Biochemical characteristics and calcium and PTH levels of patients with high normal and elevated serum 25(OH)D levels in Turkey: DeVIT-TOX survey.

Unlabelled: Vitamin D intake over the recommended dose is usually associated with high serum 25(OH)D levels and generally not associated with symptoms of hypercalcemia. High doses of cholecalciferol need to be avoided to protect against vitamin D toxicity and related complications. Strict adherence to the clinical guidelines for treating vitamin D deficiency can ensure safe and effective treatment.

Identifying Clinical Characteristics of Hypoparathyroidism in Turkey: HIPOPARATURK-NET Study.

Hypoparathyroidism is an orphan disease with ill-defined epidemiology that is subject to geographic variability. We conducted this study to assess the demographics, etiologic distribution, treatment patterns and complication frequency of patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism in Turkey. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional database study, with collaboration of 30 endocrinology centers located in 20 cities across seven geographical regions of Turkey.

Serum fetuin-A is associated with the components of MIAC(malnutrition, inflammation, atherosclerosis, calcification) syndrome in different stages of chronic kidney disease.

Background/aim: Fetuin-A, a circulating inhibitor of calcification, is a marker of inflammatory-nutritional state. We evaluated the association between serum fetuin-A levels and vascular calcification, intima-media thickness, and nutritional and inflammatory markers in different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Materials And Methods: CKD patients were sampled for calcium-phosphate parameters and nutritional and inflammatory markers [highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)], and serum fetuin-A levels.

Evaluation of ambulatory arterial stiffness index in hyperthyroidism.

Background/aim: Hyperthyroidism causes hemodynamic changes that are associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recordings provide us with some essential data: BP variability and ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI). In this study, we aimed to investigate AASI and short-term BP variability in both overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism and their relationship with thyroid hormones.

RANKL/Osteoprotegerin System and Bone Turnover in Hashimoto Thyroiditis.

Hypothyroidism is associated with changes in bone metabolism. The impact of hypothyroidism and the associated autoimmunity on the mediators of bone turnover in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is not known. In this study, we assessed the levels of OPG, RANKL, and IL-6 along with markers of bone formation as osteocalcin (OC) and markers of bone resorption as type 1 collagen C telopeptide (CTX) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRAcP 5b) in 30 hypothyroid and 30 euthyroid premenopausal HT patients and 20 healthy premenopausal controls.

Circulating Th17 cytokine levels are altered in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

The disrupted autoimmune response in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) has long been considered to be dominantly T helper type 1 (Th1) mediated. Recent advances in the field of immunology have introduced a new class of effector T cells, named 'Th17', which plays important roles in autoimmune disorders once thought to be merely Th1 mediated. We aimed to examine the levels of major Th17 cytokines in patients with HT in this study.

Lymph node fine-needle aspiration washout thyroglobulin in papillary thyroid cancer: Diagnostic value and the effect of thyroglobulin antibodies.

Purpose: Thyroglobulin (Tg) assessment in the needle washout after fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of a suspicious neck lymph node (LN) is known to improve the diagnostic accuracy in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, there is still controversy on the best diagnostic cut-off levels for FNAB-Tg and whether thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) positivity affects FNAB-Tg. The objectives of this study were to determine (i) the diagnostic power of different cut-offs for FNAB-Tg and (ii) if serum TgAb(+) negatively affects the FNAB-Tg evaluation.

The effect of thyroid autoimmunity on T-cell responses in early pregnancy.

Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) is common in women of reproductive age. There is a relationship between TAI and recurrent pregnancy loss and infertility. In pregnant patients with thyroid autoimmunity, the T helper-1 (Th1)/T helper-2 (Th2) ratio may shift to a Th1-type response and these activated T lymphocytes may lead to implantation failure.

A Case With Immunoassay Interferences in the Measurement of Multiple Hormones.

Context: Commonly used immunoassays are not free from interference, which can be a confounder in the interpretation of test results. We present a case with extremely high multiple hormone levels due to such interference.

