ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Background. Myocardial involvement is frequent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and its early detection assures the prognosis improvement. Objective. To assess the NT-proBNP levels and its correlation with systolic longitudinal performance, during exercise testing in a SLE population Subjects and Methods. The study included 30 SLE patients (80 % females), with a mean age of 44.8 ± 9.91 years. All subjects were submitted to an echo Doppler examination, including the determination of the global longitudinal strain (GLS). Also, they performed a cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPE) on cycloergometer, assessing the peak oxygen uptake. Venous blood samples were taken and NT-proBNP levels were determined before exercise, at peak effort and two hours after exercise. Results. The left ventricular ejection fraction was normal but GLS was low in SLE patients ( -16.96 ± 3.12%, vs. -19.5 ± 3.05% normal range) and much lower in those with diastolic dysfunction (-14.5 ± 2.3% vs. - 19.2± 1.85%, p=0.0014). During CPE, the patients performed a mean 71.96% ± 13.9% of predicted VO2 max. The mean values of NT-proBNP were: 186.84 ± 186.8 pg/mL at rest, 221.68 ± 245.76 pg/mL at peak effort and 412.48 ± 400.28 pg/mL post effort. No correlation was registered between GLS and peak VO2. We found a negative correlation between GLS ant NT-proBNP at peak effort (r = -0.508) and post exercise (r=-0.623). Conclusion. The exercise NT-proBNP levels can be used together with GLS for an early detection of systolic dysfunction in SLE patients.

Objective. Obese people may have nutritional deficiencies, although they are exposed to excessive food intake. We aim to assess relationship of vitamin D, B12, and folic acid levels and dietary vitamin intake and insulin resistance in obese people. Design. This case-control study was performed at the obesity outpatient clinics between March 2014 and April 2015. Subjects and Methods. We included 304 nondiabetic obese subjects in patient group and 150 normal weight individuals in control group. Patients were questioned in detail about their food intake. Results. Mean age of obese patients was 37.3±10.1 years, the mean duration of obesity was 7.9±5.4 years, and the percentage of female patients was 65.8%. Mean vitamin D, B12, and folic acid levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) in 69.7%, vitamin B12 deficiency (<200 pg/mL) in 13.5%, and folic acid deficiency (<4 ng/mL) was found in 14.2% of the patients. BMI negatively correlated with vitamin D, B12, and folic acid levels. B12 levels negatively correlated with duration of obesity. Insulin resistance was found in 55.9% of patients and HOMA-IR levels negatively correlated with vitamin D and B12 levels. While dietary vitamin D and folic acid intakes were inadequate in all of patients, only 28.3% of patients had inadequate vitamin B12 intake. There was no relation between vitamin levels and dietary vitamin intakes. Conclusions. The study reveals that vitamin D, B12, and folic acid levels were low and poor vitamin D and B12 status were associated with insulin resistance in nondiabetic obese patients.

Context. In addition to traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, there are new risk factors with potentially relevant prognostic, such as vitamin D deficiency. Objective. The study aims to analyze the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, in patients who already have at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Design. It is a prospective, observational study. Follow- up time was 24 months. Subjects and methods. A total of 77 patients were included in the study, aged over 18 years, who had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Their vitamin D levels were measured and they were monitored for a period of 2 years, in order to see which one developed cardiovascular diseases. Results. Of the 77 patients, 56 (72.7%) had serum deficient levels of vitamin D and the mean serum level was 16 ng/mL (± 8.6 ng/mL). Statistically significant differences were observed only in the case of dyslipidemia (p=0.0334). The evolution to cardiovascular disease occurred in 39 of the cases (50.6%). The only independent risk factors for progression to cardiovascular disease demonstrated in this study were serum vitamin D (OR = 0.9024, 95% CI: 0.83- 0.97 and age (OR = 1.1313, 95% CI: 1.05-1.21). Conclusion. The results shows that patients with cardiovascular risk factors and advanced age are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, if they also have vitamin D deficiency.

Introduction. Biotin treatment causes false-low or false-high results in some immunoassays methods. This phenomenon is called as biotin interference. In the present article, a seven-month-old male, with renal failure and laboratory hyperthyroidism due to biotin interference is presented. Case report. High free T4 (fT4), free T3 (fT3), antithyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TG) and low thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were detected in a seven-month-old male patient who has metabolic acidosis, renal failure, and suspected of metabolic disease. Anti-thyroid drug therapy was started. However, when he was re-evaluated due to the absence of euthyroidism with anti-thyroid therapy (methimazole 0.8 mg/ kg /day), it was found that the patient had been given 20 mg/ day biotin for acidosis for two months. Biotin interference was considered in hormone measurement. Thyroid function tests were found to be normal 12 days after discontinuation of biotin therapy. Conclusion. Immunoassay measurements which use biotin should be done 2-7days after the last dose of biotin in patients under biotin treatment, but this time may need be much longer in renal failure patients. During this period or if the biotin therapy cannot be stopped, alternative methods should be preferred for analysis.

