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Biomedical subjects

C T Tsou

Publications and source records attributed to C T Tsou.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Leptin concentration and the Zn/Cu ratio in plasma in women with thyroid disorder.

We investigated the possible correlation between the leptin concentration and the Zn/Cu ratio in the plasma of women with thyroid disorder. Forty women with hypothyroidism (n = 20) or hypothyroidism (n = 20) and 20 euthyroid controls were recruited. The results showed that the women with thyroid disorder (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) had higher plasma leptin concentrations than the normal controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, the plasma leptin concentration had no correlation with plasma thyroid hormone levels in the separate groups, nor among all the participants considered together. A strong correlation (p < 0.005) between leptin and adiposity was only observed in euthyroid women. Plasma values of Zn and Cu and the Zn/Cu ratio were not markedly different among women with altered thyroid status. However, a weak correlation (r = 0.28, p = 0.032) between leptin and the Zn/Cu ratio was found from the pooled data of all participants and retained after adjustment for adiposity. We suggest that there may exist an interaction between the plasma leptin level and thyroid hormone-induced abnormality for selected minerals.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effect of zinc on cellular levels of calmodulin and cyclic adenosine monophosphate in the adipocyte.

A perturbation of zinc metabolism has been noted in subjects with obesity. Zinc may also participate in the intracellular signal cascade by affecting cellular calcium influx and a change in the calcium-calmodulin (CaM)-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway. The possible effects of zinc on cellular concentrations of CaM, a major cytosolic calcium-binding protein, in the adipocytes derived from obese (ob/ob) mice and their lean counterparts were studied. Adipocytes derived from both phenotypes of mice were treated either with 0.2 mM of zinc sulfate or without any additive for 1 h of incubation; the cellular levels of CaM and cAMP were then determined. The results showed that the obese mice had lower CaM and cAMP levels in their adipocytes compared to the lean mice. Zinc treatment reduced CaM and increased cAMP levels in all mice, although this effect was more pronounced in the lean mice. This study indicated that there was an inverse interaction between CaM and cAMP in their cellular levels in the mouse adipocytes and that might be affected by exogenous zinc addition.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed2000

Plasma concentrations of leptin and selected minerals do not differ in Type 2 diabetic patients with or without sulfonylurea inefficacy.

The oral hypoglycemic agent sulfonylurea (SU) can increase plasma leptin concentrations. Additionally, diabetic subjects frequently have an altered plasma status of selected minerals. However, whether these described plasma parameters are changed in Type 2 diabetic patients who exhibit SU inefficacy has not yet been evaluated. In this preliminary study, fasting blood samples were collected from 16 Type 2 diabetic patients with secondary SU failure. As controls, 16 sex-, age- and adiposity-matched diabetic patients, who had similar diabetic duration and optimal glycemic control by SU, were also recruited. The results show that plasma values of leptin, C-peptide, calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc did not significantly differ in these diabetic patients with or without secondary SU failure. However, the gender effect on plasma leptin level and the correlations between leptin and adiposity and C-peptide were retained. This study indicates that there is no relation between SU inefficacy and the plasma status of leptin and selected minerals.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1995

Selected metals status in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

In order to investigate the relationships between metals zinc [Zn], copper [Cu], magnesium [Mg], or Calcium [Ca] and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 65 patients of newly diagnosed noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 54 nondiabetic healthy controls were studied. The concentrations of selected metals in fasting blood samples and 24-h urine collections were determined. Hyperzincuria and hypermagnesuria were detected in diabetic patients (p < 0.01). The diabetics also had lower Zn and Mg, and higher Cu, and Ca levels in their plasma than those of the controls, but the statistical differences in Ca and Mg were not significant. Significantly lower Zn and higher Ca levels in erythrocytes were found in diabetic patients (p < 0.01). There is evidence of a significant difference in metals status between diabetic patients with or without the specific complications. This study further indicates that patients with NIDDM on Taiwan also have distinct changes in their metals status, and these perturbations are associated with some diabetic complications.

Calcium↗
PubMed1993

Bone mineral density in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus by dual photon absorptiometry.

