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Endocr J 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Urology, ShengJing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.

Surgical resection is the primary treatment strategy for pheochromocytoma; however, it carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality, especially with respect to cardiovascular complications, which is the most common kinds of morbidity. The risk factors for morbidity remain unclear and require further exploration, moreover no studies focus on risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity. Herein we identified the risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity after pheochromocytoma surgery in Chinese patients. Read More

J Pak Med Assoc 2018 Dec;68(12):1854-1858

Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi.

Pheochromocytoma, a rare tumour, arises mainly in the adrenal gland. It consists of chromaffin cells or sympathetic para-ganglia if extra-adrenal. It is an occurrence of rare nature with an incidence of two to eight cases per million annually. Read More

Int J Surg 2018 Nov 29;61:26-32. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China. Electronic address:

Background: Surgical resection is the main treatment strategy for pheochromocytoma. Whether laparoscopic techniques are feasible for large pheochromocytoma treatments is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) compared with open adrenalectomy (OA). Read More

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Sep-Oct;33(5):522-524

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Muş State Hospital, Muş, Turkey.

This paper presents a case study of a patient that underwent surgery for a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. The postoperative course was complicated by resistant hypertension and tachycardia. A suprarenal mass was detected in the computed tomography scan with radiological suspicion of pheochromocytoma. Read More

Minerva Pediatr 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Azienda USL of Modena, Modena, Italy.

Background: Sparse metanephrines reference intervals in pediatric populations are available and different study designs and technologies/ assays used in these studies lead to hardly transferable data from a laboratory to another. The objective of the study was to update pediatric reference intervals of total fractionated metanephrines in spot urine samples, using a commercial extraction kit run on a specific high pressure liquid chromatograph coupled with an electrochemical detector.

Methods: 452 spot pediatric urinary samples previously submitted to urinalysis were consecutively included in the study with the exclusion of children's samples with diagnosis or clinical suspicion of paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma, kidney diseases and arterial hypertension. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2018 Nov;6(14):862-868

Department of Emergency Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide-producing tumors (VIPoma) usually originate in the pancreas and are characterized by diarrhea, hypokalemia, and achlorhydria (WDHA syndrome). In adults, nonpancreatic VIPoma is very rare. Herein, we report an unusual case of VIP-producing pheochromocytoma marked by persistent shock, flushing, and watery diarrhea and high sensitivity to octreotide. Read More

Drug Des Devel Ther 2018 16;12:3973-3984. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Active Biological Macro-molecules, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, People's Republic of China,

Purpose: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered a direct cause of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Drugs developed to target ROS are effective for the treatment of NDDs. Orientin is a pyrone glucoside extracted from , and it exhibits many pharmacological activities. Read More

Folia Neuropathol 2018 ;56(3):196-205

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by alterations of amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism, accumulation of amyloid  peptides (A), hyperphosphorylation of Tau proteins and also by sphingolipids disturbances. These changes lead to oxidative stress, mitochondria dysfunction, synaptic loss and neuro-inflammation. It is known that A may promote ceramides formation and reversely, ceramides could stimulate A peptides release. Read More

J Toxicol Environ Health A 2018 28;81(24):1224-1230. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

b Institute of Neuroscience , Department of Anatomy, Baotou Medical College , Inner Mongolia , China.

It is well-known that hypoxia induces neuronal injury; however, the mechanisms underlying this observed effect remain to be determined. Schisandra chinensis lignans (SCL). The aim of this study was thus to examine the ability of Schisandra chinensis lignans (SCL) to prevent hypoxia-induced neuronal injury using a human adrenal pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12). Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to detect and explore the mechanisms of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex subunit-related gene mutations in cases of multiple paraganglioma (PGL) in the head and neck.

Methods: In Beijing Tongren Hospital (Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China) between January 2013 and February 2017, 23 cases of head and neck multiple PGL were evaluated by genetic sequencing. From these cases, four hereditary families and 10 cases with sporadic occurrences were found. Read More

Cureus 2018 Sep 24;10(9):e3348. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, PAK.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare benign tumor of the adrenal gland. A select few cases may be malignant, and metastatic cases are exceedingly rare. It often presents with symptoms of catecholamine excess, such as sweating, palpitations, headaches, and characteristic paroxysmal hypertension. Read More

Electromagn Biol Med 2018 Nov 27:1-9. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

a Department of Experimental Pathology , Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine , Beijing P. R. China.