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the dose-dependent effects of prednisolone administration on serum vaspin levels and correlate this with changes in the BMI and lipogenesis in rats. Materials and Methods. Twenty-four albino Wistar male rats weighing between 190–240 g were divided into four groups, three experimental (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 20 mg/kg prednisolone) and one control. The prednisolone groups were given once-daily doses for 30 days, orally. In addition, the rats were weighed, and their height and waist circumferences were measured once a week. At the end of 30 days, vaspin and glucose levels were measured from blood samples. Results. In the prednisolone groups, the vaspin levels significantly increased when compared with the control group. The control group has a serum vaspin level of 155 ± 20.99 pg/mL and this level has been increased by prednisolone administration in a dose dependent manner. In the prednisolone groups, especially the 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/ kg groups, the glucose levels increased in a dose dependent fashion. Conclusion. Prednisolone administration significantly increased serum glucose and vaspin levels in a dose dependent manner, indicating that the increase in the serum vaspin levels could be related to the increase in the serum glucose concentration. Vaspin can be a molecule that is released in response to increased glucose and can be a rebound defense mechanism to modulate the blood glucose concentration. We suggest vaspin as a potential target for the treatment and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders.

Objective. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Exercise Physiology Clinic by assessing weight loss profiles of patients who attended the clinic. Study design. The data on 2039 visits performed between April 2010 and March 2011 by 1102 individuals who attended the Exercise Physiology Clinic were assessed. Subjects and methods. Patients who attended two to three visits were classified as Group 1 and those who paid four or more visits were classified as Group 2. Body analyses were performed by bioimpedance technique and Body Mass Indices (BMIs) were calculated and then personal exercise programs were prescribed according to measurements made in each visit. Results. Mean age and mean BMI of the patients at baseline were 47.1±14.0 (16-92 years) and 32.2±6.7 kg/m2 (15.1-63.7 kg/m2), respectively. According to the visit frequency, in patients who visited our clinic two or more times, monthly mean differences in body weight and body fat were calculated as 0.72±0.9 kg and 0.53±0.8 kg/month, respectively. The differences between the baseline and the final measurements of body weight and body fat were higher in Group 2 when compared to Group 1 (p<0.01). While no statistical significance was found between the two groups in terms of weight loss, the change in body fat mass was found to be significantly greater at every visit in Group 2 compared to that of Group 1 (p=0.2 and p=0.05, respectively). Conclusions. A decrease was demonstrated in the body weight and fat mass of the patients who were followed up in our Exercise Physiology Clinic. The results suggested that the increase in the number of exercise physiology clinics will have an important role in preventing metabolic disorders associated with obesity.

Context. Bone mineral density (BMD) loss and progressive bone loss have been detected in patients with untreated\r\nhyperprolactinemia. It is unclear in patients with mild hyperprolactinemia.\r\nObjective. The aim of the study was to evaluate bone metabolism through bone mineral density by using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bone turnover markers in premenopausal women with prolactinoma.\r\nDesign, Subjects and Methods. Twenty five patients newly diagnosed with prolactinoma and treated surgically and/or\r\nmedically, but whose prolactin levels were above the normal limits (PRL > 25 &#956;g/L) and 25 healthy controls were included in the study, which was conducted at the Cerrahpasa Medical School, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism outpatient\r\nclinic. Bone mineral density was measured using the DXA method. Bone turn-over markers such as alkaline phosphatase\r\n(ALP), osteocalcin, Type I collagen Ntelopeptide (NTX) and Type I collagen CTelopeptide (CTX) levels were determined.\r\nResults. The only significant difference in bone density (p=0.02) was in L4 lumbar vertebrae. There were no significant differences between the patient\r\nand the control groups in ALP, osteocalcin, NTX, and CTX levels.\r\nConclusion. There were no significant differences between the patient and the control groups in bone mineral\r\ndensity and bone turnover markers, except in the L4 lumbar vertebrae.

