[Lithium carbonate-induced hyperparathyroidism in a patient after removal of a parathyroid adenoma].

Lithium compounds are widely used and effective drugs in the treatment of mood disorders. However, despite their efficacy, the use of lithium salts is limited by their narrow therapeutic window. Treatment with lithium salts may be associated with the risk of development of numerous adverse effects.

[Diabetes insipidus].

Diabetes insipidus is an uncommon disorder of water-electrolyte balance characterized by the excretion of abnormally large volumes of diluted urine (polyuria) and increased fluid intake (polydipsia). The disease may result from the insufficient production of vasopressin, its increased degradation, an impaired response of kidneys to vasopressin, or may be secondary to excessive water intake. Patients with severe and uncompensated symptoms may develop marked dehydration, neurologic symptoms and encephalopathy, and therefore diabetes insipidus can be a life-threatening condition if not properly diagnosed and managed.

[Precocious puberty in boys].

Precocious puberty in boys is defined as the onset of puberty before the age of 9 years. It is divided into two categories: central precocious puberty, characterized by the premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and peripheral precocious puberty presents when premature sexual development is dependent on steroid production regardless of gonadotropin secretion. Although precocious puberty occurs more frequently in girls, in the case of boys it is more often associated with identifiable organic disorders of the central nervous system, adrenal glands or testes.

[Hyperprolactinemia unrelated to prolactinoma].

Hyperprolactinemia, defined as prolactin levels above the upper limit of normal range, is the most frequent hypothalamus-pituitary dysfunction. Clinical symptoms of hyperprolactinemia in women include oligomenorrhea, infertility, and galactorrhea, while in men the condition may lead to hypogonadism, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, infertility, gynecomastia, and, in rare instances, galactorrhea. In many patients, hyperprolactinemia results from the presence of prolactinoma, which is considered as the most common hormone-secreting pituitary tumors.

[Radioiodine--today's trends in treatment of benign thyroid diseases].

Radioiodine therapy is a highly recognizable method of treatment of benign thyroid diseases. The therapy gains a widespread interest of research groups, which find it as a promising weapon against endocrine disorders caused by benign thyroid diseases. According to the latest scientific research, factors, previously thought to be impossible to modify (intra-individual variation in radiosensitivity), has become modifiable.

The effect of simvastatin-ezetimibe combination therapy on adipose tissue hormones and systemic inflammation in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Pleiotropic effects of ezetimibe have only been investigated in a few studies. The aim of this article was to compare the effects of simvastatin and the combined treatment with simvastatin and ezetimibe on low-grade systemic inflammation and plasma levels of selected adipokines in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: The study included 69 patients with elevated cholesterol levels, who were allocated to one of the three groups treated for 12 weeks, respectively, with simvastatin (40 mg daily), simvastatin (40 mg daily) plus ezetimibe (10 mg daily), or placebo.

[Pharmacologists in the camps in the Third Reich--part second].

SS Hygiene Institute provided adequate funding for research on the treatment of mycobacterial infections, and two scientists who became famous in the subject were Dr. Waldemar Hoven (KL Buchenwald) and Dr. Kurt Heissmeyer (KL Neuengamme).

[Pharmacologists in the camps In the Third Reich--part one].

The outbreak of World War II is considered as the inception of the pharmacology of the III Reich. Hitler's soldiers are decimated on the front lines by malaria, typhoid, gas gangrene, they need efficient and easy accessible medicines. From now on German forces are engaged into pharmacology of war.

The effect of aggressive rosuvastatin treatment on steroid hormone production in men with coronary artery disease.

Most steroid hormones are produced from cholesterol contained in low-density lipoproteins, which is uptaken by the gonads and adrenal cortex, and used as a substrate for steroidogenesis. Theoretically, in states associated with very low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, cholesterol conversion to steroid hormones may be impaired. The study included 15 men with coronary artery disease, in whom initial statin treatment had been unsuccessful and therefore was replaced with rosuvastatin (20-40 mg daily).

A new and improved method based on polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for the determination of A1298C mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene.

Intracellular folate homeostasis and metabolism is regulated by numerous genes. Among them, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is of special interest because of its involvement in regulation of the homocysteine level in the body as a result of folate metabolism. Moreover, some studies demonstrated that the homocysteine plasma level in individuals may be influenced by polymorphisms present in the MTHFR gene.

Effect of simvastatin on hemostasis in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia.

Backgrounds/aims: Elevated triglyceride levels seem to predispose to the earlier development and accelerated progression of coronary artery disease. In our study, we assessed for the first time whether simvastatin treatment affects coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia.

Methods: The study included 39 patients with elevated triglyceride levels and peripheral artery sclerosis, treated for 90 days with either simvastatin (40 mg daily) or placebo.

Lymphocyte-suppressing action of simvastatin in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia.

Background: No previous study examined whether statins affect lymphocyte cytokine release in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia.

Methods: The study included 46 patients with elevated triglyceride levels and peripheral artery stenosis, randomly assigned to receive simvastatin or placebo. Plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis markers, plasma C-reactive protein and lymphocyte cytokine release were measured at baseline and at the end of the treatment.

[Hypoparathyroidism: the present state of art].

Hypoparathyroidism is a result of reduced secretion or impaired action of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Although considered a rare condition, hypoparathyroidism seems to occur much more frequently than reported. In most cases, hypoparathyroidism remains a complication of neck surgery.

[The role of TLR4 receptor in development of inflammation and carcinogenesis in ulcerative colitis and pharmacotherapy of this disorder].

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a form of inflammatory bowel disease, is characterized by recurrent exacerbation and remission periods. Disturbances in the TLR4 receptor pathway are suggested to be one of the potential mechanisms responsible for its development. TLR4 belongs to the toll-like receptor family, which is a part of the innate immune system.

[Endocrine abnormalities in HIV-infected patients].

HIV infection is associated with a number of adverse consequences, including endocrine disorders. The endocrine changes associated with HIV infection have been studied in depth and, as the results of so far carried out studies suggest, their aetiology is usually multifactoral. Their pathogenesis includes direct infection of endocrine glands by HIV or opportunistic organisms, infiltration by neoplasms and adverse effects of drugs.

[Hypoaldosteronism].

Hypoaldosteronism is a clinical condition characterized by a deficiency of aldosterone or its impaired action at the tissue level. The disorder may result from disturbances in renal renin production and secretion, conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, adrenal aldosterone synthesis and secretion, or from abnormal responsiveness of the target tissues to aldosterone. Hypoaldosteronism has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic hyperkalemia to life-threatening depletion of fluid volumes.

[Peripartum cardiomyopathy, acute autoimmune pancreatitis and periadipose tissue inflammation - autoimmune reaction?].

A case of 26 year-old female with peripartum cardiomyopathy, acute pancreatitis, periadipose tissue inflammation due to unknown cause and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome complication is presented.

[Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 in pregnancy: a case report].

Autoimmune polyglandular syndromes are conditions characterized by the association of two or more organ-specific disorders. On the basis of the clinical picture, they are divided into four different types. If undiagnosed and untreated, autoimmune polyglandular syndromes may pose a serious risk to patients.

[Hypoparathyroidism and hypogonadism as a clinical manifestation of hemochromatosis].

Primary hypoparathyroidism is a disease in which the parathyroid glands decrease or cease secretion of parathyroid hormone, leading to clinically significant hypocalcemia. Although considered a rare condition, hypoparathyroidism seems to occur much more frequently than reported. In most cases, hypoparathyroidism remains a complication of neck surgery.

Lymphocyte-suppressing, endothelial-protective and systemic anti-inflammatory effects of metformin in fenofibrate-treated patients with impaired glucose tolerance.

Background: No previous clinical study has been designed to assess the additive effect of metformin and a fibrate on lymphocyte secretory function. The aim of our study was to investigate whether metformin produces any effect on lymphocyte cytokine release in fibrate-treated patients with early glucose metabolism abnormalities.

Methods: The study included 80 patients with isolated impaired glucose tolerance and normal plasma lipids who complied with lifestyle modifications and received chronic fenofibrate treatment.

A successful case of pain management using metformin in a patient with adiposis dolorosa.

In this case report, we describe a patient with Dercum's disease who was successfully managed with metformin. The administration of metformin reduced pain intensity from 9/10 to 3/10 and favorably affected the profile of inflammatory cytokines (i.e.

Eplerenone promotes alternative activation in human monocyte-derived macrophages.

Background: In this study, we have analyzed the response of human monocyte-derived macrophages to mineralocorticoid axis modulators.

Methods: Human monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with aldosterone alone, eplerenone alone, and the combination of aldosterone and eplerenone. The analyzed variables were nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production, and the gene and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, arginase I, and mannose receptor.

Effect of metformin on selected parameters of hemostasis in fenofibrate-treated patients with impaired glucose tolerance.

Background: No previous study has assessed whether the addition of metformin potentiates fibrate action on hemostasis in prediabetic subjects.

Methods: Our study included 41 fenofibrate-treated patients with impaired glucose tolerance allocated to either metformin (3 g daily) or placebo.

Results: Twelve-week treatment with fenofibrate and metformin reduced plasma levels of fibrinogen and PAI-1 and tended to change the other hemostatic markers measured, as well as improved insulin sensitivity.

Different effects of perindopril and enalapril on monocyte cytokine release in coronary artery disease patients with normal blood pressure.

Background: Favorable effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor treatment on the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality and morbidity are not limited to patients with elevated blood pressure. As suggested by our previous results, the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic differences between drugs may markedly contribute to the strength of pleiotropic effects of ACE inhibitors.

Methods: The present study was aimed at comparing the effects of serum- and tissue-type ACE inhibitors on monocyte release of proinflammatory cytokines in normotensive patients with stable coronary artery disease.