To investigate the potential cytotoxicity of radiofrequency (RF) radiation on central nervous system, rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were exposed to 2.856 GHz RF radiation at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4 W/kg for 8 h a day for 2 days in 35 mm Petri dishes. During exposure, the real-time variation of the culture medium temperature was monitored in the first hour. Read More

Prog Urol 2018 Nov 27;28(12S):S175-S193. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Service d'urologie, hôpital d'instruction des armées Sainte-Anne, BP 600, 83800 Toulon cedex 09, France; Service d'urologie, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, université Paris Descartes, AP-HP, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address:

Objective: To update French oncology guidelines concerning adrenal cancer.

Methods: Comprehensive Medline search between 2016 and 2018 upon diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of adrenal cancer to update 2013 guidelines. Level of evidence was evaluated according to AGREE-II. Read More

Int J Surg 2018 Nov 20;60:188-193. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Urology, ShengJing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: Surgical resection is the primary treatment strategy for pheochromocytoma; however, it carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. The risk factors for severe morbidity remain unclear and require further exploration. We aimed to identify the risk factors for severe morbidity after pheochromocytoma surgery in Chinese patients. Read More

Int J Urol 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and preoperative risk factors of post-excisional hypoglycemia in patients undergoing pheochromocytoma resection.

Methods: Patients who underwent surgical resection of pheochromocytoma at a single institution were retrospectively enrolled in the present study. The primary end-point was the development of post-excisional hypoglycemia; that is, a serum glucose level <70 mg/dL. Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Context: Modern pheochromocytomas (PHEO) are often discovered by incidental finding on cross-sectional imaging or mutation-based genetic case detection testing. Little information is known about how these PHEO behave.

Objective: To describe the characteristics and behavior of PHEO discovered incidentally on imaging or through mutation-based genetic case detection testing. Read More

Hormones (Athens) 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Section on Endocrinology and Genetics & Inter-Institute Endocrinology Training Program, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), NIH-Clinical Research Center, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 1-3330, MSC1103, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.

The last 10 years have produced an amazing number of significant discoveries in the field of adrenal endocrinology. The development of the adrenal gland was linked to specific molecules. Cortisol-producing lesions were associated mostly with defects of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling pathway, whereas aldosterone-producing lesions were found to be the result of defects in aldosterone biosynthesis or the potassium channel KCNJ5 and related molecules. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, CCK.

Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and abdominal paragangliomas (PGLs), collectively abbreviated PPGL, are believed to exhibit malignant potential-but only subsets of cases will display full-blown malignant properties. The Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Gland Scaled Score (PASS) algorithm is a proposed histologic system to detect potential for aggressive behavior, but little is known regarding the coupling to underlying molecular genetics. In this study, a total of 92 PPGLs, previously characterized for susceptibility gene status and mRNA expressional profiles, were histologically assessed using the PASS criteria. Read More

Medwave 2018 Nov 9;18(7):e7320. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima, Perú.

Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-producing neoplasm that may occur sporadically or associated with hereditary diseases, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia. The classic symptoms are headache, sweating, and palpitations and are attributed to the sympathetic nervous system activity, usually presenting as paroxysms. On the other hand, pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious disease considered a public health problem in many countries, whose incidence depends on risk factors such as immunosuppression. Read More

Mol Cell Biochem 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Department of Pharmacology, Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology, Jaipur, India.

Cisplatin has been extensively used as a chemotherapeutic agent since around 40 years, though its usage is limited due to severe adverse effects like neurotoxicity that might be because of oxidative stress. Hence, the present study was planned to investigate the possible protective role of sitagliptin against cisplatin-associated neurotoxic, biochemical, and behavioral alterations in male Wistar rats. Sitagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor that shows dual effects by improving the control on metabolism as well as decreasing the debility in cognitive function that is associated with increased insulin sensitivity and antioxidant property. Read More

A A Pract 2018 Nov 12. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

From the Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

We report the perioperative course of a 75-year-old woman undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy and tumor debulking. The patient developed severe, persistent hypertension after intraoperative methylene blue administration requiring a Surgical Intensive Care Unit admission with further investigative evaluation revealing a previously undiagnosed pheochromocytoma. Our discussion focuses on the differential diagnoses for her perioperative hypertension. Read More

Int J Urol 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.