An 18 years old, tall man presented for circumoral numbness, paresthesias, and hypocalcaemia, without carpopedal spasm or seizures. Previous medical history revealed bilateral cataract and osseous cysts on limbs at the age of 12. Hypocalcaemia resistant to calcium treatment and mild increased TSH levels were present. At diagnosis, we noticed a normal phenotype with tall stature, moderate hypocalcaemia (5.8 mg/dL), hyperphosphatemia (5.08 mg/dL) and significantly higher than normal intact parathormone (PTH) levels (518 pg/mL), in the presence of normal serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (53.56 ng/mL). The mother and the family members have been found in good health. All these data strongly suggested sporadic pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP-Ib), but with some features of PHP - type Ia, like the osseous cysts. We were not able to perform molecular genetic tests. The nearly complete recovery of clinical and biochemical signs (normalization of PTH, calcaemia, phosphatemia, and a normal DXA osteodensitometry) after 2 years of chronic treatment with activated 1,25- dihydroxycholecalciferol (2.00-0.75 &#956;g/day) indirectly, but strongly confirmed the diagnosis of pseudohypoparathyroidism. The patient may have resistance to TSH evidenced by high TSH\r\n(range 4.8-7.5 mIU/L), with normal thyroid hormone levels, absence of goiter and normal TPO antibodies. The TRH test (400 &#956;g i.v.) showed a response of TSH, and also of serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine in a range that did not clarify the diagnosis. This association of the resistance to TSH with type Ib PHP was relatively recently reported by two groups (17,20) and before them it was reported only in PHP-Ia. Our patient also showed mild thrombocytopenia, with normal bleeding time, indicating also a possible Gs&#945; deficiency in platelets. In conclusion, our patient with sporadic pseudohypoparathyroidism without clinical phenotype of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy is highly suggestive for the type Ib PHP. A possible resistance to TSH and thrombocytopenia associated are features related to the genetic mechanisms found also in type Ia PHP. It is tempting to suggest that this case is one of the new variants of pseudohypoparathyroidism-Ib, recently reported.

Context. The current therapeutical management of secondary hyperparathyroidism (S-HPTH) is difficult to obtain due to the lack of kidney donors. Surgical intervention on the pathologic parathyroid tissue has been suggested as a method to alleviate symptoms in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective. The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcomes of parathyroid surgery in patients with S-HPTH and the advantages of intraoperative quick PTH (iqPTH) to improve surgical results. Material and methods. In a real-life study, we compared one group of S-HPTH with iqPTH performed after removing all suspected glands and before wound suture (Group 1) and one group in that iqPTH was not assessed (Group 2). When iqPTH dropped less than 50%, additional exploration followed. Results. Eight out of the 34 patients from Group 1, who underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy, showed elevated levels of serum PTH and calcium, which remained elevated during follow-up, thus, suggesting disease persistence. From the 21 patients in Group 2, none showed early postoperative disease persistence. Serum calcium, but not PTH was increased in one patient from the iqPTH group but normalized after one month. Overall, iqPTH allowed detection of a supplementary parathyroid gland in one case, thereby increasing early post-surgery remission to 100% in Group 2 compared to 76.47% in Group 1. Late postoperative remission of hyperparathyroidism with no further increase in the rate of hypoparathyroidism was obtained in Group 2. Conclusions. Assessment of intra-operative PTH levels proved to be a useful tool in augmenting the outcome of S-HPTH surgery. In patients which are eligible for renal transplantation who undergo a subtotal resection, iqPTH can enhance the post-operative quality of life by lowering disease recurrence rates until the kidney transplant procedure.

Context. Underweight, overweight and obesity are important global public health issues and risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes. Objective. To assess the distribution of the body mass index (BMI) in the Romanian obstetric population in the first trimester of pregnancy and its correlation with pregnancy outcomes. We also report the distribution of blood pressure (BP) parameters and their correlation with BMI. Design. This retrospective study includes 9,064 women attending routine first trimester visit and ultrasound scan at 12.8(±0.6) gestational weeks. Characteristics, parity, method of conception, blood pressure (from 3,650 women), maternal weight and height, BMI and foetal ultrasound were recorded. Pregnancy outcomes were available for 1,607 deliveries. The Pearson correlation coefficient was assessed for each BMI group vs. blood pressure parameters, gestational age and birth weight. ANOVA analysis and post hoc tests were used to determine group differences. Linear regression was applied to estimate the contribution of BMI and gestational age to birth weight variance. Results. In our population, 66.37% pregnant women had a normal BMI, 19.29% were overweight, and 7.56% were obese. There was a weak-to-medium positive correlation between BMI and blood pressure parameters, for all weight categories. The correlation between maternal BMI and birth weight was positive for normal and overweight. Conclusions. Our findings highlight the need for more effective health strategies targeting reduction of weight-related problems in women of childbearing age.