Wartość diagnostyczna późnonocnego poziomu kortyzolu w ślinie w rozpoznawaniu subklinicznej postaci zespołu Cushinga

  Introduction: Late-night salivary cortisol is a frequently used and easily implemented diagnostically valuable test for the diagnosis of overt Cushing’s syndrome. The use of late-night salivary cortisol in the diagnosis of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome is somewhat controversial. In this study, we aimed to determine the diagnostic value of late-night salivary cortisol in diagnosing subclinical Cushing’s syndrome and compare it with 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels (UFC). Material and methods: The study consisted of 33 cases of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome, 59 cases of non-functioning adrenal adenoma, and 41 control subjects. Late-night salivary cortisol and UFC were measured in all the cases. The diagnosis of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome was based on combined results of 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test > 1.8 μg/dL and ACTH < 10 pg/mL. Results: Mean late-night salivary cortisol levels in subjects with subclinical Cushing’s syndrome were significantly higher than in subjects with non-functioning adrenal adenoma and the control group (p < 0.001). Using a cut-off value of 0.18 μg/dL, the sensitivity and specificity of late-night salivary cortisol for diagnosing subclinical Cushing’s syndrome were determined as 82% and 60%, respectively. Using a cut-off value of 137 μg/day, the sensitivity and specificity of UFC was determined as 18% and 90%, respectively. Conclusions: Because the sensitivity of late-night salivary cortisol for the diagnosis of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome is limited, using it as the sole screening test for subclinical Cushing’s syndrome may lead to false negative results. However, using it as an adjunct test to other tests may be beneficial in the diagnosis of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (5): 487–492)    Wstęp: Oznaczenie późnonocnego stężenia kortyzolu w silnie jest często używanym, łatwym do przeprowadzenia oraz przydatnym diagnostycznie testem stosowanym w rozpoznawaniu jawnej postaci zespołu Cushinga. Zastosowanie oznaczenia późnonocnego kortyzolu w ślinie w diagnozowaniu subklinicznej postaci zespołu Cushinga jest jednak kontrowersyjne. Celem prezentowanej pracy było ustalenie wartości diagnostycznej oznaczania późnonocnego stężenia kortyzolu w ślinie w rozpoznawaniu subklinicznej postaci zespołu Cushinga oraz porównanie z oznaczaniem stężenia wolnego kortyzolu w dobowej zbiórce moczu (UFC). Materiał i metody: Badaniem objęto 33 pacjentów z subkliniczna postacią zespołu Cushinga, 59 pacjentów z nieczynnymi gruczolakami nadnerczy i 41 zdrowych ochotników. U wszystkich włączonych osób oznaczono poziom późnonocnego kortyzolu w ślinie oraz UFC. Rozpoznanie subklinicznej postaci zespołu Cushinga oparto o współwystąpienie wyniku testu supresji 1 mg deksametazonu > 1.8 μg/dL i ACTH < 10 pg/dL. Wyniki: Średnie poziomy późnonocnego kortyzolu w ślinie u pacjentów z subkliniczną postacią zespołu Cushinga były istotnie wyższe niż u pacjentów z nieczynnymi gruczolakami nadnerczy i w grupie kontrolnej (p < 0.001). Przy zastosowaniu progu odcięcia dla wartości 0.18 μg/dL czułość i swoistość późnonocnego stężenia kortyzolu w ślinie do diagnozowania subklinicznej postaci zespołu Cushinga ustalono odpowiednio na 82% i 60%. Przy zastosowaniu progu odcięcia dla wartości 137 μg/dzień czułość i swoistość UFC ustalono odpowiednio na 18% i 90%. Wnioski: Ponieważ czułość oznaczania późnonocnego poziomu kortyzolu w ślinie w rozpoznawaniu subklinicznej postaci zespołu Cushinga jest ograniczona, zastosowanie tego testu jako jedynego badania przesiewowego w kierunku sublinicznej postaci zespołu Cushinga może prowadzić do uzyskania fałszywie ujemnych wyników. Niemniej, wykorzystanie tego testu jako metody uzupełniającej dla innych testów może okazać się przydatne w rozpoznawaniu subklincznej postaci zespołu Cushinga. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (5): 487–492)

