The MINDSPACE Expanded Framework (MINDSPACE X): Behavioral insights to improve adherence to psychiatric medications.

The MINDSPACE framework has made it easier to incorporate insights from behavioral science into policy, including health policy, but lacks granularity. Difficult policy problems such as adherence to psychiatric medication can benefit from judicious selection of nudges. We present a MINDSPACE Expanded Framework including 34 insights from behavioral science in the 9 MINDSPACE principles to support a more detailed integration of behavioral science into policy.

Behaviour Change Techniques: An Application to Increase Employees' Willingness to Accept a Salary Reduction.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many organisations worldwide asked their employees to accept a temporary salary reduction to manage the financial consequences of the unprecedented event. In this paper, we use a CEO's salary reduction announcement to all employees and investigate whether a behaviour change intervention using five selected Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) increases expat employees' overall willingness to accept a temporary salary reduction. We use mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, including survey and experiment, to test our hypotheses and frame our results.

Metabolic Risk in Patients with a Diminished Ovarian Reserve and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) represent conditions of different severity, characterized by an earlier-than-expected decrease in ovarian activity. The present study aims to compare metabolic disturbances between women with DOR and patients with POI from a different origin. A total of 226 women (28 healthy women; 77 individuals with DOR, and 121 patients with POI/36 with Turner syndrome [TS] and 85 with non-TS POI/) have been studied retrospectively.

CYP21A2 Intron 2 Genetic Variants Might Be Associated with the Clinical Characteristics of Women with PCOS.

Aims: Pathogenic variants in the gene are related to the classic and non-classic forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). However, the role of CAH carrier status in the clinical presentation of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is still unclear. Moreover, the possible associations of different gene polymorphisms with metabolic and reproductive abnormalities in PCOS have not been investigated.

How do emotions respond to outcome values and influence choice?

Emotions powerfully, predictably, and pervasively influence decision making. The risk-as-feelings hypothesis states that two kinds of emotions are important in decision-making, anticipatory emotions and anticipated emotions. We empirically investigated whether and how anticipatory and anticipated emotions may change as a function of outcome values and whether anticipatory or anticipated emotions may explain the influence of outcome values on risky choice.

Clinical course of autoimmune thyroid diseases in women with prolactinomas: Results from a prospective study in a single tertiary centre.

Introduction: Several retrospective and cross-sectional studies have revealed a higher prevalence of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) with a predominance of autoimmune hypothyroidism in prolactinoma patients compared to the general population. To date, we have no data on the clinical course of AITD in these patients. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the clinical course of AITD in female patients with prolactinomas compared to an age- and thyroid-risk factors-matched control group.

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.

Multivariate Statistical Approach for Nephrines in Women with Obesity.

Catecholamines are physiological regulators of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism during stress, but their chronic influence on metabolic changes in obese patients is still not clarified. The present study aimed to establish the associations between the catecholamine metabolites and metabolic syndrome (MS) components in obese women as well as to reveal the possible hidden subgroups of patients through hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The 24-h urine excretion of metanephrine and normetanephrine was investigated in 150 obese women (54 non diabetic without MS, 70 non-diabetic with MS and 26 with type 2 diabetes).

Thyroid gland changes in patients with acromegaly.

Objective: Acromegaly is characterized by high neoplastic morbidity as a side effect of growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion. Increased incidence of goiter, thyroid carcinoma, and thyroid dysfunction is also reported. The aim of the present study was to find the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and goiter in patients with acromegaly and determine its relationship to disease activity, disease duration, and the presence of secondary hypothyroidism.

Vitamin D binding protein is related to cardiac autonomic function and metabolic status in prediabetes.

A putative causal relationship between vitamin D status and glucose metabolism and a direct effect of vitamin D on cardiac autonomic function (CAF) have been suggested. We hypothesized that vitamin D binding protein (DBP), as a transporter of vitamin D, might also influence CAF and the overall metabolic risk. The present study aims to assess the relationship between DBP and CAF and metabolic status in a high-risk population with prediabetes.

The relationship between glucose variability and insulin sensitivity and oxidative stress in subjects with prediabetes.

Aim: The present study assessed the relationship between glucose variability (GV) and insulin levels, insulin resistance and oxidative stress at early stages of glucose intolerance.

Material And Methods: A total of 50 subjects - 12 males and 38 females, mean age 55.6 ± 9.

Endothelial and Autonomic Dysfunction at Early Stages of Glucose Intolerance and in Metabolic Syndrome.

This study evaluated sE-selectin, Endothelin-1, and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) at early stages of glucose intolerance and in metabolic syndrome (MetS). A total of 87 subjects - 39 males, of mean age 45.7±11.

