Laszlo G. Jozsa
Photos and/or copies of one hundred Upper Paleolithic (45,000-40,000 to 10,000 BP) statues were studied, the photos having been taken from the frontal, lateral and back view. Among the 97 female idols studied, 24 were skinny (mainly young women), 15 were of normal weight, while more than half of them (51) represented overweight or very obese females whose breasts were also extremely large …
Carlo Cappelli, Mario Rotondi, Ilenia Pirola, Barbara Agosti, Ana Maria Formenti, Pasquale De Cata, Massimo Salvetti, Luca Chiovato, Maurizio Castellano
OBJECTIVE: Metformin treatment may induce a decrease/suppression in serum TSH levels, mimicking sub-clinical hyperthyroidism (SHT). The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate changes in several electrocardiographic indices in euthyroid subjects with diabetes who, after starting metformin treatment …
Mahin Hashemipour, Roya Kelishadi, Javad Shapouri, Nizal Sarrafzadegan, Masoud Amini, Naser Tavakoli, Ahmad Movahedian-Attar, Parisa Mirmoghtadaee, Parinaz Poursafa
OBJECTIVE: Zinc, an essential trace element and a component of many enzymes, is involved in the synthesis, storage and release of insulin. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of zinc supplementation on insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome in prepubertal obese children. DESIGN: This triple-masked …
Costas Koufaris, Angelos Alexandrou, Carolina Sismani, Nicos Skordis
Familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (FNDI) is a disorder characterized by excess excretion of diluted urine (polyuria) and increased uptake of fluids (polydipsia). The disorder is caused by mutations affecting the AVP-NPII gene, resulting in absent or deficient secretion of the antidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressin …
Roland Gärtner, Petra Rank, Birgit Ander
OBJECTIVE: As we previously demonstrated, the inhibitory effect of iodine on thyroid cell growth is mediated by iodolactones, especially 6-iodo-5-hydroxy-eicosatrienoic acid (δ-iodolactone). In this communication we compare the effect of iodide, molecular iodine and δ-iodolactone on growth inhibition and apoptosis on three human thyroid carcinoma cell lines …
Amir H. Sam, Tricia Tan, Karim Meeran
Patients with acromegaly have characteristic clinical features caused by soft tissue overgrowth. The most common cause of acromegaly is a growth hormone-secreting adenoma of the anterior pituitary. Both somatic and metabolic features of acromegaly are due to excess growth hormone (GH) secretion and high serum concentrations …
Masao Jinno, Kenichi Kondou, Koji Teruya
OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance is associated with aging and stress, both common among patients repeatedly failing to conceive with in vitro fertilization (IVF repeaters). In the present study we examined whether low-dose metformin could improve the outcome in IVF repeaters without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) …
Sibel Ertek, Arrigo FG Cicero, Oya Caglar, Gurbuz Erdogan
OBJECTIVE: Zinc is essential for many biochemical processes and also for cell proliferation. Thyroid hormones influence zinc metabolism by affecting zinc absorption and excretion. Additionally, zinc deficiency affects thyroid function. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible association of zinc levels with thyroid volume …
Efstathia Papageorgiou, Anastassios Philippou, Athanasios Armakolas, Panagiotis F. Christopoulos, Andreas Dimakakos, Michael Koutsilieris
OBJECTIVE: Preferential IGF-1Ec expression has been firmly associated with skeletal muscle repair mechanisms, post-infarction remodeling of the myocardium, the pathophysiology of endometriosis and prostate cancer biology. Therefore, we have studied the possible biological significance of synthetic Ec peptide, a putative cleavage product of IGF-1Ec in PC-3 cells and C2C12 myoblasts …
Mehmet Kirnap, Hulusi Atmaca, Fatih Tanriverdi, Osman Ozsoy, Kursad Unluhizarci, Fahrettin Kelestimur
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis via the insulin-tolerance test (ITT), standard-dose (250 μg) ACTH test (SDT) and low-dose (1 μg) ACTH test (LDT) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). DESIGN: The study group included 13 male patients with AS who were diagnosed according to the Modified New York criteria …
Rene Chee, Ravin Agah, Roberto Vita, Salvatore Benvenga
OBJECTIVE: To report a case of vaccine-induced Graves’ disease successfully managed with L-carnitine and propranolol and without antithyroid drugs (ATDs). ATDs sometimes need to be used at low doses or can be contraindicated/refused. One of the ancillary compounds available is L-carnitine …
Elias E. Mazokopakis, Christos M. Karefilakis, Ioannis K. Starakis
Several conditions and drugs induce subclinical hypothyroidism. We report a case of asymptomatic and reversible subclinical hypothyroidism in a 48-year old woman with minor depressive disorder receiving therapy with escitalopram 20 mg daily for six months …
Konstantinos Laios, Maria Zozolou, Konstantinos Markatos, Marianna Karamanou, George Androutsos
In 1886, Pierre Marie (1853-1940) published the first accurate scientific description of acromegaly while also coining the term that we now employ (acromegaly today being used when the disease appears in adulthood, and gigantism when it is seen in childhood) …
