Biochemical characteristics and clinical manifestation of normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (nPHPT) is a condition characterized by persistently high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and normal serum calcium levels in the absence of other causes for secondary hyperparathyroidism. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical presentation and the biochemical characteristics in patients with nPHPT and to compare them with those in patients with hypercalcemic PHPT (hPHPT).

Materials And Methods: The study included 316 patients (277 women and 39 men, average age 58.

Evaluation of disease-specific quality of life and its influencing factors in Bulgarian patients with Graves' orbitopathy.

Purpose: Graves' orbitopathy (GO) profoundly affects patients' quality of life (QoL). Our aim was to assess QoL in patients with different forms of GO and to search for predictors of QoL.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 221 consecutive unselected GO patients (77.

Comparison of the efficacy of two different glucocorticoid regimens for treatment of active moderate-to-severe Graves' orbitopathy.

Purpose: Intravenous glucocorticoids (GCs) are the mainstay of treatment for severe forms of Graves' orbitopathy (GO). Our aim was to assess the effectiveness and safety of a modified monthly regimen (mMR) and to compare them with those of the established weekly regimen (WR).

Methods: This was a prospective non-randomized single-center study involving 62 patients, divided into two therapeutic groups depending on their referral time.

Changes in therapeutic response, ocular manifestations of Graves' orbitopathy and quality of life during the first year after orbital radiotherapy.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to assess the changes in the therapeutic response, ocular manifestations of GO and quality of life during the first year after OR.

Methods: The study involved 26 consecutive patients with active moderate-to-severe GO indicated for OR, 18 females, mean age 57 ± 12.5.

Selective Silencing of Disease-Associated B Lymphocytes from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Patients by Chimeric Protein Molecules.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is one of the most common endocrine disorders, affecting up to 20% of the adult population. No treatment or prevention exists except hormonal substitution for hypothyroidism. We hypothesize that it may be possible to selectively suppress anti-thyroglobulin (Tg) IgG antibody-producing B lymphocytes from HT patients by a chimeric protein molecule containing a monoclonal antibody specific for the human inhibitory receptor CR1, coupled to peptide epitopes derived from Tg protein.

Nutritional Management of Thyroiditis of Hashimoto.

Since the thyroid gland is one of the organs most affected by autoimmune processes, many patients with thyroiditis of Hashimoto (TH) seek medical advice on lifestyle variance and dietary modifications to improve and maintain their hyroid function. In this review, we aim to present and discuss some challenges associated with the nutritional management of TH, focusing on environmental and dietary deficits, inflammatory and toxic nutrients, cyanotoxins, etc. We discuss the relationships among different diets, chronic inflammation, and microbiota, and their impact on the development and exacerbation of TH in detail.

Increased gene expression of TIMP1 and CHI3L1 in fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples from papillary thyroid cancer as compared to benign nodules.

Background: Thyroid nodules are common ultrasound findings with malignancy rate 7%-15%. Our objective was to assess the relative expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 gene (TIMP1) and chitinase-3-like protein 1 gene (CHI3L1) in fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) washouts and the serum levels of their protein products (TIMP-1 and chitinase-3-like protein 1 known as YKL-40) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and patients with benign nodules. Furthermore, the correlation between gene expression and circulating protein product was evaluated.

Association between Clinical Activity Score and Serum Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8 and Interleukin-10 during Systemic Glucocorticoid Treatment for Active Moderate-to-Severe Graves' Orbitopathy.

: Some interleukins (ILs) play an important role in Graves' orbitopathy (GO) pathogenesis. We aimed to compare serum IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in GO patients, patients with Graves' disease (GD) without GO and healthy controls (HC); to follow IL changes during glucocorticoid (GC) treatment for GO; to examine associations between ILs and Clinical Activity Score (CAS).: Thirty-one patients with active moderate-to-severe GO (GO group), 30 patients with GD without GO (GO group) and 30 HC were enrolled.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of EU-TIRADS in Discriminating Benign from Malignant Thyroid Nodules: A Prospective Study in One Referral Center.

Background: Several thyroid societies have endorsed ultrasound (US) malignancy risk stratification systems for thyroid nodules and the recently released European Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (EU-TIRADS) needs large prospective studies for validation.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the performance of EU-TIRADS in identifying thyroid nodules for fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and its ability to reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies.

Methods: This was a single-center prospective study.

Increased prevalence of depression and anxiety among subjects with metabolic syndrome and known type 2 diabetes mellitus - a population-based study.

Objectives: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The MetS and its elements have been linked to anxiety and depressive disorders. The aim of the current cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety, measured by the Zung Self-Rating Scale in subjects with and without the metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Baseline Characteristics and Changes in Bone Mineral Density T-Scores of Bulgarian Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Receiving Denosumab in Routine Clinical Practice.

Background: Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) is common among women over 50 years of age and is associated with an increased risk of fracture. Bone-targeted agents, such as denosumab, can reduce fracture risk in patients with PMO.

Objective: The aim was to describe baseline characteristics and changes in bone mineral density (BMD) T-scores among women with PMO receiving denosumab in Bulgaria.

Differences in the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and hip fractures in nursing home residents and independently living elderly.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and fracture history in nursing home residents and community-dwelling elderly subjects and to explore the association of vitamin D levels with various characteristics.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-six nursing home residents and 139 community-dwelling elderly subjects participated. Marital status, medical history, medication including vitamin D supplements, smoking, past fractures were assessed.

Changes in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in bulgaria (2006-2012).

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare two nationwide cross-sectional studies of diabetes prevalence in Bulgaria (2006 and 2012) and to assess its dynamics.

Material And Methods: The two studies included 2396 and 2033 subjects, respectively. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) diagnostic criteria were applied, and the data were weighed for type of settlement and age.

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome increases through the quartiles of thyroid stimulating hormone in a population-based sample of euthyroid subjects.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its elements in relation to TSH in euthyroid subjects.

Materials And Methods: In the cross-sectional study, 2,153 euthyroid adults, 47.2 ± 14.

Age and menopausal status affect osteoprotegerin and osteocalcin levels in women differently, irrespective of thyroid function.

Unlabelled: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteocalcin (OC) are essential bone proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that they are not secreted solely by bone cells; they play roles in the vascular function and energy metabolism, and they are influenced by multiple factors. The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of menopause and age on OPG and OC in women with different thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Influence of serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, age and gender on depression as measured by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale.

Unlabelled: The AIM of the present study was to explore the level of depression in the respondents using the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and find a correlation with the levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and the anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), the age and gender of the participants.

Patients And Methods: 2401 subjects aged 20-84 yrs were included, 1344 of them female aged 48.7 +/- 14.

Femoral neck bone mineral density and 10-year absolute fracture risk in a national representative sample of Bulgarian women aged 50 years and older.

Unlabelled: This study explored the epidemiology of osteoporosis in Bulgarian women (>50 years). Of the women included in the study, 16.8% had osteoporosis and 46.

High-intensity focused ultrasound to treat primary hyperparathyroidism: a feasibility study in four patients.

Objective: Many patients with primary hyperparathyroidism either decline or are not candidates for surgical parathyroidectomy. There are drawbacks to medical therapy as well as percutaneous ethanol injection as alternative therapies for primary hyperparathyroidism. Therefore, in this pilot study, our aim was to test the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a newly developed noninvasive high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technique for the nonsurgical management of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Effects of tibolone on body composition in postmenopausal women: a 1-year follow up study.

Objective: We investigated the effects of 1-year tibolone treatment on body weight, body composition and indices of android obesity in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Forty-four postmenopausal women participated in this open-label controlled study; mean age was 51.8+/-2.