Objectives: To evaluate operative and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy through a transperitoneal approach and retroperitoneal approach for large (>5 cm in diameter) pheochromocytomas.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the results of a transperitoneal approach with those of a retroperitoneal approach in 22 patients (mean age 57.5 years, range 38-76 years) with unilateral large pheochromocytomas (12 right, 10 left). Read More

Radiol Med 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Radiology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy.

The past decade has witnessed a growing role and increasing use of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI). Driving these successes are developments in both hardware and software that have reduced overall examination times and significantly improved MR imaging quality. In addition, radiologists and clinicians have continued to find promising new applications of this innovative imaging technique that brings together morphologic and functional characterization of tissues. Read More

Org Lett 2018 Nov 13. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

School of Pharmacy , Second Military Medical University , Shanghai 200433 , P.R. China.

Vlasoulamine A (1), an unprecedented sesquiterpene lactone dimer featuring a fully hydrogenated pyrrolo[2,1,5- cd]indolizine core, and vlasoulones A and B (2 and 3), a pair of epimeric dimers formed from a proposed Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloaddition between a germacrane sesquiterpene lactone and a eudesmane sesquiterpene, were isolated from the roots of Vladimiria souliei. Their structures and absolute configurations were established by NMR, MS, and single-crystal X-ray spectroscopic analysis. Moreover, 1 exhibited neuroprotective activity when evaluated for glutamate-induced cytotoxicity, nuclear Hoechst 33258 staining, and measuring intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, using a rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell-based model system. Read More

Endocr Pathol 2018 Nov 12. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Pathology, University Medical Center/Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is an enzyme complex, composed of four protein subunits, that plays a role in both the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain. The genes for SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, and SDHD are located in the nuclear DNA, and mutations in these genes have initially been described in paragangliomas (PGL) and pheochromocytomas (PCC), which are relatively rare tumors derived from the autonomic nervous system and the adrenal medulla, respectively. Patients with SDH mutations, that are almost exclusively in the germline, are frequently affected by multiple PGL and/or PCC. Read More

Curr Pharm Des 2018 Nov 11. Epub 2018 Nov 11.

The Lily and Avraham Gildor Chair for the Investigation of Growth Factors; The Elton Laboratory for Neuroendocrinology; Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Adams Super Center for Brain Studies, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978. Israel.

Background: The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is characterized, in part, by the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), followed by synaptic and neuronal loss. NFTs are mainly composed of aggregated hyperphosphorylated Tau. It has been demonstrated that pathological concentrations of zinc induce 1] activation of a major Tau kinase - the glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and 2] promote Tau aggregation and toxicity. Read More

High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 2018 Dec 10;25(4):345-354. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University-Hospital of Padova, Via Ospedale Civile, 105, 35128, Padova, Italy.

Prevalence of arterial hypertension is up to 30-40% in epidemiological studies, it increases with aging and affects the cardiovascular risk. Essential form of hypertension is the most frequent; however, 5-10% of patients are affected by a specific and potentially reversible cause of increased blood pressure levels, called secondary hypertension. In general, all patients with young onset-age (< 40-50 years) or resistant hypertension should be screened for secondary forms. Read More

J Nucl Med 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Radboud University Medical Center, Netherlands.

Static single timeframe F-FDG PET/CT is useful for the localization and functional characterization of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). F-FDG-uptake varies between PPGLs with different genotypes and highest standardized uptake values (SUVs) are observed in case of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) mutations, possibly related to enhanced aerobic glycolysis in tumor cells. The exact determinants of F-FDG accumulation in PPGL are unknown. Read More

Surgery 2018 Nov 5. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Department of Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.

Horm Metab Res 2018 Nov 7. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes Mellitus, Nikea-Piraeus General Hospital "Agios Panteleimon", Athens, Greece.

Patients harboring adrenal tumors are characterized by higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and a higher incidence of cardiovascular complications, especially in cases of subclinical or overt hormonal hypersecretion. Early detection and referral of those patients in tertiary centers could prevent unfavorable outcomes. In this cross-sectional, retrospective study, we evaluated 111 consecutive patients with adrenal incidentalomas and 14 patients with known hypersecretory adrenal lesions (autonomous cortisol secretion, primary aldosteronism, and pheochromocytoma), who were investigated in our clinic. Read More

Case Rep Endocrinol 2018 14;2018:6358485. Epub 2018 Oct 14.

