Minerva Endocrinologica

BACKGROUND: To investigate the related influencing factors of abnormal renal function in elderly in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and their clinical significance. METHODS: The clinical data of elderly T2DM patients hospitalized in Beijing Luhe Hospital from January 2013 to June2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) levels, these patients were divided into GFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73m2 group (Group A), GFR =60-90 mL/min/1...

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in women with and without PCOS have produced inconsistent results. Additionally, no previous studies have evaluated associations between vitamin D and specific PCOS phenotypes. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted among women undergoing intrauterine insemination. Cases (n=137) were diagnosed with PCOS and then further classified into 3 diagnostic phenotypes based on combinations of the Rotterdam criteria [ovulatory dysfunction +polycystic ovaries (n=55); ovulatory dysfunction +androgen excess (n=15); and ovulatory dysfunction, +polycystic ovaries, +androgen excess (n=67)]...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Secondary adrenal insufficiency may pose specific challenges during pregnancy. The interpretation of diagnostic tests is hindered by physiological adaptations of the HPA axis. Due the relevant increases in CBG, measurement of salivary cortisol may be preferable, but lacks sufficiently established cut-offs both for early-morning evaluation and during dynamic testing. Hydrocortisone should be used for replacement to avoid overexposure of the fetus, with dose adjustments according to clinical judgement. To account for increased free cortisol levels during the course of pregnancy, hydrocortisone may be increased by 5-7...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Growth hormone (GH) is not approved for use during conception and pregnancy. Nevertheless, data from the clinical care practice reveal that most women concieve on GH replacement therapy (GHRT), and more than half continue on GHRT also during pregnancy. GH stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis at all levels, and there is evidence that GH deficiency impacts the morphology of reproductive organs, onset of puberty, ovarian function and fertility. Patients with hypopituitarism often conceive using assisted reproductive techniques and several studies support the benefit of GH supplementation for achieving fertility in women with growth hormone deficiency...

Pregnancy-related hypophysitis (PR-Hy) that typically occurs during late pregnancy and the early postpartum period is considered an autoimmune disorder. Knowledge and awareness of characteristic clinical symptoms and specific endocrine and neuroradiological features mostly enables a correct diagnosis and guarantees best possible management. In the presence of mild clinical symptoms, a "wait and watch" policy is recommended. Transsphenoidal surgery or glucocorticoid therapy is indicated if progressive clinical signs or severe visual symptoms are observed...

Despite the fact that sports organizations and legislators have introduced various mechanisms to discourage athletes from using performance and appearance enhancing substances a high percentage of athletes admits to their unabated application. In competitive athletics, bodybuilding and in recreational sports anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) continue to be the substances most abused. This review summarizes the side effects of AAS abuse on organs and system functions in both sexes. High doses of AAS cause a significant increase of erythrocytes und haemoglobin concentration, which may lead to thromboembolism, intracardiac thrombosis and stroke...

Diabetes insipidus, characterized by polyuria and polydipsia, is a rare disease during pregnancy. Nevertheless, its recognition is important to avoid complications due to dehydration and hypernatremia. Its manifestation during pregnancy ranges from exacerbation of pre-existing central or nephrogenic diabetes insipidus to transient pregnancy-induced diabetes insipidus due to the increased metabolism of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin by the placental vasopressinase. Diagnosis can be challenging, as urinary frequency is common during pregnancy and primary polydipsia also needs to be excluded...

Pregnancy in women with a diagnosis of Cushing' syndrome (CS) is an extremely rare event and its diagnosis and treatment are a real medical challenge. During pregnancy, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis undergoes major changes leading to a significant increase in plasma cortisol levels throughout gestation. The difficulties in diagnosis are related to the resemblance of symptoms of CS and those of pregnancy, and to the complex interpretation of the screening tests. Moreover, the diagnostic work up in the postnatal period may be difficult in the first weeks postpartum...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Audit is a clinical instrument of government characterized by a whole process of evaluation inter pares to improve medical behaviors in the clinical practice. Different endocrinopathies are underestimated in the clinical and diagnostics practice but they can be a real problem in patients admitted in the departments of Internal Medicine. The Adrenal Incidentaloma (AI) is an accidental discovery with an incidence equal to 4% in radiologic studies but it's rarely considereted in the internal disorders. In the departments of Internal Medicine are hospitalized each year approximately 1...

BACKGROUND: To study the application value of thyroid ultrasound combined with thyroglobulin (Tg) in the diagnosis of postoperative recurrence of thyroid cancer, so as to provide a reference for clinical practice. METHODS: 80 patients with thyroid cancer who underwent operative treatment for more than 2 times in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2016 were selected as the objects of study. After operation, residual thyroid tissues were removed via131 iodine (131 I)treatment, the serum Tg and thyroid globulin antibody (TgAb) were detected, and the cervical ultrasound was performed...

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship of serum iron and ferritin concentrations in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicated in pregnant metaphase through detecting the serum iron and ferritin concentrations in early pregnancy of normal pregnant women, so as to provide new ideas for the early detection and prevention of GDM. METHODS: Spontaneously pregnant women with single fetus receiving prenatal routine examination in our hospital from December 2014 to October 2016 were selected...

PURPOSE: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is highly prevalent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim is to determine their relation, focusing on matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), a marker predicting joint destruction and RA activity. METHODS: Fifty three consecutive RA patients were prospectively separated into two groups on the basis of the presence or absence of HT; those with and without TPO-Ab or Tg-Ab (34.0% and 66.0%, respectively). To estimate the extent of inflammation and destruction of the thyroid gland, heterogeneity index (HI) was determined ultrasonographically...

BACKGOUND: Patients with central diabetes insipidus (CDI) are known to lose weight because their polydipsia interferes with their nutritional intake. We retrospectively examined weight changes in CDI patients when they switched from nasal to oral desmopressin. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with CDI were included. Weight change was defined as an increase or decrease of more than 3 kg or 3% body weight. As factors contributing to the weight change, we studied the patients' clinical characteristics and quality of life (QOL) scores as determined by our original questionnaire...

INTRODUCTION: Emerging evidence indicates that C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4(CXCR 4) is a candidate oncogene in several types of human tumors including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). To investigate its expression impact on clinicopathological features, a meta-analysis was performed. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A comprehensive search in the PubMed, Embase and The Cochrane Library (up to March 14, 2017) was performed for relevant studies using multiple search strategies...

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality of semen of a large sample from general healthy population living in Italy, in order to identify possible variables that could influence several parameters of spermiogram. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study from February 2010 to March 2015, collecting semen samples from the general population. Semen analysis was performed according to the WHO guidelines. The collected data were inserted in a database and processed using the software Stata 12...