Case Description: A 33-year-old woman with no specific symptoms had markedly elevated TSH with normal free T4 and free T3 levels.

A Rare Presentation of Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in Post-polycythemic Myelofibrosis.

Polycythemia vera is a clonal proliferative disorder of the bone marrow that could possibly evolve into myelofibrosis in its natural course. Progression to myelofibrosis is usually a late stage complication and presents clinically with refractory cytopenias and extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH). EMH can occur in any tissue during the course of post-polycythemic myelofibrosis.

Serum levels of fetuin A are increased in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: Fetuin A is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to investigate circulating fetuin A concentrations in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: Serum fetuin A levels were studied in 26 pregnant women with GDM and 24 healthy pregnant women between 24th and 28th gestational weeks.

Hyperparathyroid crisis presenting with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Purpose: Primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy is a rare condition, and the diagnosis may be confounded by pregnancy related conditions. Since the appropriate management reduces the maternal and fetal complications; differential diagnosis becomes quite crucial.

Method: Clinical course of a patient with hyperparathyroid crisis will be discussed with the review of the literature.

Elevated mean platelet volume is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus.

The mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of the average size and activity of platelets. Elevated MPV values are associated with larger and more active platelets and perceived as a new independent cardiovascular risk factor. The aim of this study was to determine the MPV in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to determine the correlation of MPV with metabolic parameters in GDM.

The relationship between advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and biochemical and histopathological findings in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels and biochemical and histopathological findings in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods: Sixty biopsy-proven NASH patients and 60 individuals with ultrasonographically healthy liver (the control group) were included in the study. AOPP levels were determined in all the participants and liver histopathological examination based on liver biopsy was performed in NASH patients.

Lack of association of hepatic estrogen receptor-alpha expression with histopathological and biochemical findings in chronic hepatitis C.

Estrogens exert a protective effect against hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. Loss of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) in the liver is associated with hepatic steatosis and inflammation in animal models. We conducted a study in order to investigate the presence and extent of ER-α expression in HCV infection, and its relationship with histological and biochemical findings.

Serum liver fatty acid binding protein shows good correlation with liver histology in NASH.

Background/aims: Simple, reproducible and non-invasive tests that can be used to determine the severity of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are needed. Liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) plays a key role in the fatty acid metabolism of the liver. We aimed to determine whether serum L-FABP levels in patients with NASH were different from those in healthy controls, and if so, whether this was associated with the degree of fibrosis, steatosis and inflammatory activity.

Presence and extent of estrogen receptor-alpha expression in patients with simple steatosis and NASH.

Loss of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) in the liver is associated with hepatic steatosis and inflammation. We conducted a study in order to investigate the presence and extent of ER-α expression in NASH, and its relationship with histological findings. Fifty-four patients with histologically confirmed NASH, 12 patients with simple steatosis (SS), and 6 patients with normal liver tissue (NLT) were included.

Effects of sitagliptin on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in diet-induced obese rats.

Background: Studies investigating the effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on hepatic steatosis are lacking. We aimed to determine the effects of sitagliptin on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats with diet-induced obesity.

Methods: A total of 24 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats, which were 24 weeks old and weighed 199-240 grams, were used.

Diffuse amyloid deposition in thyroid gland: a cause for concern in familial Mediterranean fever.

Thyroid gland is among the many organs that could be infiltrated in systemic amyloidosis. However, diffuse infiltration of the thyroid gland secondary to systemic amyloidosis associated with Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is rare. Here, we present a 49-year-old woman diagnosed with FMF and systemic amyloidosis, who had a large goiter and multiple nodules that developed slowly through the years and was complicated by tracheal compression symptoms and a mild thyroid dysfunction.

Dialysis type may predict carotid intima media thickness and plaque presence in end-stage renal disease patients.

Introduction: Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaques (CP) were shown to be independent predictors of mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In this study, the authors aimed to compare the two dialysis modalities for CIMT and CP presence (CPP).

Methods: ESRD patients who had been on the same renal replacement therapy for at least 24 months were selected.