Vitamin D deficiency in oncology patients--an ignored condition: impact on hypocalcemia and quality of life.

Background: Vitamin D status is not evaluated routinely in cancer patients with bone metastasis who are treated with bisphosphonates.

Objectives: To assess the effect of vitamin D status on risk of hypocalcemia and quality of life in these patients.

Methods: We performed laboratory tests for routine serum biochemistry, 25(OH)D, plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) and bone turnover markers (CTX, P1NP) in 54 patients aged 57.

Uneventful octreotide LAR therapy throughout three pregnancies, with favorable delivery and anthropometric measures for each newborn: a case report.

Introduction: The safety of octreotide use, in its short-acting preparation, in pregnancy is still unclear. This report provides the first documentation of uneventful octreotide LAR use during three pregnancies in a woman with bronchial carcinoid-associated adrenocorticotropic hormone-dependent Cushing's syndrome.

Case Presentation: A 25-year-old Arabic woman presented to our emergency department with rapid onset of headache, flaring acne and hirsutism, facial puffiness, weight gain and paroxysmal myopathy, and paranoiac thoughts of rape and sexual intimidation.

Minimally invasive surgery for treatment of hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Minimal invasive surgery for parathyroidectomy has been introduced in the treatment of hyperparathyroidism.

Objective: To evaluate the contribution of the sestamibi-SPECT (MIBI) localization, cervical ultrasonography, and intraoperative rapid turbo intact parathormone assay in minimal invasive parathyroidectomy.

Methods: Between August 1999 and March 2004, 146 consecutive hyperthyroid patients were treated using the MIBI and ultrasound for preoperative localization and iPTH measurements for intraoperative assessment.

Influence of co-administration of oral insulin and docosahexaenoic acid in mice.

Insulin and docosahexaenoic acid are both present in human milk. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of co-administration of oral insulin and DHA in mice. Immediately after weaning, Balb C mice were divided into four groups of seven mice each for a period of 4 weeks.

Evaluation of the pituitary-adrenal axis in hyperandrogenic women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objectives: Impaired adrenal function is common in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Abnormal regulation of cytochrome P450 17 alpha is believed to cause the exaggerated 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) response to ACTH stimulation. The aim of the study was to evaluate cortisol and 17OHP response to low dose (1 microg) ACTH test and to compare it with the standard ACTH (250 microg) test in hyperandrogenic women with PCOS.