Evaluation of corticoresistance in patients with thyroid eye disease and use of rituximab as a second-line treatment.

Purpose: High-dose intravenous glucocorticoids are the standard first-line treatment in active, moderate to severe and severe thyroid eye disease (TED). We evaluate the usefulness of clinical activity score (CAS) and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) as predictors and/or post-treatment markers of corticoresistance in patients with TED and the effect of rituximab in second-line treatment.

Methods: We enrolled 236 patients with an active TED into this retrospective single-tertiary-center cohort study.

Comparison of Three Methods of Tonometry in Patients with Inactive Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy.

Introduction: Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) can be difficult and misleading, particularly in patients with diplopia and eye deviation (esotropia or hypotropia). However, when measuring IOP, it is also necessary to pay sufficient attention to TAO patients without diplopia in primary gaze direction and without motility disorder that might not be readily apparent.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) using three different types of tonometers: the rebound tonometer (iCARE), the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and the non-contact airpuff tonometer (NCT) in patients with inactive TAO.

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid-associated orbitopathy - experience from practice. A Review.

The purpose is to acquaint readers with the contribution of imaging methods (IMs) of the orbit, specifically computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in the diagnosis of thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO). Methods: IMs of the orbit are an indispensable accessory in the clinical and laboratory examination of TAO patients. The most frequently used and probably most accessible method is an ultrasound examination of the orbit (US), which, however, has a number of limitations.

Results of surgical therapy of functioning pituitary adenomas.

Introduction: Functioning pituitary adenomas lead to substantial morbidity and increased mortality associated with typical endocrine syndromes. Surgical therapy is an integral part of the management of these tumours. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of surgical transnasal procedures in patients with functioning pituitary adenomas who underwent the surgery at the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Olomouc.

Effect of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy on Serum Adipokine Levels.

Bariatric procedures are considered to be the most effective treatment options for obesity. One of them is laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), which is nowadays very popular and widely used. LSG leads to weight loss and metabolic improvement and also changes adipokine levels, although it is just a restrictive operation.

Ethanol ablation of thyroid cysts in the young with a focus on efficacy and quality of life.

Objective: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (US-PEIT) is used in patients with recurrent symptomatic thyroid cysts as a credible alternative to surgery. Young patients commonly do not wish to undergo surgery and prefer ethanol ablation, if available. The effect of this approach on quality of life is an essential factor in deciding on the treatment options, especially in the young with a long life expectancy and no comorbidity.

Erratum for: Pregnancy lipid profile and different lipid patterns of gestational diabetes treated by diet itself.

List of changes Authors and affiliation: Lubica CIBICKOVA1,3, Katerina LANGOVA2, Jan SCHOVANEK1,3, Dominika MACAKOVA1,3, Ondrej KRYSTYNIK1,3, David KARASEK1,3 1Department of Internal Medicine III - Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic, 2Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic, 3Department of Internal Medicine III - Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic Acknowledgement: Supported by the grants: MH CZ - DRO (FNOl, 00098892); AZV NV18-01-00139.

ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION OF THE ORBIT IN PATIENTS WITH THYROIDASSOCIATED ORBITOPATHY - EXAMINATION GUIDE AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERYDAY PRACTICE. A REVIEW.

The purpose of this study is to present the possibilities and benefits of ultrasonography (US) of the orbit in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroidassociated orbitopathy (TAO). Methods: US examination of the orbit is an essential addition to clinical and laboratory examination in TAO patients. Nevertheless, it is often neglected in clinical practice or indicated with delay.

Myositis Autoantibodies in Patients with Suspected Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.

Most patients suffering from Lyme disease are effectively treated with antibiotics. In some patients, however, problems persist for a long time despite appropriate therapy. The term post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) is currently used for this condition in scientific literature.

MRI in the assessment of thyroid-associated orbitopathy activity.

Management of patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (also called Graves' disease) is dependent on the assessment of the disease activity. Evaluation of disease activity is based on ophthalmological examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an auxiliary method that may help quantify the activity and is also helpful in obtaining anatomical information concerning muscle thickness, exophthalmos, or optic neuropathy.

Ocular hypertension in patients with active thyroid-associated orbitopathy: a predictor of disease severity, particularly of extraocular muscle enlargement.

Unlabelled: The purpose was to ascertain if any relation exists between the elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) in active stage and the severity of extraocular muscle involvement and the extent of exophthalmos.

Methods: A total of 96 eyes and orbits of 48 adult patients with active TAO were investigated. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the orbit and measurement of all extraocular recti muscles (EOM).

Adiponectin, A-FABP and FGF-19 Levels in Women with Early Diagnosed Gestational Diabetes.

Background: Adiponectin, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP), and fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19) belong to proteins involved in glucose metabolism regulation. The aims of the study were to compare the plasma levels of these proteins in women with early diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to those in healthy controls and to investigate their changes during pregnancy after early intervention. Methods: The study was undertaken as a case-control study.

Pregnancy lipid profile and different lipid patterns of gestational diabetes treated by diet itself.

The development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects lipid metabolism during pregnancy. However, the magnitude of changes in lipid parameters is unclear. In addition, the patterns of these changes may vary based on the criteria selected for making the diagnosis of GDM.

Adipocytokines in Graves' orbitopathy and the effect of high-dose corticosteroids.

Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is a serious, progressive eye condition seen in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. GO is characterized by inflammation and swelling of soft orbital tissues. Adipose tissue produces cytokine mediators called adipokines.

Changes in serum lipid levels during pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes. A narrative review.

We review current knowledge on lipid metabolism changes during pregnancy with special focus on changes in gestational diabetes. In physiological pregnancy, total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol level rises, the atherogenic index (LDL-cholesterol / HDL-cholesterol remains unchanged. Compared with healthy women, women with GDM show more pronounced signs of mixed dyslipidaemia - increased levels of triglyceride, changes in cholesterol and lipoprotein concentrations with a shift towards greater small dense LDL subtractions, which is typical for insulin resistance states.

[Differential diagnosis of hypoglycemia].

Our review summarizes the possible differential diagnoses of hypoglycemia. It confirms the absolute necessity of fulfilling all the three Whipple hypoglycemia criteria. Briefly is mentioned Clinical symptoms of hypoglycemia are briefly mentioned and several ways to classify the hypoglycemic events are offered.

Circulating levels of selected adipokines in women with gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Backgrounds: Adiponectin, adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP), and Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP-1) are adipokines closely associated with insulin resistance. The aim of the study was to compare their levels in women with gestational diabetes (GDM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and healthy controls and determine their relation to metabolic parameters.

Methods: Women with GDM, T2DM and healthy women were included in this cross-sectional study.

Hypoglycemia as a Symptom of Neoplastic Disease, with a focus on Insulin-like Growth Factors Producing Tumors.

This article reviews the current knowledge of uncommon causes of hypoglycemia, with a focus on neoplastic disease. However, these situations are rare. They commonly accompany severely ill patients and therefore a proper diagnosis is the basis for relevant treatment.

Characteristic CT features of pheochromocytomas - probability model calculation tool based on a multicentric study.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the CT features of adrenal tumors in an effort to identify features specific to pheochromocytomas and second, to define a feasible probability calculation model.

Methods: This multicentric retrospective study included patients from the period 2003 to 2017 with an appropriate CT examination and a histological diagnosis of an adrenal adenoma, pheochromocytoma, adrenocortical carcinoma, or metastasis. In total, 346 patients were suitable for the CT image analysis, which included evaluation of the largest diameter, the shape of the lesion, the presence of central necrosis and its margins, and the presence of an enhancing peripheral rim ("ring sign").

Safe and effective percutaneous ethanol injection therapy of 200 thyroid cysts.

Introduction: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (US-PEIT) is a minimally invasive procedure that may be performed as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of recurrent symptomatic thyroid cysts for which simple aspiration failed. The present study aimed at assessing US-PEIT in a large cohort of patients, identifying factors influencing treatment outcome.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 193 patients with 200 thyroid cysts who underwent US-PEIT in 2004-2018.

Association of pigment epithelium derived factor with von Willebrand factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in patients with type 2 diabetes.

To compare circulating pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) levels in type 2 diabetes patients (T2D) with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS+/-) to healthy controls and assess PEDF association with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) as markers of endothelial dysfunction. Fifty T2D individuals and forty healthy controls were included. PEDF, PAI-1, vWF, anthropological parameters, lipids, and markers of insulin resistance were investigated in all subjects.

RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS WITH GRAVES ORBITOPATHY TREATED BY PULSES OF METHYLPREDNISOLONE, WITH A FOCUS ON ADVERSE EVENTS.

Objective: Graves orbitopathy (GO) is an extrathyroidal manifestation of autoimmune thyroid disease. Early treatment with glucocorticoids in appropriately selected patients is recommended for active, moderate to severe, and sight-threatening disease. The recently published European Group on Graves Orbitopathy guidelines re-evaluated the recommended doses of intravenous methylprednisolone (ivMP) in response to the potential for adverse effects.

Relationship of Selected Adipokines with Markers of Vascular Damage in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: In this study we compared levels of selected adipokines between patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and healthy individuals and we determined their relationship with early vascular damage markers.

Methods: Seventy-seven subjects: 56 patients with T2D (34 men and 22 women) and 21 healthy controls (8 men and 13 women) were examined in this cross-sectional study. Selected adipokines [adiponectin, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), C1q/TNF-related protein 9 (CTRP-9), and allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1)] with possible cardiovascular impact were measured in all participants.

Current diagnostic imaging of pheochromocytomas and implications for therapeutic strategy.

The topic of pheochromocytomas is becoming increasingly popular as a result of major advances in different medical fields, including laboratory diagnosis, genetics, therapy, and particularly in novel advances in imaging techniques. The present review article discusses current clinical, biochemical, genetic and histopathological aspects of the diagnosis of pheochromocytomas and planning of pre-surgical preparation and subsequent surgical treatment options. The main part of the paper is focused on the role of morphological imaging methods (primarily computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) and functional imaging (scintigraphy and positron emission tomography) in the diagnosis and staging of pheochromocytomas.

Clinical and immunological changes in patients with active moderate-to-severe Graves' orbitopathy treated with very low-dose rituximab.

Introduction: Glucocorticoids represent the therapy of choice for active and moderate-to-severe Graves' orbitopathy (GO). In some patients, rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against the cluster of differentiation (CD) 20 receptor of B-lymphocytes, can serve as a second-line or an alternative treatment. The effect of very low-dose of rituximab on the clinical activity of GO and corresponding clinical or laboratory changes is reported.