ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Context. Post-operative clinical and biochemical hypocalcemia is a common complication of thyroid surgery and the correlation with incidental parathyroidectomy (IP) remains controversial. Objective. To evaluate the incidence of IP during TT, its correlation to early post-surgery hypocalcemia, and its potential risk factors. Patients and Methods. 77 consecutive patients submitted to thyroid surgery between January 2018 and December 2019. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, surgical and histopathological factors were assessed. Statistical multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk of IP. Results. IP was evident in 22 (28.5%) patients who underwent TT, TT with lymph node dissection of the central compartment (CLND) and reoperation for previous hemithyroidectomy with CLND. Early symptomatic hypocalcemia 24 hours after TT was demonstrated in 12/22 (54.5%) patients, with PTH value of <14pg/mL in 7/12 (58.3%) patients, and in 6 of these 7 patients (85.7%) the PTH value was <6.3pg/mL. In 5/22 (22.7%) patients the IP was associated with biochemical hypocalcemia <8.4mg/dL, and in 5/22 (22.7%) patients anatomical damage was not associated with a reduction in plasma calcium levels. The severity of early post-op hypocalcemia was not correlated with the number of parathyroid glands left in situ. The multivariate analysis did not show statistically significant values between the clinical-pathological variables and increased risk of IP. Conclusions. No IP clinical-pathological risk factors have been identified during thyroid surgery. In all cases of TT, with or without CLND, the meticulous identification of the parathyroid glands, whose incidental removal is frequently associated with clinical and biochemical hypocalcemia, is recommended.

Context. Incidentally discovered solid adrenal tumors must be evaluated from two points of view: the risk of malignancy and the secretory feature. Objective. Our aim was to evaluate the surgical technique option in relation with clinical and histopathologic features. Design. We performed a retrospective study that included patients with adrenal gland tumors. Subjects and methods. All patients were operated between 2012 and 2019 by the same surgical team in a single center. Results. The batch included 102 patients with adrenal tumors operated through open surgery (OS, n=41) and laparoscopic surgery (LS, n=61). Tumor localization was especially on the right adrenal gland (n=52, 50.98%). Primary origin of the adrenal gland tumors was in 82 cases (80.39%) and a metastatic origin in 16 cases. Average dimension for surgical resected tumors was 4.02 cm (0.9-12 cm) for the LS group as compared to 7.22 cm (1.3-19 cm) for OS group with a predominant type of surgery represented by adrenalectomy and a conversion rate of 2.94%. The hospital stay was 7.22 days (5-12 days) in the LS group versus 12.72 days (6-57 days) in OS group with significant differences (p<0.01). Also, the postoperative recovery was significantly different (6.5 days versus 2.62 days, p<0.01). Conclusion. Laparoscopic approach represents the gold standard in adrenal gland tumors less than five centimeters in size. Adrenalectomy is mostly performed by LS and adenoma is the most frequent histopathologic type, while pheochromocytoma is operated through OS. LS has a significantly reduced hospitalization and postoperative stay compared to OS.

Context. Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) has been recently proposed as a good tool to investigate secondary osteoporosis. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess TBS from spine DXA images in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and look at its correlates. Subjects and Methods. 153 patients, mean age 59.1 ± 12.1 yrs, females and males (10%), mean BMI 26.2 ± 4.8 kg/m2, mean serum calcium and PTH of 11.3 ± 1.2 mg/dL and 232 ± 329 pg/mL, respectively; 89% had osteoporosis/ osteopenia by LS DXA and 46% had renal involvement. There were 7.6% patients with vertebral fractures, 13.2% patients with nonvertebral fractures. TBS indices were derived from LS-DXA images and cutoff points used were those previously reported. Results. Mean TBS was in the partially degraded range (1.258 ± 0.115); 32% of patients had degraded microarchitecture (TBS ≤ 1.20), 51% had partially degraded microarchitecture (TBS > 1.20 and < 1.35) and 17% had normal TBS. TBS was significantly correlated with areal BMD both at the LS (r=0.544; p<0.001) and FN (r = 0.315; p < 0.001), and negatively with age (r= - 0.354; p < 0.001) and years since menopause - YSM (r = - 0.257, p = 0.005). Patients with vertebral fractures had mean values of TBS in the degraded range, significantly lower than those without vertebral fractures (1.173 ± 0.076 vs. 1.263 ± 0.115; p = 0.006). The presence of vertebral fracture was independently associated only with YSM (OR = 1.131, 95% CI = 0.032 – 0.214, p = 0.008) but not with TBS. Conclusions. In a cohort of symptomatic PHPT patients, including postmenopausal, premenopausal and male patients, we have shown that TBS was in the partially degraded range, but it was not independently associated with fractures.

