FGF21 Is Released During Increased Lipogenesis State Following Rapid-Onset Radioiodine-Induced Hypothyroidism.

Background: FGF21 pharmacological treatment reverses fatty liver and lowers serum triglyceride concentration but FGF21 serum level is increased in hepatic steatosis. FGF21 secretion is induced by thyroid hormones .

Purpose: To determine the influence of thyroid hormones and metabolic changes secondary to thyroid dysfunction on FGF21 secretion in humans.

Differentiation of thyroid nodules in multinodular goiter with the application of technical ultrasound advances - initial results.

Introduction: To evaluate the relative value of technical ultrasound advances in differentiation of thyroid nodules in multinodular goitre.

Material And Methods: The study included patients with multinodular goitre, who were referred for thyroidectomy. Ultrasound evaluation of suspicious nodules was performed with: improved B-mode (spatial compound imaging and differential tissue harmonics), dedicated mapping of microcalcifications, mapping of the nodule vessels, and strain elastography evaluated qualitatively and semi quantitatively.

The ratios of aldosterone / plasma renin activity (ARR) versus aldosterone / direct renin concentration (ADRR).

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is estimated to occur in 5-12% of patients with hypertension. Assessment of aldosterone / plasma renin activity (PRA) ratio (ARR) has been used as a screening test in patients suspected of PA. Direct determination of renin (DRC) and calculation of aldosterone / direct renin concentration ratio (ADRR) could be similarly useful for screening patients suspected of PA.

Proinsulin, adiponectin and hsCRP in reproductive age women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)--the effect of metformin treatment.

Introduction: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often suffer from obesity and insulin resistance. The role of proinsulin, which is known to be an indicator of fertility outcomes in PCOS women, and that of adiponectin, in the pathogenesis of PCOS is not well elucidated. Our objective was to determine proinsulin, adiponectin, hsCRP and other hormonal and metabolic parameters in PCOS women before and after metformin treatment.

The effect of blood collection procedure on plasma renin activity (PRA) and concentrations of direct renin (DRC) and aldosterone.

Introduction: Performing measurements of plasma renin activity (PRA) or direct renin concentration (DRC) and aldosterone concentration, we should be well informed about requirements concerning blood sample processing.

Material And Methods: Forty-seven patients had blood collected in the supine and upright positions. Blood was withdrawn into two EDTA2K tubes and one with clot activator.

Shear wave elastography may add a new dimension to ultrasound evaluation of thyroid nodules: case series with comparative evaluation.

Although elastography can enhance the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, its diagnostic performance is not ideal at present. Further improvements in the technique and creation of robust diagnostic criteria are necessary. The purpose of this study was to compare the usefulness of strain elastography and a new generation of elasticity imaging called supersonic shear wave elastography (SSWE) in differential evaluation of thyroid nodules.

Advantages and disadvantages of 3D ultrasound of thyroid nodules including thin slice volume rendering.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the advantages and disadvantages of 3D gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound, including thin slice volume rendering (TSVR), applied for evaluation of thyroid nodules.

Methods: The retrospective evaluation by two observers of volumes of 71 thyroid nodules (55 benign, 16 cancers) was performed using a new TSVR technique. Dedicated 4D ultrasound scanner with an automatic 6-12 MHz 4D probe was used.

Bilateral, incidentally found adrenal tumours - results of observation of 1790 patients registered at a single endocrinological centre.

Introduction: During the last 22 years we registered 1790 patients with incidentally found adrenal tumours (AI, adrenal incidentalomas). In 351 of them, bilateral tumours were detected. The aim of our study was to analyze the character of bilateral tumours and summarize the methods of their management.

Incidentally discovered adrenal tumors: a lesson from observation of 1,444 patients.

This study was aimed at summarizing our experience in the management of 1,444 patients with incidentally found adrenal tumors observed at a single endocrinological centre. Hormonal determinations were performed in all patients at the beginning of the observation period to detect subclinical adrenal hyperfunction. The imaging phenotype on CT and MRI was analyzed for defining the malignant potential of the tumors.

1,161 patients with adrenal incidentalomas: indications for surgery.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical data and criteria for surgery in a group of over 1,100 patients with adrenal incidentalomas (AI) observed at the Department of Endocrinology.

Patients And Methods: The material consisted of 1,161 patients (842 women and 319 men, 10-87 years old) with AI ranging in size from 1.0 to 23.

1,111 patients with adrenal incidentalomas observed at a single endocrinological center: incidence of chromaffin tumors.

A majority of incidentally found adrenal tumors derive from the adrenal cortex. The aim of our study was evaluation of the incidence of chromaffin tumors in a group of 1,111 patients with adrenal incidentalomas. In this group there were 803 women and 308 men, aged 10-87 years.

Gray-scale three-dimensional sonography of thyroid nodules: feasibility of the method and preliminary studies.

