The Interaction of Oxidative Stress Response with Cytokines in the Thyrotoxic Rat: Is There a Link?

Oxidative stress is regarded as a pathogenic factor in hyperthyroidism. Our purpose was to determine the relationship between the oxidative stress and the inflammatory cytokines and to investigate how melatonin affects oxidative damage and cytokine response in thyrotoxic rats. Twenty-one rats were divided into three groups. Group A served as negative controls. Group B had untreated thyrotoxicosis, and Group C received melatonin. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and nitric oxide derivates (NO•x), and plasma IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha were measured. MDA, GSH, NO•x, IL-10, and TNF-alpha levels increased after L-thyroxine induction. An inhibition of triiodothyronine and thyroxine was detected, as a result of melatonin administration. MDA, GSH, and NO•x levels were also affected by melatonin. Lowest TNF-alpha levels were observed in Group C. This study demonstrates that oxidative stress is related to cytokine response in the thyrotoxic rat. Melatonin treatment suppresses the hyperthyroidism-induced oxidative damage as well as TNF-alpha response

A Case of Thyroid Hemiagenesis: An Exceptional Case

WOS: 000443340300009Thyroid hemiagenesis is a rare congenital anomaly in which one thyroid lobe fails to develop. We recently observed a case of thyroid hemiagenesis accompanied by parathyroid adenoma and papillary thyroid microcarcinoma in a 51-years-old woman. The patient's serum calcium level was 10.9 mg/dL and that of intact parathyroid hormone was 218 pg/mL. Although she had a history of thyroid hemiagenesis, the patient was in a euthyroid state without thyroxine replacement. Thyroid ultrasonography detected no right lobe and four nodules of varying sizes in the left thyroid lobe. Tc-99m scintigraphy also demonstrated the absence of the right thyroid lobe. In addition, MIBI-parathyroid scintigraphy showed a parathyroid adenoma at the lower pole of the right cervical region. Based on the diagnosis, parathyroid adenoma excision and thyroidectomy were performed. Postoperative pathological diagnosis revealed parathyroid adenoma and papillary thyroid microcarcinoma in the form of a 0.4 cm sized tumor in the left thyroid lobe. The coexistence of thyroid hemiagenesis, primary hyperparathyroidism, and papillary thyroid microcarcinoma is truly exceptional and has never been reported in the literature before

Response to Letter to Levothyroxine absorption test results in patients with TSH elevation resistant to treatment

[No Abstract Available

The Effects of Rosiglitazone, Metformin, and Estradiol-Cyproterone Acetate on Lean Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

WOS: 000266186500002Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by anovulation, infertility, and hyperandrogenism. The present study aims to compare the clinical, biochemical, and hormonal changes in PCOS patients taking estradiol-cyproterone acetate (ECA), metformin (MET), and rosiglitazone (ROSI). Methods: Ninety-four patients with PCOS were randomized according to the therapy they received as follows: MET 2 g/d group (n = 47), ROSI 4 mg/d group (n = 14). and 35 mu g ethinyl estradiol-2 mg cyproterone acetate group (ECA) (n = 33). Complete hormonal assays, lipid profile, glucose, and insulin levels were studied over a 4-months period. Results: Patients randomized to the MET group lost more weight and had a greater reduction in BMI compared with baseline (P = 0.006 and P = 0.004). The reduction in triglyceride levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were statistically significant in the MET group while no changes were observed in the other groups. Regarding HDL levels, did not change in MET and ECA groups, but there was a significant increase compared with baseline in the ROSI group (P = 0.04). Mann-Whitney U test showed that the change (a tendency of reduction) was more significant in PCOS patients on MET for both total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.001). The rate of improvement in oligomenorrhea was similar in all 3 treatments (P = 0.202). Conclusion: Our data show that in women with PCOS, ECA is more effective than insulin-sensitizing drugs such as rosiglitazone and metformin in improving menstrual pattern and reducing serum free-testosterone levels. MET, an insulin-sensitizing drug, is more effective in reducing fasting insulin levels than the ECA