Anthracyclines are used in breast cancer both in early and advanced stages and their recommendation together with taxanes, either concurrently or sequentially, is debatable and individualized by phenotype. Circulating biomarkers have already been introduced in clinical practice for metastatic disease monitoring. We questioned whether it might be a role for these markers in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings too and a general review was conducted. CK18 and CTC were found predictive for anthracycline related response in preoperative setting. Soluble E-cadherin is promising, a retrospective analysis showing a direct correlation with clinical response. CEA, CA 15-3 and HER2 ECD are not of interest for their predictive role.

Background. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with high frequency of obstetric complications, such as gestosis, polyhydramnios, urogenital infection, premature birth. An increase in the number of cases of detection of GDM in pregnant women living in Kazakhstan is noted recently. Objective. This research was carried out in order to see the influence of GDM on the course of the third trimester of pregnancy, outcomes and fetal status in women of Kazakh ethnic group. Research design. Cohort observational study. Subjects and Methods. The main group of research consisted of 61 pregnant women with GDM (Meanage= 32.8±6.314), the control group included 39 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (Meanage=30±5.432 years). The pregnant women in both groups were examined by calculation of body mass index (BMI), determination of fasting plasma glucose and the system of hemostasis. Also, the fetal ultrasound was implemented and the uterineplacental, fetal-placental blood flow were evaluated using the Doppler mode. Results. In the main group initial BMI was equal to Mean=31.1±7.433 kg/m2; we revealed manifestation of gestational hypertension in 36.1%, 95%CI (2.52, 48.6); preeclampsia was diagnosed in 14.8% (95%CI (8; 25.7); the disorders of uteroplacental and fetoplacental blood flow recorded significantly more frequently in main group RR=6.393, 95%CI (1.581-25.840), like the diabetic fetopathy RR=5.115, 95%CI (1.240-21.033). The premature delivery, the prevalence of induction of delivery and intranatal trauma were significantly more frequent in women with GDM. Conclusions. GDM significantly worsens course of gestation.

Objective. This research aim was to evaluates the role of the pre-ablation neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) as predictors of distant metastases in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Methods. A retrospective analysis was given to 140 patients with DTC who received 131I remnant ablation after surgery. The patients were divided into two groups based on the existence of distant metastasis. Results. The two groups showed no significant difference in age, gender, WBCs, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and whether the tumor was multifocal. In the univariate analysis, significant differences were found in tumor size (p=0.021), lymphocyte (p=0.012), NLR (p=0.027), and LMR (p=0.007). According to the ROC curves, NLR had an AUC of 0.612 ± 0.097 with a cut-off value of 1.845, sensitivity of 60.0%, and specificity of 66.2% (p=0.027). LMR had an AUC of 0.638 ± 0.095 with a cutoff value of 4.630, sensitivity of 84.6%, and specificity of 35.4% (p=0.007). In the multivariate analysis, larger tumor size (OR=5.246, 95% CI 1.269-10.907, p=0.009) and higher NLR (OR=2.087, 95% CI 0.977-4.459, p=0.034) were statistically significant for distant metastases. Conclusion. This research reveals that pre-ablation NLR and tumor size are significantly statistically correlated with distant metastases in patients with DTC.

