Plasma miRNA-146b-3p, -222-3p, -221-5p, -21a-3p Expression Levels and Methylation: Diagnostic Potential and Association with Clinical and Pathological Features in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) -146b-3p, -221-5p, -222-3p, and -21a-3p and the methylation pattern of the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor () gene in blood plasma samples from papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients before and after thyroidectomy compared to healthy controls (HCs). This study included 103 participants, 46 PTC patients and 57 HCs, matched for gender and age. Significantly higher preoperative expression levels of miRNAs and methylation were determined in the PTC patients compared to HCs.

The Role of and Promoters' Methylation Status for Non-Invasive Detection of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Aim: We investigated whether a difference exists between TSHR, PTEN and RASSF1A methylation status in plasma of subjects with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 68 patients with PTC and 86 healthy controls (HC). Thyroid cancer tissue and corresponding adjacent normal tissue methylation levels were analyzed.

Diagnostic Value of Circulating Cell-free DNA in Patients With Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Aim: We investigated whether the occurrence and development of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) might be predicted using levels of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA).

Materials And Methods: The peripheral blood samples were collected from 68 patients with PTC, 31 patients with nodular goiter (NG), and 86 healthy controls (HC). The concentration of cfDNA was measured by qPCR using three primer sets: β-actin99, β-actin394 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in plasma samples.

Cardiometabolic Health in Adolescents and Young Adults with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

Background and objectives: Data on long-term cardiometabolic consequences in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are controversial. The aim of our study was to evaluate body mass index (BMI), body composition, blood pressure (BP) and insulin sensitivity in adolescents and young adults with CAH in comparison with healthy controls. Methods: Thirty-two patients with classical CAH (13 males; mean of age 26.

Post-Vasectomy Semen Analysis: Optimizing Laboratory Procedures and Test Interpretation through a Clinical Audit and Global Survey of Practices.

Purpose: The success of vasectomy is determined by the outcome of a post-vasectomy semen analysis (PVSA). This article describes a step-by-step procedure to perform PVSA accurately, report data from patients who underwent post vasectomy semen analysis between 2015 and 2021 experience, along with results from an international online survey on clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: We present a detailed step-by-step protocol for performing and interpretating PVSA testing, along with recommendations for proficiency testing, competency assessment for performing PVSA, and clinical and laboratory scenarios.

Antisperm Antibody Testing: A Comprehensive Review of Its Role in the Management of Immunological Male Infertility and Results of a Global Survey of Clinical Practices.

Antisperm antibodies (ASA), as a cause of male infertility, have been detected in infertile males as early as 1954. Multiple causes of ASA production have been identified, and they are due to an abnormal exposure of mature germ cells to the immune system. ASA testing (with mixed anti-globulin reaction, and immunobead binding test) was described in the WHO manual 5th edition and is most recently listed among the extended semen tests in the WHO manual 6th edition.

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Tissue miR-146b, -21, -221, -222, -181b Expression in Relation with Clinicopathological Features.

We analyzed miR-146b, miR-21, miR-221, miR-21, and miR-181b in formalin fixed paraffin-embedded papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissue samples of 312 individuals and evaluated their expression relationship with clinicopathological parameters. A higher expression of miR-21 was related to unifocal lesions ( < 0.011) and autoimmune thyroiditis (0.

Different stability of miRNAs and endogenous control genes in archival specimens of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: The most popular miRNA quantitation technique is RQ-PCR with relative gene expression method that requires an endogenous control (EC) gene for data normalization. However, there are insufficient data and selection criteria on the most suitable ECs for miRNA expression studies in many cancer types including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Therefore, in this study we evaluated the impact of chosen EC and archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) PTC tissue age on estimated target miRNA expression.

Plasma-Derived miRNA-222 as a Candidate Marker for Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

We analyzed five miRNA molecules (miR-221; miR-222; miR-146b; miR-21; miR-181b) in the plasma of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), nodular goiter (NG) and healthy controls (HC) and evaluated their diagnostic value for differentiation of PTC from NG and HC. Preoperative PTC plasma miRNA expression ( = 49) was compared with plasma miRNA in the HC group ( = 57) and patients with NG ( = 23). It was demonstrated that miR-221; miR-222; miR-146b; miR-21 and miR-181b were overexpressed in preoperative PTC plasma samples compared to HC ( < 0.

