PTH immunoassay interference: differential diagnosis with normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism?

The main diagnostic dilemma in normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism is differentiating this condition from secondary hyperparathyroidism and other causes of elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in eucalcemic patients, including potential assay interferences. Despite the analytical sensitivity of immunoassays, they may lack adequate accuracy due to several analytical interferences, such as the presence of heterophilic antibodies. Immunoassays for PTH measurement use the immunometric "sandwich" technique, and only a few cases of interference with this assay have been reported to date.

Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma (PPGL): A Misdiagnosed Cause of Hypertension during Pregnancy.

Hypertension (HT) during pregnancy is not an infrequent obstetric problem, reaching a prevalence of 5-10%. This condition is highly associated with both maternal and fetal complications if not precisely diagnosed and managed. Even though primary HT, obesity, and preeclampsia are the main causes of HT in this period, other less familiar conditions must be considered during the investigation.

The Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma syndrome: an overview on mechanisms, diagnosis and management.

Pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PPGL) are rare, metastatic, and potentially fatal neuroendocrine tumors, often neglected because they present symptoms similar to other prevailing clinical conditions such panic syndrome, thyrotoxicosis, anxiety, hypoglycemia, etc., delaying diagnosis and treatment. The rate of diagnosis of PPGL has been increasing with the improvement in the measurement of catecholamine metabolites and the expanding availability of imaging procedures.

No association between vitamin D status and COVID-19 infection in São Paulo, Brazil.

In recent years the immunomodulatory actions of vitamin D, a steroid hormone, have been extensively studied. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the question arose as to 25(OH)D status would be related to susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, since several studies pointed out a higher prevalence and severity of the disease in populations with low levels of 25(OH)D. Thus, we investigated the 25(OH)D levels in adults "Detected" positive for SARS CoV-2 by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) test, and in negative controls, "not Detected", using the Fleury Group's examination database, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY CAUSED BY PARACOCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS: THREE CASE REPORTS AND REVIEW.

Objective: Fungal infections can affect the adrenal glands, causing primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI). Although endemic to South America, paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), which can lead to PAI, has gained global relevance with the increase in international travel and migration.

Methods: The present report describes 3 patients with PAI caused by PCM.

Long term follow-up of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas submitted to endoscopic endonasal surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the endoscopic transsphenoidal technique for growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas.

Methods: A retrospective analysis based on medical records of 23 acromegalic patients submitted to endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. Biochemical control was defined as basal GH < 1ng/ml, nadir GH < 0.

Sorafenib for the Treatment of Progressive Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Efficacy and Safety Analysis.

Background: Treatment of advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) was recently improved with the approval of vandetanib and cabozantinib. However, there is still a need to explore sequential therapy with more than one tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and to explore alternative therapies when vandetanib and cabozantinib are not available. This study reports the authors' experience with sorafenib as a treatment for advanced MTC.