Context. With the widespread use of neck ultrasound, parathyroid incidentaloma (PI) emerges as an additional opportunity for incidental detection of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Objective and design. This study aimed to investigate PHPT cases detected by PI and to compare them with other PHPT patients. A retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed PHPT patients between 2014 and 2020 was conducted in our hospital. Subjects and methods. The cohort of 124 subjects was divided in two groups: 22 (17.7%) PHPT patients detected by PI (PI PHPT group) and the rest of 102 PHPT patients (non-PI PHPT group). Overall, 21 PIs were discovered on ultrasound and one was found during thyroid surgery. Clinical features, work-up and management of two study groups were compared. Results. The PI PHPT group had lower ionized calcium at diagnosis (p=0.034), lower peak serum calcium during follow-up (p<0.01), less fractures (p=0.022) and was less likely to meet the international criteria for parathyroidectomy (p<0.01). Positive sestamibi scan (p=0.022) and confirmed concordant localization in at least two different parathyroid imaging techniques (p=0.033) were more likely in the PI PHPT group. The frequency of surgical management did not differ between groups. Conclusions. PHPT detected by PI is clinically relevant and mostly comparable to PHPT in other patients with some features that correspond more often to a mild disease. Higher rate of positive preoperative localization in PHPT detected by PI might encourage parathyroidectomy even without the international criteria met.

Calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), is usually observed in women and it is a serious complication of hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic renal failure. CUA is characterized by ischemic tissue loss secondary to progressive vascular degeneration. Although it is rare, it may end up with sepsis and organ failure and can be fatal. Its pathogenesis is not fully understood, but it is thought that it occurs secondary to increased calcification activators such as oxidized LDL, TNF- α, calcitriol, fibronectin, collagen-I, and TGF-1α. The most effective treatment is managing underlying pathology and decreasing serum calcium and phosphorus levels. In this report, we aimed to present an end stage renal failure case with coexisting hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism and calciphylaxis in whom cutaneous manifestations were healed 6 months after parathyroidectomy.

We describe one case of sellar and suprasellar chordoma found in a 44 year old female, with bitemporal hemianopsia and secondary amenorrhea, submitted to transfrontal surgery and telecobaltotherapy. Chordomas are slow growing neoplasms arising from notochordal remnants of the axial skeleton. The second most common site for chordomas, after the sacrococcygeal region, is the base of the skull. Skull base chordomas commonly result in cranial nerve deficits, such as blurred vision, facial weakness and swallowing difficulty. Occasionally, chordomas localized in the hypothalamic or pituitary region may lead to pituitary stalk disjunction, pituitary insufficiency and diabetes insipidus. Studies show that early diagnosis, combined with aggressive surgical resection, offers the best chance for long-term survival. Although optimal treatment consists of wide excision with adjuvant radiotherapy, skull base chordomas are rarely amenable to complete surgical removal. Traditionally, postoperative irradiation is delivered to doses of 6000-6500 cGy; however this approach controls the chordoma only for a few years. Prognosis depends on the histological grade of the tumor, atypical chordomas showing the lowest survival rate.

Background. Idiopathic hypercalciuria is a risk factor for nephrolithiasis. Both renal stones and hypercalciuria are associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD), but the relationship between these modifications is not completely understood. Aims. To evaluate some metabolic particularities possibly related to relapsing nephrolithiasis (RN) in young male patients. Methods. We performed a crosssectional study including a group of 30 young male patients with RN and a group of 30 healthy, age and BMI (body mass index) matched controls (CTR). We evaluated calcium and phosphate metabolism, bone remodeling markers alkaline phosphatase (AP) and osteocalcin in serum and 24-hour urine samples, and lumbar and hip BMD. Results. We observed higher values of serum calcium (P<0.05) and 24 hour urinary calcium (P<0.001) in the RN group. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and AP were also higher in the RN group (P<0.01), whereas serum 25OH-D3 was lower (P<0.01). BMD, T and Z scores were lower in the RN group in both the lumbar (P<0.01) and hip (P<0.05) regions. Conclusions. Young male patients with hypercalciuric RN have lower BMD and higher bone turnover. Higher PTH levels related to vitamin D deficiency may contribute to bone demineralization in certain cases.