ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

A number of recent studies in animals and humans have linked energy regulation and the circadian clock at the molecular, physiological and behavioural levels, concluding that disruption of clock genes results in metabolic dysregulation. The search to understand the causes of obesity and diabetes and the development of new therapeutic strategies have mostly focused on caloric intake and energy balance. In this review, we present a global overview of the circadian clock as a critical interface between nutrition and homeostasis.

Context. Cholelithiasis in childhood is uncommon, while in infancy it is rarely reported. An extremely rare form of cholelithiasis occurs with pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA). In these patients gallstone formation has been attributed to dehydration and salt-wasting, starting from fetal life. Case report. A neonate with PHA presented with dystrophy, vomiting, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, metabolic acidosis and gallstone formation. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentrations were elevated and urinary Na excretion was increased. Gallstones automatically subsided at the age of six months after appropriate sodium chloride supplementation. Conclusions. Infants with PHA , even without signs of salt wasting, should be investigated for cholelithiasis. Inversely, in infants with pertinent electrolyte abnormalities and cholelithiasis, PHA should be considered among the possible diagnoses.

Context. Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is an inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland and commonly affects females. Despite adequate treatment, the recurrence of SAT can be seen in some patients. Although there is insufficient data about the reasons for recurrences, HLA predisposition is one of the reasons thought to be responsible and is a current issue for clinicians. Objective. This case report presented the management of 7 SAT attacks of a patient who had HLA-B35:01 and B41:02 alleles in the genotype analysis. Case Report. A 37-year-old male patient who had consecutive 7 SAT attacks was presented in this report. Corticosteroid or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were initiated at each recurrence depending on the severity of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings. The genotype analysis showed the positivity for HLA-B35:01 and B41:02 alleles. The anti-thyroglobulin antibody was detected positive after the last attack. The patient was followed up as asymptomatic and euthyroid in the third month after the last attack. Results. The management of some SAT cases may be challenging for clinicians. Although recurrence can be seen despite adequate treatment, repetitive seven attacks are extraordinary in SAT. HLA genotyping showed cooccurrence of HLA-B35:01 and B41:02 alleles in our patient. The co-occurrence of these alleles has been described firstly in this case. Explaining high recurrence rates of SAT with these HLA alleles is difficult, though the present case may shed light on further studies.

Context. The environmental occurrence of metformin has been frequently world-widely reported. Despite the diabetes susceptibility in the Chinese population, the studies on occurrence of metformin as environment disruptor in China are insufficient. Objective. To determine the occurrence trends and possible environmental pollution sources of metformin as an emerging micropollutant. Methods. High-performance liquid chromatographyelectrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry system was used to detect the metformin levels in water samples collected from the Xi’an city Moat, China once a year from 2017 to 2021. Correlations among the metformin levels in moat water, in surrounding hospital wastewater, and hospital metformin consumption data were assessed using Pearson, Spearman and Kendall’s tau-b correlation coefficients. Results. Occurrence of metformin was found in Xi’an city Moat water with levels in the range of 304- 793 ng/L. Significant correlations were found between the metformin levels in city moat water and the total (or outpatient) metformin utilization data of the hospital. Conclusion. Data suggested the potential environmental issues posed by metformin in Xi’an city in China. The metformin consumption volume in the surrounding hospitals, especially at the outpatient services, could be used to predict the metformin concentrations in the moat water.

Objective. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure during developmental period on parameters of oxidative stress and histopathology of testis and testosterone level in adult rat F1 generation. Methods and study design. In treatment group pregnant rats were exposed to 3mT EMF, 50Hz for 21 days. The sham group contained pregnant rats under same condition, but out off the EM field. Pregnant rats in room were used as control group. After delivery, the blood samples of mothers for biochemical analyses of total antioxydant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehide (MDA) were provided. The male pups were kept until maturity, then their TAC, MDA and testosterone levels were analyzed, also their tests were removed for investigation of histopathology changes with light microscopy. Results. Biochemical analysis showed that TAC and MDA was significantly increased in pregnant rats in the treatment group when compared with the control group (p<0.05). In adult male of F1 generation MDA was significantly increased in treatment group, but TAC and the testosterone level was significantly decreased in the treatment group as compared with the control group (p<0.05). Microscopic results revealed that in experimental group seminiferous epithelium contained many small irregular empty spaces as the sign of cellular sloughing, spermatogenic cells appeared to be disrupted. The nuclei of spermatogonia cells were heterochromatic, also dense of germinal epithelium and the number of spermatozoa was decreased. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that pregnant rats exposure in EMF led to oxidative stress in adult male of F1 generation and showed adverse effect on testosterone and spermatogenesis in adulthood which may produce subfertility.

Introduction. One of the diabetes complications in men is infertility. C-peptide and Nicotinamide have antidiabetic and antioxidant activity. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of these drugs on male infertility caused by diabetes. Methods. In this experimental study 40 adult male NMRI mice (20- 25g) were obtained and randomly divided into 5groups: controls, diabetes model, diabetes+C-peptide, diabetes+Nicotinamide, diabetes+C-peptide+Nicotinamide. Diabetes induced was confirmed 3 days after administration of a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (65mg/kg) 15 min after an intraperitoneal injection of Nicotinamide (120mg/kg). Then C-peptide (25nmol/kg) and Nicotinamide (100mg/kg) were injected for 28 days. 24h after the last drugs injection serum samples, testes and cauda epididymis of animals were removed for hormonal, testis morphology and sperm count assessment. Results. Diabetes induced could decrease serum testosterone level and sperm count significantly (p<0.001, p<0.05 respectively). Serum LH, testosterone levels and sperm count increased in Diabetes+Cpeptide+ Nicotinamide versus diabetes group (p<0.05, p<0.001, p<0.01 respectively). Also administration of Nicotinamide alone showed an increase in serum testosterone (p<0.001). Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrated that combined administration of Nicotinamide and C-peptide improved diabetes induced male reproductive disorders by enhanced serum LH, testosterone levels and sperm count in diabetic mice.