ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Purpose. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between hypothyroidism and sterile inflammation in rat heart tissue. Methods. Groups; control group (fed with standard rat chow diet and tab water) and the hypothyroid group (fed with a standard rat chow diet and tap water containing 0.05% 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil for 6-weeks). At the end of the experiment, histopathologic examination was performed. The T3, T4, TSH and myocardial malondialdehyde (MDA) measurements were performed with an ELISA kit. TUNEL assay was performed to demonstrate apoptosis. Sterile inflammation markers, caspase-1 and NLRP3, were investigated by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Results. In histopathological examination, we observed leukocyte infiltration, myocardial atrophy, pyknotic nucleated cells and cytoplasmic vacuolization in hypothyroid group whereas the control group showed normal structure. MDA levels in myocardial tissue were significantly high in hypothyroid group when compared to the control group (P<0.05). Myocardial apoptosis increased in hypothyroid group when compared to the control group. NLRP3 and caspase-1 immunoreactivity was higher in the hypothyroid group. In ELISA results, we found significantly higher level of TSH and lower levels of T3 and T4 in hypothyroid group when compared to the control group. Conclusion. Hypothyroidism increased oxidative stress, and caused inflammatory alterations in cardiac tissue. In addition, our study also suggested that thyroid hormone deficiency would increase the amounts of cardiac NLRP3 and caspase-1 protein, which indicates that hypothyroidism exerts its destructive effects through sterile inflammation. Elucidation of sterile inflammation-associated pathways may produce promising results in the treatment of hypothyroidism-induced cardiac damage.

Context. Studies investigating the association between serum IGF-1, and thyroid nodule, ovarian or thyroid volume in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are limited. Objective. We aimed to analyze the association between serum IGF-1 level, and ovarian or thyroid volume, or thyroid nodule in PCOS. Design. The study was performed between June 2017 and August 2019 as prospective design. Subjects and Methods. Adult females with newonset PCOS were included. The patients having comorbid illness, or using medication were excluded. Basic tests, thyroid and ovarian sonography were performed. The patients were grouped according to thyroid nodule(absent/ present) and ovarian volume (<10mL/≥10mL). We planned to find a positive association between IGF-1, and thyroid nodule, thyroid or ovarian volume in PCOS. Results. Of total 118 patients, 11(9%) had thyroid nodule. The patients with thyroid nodule had a higher ovarian volume (p=0.006). No correlation was found between GH or IGF-1, and thyroid or ovarian volume. IGF-1 was not a predictor for thyroid nodule or higher ovarian volume. Thyroid nodule was a significant predictor for higher ovarian volume. Conclusion. Our study is the first to analyze the association between IGF-1 and thyroid nodule in PCOS. We found that thyroid nodule was associated with thyroid and ovarian volume, but IGF-1 was not associated with thyroid nodule, thyroid or ovarian volume.

Context. It is a challenge to determine the origin of Cushing syndrome (CS), especially in patients with low-normal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations. Objective. To evaluate the reliability of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation test in patients with CS whose origin of disease was not clearly identified using ACTH values, the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST), and imaging in a single tertiary referral center. Design and Methods. Twenty-one patients with CS who were admitted to the endocrinology-metabolism clinic between 2004 and 2016 whose ACTH concentrations were 5-20 pg/mL and needed CRH stimulation test were retrospectively assessed. Results. Nine out of 21 patients were diagnosed as having Cushing’s disease (CD) and 12/21 had adrenal CS. The CRH stimulation test had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 8%, and positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 45% according to the current diagnostic criteria, respectively. An increase in ACTH ≥115% at 15 minutes and cortisol ≥86% at 60 minutes after CRH were associated with the highest likelihood ratio. The sensitivity and specificity of ACTH was 67% and 83% (AUC=0.75±0.12, 95% CI: [0.5-0.9]; p=0.03), and for cortisol it was 75% and 78% (AUC=0.71±0.15, 95% CI: [0.5-0.9]; p=0.03). Cortisol suppression of more than 64% from basal level in the HDDST suggested CD with the highest likelihood ratio. When these cut-off values were used together, both tests were negative in the patients with CD. Conclusion. The CRH stimulation test has low specificity to localize CS in patients with ACTH concentrations of 5-20 pg/mL according to the current diagnostic criteria. Different diagnostic criteria may be used in the CRH stimulation test and also in the HDDST in this group of patients.

