Search Results (3)

Background and Clinical Significance: Licorice (glycyrrhiza glabra) cough syrup intoxication is manifested with refractory hypokalemia, hypertension, and metabolic alkalosis. The transformation of glycyrrhiza glabra metabolic into glycyrrhetic acid after ingestion further inhibits the 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 enzyme, impeding the conversion of cortisol into cortisone. The accumulation of cortisol can also stimulate mineralocorticoid receptors, which leads to a pseudo-hyperaldosteronism-like effect. Case Presentation: We report a 60-year-old male patient with licorice intoxication due to the chronic consumption of licorice cough syrup. He exhibited a transient seizure lasting approximately one minute. Initially, hypokalemia (potassium level was 2.0 mmol/L), metabolic alkalosis, and QT interval prolongation with premature ventricular complexes were demonstrated on his electrocardiogram. Despite the administration of both intravenous and oral potassium supplements over two days, there was no significant improvement in hypokalemia. Spironolactone, an aldosterone receptor antagonist, was administered in addition to ongoing potassium supplementation from the 3rd day. This intervention led to a rapid normalization of hypokalemia in one day. The patient was ultimately discharged on the 6th day without any subsequent complications. Conclusions: The licorice-induced chronic intoxication, which led to pseudo-hyperaldosteronism and refractory hypokalemia, was successfully managed with aggressive potassium supplementation and spironolactone treatment. Full article

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine carcinoma, accounting for 3.26% of all cancers. The most histologically, well-differentiated thyroid cancer is papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Although PTC is regarded as an indolent tumor, a portion of the cancer cells metastasize to lymph nodes around the thyroid gland. Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a critical risk factor for tumor recurrence in PTC, which strongly affects disease prognosis and the quality of life. Methods: This study aims to examine how differences in the level of the thyroid profile and other risk factors may influence LNM incidence in patients with PTC in Taiwan. We carried out a single-center retrospective study. These PTC patients were retrospectively reviewed by the Department of Endocrinology from 2016 to 2019. A total of 165 patients were included in our research. Results: The findings revealed a close relationship with the level of free thyroxine (FT4), the level of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and lymph node metastases. The correlation in terms of FT4 (p = 0.005) and TSH (p = 0.417) with LNM was found as a result of the univariate regression analysis. In the multiple regression analysis, the findings revealed a close relationship between LNM, FT4 (p < 0.001), and TSH (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Although the predictability of the TSH should be examined further, the association between LNM and FT4 or TSH should not be ignored. The results could help guide decision-making and patient counseling, using the level of serum FT4 or the TSH as a possible predictive factor of the LNM in PTC. Full article

In the last few decades, obesity played a pivotal role by having a high impact on global economic and health systems due to its associated diseases, with cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, oncological, mental, and social implications. One of the most incriminated physiopathological mechanisms in obesity is chronic inflammation. The primary goal of this pilot study was to determine the molecular aspects of inflammation among patients with obesity compared to participants with a normal BMI (≤25 kg/m²), as well as within a smaller subset of obese individuals who have been evaluated three months following sleeve gastrectomy. The research employs conventional blood tests and plasma measurements of particular molecules, such as proinflammatory cytokines and proteins that play critical roles in immune and inflammatory regulation. The results revealed a promising kinetic effect after bariatric surgery on IL-18, MCP-1, and PD-L1 molecules. The proinflammatory makers IL-18 (p = 0.006) and MCP-1 (p = 0.035) were elevated in the obese group compared to the control, while the follow-up group displayed lower levels of these molecules. Commonly investigated in oncology related studies, PD-L1 was recently linked to adipose tissue gain and its associated inflammatory effect. Until now, there is no clinical evidence for the relationship between circulating PD-L1 and proinflammatory markers derived from low-grade inflammation of the adipose tissue. The circulating PD-L1 levels were significantly lowered in the obese group compared to the control (p = 0.049), and after sleeve gastrectomy, the PD-L1 level increased. The present study is the first investigating this type of crosstalk and its potential involvement in bariatric patient management. Full article