Bone mineral density (BMD) in 38 male patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was measured by dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) using a M & SE OsteoTech 300 scanner. The BMD of the second to fourth lumbar vertebrae was measured and the mean density was presented as g cm-2. The patients were distinguished according to the following three criteria: (1) blood sugar control was good or poor; (2) the duration of diabetes was long or short; (3) renal function was evaluated by effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) as good or poor. The results showed about half the cases of NIDDM had lower BMD. The patients with poor blood sugar control, longer disease duration and poor renal function had lower BMD. However, the difference between any two groups distinguished by the three criteria is not significant. We think that the causes of osteoporosis in patients with NIDDM may not be explained by only a single factor.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1993

The evaluation of gallbladder function by quantitative radionuclide cholescintigraphy in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Twenty-nine patients (24 males, 5 females; aged 62.8 +/- 10.1 years) with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) without gallstones and impaired liver function were included in our study. The patients were categorized by blood sugar control and disease duration. Twelve normal controls (10 males, 2 females; aged 62.8 +/- 12.4 years) were also studied for comparison. The gallbladder filling fraction (FF) and ejection fraction (EF) were calculated following the method of Krishnamurthy et al. The results showed no significant difference (P > 0.5) between (1) NIDDM and normal controls in FF (69.1 +/- 29.4 versus 67.5 +/- 24.0%) and EF (45.0 +/- 23.5 versus 54.8 +/- 10.0%) by a t-test, (2) good and poor blood sugar control in FF (64.9 +/- 30.9 versus 73.7 +/- 26.4%) and EF (42.0 +/- 25.4 versus 54.8 +/- 10.0%) by a Mann-Whitney U test, (3) long and short disease durations in FF (70.9 +/- 29.7 versus 67.9 +/- 28.7%) and EF (37.9 +/- 20.7 versus 50.0 +/- 24.1%) by a Mann-Whitney U test. In conclusion, the results challenge some previous reports and warrant further research.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Alterations of zinc levels in patients with thyroid disorders].

It is known that patients with hyperthyroidism have a lower zinc content in their erythrocytes, and that this decrement returns to normal after treatment with anti-thyroid drugs. This study was designed to investigate the alteration of body zinc levels in thyroid disorder. Two groups of out-patients associated with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, and a group of normal healthy controls were collected. Zinc contents in the blood, hair and 24-hour urine samples were determined by a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The results showed that patients with hyperthyroidism had a lower erythrocyte zinc level and an increased urinary zinc excretion (p < 0.05). The hypothyroidism had a higher hair zinc content and a decrement in urinary zinc excretion (p < 0.05). Body zinc levels, excluding the plasma zinc, held a certain correlation to the plasma thyroid hormones levels. The urinary zinc levels showed a more parallel variation in the thyroid disorders (p < 0.05). This data indicates that the alteration of urinary zinc levels might be a useful index for thyroid disorder evaluation. Body zinc could also play a physiological role in the metabolic regulation(s) of a thyroid disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[The evaluation of blood perfusion of lower extremities in patients with NIDDM by 133Xe muscle clearance test: a preliminary report].

In this study, we collected twenty NIDDM patients with impaired sensation and clinically suspected angiopathy over both lower extremities. All the patients underwent testing by means of the ultrasonic Doppler technique and were separated into two groups, group 1 with impaired blood flow, and group 2 with no significant impairment of blood flow. Ten normal persons were also included in this study (group 3). The results of the 133Xe muscle clearance test showed that the Q value of group 1 was 0.85 +/- 0.24 [mean +/- SE, ml (100g tissue min-1)], 1.05 +/- 0.31 in group 2 and 1.78 +/- 0.23 in group 3 of normal controls. After statistical analysis, there were significant differences in groups 1 and 2 relative to group 3 (p < 0.05), respectively. This preliminary result indicates that the 133Xe muscle clearance test may be an effective and convenient method to evaluate angiopathy of lower extremities in patients with NIDDM.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Muscle blood flow in lower limbs of healthy Chinese and variance according to sex and age].

The Xe-133 clearance method is used to measure muscle blood flow in the lower limbs to establish normal values and evaluate the variance between different sex and age groups in healthy Chinese. 99 healthy volunteers were included in this study and divided into three groups according to age and two groups according to sex. Group I: < 40 y/o, 34 persons; Group II: 41-60 y/o, 30 persons; Group III: > 60 y/o, 35 persons; male group: 51 persons; and female group: 48 persons. Intramuscular injection of Xe-133 saline solution in the anterior tibial muscle of the right leg was performed in all the volunteers to calculate muscle blood flow. The muscle blood flow is 3.21 +/- 1.29 ml/100 gm/min in Group I, 3.19 +/- 1.28 in Group II, 2.71 +/- 1.17 in Group III, 3.09 +/- 1.38 in male, and 2.96 +/- 1.24 in female. There was no significant difference in Groups I and II, or in the male and female groups using the Student's t test for unpaired data. However, a mild difference was observed between Groups I and III, and between Groups II and III (P values of 0.09 and 0.11 respectively). We conclude that there is no variance of muscle blood flow in the lower limbs between different sexes and the effect of aging on peripheral muscle blood flow is not significant before 60 in healthy Chinese.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Abnormal thyroid hormone levels in critical nonthyroidal illness.

