ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Background. The involvement of IGF 1 in renal pathophysiology has been studied in many details in type 1 diabetes but the role of IGF 1 in early nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes is less well characteristic. Objective. To determine whether serum IGF1 and GFBP-1 levels were different between patients with and without diabetic nephropathy and also to investigate the association between them and insulin resistance. Subjects and methods. Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), IGF 1 and IGFBP-1 were measured in 20 type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy, 20 type 2 diabetic patients without nephropathy and 15 control subjects. Results. Serum IGF 1 in diabetic nephropathy (333.3 +/-16.44 ng/mL) was significantly higher than in both diabetic patients without nephropathy (133.16 +/- 3.43 ng/mL) and in control subjects (174.33+/-6.23) (P <0.001). A significant negative correlation was observed between IGF 1 and HOMA, (r = -0.72) in diabetic patients without nephropathy and a positive correlation in diabetic nephropathy patients (r = 0.49). Conclusion. High IGF 1 and insulin levels in diabetic nephropathy patients in addition to the significant positive association between IGF 1 and HOMA suggest that both IGF 1 and insulin resistance may play major role in early renal changes in type 2 diabetes.

Long lasting hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, low calcitriol and high fibroblast growth factor 23 could result in progressive parathyroid gland hyperplasia with high, uncontrolled, parathormone production, e.g. severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT), in 10% of dialysis patients. Parathyroidectomy (PTX) could be a solution, but has inherent (low) surgical risks and although dramatically decreases parathormone levels, could induce hypoparathyroidism (50-66%) and low turnover bone disease. Moreover, the rate of recurrences is 15-20% at 10 years. Total and subtotal PTX with autografting are equally safe and effective with similar recurrences rates. Calcimimetics are efficient drugs, but with limited effectiveness in sHPT, as only 25% of patients responded to cinacalcet. In the USA, they are more cost-effective than PTX only in patients with >2 years expected dialysis duration. As there are not randomized studies to compare surgical to medical therapy, the strength of evidence allows only for suggestions in guidelines. In countries like Romania, where dialysis vintage is high because of the low transplantation rate and calcimimetics are costly, PTX seems a better solution when parathyroid glands are large (diameter >1cm or\r\ntotal mass >500mg), parathormone levels >800pg/mL, in patients who are not candidates for renal transplantation or are anticipated to stay >2 years on dialysis.

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Context. Platelet indices change in relation to cardiovascular risk factors, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). An increase of platelet indices over time in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could be a predictor of mortality. The objective of this study was to assess differences in platelet indices in patients with and without T2DM undergoing PCI, prior and more than one month after the procedure. Subjects and Methods. In this retrospective observational study, patients undergoing PCI were included. Data were extracted from PCI Registry of the Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation of Tirgu Mures, Romania. Results. Of the 718 patients included in the study, 222 (30.9%) had T2DM; 61% of patient underwent PCI for SCAD, the rest for NSTE-ACS or STEMI. Prior to PCI, MPV, PDW and P-LCR were not higher in T2DM patients irrespective of the indication for PCI. At a follow-up time of 69 (46-98) days, platelet indices were not different between TD2M+ and T2DM-, except from MPV (11.0 vs. 10.6, p=0.02) which were higher in TD2M patients with SCAD. Intraindividual variability of platelet indices was not different in diabetics, but MPV, PDW and platelet count decreased over time (3.5% and 8.4% respectively) in diabetics with STEMI (p=0.02). Conclusions. Platelet indices were not higher in patients with T2DM undergoing PCI, but we observed an important variation in platelet indices in diabetics after STEMI related PCI.

Background. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) positivity is usually determined in vasculitis of medium and large arteries. In literature, data related to the prevalence of ANCA positivity and the development of antibodies after antithyroid therapy in Graves’ disease are quite rare. Aim. To investigate the titers of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA and proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA in Graves’ patients treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) and to determine the factors that may contribute to ANCA positivity. Subjects and Methods. Fifty-two Graves’ patients treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) were included into the study. The control group consisted of 37 healthy subjects. MPO-ANCA and PR3-ANCA titers were measured in both groups. Results. Mean titer of PR3-ANCA in Graves’ group was significantly higher than in controls (p=0.025), but no significant difference was found in the titer of MPOANCA between two groups (p=0.060). A positive correlation was observed between PR3-ANCA titer, and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody and anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels in Graves’ patients (p=0.001, r=0.447 and p=0.030, r=0.310, respectively). PR3-ANCA titer in anti-thyroglobulin antibody positive patients was higher than those with negative antibody (p=0.018). A positive correlation was detected between the duration of treatment and PR3-ANCA titer (p=0.024, r=0.314). Both MPO-ANCA and PR3-ANCA were positive in two Graves’ patients, while only MPO-ANCA was positive in two patients. No signs of vasculitis in ANCA positive patients were observed. Conclusion. Propylthiouracil (PTU) may cause ANCA positivity, but no vasculitis may develop in most of the cases. A correlation was determined between PR3- ANCA titer, and thyroid autoantibodies and the duration of treatment.

Calcitonin (CT) is a polypeptidic hormone specifically secreted by the thyroid parafollicular cells (C cells) and tangentially involved in human phosphocalcic and bone metabolism. CT from other species (e.g. salmon) is more potent than human CT and has limited therapeutic applications. The neoplastic proliferation of C cells leads to medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) generally characterized by an increase of CT secretion. Serum CT is therefore the ideal marker for MTC and can confirm its presence at an early stage, as well as the follow up of its remission or progression/relapse/survival after surgery. There are, however, controversies such as the necessity of CT screening in patients with thyroid nodules, or particular situations causing false positive or false negative results. Our minireview also deals with an up-to-date of surgical procedures for MTC, as well as with non-surgical therapy.

Context. Osteopenia and osteoporosis are medical terms commonly used for a defect in compact bone. Diabetes has a complex effect on the degree of bone mineral density (BMD). Objective. Evaluation of the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on osteopenia and osteoporosis concerning body mass is the aim of this study. Design. A case-control study, including 400 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 200 healthy individuals, was designed. Subjects and Methods. BMD T-score measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used as an indicator for osteopenia and osteoporosis, while body mass index (BMI) was used for determining obesity. Results. The BMD value of osteoporosis was observed in most females of both groups, compared to males with osteopenia with no supported by statistical analysis. The BMI value indicated that obese individuals are more likely to develop osteopenia in both groups, although there were no significant differences. Subjects aged 40 and over showed high osteopenia, which is associated with obesity. Conclusion. There is no significant effect of gender, diabetes, or obesity on the BMD. Osteopenia is more prevalent in age groups over 40. The obese women remain at risk of osteoporosis and men are at risk of osteopenia.