Parathyroid Hormone Levels in the Prediction of Ischemic Stroke Risk

Objective. It was examined whether PTH and 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(25(OH)D) levels, together or separately, are indicators of the risk of stroke. Materials and Methods. This prospective study was performed at two centers. In the study, 100 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke and 100 control individuals in the same age range were examined. In addition to neurological examination, cranial imaging, extensive routine blood chemistry, PTH, and 25(OH) D levels were evaluated in all cases. Stroke risk factors were determined. Logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. Results. A total of 60 patients and 79 control individuals were included in the study. Different estimation models were designed in order to examine the relationship between PTH and 25(OH) D levels with stroke. According to modeling results, it was determined that the most effective predictor for risk of stroke was 25(OH) D levels, followed by hypertension and PTH levels, respectively. Conclusion. PTH and 25(OH) D levels together can make important contributions to determination of stroke risk, and further investigations are needed to understand this relationship more fully

Rigorous Bicycling Does Not Increase Serum Levels of Total and Free Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA), the Free/Total PSA Ratio, Gonadotropin Levels, or Uroflowmetric Parameters

OBJECTIVES To determine whether cycling has an effect on serum PSA, gonadotropins, and uroflowmetric parameters

Comparison of Salivary Cortisol, Serum Cortisol, Plasma ACTH and Urinary Free Cortisol Levels in Thyrotoxic and Hypothyroid Patients

Objective: Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is affected by thyroid hormones. The present study was designed to compare the level of salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels in patients with subclinical and overt thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism. Material and Methods: We analyzed the salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels in 123 patients with thyroid dysfunction. The patients were classified into four groups; overt thyrotoxicosis (n=32), subclinical thyrotoxicosis (n=29), overt hypothyroidism (n=28) and subclinical hypothyroidism (n=34). Results: There were no significant differences in terms of salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels in patients with subclinical and overt thyrotcodcosis (p>0.05). Similarly, no significant differences could be detected in terms of salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels in patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism (p>0.05). The comparison of patients with hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis also did not yield any significant difference in terms of salivary cortisol, serum conisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels (p>0.05). Conclusion: Similar salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels were detected in patients with hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis. Thus, we may suggest that thyroid hormone status does not play a role in the HPA axis. The major limitation of this study was the absence of a healthy control group. Further studies with large numbers of patients are required to clarify the association between thyroid hormone dysfunction and glucocorticoid levels