pain scores (vs. 21.5% for placebo). Pregabalin was well tolerated; somnolence (26%), dizziness (24%), peripheral oedema (13%) and weight gain (11%) were the most common adverse events and generally were reported as mild to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregabalin was effective in reducing pain and improving sleep disturbances due to pain, and was well tolerated in Japanese patients with painful DPN.

Surgical management of metastatic adrenal tumors: Decision-making factors in imaging

The present study aimed to clarify decision-making factors based on imaging for laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) or open adrenalectomy (OA) for adrenal metastasis (AM) based on our previous experience. From November 2003 to November 2006, 11 adrenalectomies were performed for AM for malignancies such as lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and breast cancer at Tokai University Hospital. A diagnosis of AM for these malignancies was suspected whenever a newly diagnosed adrenal mass was located, characterized by a basal computed tomography (CT) density superior to 10 Hounsfield units, strong or heterogeneous vascular enhancement following contrast injection and/or increasing size in sequential imaging studies. There was no evidence of extra-AM. The approach to surgical management using LA or OA was determined on the basis of CT and/or magnetic resonance imaging. The patients were reviewed every 2 or 3 months by physical examination and systemic CT. We analyzed the decision-making factors based on imaging for surgical management with LA or OA from the results of oncological outcome, imaging, intraoperative and pathohistological findings. In this study, 9 patients underwent 11 adrenalectomies (9 laparoscopic and 2 open procedures). Non-small cell lung cancer was the most common primary malignancy (5 adrenalectomies of 4 patients), followed by RCC (4 adrenalectomies of 4 patients) and breast cancer (2 adrenalectomies of 1 patient). The median tumor size for the LA group was 3.1±0.7 cm (range 2.1-4.3) and for the OA group, 6.1±0.8 cm (5.5 and 6.7 cm) (p=0.001). The operative time for the LA group was 127±42 min (range 90-215) and for the OA group, 224±47 min (190 and 257 min) (p=0.018). Blood loss for the LA group was 49±63 g (range 3-207) and for the OA group, 340±10 g (333 and 347 g) (p<0.001). No complications were noted and no conversion of LA to OA occurred. All 9 adrenal tumors selected for LA were removed safely without strong adhesion to the surrounding tissue. Two adrenal tumors removed by OA had a strong adhesion to the surrounding tissue. All 9 patients had complete resection, without capsular disruption and a negative margin in the pathological findings. No port-site and local recurrences occurred. No patients presented with local relapse or port-site metastasis. Disease-free survival rate for the LA group was 57% and for the OA group, 50% (p=0.661). LA is a less invasive treatment than OA for AM. However, for complete resection, OA should be selected for cases where resection by LA is difficult. Therefore, in the decision making towards the appropriate surgical management with LA or OA, it is important to closely assess pre-operative imaging. Imaging features supporting OA include no detection of fatty tissue between the tumor and proximal organs, tumors with an irregular contour, large tumors and tumors with a cystic component.