Introduction. Our goal was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic utility of thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) and recombinant thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) methods in detecting recurrence/persistence (R/PD) of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Methods. The study included 413 patients with DTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and had remnant ablation. DxWBS, s-Tg levels, R/PD were evaluated retrospectively. A s-Tg level≥2 ng/mL was considered as “positive s-Tg”. Results. DxWBS and s-Tg levels were evaluated with rhTSH in 116 and THW in 297 subjects, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of “positive s-Tg” for R/PD in THW group were 77.3% and 92.7%, with 90.3% accuracy, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of “positive s-Tg” for R/PD in rhTSH group were 58.8% and 100% with 93.9 % accuracy, respectively. An uptake outside thyroid bed at WBS showed a sensitivity of 17.1%, specificity of 100% for R/PD with 89.4% accuracy in THW group. An uptake outside thyroid bed at WBS showed a sensitivity of 7.7%, specificity of 100% for R/PD with 88.8% accuracy in rhTSH group. Conclusion. Method of TSH stimulation did not influence the reliability of DxWBS. The “positive s-Tg level” had a higher sensitivity with THW when compared to rhTSH in detecting R/PD.

Background. Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism is a rarely seen disease which progresses with the hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphatemia and low level of parathyroid hormones. The main symptoms such as leg cramps and generalized muscle weakness result from neuromuscular irritability due to hypocalcaemia, and skeletal abnormalities as well as ectopic calcifications are among the well known features. Case Report. A 32 year-old male patient was referred to our clinic with four years of progressive inflammatory low back and hip pain, prolonged morning stiffness. Upon physical examination limited movements and posture resembling that seen in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) were observed. In laboratory investigation revealed hypocalcaemia (4.6 mg/dL), hyperphosphatemia (7.0 mg/dL) and hypoparathyroidism (7.2 pg/mL). Serum C reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were normal. The direct graphic and sacroiliac magnetic resonance image were identified sacroiliitis. A rise in bone density in dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was recorded. According to the Modified New York criteria, AS includes the whole diagnostic criterias completely. Conclusion. Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, when undiagnosed for a long period, may result in extreme calcification of soft and bony tissues. The vertebral calcification may be so intense that it may result in an AS like clinical picture. Therefore, idiopathic hypoparathyroidism should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of AS .

COVID-19 is a viral disease that is recognized now as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. It is known that some viral infections may trigger autoimmune diseases. It has been revealed that COVID-19 may also lead to the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 DM (T1DM) and autoimmune thyroid diseases. Here, we aimed to present a young female patient with COVID-19, who we followed up in our clinic, who presented with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and developed Hashimoto’s disease during the treatment process. In order to emphasize that COVID-19 may trigger the emergence of T1DM, that it may mask nonspecific DKA symptoms like nausea and vomiting, that it may cause delay in diagnosis of DKA, and also to emphasize the importance of evaluating other autoimmune diseases accompanying COVID-19, we found it appropriate to present this case.

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effects of a triple oral antidiabetic combination versus basal insulin and metformin combination treatment in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.\r\nMethods. Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes, who were treated by metformin and sulphonylurea combination, and had\r\nHbA1c values between 7.5 and 10 % (58 and 86 mmol/L), were randomized into two groups. The first group was given triple oral antidiabetic therapy (pioglitazone, metformin, and sulphonylurea) and the second group was given metformin and a bedtime basal insulin (insulin detemir) combination for 12 weeks. Metabolic parameters were evaluated.\r\nResults. The mean fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels decreased in both groups. The decrease in HbA1c was slightly\r\nhigher in triple oral antidiabetic group (p=0.046). The patients in triple oral combination group gained 0.2 kg (p=0.881) and those in the metformin-insulin detemir combination group lost 1.7 kg (p=0.001) in 12 weeks (p=0.29 between groups). The frequency of hypoglycemia was higher in\r\ntriple oral antidiabetic group (11 vs. 2 episodes, respectively).\r\nConclusion. Both sulphonyureametformin-pioglitazone and insulin detemir-metformin therapies provided significant improvements in glycemic control. However, sulphonylurea,\r\npioglitazone and metformin combination led to more frequent hypoglycemic events, and weight management seemed in favor of insulin detemir-metformin combination.