The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Sep 2010
Case ReportsSunitinib-induced thyrotoxicosis followed by persistent hypothyroidism with shrinkage of thyroid volume.
Sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been approved for the treatment of cancers, such as advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). On the other hand, sunitinib treatment is known to induce thyroid dysfunction in a substantial proportion of patients treated for advanced RCC; in fact, hypothyroidism is a frequent complication. However, little is known about sunitinib-induced thyrotoxicosis and destructive thyroiditis. ⋯ In conclusion, the present report suggests that sunitinib-induced persistent hypothyroidism may be a consequence of preceding destructive thyroiditis with transient thyrotoxicosis. The decreased volume of the thyroid during the hypothyroid phase indicates irreversible organ damage in the present patient, thereby resulting in persistent hypothyroidism. Thus, periodic surveillance of thyroid function is mandatory during sunitinib therapy.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Sep 2010
ReviewPrevalence, classification, and etiology of pain in Parkinson's disease: association between Parkinson's disease and fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by resting tremor, slow and decreased movement (hypokinesia and akinesia), rigidity, postural instability, problems with gait, and coordination. The prevalence of PD is between 0.1% and 0.3% in the general population and between 1% and 2% in persons 65 years of age or older. Patients with PD are more likely to suffer from pain. ⋯ When pain in PD is discussed, FM and CWP should be considered because their prevalence is high. Patients with PD may be likely to suffer from FM and CWP; however, the prevalence of FM and CWP in patients with PD has not been reported. Here, we discuss the relationship between PD and FM or CWP.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Sep 2010
Growth hormone releasing peptide-2, a ghrelin agonist, attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats.
Acute lung injury (ALI) and its severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are the most common complications of sepsis, and the mortality of sepsis-induced ALI remains high in critically ill patients. Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), a ghrelin agonist, has been shown to exert beneficial effects on various inflammatory diseases. We therefore explored whether GHRP-2 possesses anti-inflammatory properties in the pathogenesis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. ⋯ These results indicate that GHRP-2 attenuated LPS-induced ALI. Early protection appears to be mediated partly through the inhibition of NF-kappaB pathway activation. The present study indicates that GHRP-2 acts as a potential therapeutic reagent for treating ALI.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Sep 2010
Piwi-like 2 mediates fibroblast growth factor signaling during gastrulation of zebrafish embryo.
Piwi (P-element-induced wimpy testis) proteins have been shown to play important roles in maintenance of germ line stem cells, germ cell proliferation and differentiation, and control of Piwi-interacting RNAs (PiRNAs). PiRNAs comprise a broad class of small noncoding RNAs that function as an endogenous defense system against transposable elements. Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) signals, mediated partly by no tail gene (ntl), are responsible for patterning embryo and mesoderm formation. ⋯ We also demonstrate that piwil2 positively regulates ntl expression at bud stage, while piwil2 negatively regulates ntl expression at 24 hours post-fertilization. Thus, the functional consequences of piwil2 expression vary during early development of zebrafish embryo. Taken together, we suggest that zebrafish piwil2 is a mediator of Fgf signals in gastrula period.