Einstein Medical Center, 5501 Old York Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA.

Background: Pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma is a rare tumor from neuroendocrine cells. 1/3 of cases have germline mutations. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a common neoplasm from follicular cells of the thyroid. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2018 18;9:1206. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Neuroscience Center, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Da-Bu-Yin-Wan (DBYW) is recorded originally in China over six centuries ago, and it is used to treat Parkinson's disease (PD) clinically in recent decades. DJ-1 is a homodimeric protein linked to early-onset PD, and found in the mitochondria. In addition, DJ-1 could protect the cells by regulating gene transcription and modulating the Akt signal pathways. Read More

Case Rep Gastrointest Med 2018 3;2018:8196051. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Florida and Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA.

Primary adrenal leiomyosarcoma (PAL) is an extremely rare mesenchymal tumor with only a few isolated case reports in the medical literature. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or endoscopic ultrasound-guided core biopsy (EUS-CB) is a safe, effective modality for sampling lesions in the gastrointestinal tract and adjacent organs, including the adrenal glands. We describe the case of a 50-year-old male presenting with abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss over the course of one year. Read More

BMC Anesthesiol 2018 Nov 6;18(1):158. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.

Background: Surgical manipulation of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) may induce large hemodynamic oscillations due to catecholamine release. Little is known regarding hemodynamic instability during percutaneous ablation of PPGLs. We examined intraprocedural hemodynamic variability and postoperative complications related to percutaneous ablation of extra-adrenal metastases of PPGL. Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018 Oct;98(37):2999-3004

Department of Critical Care Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.

To investigate the effects of intraoperative hemodynamic instability on postoperative complications of laparoscopic surgery for pheochromocytoma. It was a retrospective cohort study. According to inclusion/exclusion criteria, adult patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for pheochromocytoma from January 2005 to December 2017 in Peking University First Hospital were enrolled in this study. Read More

Endocrinol Diabetes Nutr 2018 Nov 1. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Laboratorio de Medicina, Servicio de Bioquímica Clínica, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, España; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, España.

Introduction: Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are uncommon tumors whose best known symptoms include high blood pressure, palpitations, headache, and sweating. Clinical identification is not easy, however, and requires biochemical tests that allow for early diagnosis, including measurement of metanephrines levels. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of plasma free metanephrines (PMETs) and to verify the transferability of the reference values used. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018 16;9:612. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Department of Medicine and Health Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Disruption of the daily (i.e., circadian) rhythms of cell metabolism, proliferation and blood perfusion is a hallmark of many cancer types, perhaps most clearly exemplified by the rare but detrimental pheochromocytomas. Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018 Oct 31. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Background: Up to 7% of all adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are pheochromocytomas (PCCs). In the evaluation of AI, it is generally recommended to exclude PCC by measurement plasma free or 24h urinary fractionated metanephrines. However, recent studies suggest to abstain from biochemical exclusion of PCC in cases of lesions with computed tomography (CT) characteristics of an adrenocortical adenoma (ACA). Read More

Brain Tumor Res Treat 2018 Oct;6(2):101-104

Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a neuroendocrine tumor that mainly arises from the medulla of the adrenal gland. Some PCCs become malignant and metastasize to other organs. For example, it typically involves skeletal system, liver, lung, and regional lymph nodes. Read More

Food Chem 2018 Nov 6;266:397-404. Epub 2018 Jun 6.

College of Food Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics/The Jiangsu Province Center of Cooperative Innovation for Modern Grain Circulation and Security, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China; College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, People's Republic of China.

The bioavailability and oxidative damage toxicity of lead (Pb) in seven food matrices, including rice, milk, tomato, garlic, apple, kelp and pork, were determined using an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell model and a rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) oxidative damage model. Results showed that Pb bioaccessibility and bioavailability in the apple and kelp groups were significantly lower than other food matrix groups, with corresponding values of 11.05-28. Read More

J Nat Med 2018 Oct 30. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Laboratory of Natural Resources, School of Pharmacy, Aichi Gakuin University, 1-100 Kusumoto-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8650, Japan.

