ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Objective. Hyperandrogenism is any clinical or laboratory evidence of androgen excess in women. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of hyperandrogenic disorders especially polycystic ovary syndrome in a random sample of adolescent girls, as well as to identify the clinical, hormonal, ultrasonic, and body composition characteristics associated with such disorders. Patients and Methods. Two hundred school girls (15-18 years old) were selected by random sampling from different secondary schools, and screened for hyperandrogenic disorders by a validated questionnaire and subjected to thorough confirmatory investigations. Results. Twenty-five out of the 200 students were thoroughly evaluated. Eighteen adolescents of the examined students (72%) were finally diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, 5 (20%) with idiopathic hyperandrogenism and 2 (8%) with non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia . Despite normal weight percentiles and body mass index for age and sex in 83.3% and 88.9% of students with polycystic ovary syndrome respectively, fat mass, trunk fat percentage, trunk fat mass, and trunk free fat were significantly higher in polycystic ovary syndrome patients compared to controls. Conclusions. Polycystic ovary syndrome was the most common hyperandrogenic disorder in this study. Combined menstrual dysfunction and clinical hyperandrogenism had adequate sensitivity and high specificity in the prediction of polycystic ovary syndrome. Pulse inversion harmonic imaging is an adequately sensitive preferential diagnostic tool of polycystic ovary syndrome in virgin adolescents who may have central adiposity. Body composition assessment by bioelectrical impedence is valuable in detecting central adiposity which could be correlated to parameters of insulin resistance.

Mayer Rokitanski Kuster Hauser (MRKH) syndrome or the congenital absence of the uterus and vagina accounts for 15% of primary amenorrhea cases and is second to Turner syndrome as the most common cause. Affected individuals have a 46,XX chromosomial constitution and normal secondary sex characteristics. Symmetric uterine buds and fallopian tubes are consistant with type A and asymmetric - with type B MRKH syndrome, the latter being associated with other congenital anomalies (renal, skeletal, ear ovarian and cardiac). We studied four patients aged 18-45 years in which type A MRKH syndrome was established by clinical and gynaecological examination, pelvic and abdominal ultrasonography, explorative laparoscopy cytogenetic analysis and hormonal evaluation. Associated disorders were breast fibroadenoma and Graves disease in one case, congenital glaucoma, keratitis, hypocalcemia and simple goiter in another case and polycystic ovaries with clinical signs of hyperandrogenism in the case which can be related to the genetic defect underlying MRKH syndrome. The presence of associated disorders complicates the management of MRKH syndrome which is complex, requires multidisciplinary approach and decreases further the patient?s quality of life.

Aim. This study aimed to investigate the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of newly diagnosed acromegaly patients treated with various combinations\r\nof treatment modalities.\r\nMaterials and Methods. Eighty-four acromegaly patients (42 female, 42 male, mean age 40.29?13.32 y), followed and\r\ntreated between 2000 and 2010 were included. Data on patient demographics, delay between onset of symptoms and the\r\ndiagnosis, details of treatments, and treatment- or disease-related morbidity and mortality were collected and analyzed. The median delay time for diagnosis was 60.71 ? 56.19 months. Patients received various combinations of surgery, gamma knife radiotherapy or conventional radiotherapy,\r\nlong acting somatostatin analogue, and dopamine agonist.\r\nResults. After ten years of treatment, median GH and IGF-1 values decreased from 13.7 ng/mL (IQR: 5.3- 34) to 1.04\r\nng/mL (IQR: 0.52-2.7) and from 600 &#956;g/L (IQR: 460.5-787.5) to 194 &#956;g/L (IQR :157-356), respectively (p<0.0001).\r\nMedian GH during 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) decreased from 4.35 ng/mL (IQR: 1.87-13.15) to 1.40 ng/mL\r\n(IQR: 0.60-3.40) (p<0.0001). Fifty patients (59.5%) were in remission according to IGF-1 values and 52 patients (62 %) were cured according to nadir GH during OGTT respectively. The mortality rate was 5.9%.\r\nIn conclusion. Strict biochemical control following appropriate intervention significantly reduces both morbidity and mortality in acromegaly patients.

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Background. Thyroid nodules are a common pathology worldwide. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is an important diagnostic method for the investigation of malignancy in thyroid nodules. However, according to the Bethesda System used to classify the results, patients with atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS / FLUS) may not be classified as benign or malignant. Therefore, it may be necessary to determine some clinical risk factors to apply the best treatment in these patients. Aim. To determine the factors that increase the risk of malignancy in this patient group. Methods. A retrospective study including 138 patients with an FNAB categorized as AUS/FLUS and operated between June 2015–September 2018. Demographical, Laboratory (TSH) and Ultrasound variables (number, size and characteristics of nodules) of the patients were compared among postoperative histopathological results. Results. Hypo-echoic structure, microcalcification and irregular margin of the nodules were detected to be associated with malignancy in patients with FNAB results of AUS/FLUS (p <0.001). Conclusion. We suggest that surgical treatment should be considered if the patients have nodules with the hypo-echoic structure, microcalcification and irregular margin with an FNAB histopathological result of AUS / FLUS.