The aim of the study was differential evaluation of new and classical sonographic features of benign thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer with three-dimensional gray-scale sonography and evaluation of the effectiveness of the thin-slice surface rendered images in comparison with multiplanar reformation (MPR) presentation. Fifty-four thyroid nodules were interactively evaluated with thin-slice smooth surface rendering: shape in the c-plane (parallel to the probe) and evaluation of echogenicity, margins and calcification/microcalcification-like echogenic foci in the a-plane (plane of the probe). Evaluation of the level of agreement in readers' interpretation and between sonographic techniques was performed using the kappa statistic.

Incidentally discovered adrenal mass (incidentaloma): investigation and management of 208 patients.

Objective: Incidentally discovered adrenal masses are fairly common, although there are some controversies concerning the results of hormonal investigation (especially DHEAS values) and the methods of management. We summarize our experience in diagnosis, pathological findings and treatment of a large group of patients with incidentally found adrenal tumours.

Design And Patients: Our study included patients referred to the Department of Endocrinology of the Centre of Post-graduate Medical Education (Warsaw, Poland) during the last 10 years because of an adrenal tumour incidentally found on ultrasound scan.

Effect of testosterone replacement therapy on lipids and lipoproteins in hypogonadal and elderly men.

We investigated the effects of long-term testosterone replacement in hypogonadal and elderly men on lipids and lipoproteins. Twenty-two men with initial serum testosterone concentrations below 3.5 ng/ml took part in the study: 11 with hypopituitarism (1st group) and 11 otherwise healthy elderly men with low testosterone levels (2nd group).

Hyperinsulinaemia and decreased plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in premenopausal women with coronary heart disease.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to establish plasma levels of insulin, ovarian sex hormones and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and to evaluate their correlations with lipids in premenopausal women with angiographically demonstrated coronary stenosis.

Design: Differences in plasma levels of insulin, ovarian sex hormones, DHEA-S and lipids between groups were compared by analysis of variance.

Setting: From January 1993 until December 1993 patients were diagnosed in the Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Endocrinology Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw.

Effects of transdermal 17 beta-oestradiol combined with oral progestogen on lipids and lipoproteins in hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of transdermal 17 beta-oestradiol with oral progestogen on the plasma levels of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women.

Design: During 6 months of replacement therapy with transdermal 17 beta-oestradiol combined with oral progestogen, plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins after 3 and 6 months were measured and compared with pretreatment values by Student's t-test.

Setting: From January 1992 until September 1992 patients were diagnosed and treated in an out-patient clinic of the Department of Endocrinology Medical Centre for Postgraduate Education, Warsaw.

Transdermal 17 beta-estradiol combined with oral progestogen increases plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-I in postmenopausal women.

In order to evaluate the effect of postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy on the plasma levels of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) 12 postmenopausal women aged 44 to 59 years were studied. The control group consisted of 15 healthy premenopausal women aged 20-44 years. In the postmenopausal women the plasma levels of IGF-I, gonadotrophins and sex hormones were determined before and after 3 and 6 months cyclic replacement therapy with transdermal 17 beta-estradiol (E2 100 micrograms patches applied twice weekly) combined with oral chlormadinone acetate (2 mg daily for 7 days in each cycle).

An abnormality of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I axis in women with polycystic ovary syndrome due to coexistent obesity.

In order to evaluate the GH/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO), 21 women aged 18-38 yr were studied. The GH responses to the GH-releasing hormone (GHRH), and plasma concentrations of IGF-I were measured in seven obese women with PCO, seven obese healthy controls without PCO, and in seven nonobese subjects. Total GH secretion, as expressed by the integrated GH response to GHRH, in PCO obese women (617.

Measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in postmenopausal osteoporosis: effect of estrogen.

Unlabelled: To determine the efficacy of the estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on the bone mineral density (BMD) measured with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in postmenopausal osteoporosis 16 women aged 46-72 were examined. They were divided into two groups: 8 women treated with conjugated estrogens (Group I) and 8 who did not received ERT (Group II). In all 16 patients the serum hormonal concentrations (LH, FSH and estradiol) were measured with radioimmunological methods.

[Primary hyperaldosteronism suppressed after glucocorticoid administration].

Authors present a case of glucocorticoid suppressible hyperaldosteronism in 18 year old female. Unmeasurable low plasma renin activity and marked increase in aldosterone concentration was established. After administration of dexamethasone, normalization of aldosterone concentration and blood pressure has been observed.

Incidentally found adrenal tumours: results of investigation of the pituitary-adrenal axis.

In the last 7 years 64 patients (48 women, 16 men, aged 25-75 yrs) with incidentally found asymptomatic adrenal tumours have been observed in the Department of Endocrinology. In 11 patients a routine clinical investigations revealed metastatic tumours at the adrenal glands. In the remaining 53 patients the diameter of the adrenal tumours was < or = 3 cm.