Neuronal cell death induced by amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers is implicated in neuronal degeneration and is a leading cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, to identify effective therapeutic agents for AD, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of two naturally occurring retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonists (SPF1 and SPF2), isolated from the root of Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep., on the Aβ-induced cytotoxicity against nerve growth factor-differentiated rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018 Nov 28;506(3):709-715. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA. Electronic address:

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulate neuronal function, including plasticity and neurotransmitter biosynthesis and release. The cellular mechanisms that underlie redox modulation of neurotransmission are not fully resolved, but potential pathways include ROS-induced alterations in Ca signaling in nerve terminals. In this study, we show that cold-sensitive receptor TRPM8 is activated by pro-oxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP). Read More

Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2018 Oct 29:e1-e4. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Advanced Urology Centre Nehru Hospital, Pgimer , Chandigarh , India.

Retroperitoneal paragangliomas are rare tumours arising from neural crest cells located near or in the autonomic nervous system; right from the skull bass to the pelvic floor. Often called the great masqueraders, their diagnosis and treatment is often difficult and fraught with danger, considering the close proximity of these tumours to important retroperitoneal organs. A 29-year-old woman presented to the outpatient department with complaints of paroxysms of headache, sweating and palpitations for one year. Read More

Biomed Mater 2018 Oct 26;14(1):014101. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Immunoassays/Immunosensors Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR 'Demokritos', 15341 Aghia Paraskevi, Greece.

In this work, silicon substrates with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) patterns created by a simple, low-cost and high-fidelity photolithographic procedure were evaluated with respect to cell adhesion and alignment, viability, metabolic activity, proliferation and cell cycle progression using the human glioblastoma cell-line U87MG and human skin fibroblasts. In addition, rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells (PC-12) were employed to evaluate a modified photolithographic protocol appropriate for adhesion of cells requiring extracellular matrix components to adhere on the surface and to demonstrate that the proposed patterned substrates could provide unhindered cell differentiation. Regarding U87MG cells and skin fibroblasts, it was found that as the stripes width increased from 10 to 50 μm, the percentage of cells attached to Si versus the total area (Si + PVA) increased from 78% and 72% to 98. Read More

Chem Res Toxicol 2018 Nov 2;31(11):1230-1239. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Key Laboratory of Luminescence and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Southwest University), Ministry of Education, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Southwest University , Chongqing , People's Republic of China , 400715.

Our previous studies demonstrated that tetrachlorobenzoquinone (TCBQ) is toxic to neuron-like cells, which is related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis. However, it remains unclear whether TCBQ causes the opening of cellular defense responses. Here we found that activation of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) triggered an adaptive response against the neurotoxicity induced by TCBQ through the upregulation of intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Read More

J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect 2018 15;8(5):276-278. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Internal Medicine, Rochester General Hospital Rochester, New York, USA.

Stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is transient left ventricular apical akinesis in the absence of angiographic evidence of corresponding obstructive coronary artery disease. A classic presentation is of chest pain following intense emotional or physical stress. Reports of stress-inducing triggers include acute respiratory failure, sudden death of a loved one, sympathomimetic drugs, pheochromocytoma crisis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and even earthquakes. Read More

Cureus 2018 Aug 20;10(8):e3167. Epub 2018 Aug 20.

Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/Queens Hospital Center, New York, USA.

Extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma is uncommon and usually secreting nor-epinephrine. We are presenting a possible case of extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma in a 68-year-old male who was admitted to Queens Hospital Center complaining of shortness of breath for two days. Physical examination was unremarkable except tachycardia. Read More

Case Rep Endocrinol 2018 25;2018:2091257. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.

Studies on genome-wide transcription patterns have shown that many genetic alterations implicated in pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma (P-PGL) syndromes cluster in a common cellular pathway leading to aberrant activation of molecular response to hypoxia in normoxic conditions (the pseudohypoxia hypothesis). Several cases of P-PGL have been reported in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). Patients affected with CCHD have an increased likelihood of P-PGL compared to those affected with noncyanotic congenital heart disease. Read More

Chirurg 2018 Oct 23. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Klinik für Endokrinologie, Diabetologie und Stoffwechsel, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45127, Essen, Deutschland.

An adrenal incidentaloma is an adrenal mass detected on imaging that was not performed for suspected adrenal disease. The prevalence is approximately 3% and increases up to 10% in older people. The risk of malignancy and a hormone excess have to be evaluated. Read More