Endocrine Abstracts

Hirsutism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance. The insulin sensitising agent metformin can reduce hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS. Conventional treatment for hirsutism in such women is combined anti-androgen and estrogen (Dianette; Schering Ltd). The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of Dianette with metformin (Glucophage; Merck, 500mgs tds) in the treatment of hirsutism in women wit...

A 64-year-old Algerian woman was transferred to our institution with a pituitary tumor causing severe visual impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a T1-isointense, T2-hyperintense sellar mass measuring 48×35×30 mm, with homogenous enhancement after gadolinium injection (Figure 1). This mass extended to the suprasellar region, compressing the optic chiasma, and to both cavernous sinus, completely surrounding and narrowing carotid arteries. Ophthalmologic...

Section 1: Case history: A 10-year-old girl presented with significant postnatal growth failure. Her birth weight was normal (–0.15SDS) but poor growth was observed from a few months of age. She had no other symptoms. On examination, height was –3.4SDS and head circumference –1.6SDS. She had no dysmorphic features and normal development. Section 2: Investigations: Baseline serum analyses were unremarkable. Karyotype was normal (46XX). Bone age was delayed by 2.5...

Aim of the work: The effects of subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCH) on bone and heart have been well documented. Effects on other parameters like lipids metabolism and weight regulation have also been reported but mainly in cross-sectional studies. The potential benefits of treatment of endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism are more controversial as few large controlled studies on clinical outcomes have been performed. ATA guidelines recommend treatment according to the severit...

Introduction: Cushing disease (CD) is a rare pathology and associated with serious complications and an increased mortality (standardized mortality ratio 2.8) (1). The mortality risk is twice as high (standardized mortality ratio 5.7) if CD is biochemically not well controlled. Transsphenoidal tumor resection is the first line treatment. However, the need for second line treatment is high, as 5-50% of patients in remission after surgery relapse and consist of ...

Levo-thyroxine (LT4) formulations are available on tablets (TAB) or liquid solution (SOL). LT4 TAB absorption could be affected by several gastric diseases as Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection or chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), instead no data are available on absorption of the LT4 SOL in these conditions. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of TAB or SOL LT4 formulations in patients with dyspeptic syndrome (DS) and subclinical ...

Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) plays a wide spectrum of biological actions including a positive role in oocyte maturation and ovulation. Free radicals have been shown elevated in PCOS and therefore would be responsible for quenching NO that, in turn, would play a role in determining oligo or amenorrhea connoting PCOS. We recently demonstrated that the combined administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and arginine (ARG) is able to exert an antioxidant action leading to ...

Tablet levothyroxine (L-T4) is the common treatment for hypothyroidism. We aim to investigate the efficacy of L-T4 in liquid formulation in patients recently subjected to total thyroidectomy (without malabsorption or drug interference), with respect to L-T4 tablets. Eighty patients were treated with L-T4 in tablets, whereas one hundred and sixty received liquid L-T4 at the same dosage (1.5 mg/kg/day). All patients started the therapy the day after thyroidectomy, and the drugs ...

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) affects 1:2.000–3.000 newborns. In most cases, the cause is a developmental defect (dysgenesia) or an arrested migration (ectopia) of the thyroid gland. In the remaining cases TSH resistance or defects in iodide transport or thyroid hormonogenesis account for CH. The differential diagnosis is aimed to recognize permanent CH forms and to achieve an etiologic diagnosis for accurate management and genetic counselling. Appropriate investigations...

Introduction: The aim of study was to assess diversity of oxidative stress as a dynamic process throughout metabolic syndrome (MS) continuum ending with coronary heart disease (CHD) or diabetes mellitus (DM).Methods: Main group (MG) of 154 men aged 25–60 years with abdominal obesity (waist circumference above 94 cm) was examined in comparison to 30 healthy men of similar age. In MG 28 men were diagnosed with CHD, 24 – with DM. Fasting glucose (...