Association of MicroRNA Expression and BRAF Mutation with Recurrence of Thyroid Cancer.

Many miRNAs and cancer-related mutations have been proposed as promising molecular markers of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, there are limited data on the correlation between miRNA expression, BRAF mutation, and PTC recurrence. Therefore, to evaluate the potential of BRAF mutation and five selected miRNAs (-146b, -222, -21, -221, -181b) in predicting PTC recurrence, these molecular markers were analyzed in 400 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded PTC tissue specimens.

Age-related morphological peculiarities of human testes.

Background: This study aimed to compare the isolated testes size, volume, weight and density changes with age and to establish the suitability of three formulas of testicular volume calculation for 18-50 and 51-70-year-old men groups.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred and six testes of 103 men (59 of 18-50-year-old and 44 of 51-70-year-old men) were weighed and their size was measured by the sliding calliper. The accurate volume was determined by water displacement and compared with volume calculated using three formulas, and the density of testicular tissues was calculated.

Relationship between Echocardiographic and Magnetic Resonance-Derived Measurements of the Thoracic Aorta in Turner Syndrome Patients.

Introduction: Turner syndrome (TS) is assigned to the rare diseases group. Morbidity and mortality of TS patients are high, particularly due to the cardiovascular disorders, so monitoring for cardiovascular complications must be ensured. The data demonstrate a strong correlation between 2-dimensional echocardiographic (2Decho) evaluation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); still, according to recent guidelines, MRI remains a gold standard.

SGLT2 inhibitors in T2D and associated comorbidities - differentiating within the class.

Background: For patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single most common cause of mortality. In 2008 and 2012, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) respectively mandated cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) on all new anti-diabetic agents, as prospective trials statistically powered to rule out excess cardiovascular risk in patients with T2D. Unexpectedly, some of these CVOTs have demonstrated not only cardiovascular safety, but also cardioprotective effects, as was first shown for the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin in EMPA-REG OUTCOME.

Emotional state, cognitive functioning and quality of life of adult women with Turner syndrome in Lithuania.

Aim: The aim was to analyze emotional state, cognitive functioning and quality of life (QoL) of adult women with Turner syndrome (TS) in Lithuania.

Patients And Methods: Of all invited adult TS patients from Lithuanian TS database (n = 150), 68 (age 18-60, average 30.2 ± 9.

Corrigendum to "Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Thyroid Nodules and Goiter in Middle-Aged Euthyroid Subjects".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/8401518.].

The Link between Thyroid Autoimmunity, Depression and Bipolar Disorder.

Depression and bipolar disorder are two major psychiatric illnesses whose pathophysiology remains elusive. Newly emerging data support the hypothesis that the dysfunction of the immune system might be a potential factor contributing to the development of these mental disorders. The most common organ affected by autoimmunity is the thyroid; therefore, the link between autoimmune thyroid disorders and mental illnesses has been studied since the 1930s.

The main predictors of the enlargement of ascending aorta in Turner syndrome: a cross-sectional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography study.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the main predictors of the enlargement of ascending aorta and to assess the possible relation between reduced bone mineral density and a diameter of ascending aorta in the specific Turner syndrome (TS) population.

Methods: Fifty adult females diagnosed with TS have been enrolled into the cross-sectional study. Dimensions of ascending aorta have been measured in four positions using thoracic magnetic resonance imaging, Aortic Size Index (ASI) has been calculated.

The impact of FSH receptor polymorphism on time-to-pregnancy: a cross-sectional single-centre study.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphism of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor (FSHR) is an important marker of ovarian function. However, its role in female fecundity remains debatable. The aim of the study to assess the relationship of FSHR polymorphism of Serine/Serine, Asparagine/Asparagine and Asparagine/Serine variants directly against the time-to-pregnancy (TTP) in women.