The Role of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy.

: Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disease that typically occurs in the course of Graves' disease. gene has been tested for its association with autoimmune thyroid diseases, with conflicting results. The study aimed to evaluate the association of selected polymorphisms (rs2228570, rs1544410, rs7975232, rs731236, and rs11568820) with susceptibility to TAO.

Effect of methylprednisolone pulse therapy with and without alendronate on biochemical markers of bone turnover in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Introduction:  Immunosuppression with glucocorticoids is the method of choice in the treatment of active Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). However, glucocorticoid therapy may have side effects, among others, it affects bone metabolism.

Objectives:  The aim of the study was to compare the effect of methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPPT) with and without alendronate on bone turnover markers in patients with GO with normal and reduced bone mineral density (BMD).

Methylprednisolone and hepatotoxicity in Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Background: Immunosuppressive therapy with glucocorticoids alone or in combination with radiotherapy is first-choice treatment for the active phase of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Intravenous methylprednisolone (mPRED) pulse therapy is much more effective, safer, and better tolerated than steroids orally administered. There have been some reports, however, of unfavorable reactions to mPRED pulse therapy on liver function.

[Pharmacokinetics of digoxin in hyperthyroidism. Effect of methimazole].

Introduction: Cardiovascular abnormalities may be the only manifestations of overt hyperthyroidism. In patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation digoxin can be beneficial in controlling the symptoms and signs, but hyperthyroid patients show an impaired response or even resistance to digoxin treatment. The aim of the study is to establish: 1.

Interleukin-1beta gene (IL-1beta) polymorphisms (SNP -511 and SNP +3953) in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) among the Polish population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the IL-1beta gene could be a genetic marker of the thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) development.

Materials And Methods: The IL-1beta gene polymorphisms at -511 and +3953 regions in 117 TAO patients of Polish origin (ATA/NOSPECS class III or greater) and in 106 controls were studied.

Results: We found no significant differences in the frequencies of genotypes and allelic variants for SNP -511 and SNP +3953 between the controls and the studied groups.

[CD20 antigen of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells as possible prognostic factor in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma--preliminary reports].

Unlabelled: THE AIM of the study was to asses the validity of CD20 expression on H-RS cells as independent prognostic factor in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Methods: 72 patients (44 men and 28 women) between 15 and 73 y.o.

[Nail susceptibility to fungal infection in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes under long term poor glycaemia control].

Onychomycosis is a common disorder in adults. Its prevalence increases also in diabetics. The objective of the study was: 1) evaluation of finger and toe nail susceptibility to Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes with long term glycaemia under poor control as compared with healthy persons, and 2) checking whether or not various aetiology of type 1 and type 2 diabetes may influence the intensity of fungal nail infection.

[Long-term consequences of surgical excision of cortisol producing adrenocortical adenoma].

Introduction: Surgical excision of adrenocortical tumour in patients with ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome gives a chance for their entire cure. However in some patients after adrenalectomy persistent arterial hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus is observed. The aim of the study was to analyse long term consequences of surgical excision of cortisol producing adrenocortical adenoma with a special attention on the influence of adrenalectomy on arterial blood pressure.

[Tryptase- and chymase-positive mast cells as possible prognostic factor in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Unlabelled: Aim of the study was to reveal potential prognostic factors in Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients by means of assessment of the influence of mast cells on clinical characteristics of the disease.

Patients And Methods: Paraffin-fixed lymph node biopsies taken from the group of 72 patients treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma in the Department of Internal Medicine and Oncological Chemotherapy of Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice from 1990 to 2002. The analyzed group consisted of 44 men (age 16-73, mean 39.

[Difficulties in the diagnosis of Cushing's disease--usefulness of desmopressin test].

A 39-year-old man with occult eutopic corticotropin microadenoma leading to Cushing's syndrome was presented. Magnetic resonance imaging was unable to identify the pituitary microadenoma. In another department bilateral adrenalectomy was justified.

Focal lesions in the ultrasonographic examination of the spleen as a symptom of various disease statuses: literature survey and case descriptions.

Background: Ultrasonography (US) is an easy and non-invasive technique of visualizing spleen. Thanks to its repeatability, it plays an important role in the diagnostics of, among others, developmental anomalies, such as supernumerary or lobated spleens, as well as focal lesions. It is also used in monitoring the size of the spleen and it considerably facilitates diagnosis after certain injuries.

[Primary lymphoma of the thyroid--diagnostic and treatment problems. The case report].

The authors present the case of primary malignant thyroid lymphoma and problems with distinguishing between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and primary thyroid lymphoma. Primary malignant thyroid lymphoma (PMTL) is a rare disease and difficult to diagnose. The appearance of PMTL may be preceded by Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

[Nail susceptibility to fungal infections in patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism].

Onychomycosis is a frequent disorder in adults. The objective of the study was evaluation of finger and toe nails susceptibility to Candida albicans and a dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection in patients with symptomatic hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism as compared with healthy persons. The materials comprised finger and toe nails from 23 patients with hypothyroidism (in 8 cases postoperative, and in 15 cases caused by Hashimoto type thyroiditis), and from 27 patients with hyperthyroidism (including 17 cases of Graves-Basedow disease, and 10 with nodular goitre).

