DNA methylation is the best studied epigenetic factor, playing a key role in producing stable changes in gene expression, thus defining cell identity and function and adapting cells to environmental changes. DNA methylation has also been recently shown to mediate cell responses to physiological endocrine signals. Moreover, alterations of the normal DNA methylation pattern can also contribute to...

In the central and peripheral nervous systems, myelin is essential for efficient conduction of action potentials. During development, oligodendrocytes Schwann cells differentiate ensure axon myelination, disruption these processes can contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. adults, demyelination lead important disabilities, recovery capacities by remyelination often decrease with disease pr...

Between 1961 and 1971, military herbicides were used by the United States and allied forces for military purposes. Agent Orange, the most-used herbicide, was a mixture of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and contained an impurity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Many Korean Vietnam veterans were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietna...

The role of antipituitary antibodies (APA) in autoimmune pituitary diseases still needs to be clarified. The aim of this study was 2-fold: first, to investigate the presence of APA in adults with idiopathic or acquired GH deficiency (GHD) and in adults with autoimmune endocrine diseases; and second, to evaluate whether in autoimmune endocrine patients APA titer is correlated to the pituitary fu...

TAKAHASHI,K.Adrenomedullin from a Pheochromocytoma to the Eye:Implications of the Adrenomedullin Research for Endocrinology in the 21st Century. Tohoku J.Exp.Med.,2001,193(2),79-114 In the last several decades,the concept of“endocrinology”has been greatly changed.One major change was due to the discovery of peptide hormones secreted by the organs that were not “classical”endocrine organs.For ex...

We assessed the risk factors of the surgical treatment in the elective and emergency management. Among the 47 patients electively treated, 33 were affected by cardiocirculatory diseases, 23 by kidney diseases, 14 by metabolic and endocrine diseases, and 11 patients by respiratory diseases. In the 19 patients, who underwent emergency surgery, 75% had intestinal obstruction, and 25% had intestina...