Caliope Alevizaki, Michael Molfetas, Alexandros Samartzis, Barbara Vlassopoulou, Charalambos Vassilopoulos, Phoedi Rondogianni, Sofia Kottou, Valsamis Hadjiconstantinou, Maria Alevizaki
BACKGROUND: Iodine 131 ablation following total thyroidectomy is considered an indispensable element of successful treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (Dtc). because of the essential role of the kidneys in iodine clearance, 131I therapy of Dtc in patients with end stage renal disease, particularly those maintained on haemodialysis …
Zuleyha Karaca, Fatih Tanriverdi, Selim Kurtoglu, Serife Tokalioglu, Kursad Unluhizarci, Fahrettin Kelestimur
The Prasad S yndrome is characterized by iron deficiency anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, skin changes, hypogonadism, dwarfism and geophagia. Hypogonadism is a major manifestation of zinc (Zn) deficiency in both humans and animals. T he mechanism of hypogonadism caused by Zn deficiency has not been clarified…
Goran Cvijovic, Dragan Micic, Aleksandra Kendereski, Svetlana Zoric, Mirjana Sumarac-Dumanovic, Svetislav Tatic, Aleksandar Trivic, Danica Pejkovic-Stamenkovic, Danka Jeremic
OBJECTIVE: Serum calcitonin (CT) is a sensitive but not specific marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). There are a large number of conditions that may elevate CT levels. CASE REPORT: Herein we present the case of a 47-year old woman with Hashimoto thyroiditis …
Marina Kita, Maria Sakalidou, Athanasios Saratzis, Sarris Ioannis, Avraam Avramides
Cushing’s syndrome (CS) during pregnancy is a rare nosology with only a few cases reported in the literature. Misdiagnosis is common, as the syndrome may be easily confused with preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. CS during pregnancy is usually associated with severe maternal and fetal complications..
Maryam Nasiri Aghdam, Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan, Alireza Tafazoli, Mohammad Aslzare, Zohreh Mosavi
PURPOSE: Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) is a complex autosomal dominant inherited syndrome characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pheochromocytoma and primary parathyroid hyperplasia. In patients with only one or two clinical features, identification of a germ line RET (REarranged in Transfection) mutation is required to make the diagnosis and initiate genetic counseling. METHODS: We analyzed blood DNA from three Iranian families with three generations …
Athanasios Christoforidis, Eirini Kazantzidou, Ioanna Tsatra, Haido Tsantali, George Koliakos, Emmanouil Hatzipantelis, George Katzos, Miranda Athanassiou-Metaxa
OBJECTIVE: Osteopenia/osteoporosis of multi-factorial pathogenetic mechanism is reported to be a significant cause of morbidity in adult patients with β-thalassaemia major. Even in young patients, decreased Bone Mineral Density (BMD) values are a consistent finding in the literature. This study was performed in order to assess BMD …
George Kontogeorgos, Eleni Thodou
OBJECTIVE: The term “null cell” adenoma was first proposed in 1980 to designate pituitary adenomas lacking clinical, biochemical and morphological markers to disclose their cell origin. DESIGN: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of α- and β-gonadotropin subunits in clinically nonfunctioning pituitary tumors …
Silvano Bertelloni, Eleonora Dati, Angelo Valetto, Veronica Bertini, Alfredo Danti, Giampiero I. Baroncelli
BACKGROUND: Mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD) is a rare disorder. Short stature is a well known feature of this condition. Although growth hormone (GH) treatment has been suggested to treat growth impairment, conflicting data surround this issue …
Serkan Yener, Abdurrahman Comlekci, Baris Akinci, Pinar Akan, Tevfik Demir, Firat Bayraktar, Sena Yesil
OBJECTIVE: a)To determine serum Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes who do not have diabetes related complications and in healthy controls, b) to evaluate the effects of metformin and rosiglitazone on TGF-β1 levels …
Gonzalo Díaz-Soto, Maria J. Vaquerizo, Ciro García-Alvarez, Aurelia Villar-Bonet
A 45-year-old woman, with a history of asymmetric facial flushing, was presented to the Endocrinology Unit after pituitary macroadenoma removal. After other pathological entities had been ruled out, she was diagnosed with harlequin syndrome following a lesion of the postganglionic …
Amela Lolic, Νenad Prodanovic
Objective: A survey related to iodine deficiency in the Republic of Srpska was first conducted in 1999 and resulted in the adoption of regulations concerning the quality of salt for human consumption. In order to reassess iodine status, we conducted the Republic of Srpska Iodine Deficiency Survey in 2006 …
Maria I. Kalliora, Andriani Vazeou, Dimitrios Delis, Evangelos Bozas, Ioanna Thymelli, Christos S. Bartsocas
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the seasonal variation of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) diagnosis in Greek children. DESIGN: The study group consisted of 1148 patients (604 males and 544 females) who were diagnosed with T1DM during the period 1978-2008. The mean age at diagnosis was 8.32±5.01 years …