Cushing's Syndrome: A Historic Review of the Treatment Strategies and Corresponding Outcomes in a Single Tertiary Center over the Past Half-Century.

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with serious comorbidities and an increased mortality rate that could be reduced only if strict biochemical control is achieved. The aim of this study was to show the 50-year experience of a single tertiary center in the management of CS patients - the different treatment modalities used over the years and the corresponding outcomes. It was a retrospective study of a large cohort of patients from the Bulgarian CS database: 613 patients (374 with ACTH-dependent and 239 with ACTH-independent CS).

Does Vitamin D Status Correlate with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency?

Apart from being individually associated with cardiometabolic health, 25(OH)D and IGF-1 interplay with a positive correlation between them, which raises questions about the role of vitamin D for the adverse cardiovascular (CV) risk profile in hyposomatotropism. Thus, we aimed to investigate vitamin D status in GH deficiency (GHD) and the association between 25(OH)D and metabolic syndrome (MetS), its components, and other surrogate markers of CV risk. A total of 129 GHD adults (childhood-onset GHD, 41.

Asymmetric Dimethylarginin (ADMA) as a Marker of Endothelial Dysfunction in Primary Aldosteronism.

Background: Recent studies have revealed a higher rate of cardiovascular complications in primary aldosteronism (PA) compared to patients with essential hypertension (EH). Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a marker of endothelial dysfunction that could contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in patients with PA.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of ADMA among patients with PA, controls with EH and healthy participants.

Is vaspin related to cardio-metabolic status and autonomic function in early stages of glucose intolerance and in metabolic syndrome?

Background: This study aims to assess serum vaspin in early stages of glucose intolerance and in the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS); and to evaluate vaspin correlation to different cardio-metabolic parameters and autonomic tone in these subjects.

Methods: 185 subjects (80 males and 105 females) of mean age 45.8 ± 11.

Decreased daily melatonin levels in women with systemic lupus erythematosus - a short report.

Background: The neuroendocrine system is known to influence immunity, but the precise interactions between different hormones and autoimmune disorders remain obscure.

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the role of daily serum melatonin concentrations in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in women.

Study Design: Case-control study.

Transforming growth factor β1 is not a reliable biomarker for valvular fibrosis but could be a potential serum marker for invasiveness of prolactinomas (pilot study).

Background: Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) signaling pathway is crucial for both human fibrogenesis and tumorigenesis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of TGFβ1 and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) as potential circulating markers for fibrotic valvular heart disease (FVHD) and invasiveness as well as of Fetuin A as a marker for calcification in patients with prolactinomas.

Design: The study population consisted of 147 subjects divided into four groups: 30 dopamine agonist (DA)-treated prolactinoma patients with proven FVHD and three control groups with normal echocardiograms: 43 DA-treated patients, 26 naïve patients, and 48 healthy subjects.

Macroprolactinemia in a patient with invasive macroprolactinoma: a case report and minireview.

Background. Macroprolactin, the high-molecular prolactin isoform, is considered to be an inactive in vivo product with extrapituitary origin. Patients with macroprolactinemia are usually asymptomatic, with negative pituitary imaging.

Androgen receptor (CAG)n polymorphism and androgen levels in women with systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy controls.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that affects mainly females. Therefore, interrelations between the reproductive and immune system have been assumed. Considering the complex influence of hormones and receptors, we aimed to investigate the influence of androgens and androgen receptor (AR) polymorphism in women with SLE.

High-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) treatment in uraemic secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: The recently developed non-invasive high-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) technique for the destruction of parathyroid adenomas could also be of interest for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHP) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a pilot study using this method.

Methods: Five chronic haemodialysis patients with severe SHP underwent one to three HIFU treatments, respectively.

Adiponectin - A possible factor in the pathogenesis of carbohydrate metabolism disturbances in patients with pheochromocytoma.

Unlabelled: Glucose metabolism disturbances are relatively common feature in pheochromocytoma patients. Decreased insulin secretion due to the inhibitory effect of supraphysiological plasma catecholamine concentrations was considered to be the main cause for pheochromocytoma-associated diabetes mellitus. However, data from animal and clinical studies have suggested that catecholamines can induce insulin resistance.

Testosterone replacement therapy in male hypogonadism is not associated with increase of endothelin-1 levels.

Differences in endothelin-1 (ET-1) blood plasma levels were established between healthy men and women. Little is known about vascular effects of testosterone and the interactions between sex hormones and endothelin. In order to study the relationship between ET-1 and testosterone in more detail, we have investigated 33 male patients with various forms of hypogonadism (13 with hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and 20 with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism).