Thirty-Five Years of Thyroid Cancer Experience in a Paediatric Population: Incidence Trends in Lithuania between 1980 and 2014.

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC) is a rare condition in children. It may be associated with radiation, iodine deficiency or familial inheritance.

Aims: The objectives of this study were to analyse the prevalence and incidence trends over 3 decades and clinical features of TC in the paediatric population in Lithuania.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Biochemical Tests for Diagnosis of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy.

Background And Aim: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is linked with increased risk of fetal complications. An accurate diagnostic test is needed to diagnose this disorder on time. We aimed to assess sensitivity and specificity of laboratory tests used for diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and determine more reliable cut-off values of transaminases.

Can coefficient of variation of time-domain analysis be valuable for detecting cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in young patients with type 1 diabetes: a case control study.

Background: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) increases morbidity and mortality in diabetes through association with a high risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death, possibly related to silent myocardial ischemia. During the sub-clinical stage, CAN can be detected through reduction in heart rate variability (HRV). The aim of our study was to estimate if the time and frequency-domain analysis can be valuable for detecting CAN in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

The effect of a drospirenone-containing combined oral contraceptive on female sexual function: a prospective randomised study.

Objectives: The study investigated the effects on female sexual function of a progestogen-containing combined oral contraceptives (COCs) with an antiandrogenic profile taken in a continuous regimen.

Methods: In this prospective randomised single-institution study, 80 healthy women with a monogamous partner and an active sexual life were randomised into two groups for a period of 3 months. Women in the exposed group (n = 40) took a COCs containing 30 μg ethinylestradiol (EE) and 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP) in a 21/7 regimen.

Comparison of the Ponseti method versus early tibialis anterior tendon transfer for idiopathic clubfoot: A prospective randomized study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare functional and radiological outcomes in clubfoot patients treated by early Tibialis anterior tendon transfer and Ponseti method.

Materials And Methods: A prospective, randomized study was conducted. A total of 39 children with a mean age of 17.

Relationship between the mandibular cortical index and calcaneal bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

Background And Objective: In clinical practice, a comparative analysis of bone mineral density (BMD) is carried out by examining different skeletal bones. This is useful for screening of postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP). The objective of this study was to determine the relation between the mandibular cortical index (MCI) and calcaneal BMD among postmenopausal women.

Descriptive study of mandibular canal visibility: morphometric and densitometric analysis for digital panoramic radiographs.

Objectives: To assess the visibility of the mandibular canal (MC) morphology in different jaw dental segments (JDSs) in relation to morphometric and densitometric parameters on digital panoramic radiographs (DPRs).

Methods: 32 DPRs (155 JDSs) were selected randomly after retrieval. MC visibility in conjunction with superior and inferior border visibility was scored on a 5-point scale in four places on the JDS-that is, for the medial, distal, superior and inferior MC parts.

HLA-DRB1*03 as a risk factor for microalbuminuria in same duration of type 1 diabetes: a case control study.

Background: Increased urinary albumin excretion rate is the earliest clinical manifestation of diabetic nephropathy. The development of microalbuminuria in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) usually begins 5 to 15 years after the onset of diabetes. The rate of progression of diabetic nephropathy varies considerably among patients and not always can be explained solely by glycaemic control.

Diabetes distress in adult type 1 diabetes mellitus men and women with disease onset in childhood and in adulthood.

The Aim: To determine whether or not diabetes distress varies by age of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) onset and/or gender.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 700 adult T1DM patients were randomly selected from the Lithuanian Diabetes Registry; 214 of them (30.6%) agreed to participate and were recruited for the study.

Profile of mood states in adult type 1 diabetes mellitus men and women with disease onset in childhood and in adulthood.

Introduction: Although diabetes may not be associated with psychopathology, it may be associated with less severe disturbances in psychosocial functioning. Emotional problems in relation to type 1 diabetes are usually analysed as symptoms of psychiatric conditions but not as states of mood. The aim was to compare profiles of mood states in adult patients with childhood-onset and adulthood-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus and to outline possible gender-specific differences.

Adequate prescribing of medication does not necessarily translate into good control of diabetes mellitus.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus in Lithuania have access to almost all the latest blood glucose-lowering drugs available in the rest of the world. This study evaluated the effects of prescribing of treatment (oral medications, insulin, or both) in Lithuanian patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes and poor blood glucose control.

Methods: The relevant information was obtained from specialized questionnaires completed by 26 consulting endocrinologists in Lithuania between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008.

Pain during topical photodynamic therapy of actinic keratoses with 5-aminolevulinic acid and red light source: randomized controlled trial.

Background: Pain is the major drawback of photodynamic therapy (PDT), an otherwise effective treatment for actinic keratoses (AKs).

Objective: To determine pain intensity and its dependence upon various factors during PDT with 5-aminolevulinic acid for face/scalp AKs.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, within-patient comparison study was performed.

Gestational diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome diagnosed during pregnancy.

Background: The aim was to analyze the impact of obesity on women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the association of obesity and GDM with the metabolic syndrome.

Methods: In a retrospective study, the data of 233 obese women with GDM were compared with the data of 96 women with GDM and normal weight.

Results: Significantly higher fasting glycemia before the oral glucose tolerance test (5.

The incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus among 15-34 years aged Lithuanian population: 18-year incidence study based on prospective databases.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in 15-34-year-aged Lithuanian males and females during 1991 - 2008

Methods: A contact system with general practitioners covering 100% of the 15-34-year-aged Lithuanian population was the primary data source. Reports from regional endocrinologists and statistical note-marks of State patient insurance fund served as secondary sources for case ascertainment.

Results: The average age-standardized incidence rate was 8.

Potentiating effect of beta-glucans on photodynamic therapy of implanted cancer cells in mice.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) combines a drug or photosensitizer with a specific type of light to kill cancer cells. The cellular damage induced by PDT leads to activation of the DNA damage repair, which is an important factor for modulating tumor sensitivity to this treatment. beta-Glucans are natural polysaccharides that bind complement receptor 3 on the effector cells, thereby activating them to kill tumor cells during PDT.

Immune system alterations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease during remission.

Objective: Perturbed immune homeostasis elicited by misbalanced production of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate cytokine profile in patients with different forms of inflammatory bowel disease - ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease - during clinical remission phase.

Material And Methods: Production of proinflammatory Th1 cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)) and anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokines (interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-13 (IL-13)) was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (9 with ulcerative colitis and 9 with Crohn's disease) and control subjects (n=11) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (two-site ELISA).

Predictors of premature delivery in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Aim: To evaluate the predictive value of clinical symptoms and biochemical parameters for prematurity in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

Methods: Sixty symptomatic patients with ICP were included in this retrospective analysis. Preterm delivery was defined as delivery before 37 wk gestation.

[Dietary characteristics of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases].

Objective: To evaluate nutritional status and dietary habits of Lithuanian patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and to compare with those of healthy controls.

Materials And Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the Department of Gastroenterology, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital. A total of 101 patients with ulcerative colitis, 44 with Crohn's disease, and 178 healthy controls were examined with the help of standard self-report questionnaire about daily dietary habits.