Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Thyroid surgery is nowadays associated with low morbidity and extremely low mortality. A consistent association has been observed between high surgical volume and better outcomes. Patients who undergo surgery by a skilled surgeon have fewer complications. On the other hand, different surgical techniques have been associated with different outcomes. Since 1997, thyroid diseases are treated in our department by a multidisciplinary team.Object...

Introduction: Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) plays an essential role in the evaluation of thyroid nodular disease (TND). It reduces the rate of unnecessary thyroid surgery for patients with benign nodules, and allows the choice of the appropriate surgery. In our department, 2124 FNAB were performed in 10 years. 60% of them are now ultrasound guided (UGFNAB).Objective: To access the accuracy of FNAB in our hospital.Methods: Re...

Background: Skeletal changes including demineralization have been reported in WD. The exact mechanism originating these changes isn’t completely understood but some authors have proposed a link to vitamin D (VitD) metabolism.Aim: To investigate the prevalence of demineralization in a cohort of WD patients and correlate it with VitD status and severity of hepatic and neurological involvement.Methods: Thirty-five patients (17 ma...

Background: Obese young people are likely to suffer significant morbidity in adult life. Successful intervention during adolescence may have far-reaching benefits. Evidence is emerging that patient-responsive clinical services may deliver improved outcomes.Aims: To assess the perceptions of obese young people about weight and weight-management services.Method: Annonymised, postal questionnaire survey of 116 obese young people (9&#1...

Background: Seeing the doctor alone has been associated with a better outcome following transition to adult services.Methods: A simple questionnaire was designed for young people (YP) to enquire about being seen alone in paediatric endocrine clinics.Results: The questionnaire was administered to 72 YP young people (37 male) with long term endocrine conditions. The mean age was 15.5 (2.5). 10% of YP thought they should be offered th...

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in asymptomatic, nonsmoking members of families with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH). We investigated the association between these cytokines and selected risk factors for atherosclerosis, markers of insulin resistance and inflammation.Methods: Eighty-two members of 29 FCH families were divided into two groups: HL (prob...

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the patients’ age and goitre size in relation to the form of hyperthyroidism, as well as the relationship between patients’ age and goitre size and function.Material and methods: The subject group included 484 patients (420 females and 64 males) with hyperthyroidism. Graves’ disease (GD) was diagnosed in 171 subjects and toxic nodular goitre (TNG) was found in 313 subjects. FT3, fT4...

Introduction: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) are approved for the treatment of several cancers and can induce hypothyroidism by unclarified mechanisms.Objectives: To assess the prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients treated with TKIs.Methods: Retrospective review of clinical records of patients treated with TKIs in our institution between 2003 and 2009. We evaluated parameters such as sex, oncologic pathology, TKI used, TSH an...

Background: Hypopituitary patients with untreated growth hormone deficiency (GHD) have increased fat mass, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance. Inappropriately low thyroxine doses in patients with central hypothyroidism (CH) may also promote such clinical features.Objective: To examine metabolic outcome of thyroxine replacement in hypopituitary patients before and after GH replacement.Method: One thousand and six hundred and two p...

Context: Ezetimibe and simvastatin are often used in combination to lower blood lipid levels. The consequences of this combination at the molecular level are unknown.Objective: To examine their effects on the LDL receptor (LDLR) protein expression and on the LDLR and HMG-CoA reductase gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).Design, setting and participants: Prospective, randomized, parallel 3-group trial. Twent...