Low levels of thyroid hormone in the absence of clinical hypothyroidism often happen to patients with critical non-thyroidal illnesses (NTI). Low thyroid hormone concentrations in serum do not necessarily mean hypofunction of the thyroid gland; rather it is a helpful adaptation of the human body to the underlying diseases. We collected 133 hospitalized cases of critical NTI and analyzed the incidence of this phenomenon. Fifty-three per cent of the patients had T3 level lower than 60 ng/dl (normal:85-165 ng/dl) and 60% had T4 level lower than 6 ug/dl (normal:6-12 ug/dl). The lowest levels were observed in patients who had sepsis, were aged over 70 or died in this admission. Free T4 and TSH levels were within normal range in most cases. There is a strong negative correlation between the prognosis and the level of T4 in these patients. Those patients with markedly low levels of T3 and T4 should be treated more sophisticatedly.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

[Investigation on the relationships among blood zinc, copper, insulin and thyroid hormones in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and obesity].

Zinc is known to have important effects on insulin activity, to increase the body fat deposition, and thyroid hormones conversion (T4 to T3). It is also known to have intestinal absorption competition between zinc and copper. This study was to investigate the blood zinc and copper concentrations in NIDDM and obesity, the relationships among metals, insulin, and thyroid hormones were also determined. Blood samples of diabetic, obese, and healthy individuals were collected between 9-10 AM, and the blood levels of zinc, copper, insulin, T4 and T3 were assayed. The results showed that diabetics and obese individuals had higher insulin and T3 levels than healthy controls, but there was no difference in T4. The obese had lower serum zinc concentration. There were low levels of copper both in serum and erythrocyte, and a low erythrocyte zinc concentration in NIDDM. Blood zinc concentration was inversely related to T3 level in diabetics and obese individuals. It is suggested that zinc, insulin and T3 may have considerable correlations in the thermoregulation on NIDDM and obesity, and the true mechanisms still need more further studies in the future.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Serotonin (5-HT1c) receptors in pig choroid plexus.

It is very important to find suitable reaction conditions to attain a high specific binding (specific/total binding) in the receptor binding study. Membrane homogenates of pig choroid plexus are known to have exclusively serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptor of the subtype 5-HT1c. In this study, we used the membrane preparation of pig choroid plexus tissue and the specific binding of [3H]5-HT was 72-84% to serotonin receptor subtype 5-HT1c, as defined by the inhibition of 1 uM 5-HT, when a radioligand concentration of 0.5 nM of [3H]5-HT was used in the assay. Analysis of the properties of specific [3H]5-HT binding in pig choroid plexus tissue membrane preparation revealed linear Scatchard plots. In Tris-HCl buffer without CaCl2, pargyline or ascorbic acid, high average of affinity dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.3 +/- 0.2 nM (SEM, n = 4) and also a high average of receptor density (Bmax) of 284 +/- 12 fmol/mg of protein were found. Pig choroid plexus proves to be a good material for 5-HT1c receptor binding study.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Diabetic foot infections: a preliminary report].

Foot infection is a common cause of hospitalization for diabetic patients. Our study aimed to analyze patients' age, sex, the primary sites of infection, presenting features, outcome, bacteriologic studies and their clinical significance in diabetic foot infections. The age of our diabetic patients with foot infections ranged from 43 to 82 years, with a mean of 62.5 years; fifty-two of them were males and twenty-eight were females. The male to female ratio was 1.9:1, but there was no statistically significant difference between the sexes (p greater than 0.05). The commonest age group was the seventh decade of life (47.5%), followed by the sixth decade (32.5%). The commonest primary site of infection was the toes (53.8%), followed by foot area other than toe (25%) and the leg area was the least frequent (21.2%). Cellulitis combined with other foot lesions presented in 78.8% of these patients, foot ulcers in 75% of them, gangrenous change in 68%, necrotizing cellulitis or fasciitis in 16.3%, abscess formation in 12.5% and osteomyelitis in 7.5%. The legs were amputated in 53 patients (66.3%), usually below the knee (in 47.5%). We found that patients with a long history of DM had statistically significantly higher rate of amputation (p less than 0.01) than patients with only a brief history. Bacterial cultures from the infected foot lesions yielded numerous organisms in 58.8% of cases and a single organism in 31.1% of cases. Proteus mirabilis was the commonest organism isolated, followed by E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The commonest month of the onset of diabetic foot infection was January, followed by February.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Insulinoma: a case report.