Objective. To determine the long-term effect of weight loss on arterial stiffness, metabolic parameters in morbidly obese patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Subjects. Forty-eight morbidly obese Caucasian subjects underwent LAGB from January 2009 to January 2010 and completed 4 years follow-up. Measurements. Patients were evaluated for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, arterial blood pressure (BP), metabolic factors: leptin, adiponectin, glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin. Endothelial function - evaluated as reactive hyperemic index (RHI). Arterial stiffness - determined by cardio - ankle vascular index (CAVI). Results. Average BMI decreased from 46.48±7.06 kg/m2 to 39.78±7.36 kg/m2 (1year, p<0.001) and 37.29±7.49 kg/m2 (4years, p=0.012). The systolic BP and heart rate reduction were observed after the 4 years. Changes in cardiovascular parameters were accompanied by waist circumference reduction and improvement of glucose metabolism,reduction of insulin, HbA1c, leptin, C-reactive protein values. However, there were statistically significant increases in CAVI 6.58±1.77m/s vs. 7.03±2.00 m/s (p=0.014) at 1 year, but not significant 7.12±2.19 (p=0.153) after 4 years. Endothelial changes were observed only in diabetic patients one year after LAGB 2.18±0.57 vs. 1.86±0.34 (p=0.021) vs. 2.05±0.42 (p=0.086). Conclusion. Weight reduction induced by LAGB was associated with changes in body weight and metabolic parameters, but it was no improvement on endothelial function and arterial stiffness.

A 54 years old man, who had undergone a cystectomy and urinary diversion surgery 31 years previously, complained of progressive generalized bone pain, muscle weakness and walking abnormality for six months. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated alkaline phosphatase, high serum chloride level and metabolic acidosis. Osteomalacia was suspected due to clinical and laboratory findings. Osteomalacia due to hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis is a complication of urinary diversion. Regular monitoring of pH, chloride, bicarbonate, and calcium-phosphorus metabolism is therefore essential for early diagnosis and treatment.

kidney disease (CKD), a growing public health issue, than in general population. The key issue in management of fragility fracture in CKD patients is determining whether fractures have occurred as a result of qualitative abnormalities (consequences of renal osteodystrophy or CKD-mineral and bone disorder), a reduced bone mineral density (osteoporosis) or a combination of both. In CKD patients bone histomorphometry is the gold standard for evaluating bone quality and strength, but the routine use of this method is not practical. Fracture risk can be assessed in this population by DEXA (Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry), but biochemical markers, like intact PTH and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase may be helpful. The new and emerging high resolution imaging tools need more studies for a correct evaluation of their utility in predicting fracture risk. Pharmacological therapies for fragility fracture based on current understanding of the metabolic disturbances in CKD will be reviewed. Antiresorptive and anabolic agents used in the treatment of osteoporosis are discussed with special focus on CKD population.

Context. The metabolic syndrome is a profound, systemic impairment of the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and branched amino-acids, affecting specially obese people. Recently, many studies outlined the presence of the metabolic syndrome, also in non obese persons. Objective and design. To assess the relationship between insulin resistance and the cardiovascular component of the metabolic syndrome in a group of young, non obese subjects using a cross sectional study. Subjects and methods. We enrolled 103 subjects with body mass index < 30 Kg/m2, without metabolic syndrome to whom fasting glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulinemia, waist circumference and arterial pressure were recorded in a crosssectional approach. Insulin resistance was evaluated using the homeostasis model assessment for insulin (HOMA-IR) index. Statistic data processing included Pearson relation and multiple regression (backward method), using the SPSS version 21 software. Results. A significant relationship between waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and HOMA-IR is found. High value of HOMA-IR (>2.6) was more frequently in men (p=0.011). The incidence of the 2 metabolic components mentioned above was higher in the high value HOMA-IR group: 33% vs. 7% in women and 50% vs. 4% in men. Multiple regression showed a strong correlation between HOMA-IR and waist circumference (p<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.008) that was maintained inside the women group (p=0.016 and p=0.032, respectively). In men, HOMA-IR correlated with waist circumference (p=0.031). Conclusion. We found a significant interdependence between waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and HOMA-IR. Based on our results, we consider that lifestyle intervention should start as soon as abnormal waist circumference is recorded.