[Endothelin ET-1 in patients with non-toxic nodular goiter].

Endothelin ET-1 plays an important, however not entirely identified role in physiology and pathology of thyroid gland. The aim of the study was to determine if in patients with non-toxic nodular goiter there is relationship between size of goiter and ET-1 concentration in plasma of peripheral venous blood and plasma of venous blood taken from thyroid vein in patients undergoing strumectomy. The study included 30 patients with non-toxic nodular goiter (29 women and 1 man, mean age 48 year) and 15 healthy persons of control group.

[Insulinoma exclusively localized during intraoperative ultrasonography].

The case of the patient surgically treated for diagnosed pancreatic insulinoma is reported. Pancreatic insulinomas are the most often diagnosed hormonally active tumors of pancreas. They are small in size, localized evenly in the head, body or tail of pancreas.

[The influence of adrenalectomy on the treatment of arterial hypertension in patients with benign adrenal medullary and cortical tumors].

One of the reasons of secondary arterial hypertension (HA) are pathological lesions of adrenal glands. The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of performed adrenalectomy on the values of arterial blood pressure (RR) in patients with adrenal tumours and HA observed at least one year after surgical treatment. Data of 54 patients were analysed.

[Contemporary view on the pathogenesis of diabetic macroangiopathy].

Patients with IDDM and NIDDM tend to develop signs of macrovascular disease. Increased plasma glucose levels, hyperlipidaemia, the endothelial cell changes and functional disturbances, abnormal hemostasis are responsible for the development of macrovascular disease. There is a number of explanations that link plasma glucose concentrations and macrovascular diabetic disease: direct toxic effects of glucose on cell function, toxic effects of glucose on cell function and structure through glycation products, oxidative stress and effects on endothelium.

[Levels of free fatty acids in plasma, K coefficient and insulin secretion stimulated by intravenous glucose load in patients with hyperthyroidism taking propranolol or acebutolol].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between plasma free fatty acids levels (FFA) and impaired glucose tolerance in hyperthyroid patients in basal condition and after propranolol and acebutolol treatment, i.e. after lipolytic blockade leading to a decrease in plasma FFA levels.

[Levels of free fatty acids in plasma, tissue utilization coefficient of glucose K and insulin secretion following intravenous glucose load in hyperthyroid patients treated with propranolol or acebutolol].

The study aimed at determining relationship between plasma free fatty acid (FFA) and impaired glucose tolerance in hyperthyroid patients prior to and after the treatment with propranolol or acebutolol, i.e. following lipolytic blockade leading to a decrease in plasma FFA levels.

[Glucose tolerance and insulin secretion in patients with hyperthyroidism. Pathogenesis of disturbances and therapeutic consequences].

Abnormalities of carbohydrate metabolism have been frequently reported in hyperthyroid patients. Disturbed glucose tolerance might be due to increased hepatic glucose production, altered insulin metabolism, increased response to beta-adrenergic stimuli and elevated plasma FFA levels. These disturbances very often disappear when remission of thyrotoxicosis is attained during-treatment with thyrostatic drugs.

[Response of growth hormone to sandostatin and bromocriptine and prognostic value of prolactin levels in serum and thyroliberin test in patients with active acromegaly].

Usefulness of determination of blood serum prolactin concentration and the result of thyroliberin (TRH) stimulation test for predicting the magnitude of growth hormone (GH) response to the administration of sandostatin and bromocriptine has been evaluated in 14 patients with active acromegaly. No relation was found between the occurrence of hyperprolactinemia and the response of GH to the administration of sandostatin and bromocriptine. Analysis of GH secretion after TRH administration made possible the selection of a group of acromegalic patients with paradoxical increase in GH secretion in response to TRH in whom the administration of sandostatin caused a significant decrease in blood serum concentration of GH following the administration of sandostatin.

[TSH secretion stimulated by thyroliberin in patients with hypothyroidism receiving 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3].

The effect of 1,25-hydroxy vitamin D3 on the secretion of TSH was studied in 49 patients with primary hypothyroidism. The vitamin D3 metabolite did not cause any significant changes in the secretion of TSH both basal and stimulated with TRH in patients with untreated hypothyroidism. In those treated with the synthetic L-thyroxine it produced a significant increase in basal TSH secretion.

[Impaired carbohydrate tolerance in patients with hyperthyroidism--evaluation of some influencing factors].

Relation between the appearance of impaired carbohydrate tolerance and such factors as the duration of hyperthyroidism, age of patients, blood serum concentrations of thyroxine, triiodothyronine and free fatty acids, as well as insulin secretion both basal and stimulated by oral and "intravenous glucose administration was studied in 62 patients with untreated hyperthyroidism. Control group consisted of 24 healthy subjects having performed oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Among the studied factors, high blood serum concentrations of thyroxine and triiodothyronine, elevated concentration of free fatty acids and defective insulin secretion influenced the appearance of impaired glucose tolerance in patients with hyperthyroidism.