Bilateral aberrant origin of the inferior thyroid artery from the common carotid artery.

The thyroid gland is mainly supplied by the superior and inferior thyroid arteries, with the latter being its principal arterial supply in adults. The inferior thyroid artery usually arises from the thyrocervical trunk, and less frequently from the subclavian artery. Rarely, it may originate from the vertebral artery or the common carotid artery.

Metformin and thyroid: an update.

Background: Metformin is one of the most widely prescribed antidiabetic medications with a favorable safety profile. In the last decade, several studies have reported a TSH-lowering effect of metformin in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To review literature data on the role of metformin use on thyroid function tests and the course of thyroid cancer.

Subcutaneous splenosis of the abdominal wall: report of a case and review of the literature.

Splenosis is a common benign condition that occurs after splenic rupture via trauma or surgery. The mechanism behind splenic cell autotransplantation begins with the splenic rupture, either from trauma or surgical removal. Splenosis is usually found incidentally and, unless symptomatic, surgical therapy is not indicated.

A rare case of intrinsic ureteral endometriosis causing hydronephrosis in a 40-year-old woman. A case report and literature review.

Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease with unclear pathogenesis. Urinary tract endometriosis occurs in about 1% of all endometriotic lesions while isolated ureteral endometriosis is extremely rare. We present a case of intrinsic ureteral endometriosis causing ureteral stenosis in a 40-year's old woman, in combination with intestinal, extensive peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis.

Thyroid volume, selenium levels and nutritional habits in a rural region in Albania.

Objective: Environmental factors are involved in goiter development. An increased number of goitrous patients were identified among outpatients in Gyrocaster, a mountainous region in Southwestern Albania. We examined possible associations of thyroid enlargement with nutritional factors.

Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with the desogestrel-only pill (Cerazette) in an adolescent girl.

Background: Premenstrual syndrome has been recognized as an important problem in adolescent gynecology.

Case: We here report the treatment of a 13-year-old girl with premenstrual syndrome who had a strong family history of thrombophilia. In this case the combined pill was contraindicated and the use of other pharmacological treatments, such as selective serotonin uptake inhibitors, was considered inappropriate for adolescents.

Multiple endocrine neoplasias: advances and challenges for the future.

Several important advances have been made over the last 2 years, since the last international workshop on multiple endocrine neoplasias (MENs) that was held in Marseilles, France (MEN2006). The series of articles that are included in this issue summarize the most important of these advances as they were presented in Delphi, Greece, during the 11th International Workshop on MENs, September 25-27, 2008 (MEN2008). This editorial summarizes some of these advances: the identification of the AIP, and the PDE11A and PDE8B genes by genome-wide association (GWA) studies as predisposing genes for pituitary and adrenal tumours, respectively, the discovery of p27 mutations in a new form of MEN similar to MEN type 1 (MEN 1) that is now known as MEN 4, the molecular investigations of Carney triad (CT), a disorder that associates paragangliomas (PGLs), gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GISTs), and pulmonary chondromas (PCH) with pheochromocytomas and adrenocortical adenomas and other lesions, and the molecular elucidation of the association of GISTs with paragangliomas (Carney-Stratakis syndrome) that is now known to be because of SDHB, SDHC, and SDHD mutations.

Management of myoepithelioma of the vulva--case report and review of the literature.

Myoepithelioma of the vulva is a rare condition, with only three cases having been reported so far. As a consequence it is quite difficult to decide on the appropriate management due to the paucity of data. We present our case together with a review of all relevant literature in order to collect and summarise the experience accrued so far, and draw conclusions regarding the management of these myoepitheliomas when they appear on the vulva.

Medical education in Greece.

This paper aims to present an overview of current medical education in Greece. Greece has a centuries-long tradition in practising and teaching medicine. Medical training, although rigorous, is particularly humane.

Low triiodothyronine: a strong predictor of outcome in acute stroke patients.

Background: Low triiodothyronine (T3) has been associated with increased short-term mortality in intensive care unit patients and long-term mortality in patients with heart disease. The objective of this study was to investigate possible associations of thyroid hormone status with clinical outcome in patients admitted for acute stroke.

Materials And Methods: A total of 737 consecutive patients with acute first ever stroke who presented within 24 h from symptoms' onset were studied.

Increased prevalence of VNTR III of the insulin gene in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Objective: The VNTR polymorphism in the promoter region of the insulin gene (INS-VNTR) affects transcription rate and has been associated with insulin resistance and DM2. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a multifactorial disorder, where both impaired insulin secretion and action may be involved. The aim of the study was to examine the distribution of the INS-VNTRs in women with GDM and to investigate possible associations with features of beta cell function and glycaemic control in this population.