Insulinoma is a rare disease, which frequently causes hypoglycemic symptoms and signs or even shock. However, other diseases that produce similar symptoms and signs should firstly be ruled out. We describe a 63 years old male veteran who suffered from repeated episodes of seizure and conscious disturbance upon fasting, on and off for 8 years. Serial examinations led to the suspicion that this might be a case of insulinoma; the suspicion was later confirmed by pathologic examination after the tumor had been excised, and his problems disappeared. After six years, a follow-up examination showed that his condition was still stable.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Thyroid function during isoflurane anesthesia and valvular heart surgery.

Proper thyroid function is essential for maintaining cardiovascular integrity during normal and stressful situations. In this study, the effects of isoflurane-O2 anesthesia and surgical stress on serum TSH, T4, free T4, T3, rT3, and cortisol were investigated in nine patients before, during, and after valve surgery. Compared with preoperative control values, serum TSH decreased in the postoperative period. Both T4 and free T4 had similar decreases after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and remained depressed postoperatively. Both T3 and rT3 decreased at the start of cardiopulmonary bypass; T3 remained low in the postoperative period, while rT3 increased. Cortisol decreased during anesthesia and surgery in the prebypass period, but increased during cardiopulmonary bypass and in the postoperative period. The results suggest that isoflurane-O2 anesthesia during valve surgery produces a rapid decrease in T3, resulting in the low T3 syndrome postoperatively. Isoflurane, in the dose studied, similar to fentanyl, can suppress the cortisol response to anesthesia and surgery in the prebypass period, but not during and after CPB.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Long term treatment of Graves' disease with iopanoic acid (Telepaque).

To investigate the long term utility of the cholecystographic contrast agent iopanoic acid (Telepaque) for treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism, we studied 40 patients treated with 500 mg, orally, daily for 1-12 months. We measured thyroid size; body weight; serum T3, T4, and free T4 concentrations; and antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibody levels at monthly intervals. Based on the effects of the therapy, the patients were divided into 3 groups: 6 patients had excellent responses with return of serum thyroid hormone levels to normal (group A); 12 patients had fair responses, but 1 thyroid hormone test remained elevated (group B); and 22 patients had minimal benefit (group C) with only slight clinical improvement and transient reduction of serum T3 concentration. Mean serum T3 levels decreased significantly after 1 month of therapy in all 3 groups and became normal in groups A and B, but the reduction in group C was not sustained. Mean serum T4 and free T4 levels remained above normal during the course of therapy in groups B and C. Sixty-eight percent of patients in group C had large goiters compared with 33% of group A and 25% of group B, and those in group C tended to have more severe biochemical hyperthyroidism initially. There were no significant changes in antibody titers during therapy. These data indicate that iopanoic acid is not effective therapy for many hyperthyroid patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Effects of zinc and thyroxine treatment on dietary-obese mice.

Altered thyroid hormone metabolism is known to be an important factor contributing to the defective expression of thermogenesis in the obese mouse, and the action of zinc on thyroid hormone conversion may be an important factor in the energy metabolism of obesity. The effects of zinc and thyroxine treatment on dietary-obese mice were examined. The dietary-obese mice were successfully induced by high-fat diet (80% fat), and every mouse was administered daily 1.25 mg zinc sulfate and/or 5 micrograms thyroxine. After 8 weeks of treatment, serum zinc, serum triacylglycerols and body fat composition were determined. On high-fat diets, fat deposition was found in male mice treated with zinc sulfate. However, when mice were treated with zinc and thyroxine at the same time, serum triacylglycerols and body fat composition decreased significantly on both basal and high-fat diets. When mice were treated with thyroxine alone, body fat composition decreased significantly, but there was no significant effect on serum triacylglycerols on either diet. Obesity was significantly correlated with dietary fat, zinc and thyroid hormone. It is suggested that zinc may play an important role, through its action on thyroid hormone conversion and via insulin action, in the energy metabolism of dietary-obese mice.

Animals↗