Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine
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Review
[Familial hypoparathyroidism due to activating mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor gene].
The cloning of the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor(CaSR) has helped to define a key component in the control of the calcium homeostasis. Gain-of-function mutations in the CaSR gene were identified as the cause of autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH). ⋯ Mutations present in transmembrane domain may produce more severe hypocalcemia than those present in other domains. We emphasize that it is important to differentiate ADH from PTH-deficient HP, because treatment with vitamin D to correct the hypocalcemia in the former may lead to more severe hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, and renal impairment.
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Obesity is a multifactorial disease that arises from complex interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. It increases a risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. ⋯ Leptin directly exerts its anorexigenic effects on hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R) have been reported to be involved in the downstream of leptin actions. In this paper, we summarize the clinical characteristics and the mechanisms of obesity caused by genetic abnormalities in leptin receptor and melanocortin-4 receptor.