Dietary glycemic factors, insulin resistance, and adiponectin levels in acne vulgaris

Background. There is increasing evidence to support the relationship between acne vulgaris and diet. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations among dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, milk consumption, insulin resistance, and adiponectin levels in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Methods. The dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, milk consumption, fasting glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor)-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, adiponectin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance values of 50 patients with acne vulgaris and 36 healthy control subjects were measured. Results. Glycemic index and glycemic load levels were significantly higher (P = .022 and P = .001, respectively) and serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower (P = .015) in patients with acne than in the control subjects. There was an inverse correlation between serum adiponectin concentration and glycemic index (P = .049, r = −0.212). Limitations. This study used a cross-sectional design and the study population was limited to young, nonobese adults. Conclusion. A high-glycemic-index/-load diet was positively associated with acne vulgaris. Adiponectin may be a pathogenetic cofactor contributing to the development of the disease. Further research on adiponectin levels in patients with acne in terms of development of insulin resistance might be important in this possible relationship

A Rare Presentation of Autonomously Functioning Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Malignancy in Marine-Lenhart Syndrome Nodule

Objective. Marine-Lenhart Syndrome (MLS) is defined as concomitant occurrence of autonomously functioning thyroid nodule (AFTN) with Graves’ disease (GD). Malignancy in a functional nodule is rare. We aimed to present an extremely rare case of papillary thyroid cancer in a MLS nodule with lateral lymph node metastases. Case. A 43-year-old male presented with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ ophthalmopathy. On Tc99m pertechnetate scintigraphy, a hyperactive nodule in the left upper thyroid pole was detected and the remaining tissue showed a mildly increased uptake. The ultrasonography demonstrated 15.5 × 13.5 × 12 mm sized hypoechoic nodule in the left upper pole of the thyroid and round lymph nodes on the left side of the neck. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the nodule and lymph node revealed cytological findings consistent with papillary cancer. Total thyroidectomy with central and left modified radical neck dissection was performed. On pathologic examination, two foci of micropapillary cancer were detected. The skip metastases were present in three lymph nodes on the neck. Conclusion. AFTN can be seen rarely in association with GD. It is not possible to exclude malignancy due to the clinical and imaging findings. In the presence of suspicious clinical and sonographic features, FNAB should be performed

EVALUATION OF PARAOXONASE, ARYLESTERASE, AND HOMOCYSTEINE THIOLACTONASE ACTIVITIES IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES AND INCIPIENT DIABETES NEPHROPATHY

Background: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship among the changes in activities of paraoxonase (PON), arylesterase (ARE) and homocysteine thiolactonase (HTLase) enzyme having antioxidant properties and the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN), one of the most common complications of diabetes. Methods: Normoalbuminuric type-2 diabetic patients (Group II, n=100), microalbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients (Group III, n=100) and the control group (Group I, n=100) were included in the study. The age and gender of the patient groups matched with the age and gender of the control group. HTLase, PON and ARE enzyme activities were measured by the spectrophotometric method using a y-thiobutyrinolactone, paraoxon, and phenylacetate substrates respectively. In this study, an autoanalyzer application was developed in order to measure HTLase enzyme activity for the first time. Results: Serum HTLase, ARE and PON activities of Group Ill and Group II were significantly low compared to HTLase, ARE and PON results of Group I (p<0.05). Conclusions: Based on our results, PON, ARE and HTLase enzyme activities were found to be decreased due to the increase in the degree of DN

A Cross-Sectional Study of Overtreatment and Deintensification of Antidiabetic and Antihypertensive Medications in Diabetes Mellitus: The TEMD Overtreatment Study

Introduction Targeting better glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood pressure (BP) goals may endanger older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Overtreatment of T2DM and hypertension is a trending issue, although undertreatment is still common. We investigated the rates and predictors of overtreatment and undertreatment of glycemia and BP in older adults with T2DM and physicians' attitudes to deintensify or intensify treatment. Methods Data from older adults (>= 65 years) enrolled in a large nationwide T2DM survey in 2017 across Turkey were analyzed. Overtreatment of glycemia was defined as HbA1c = 2 oral antihyperglycemics or insulin, and BP overtreatment was defined as systolic BP (SBP) = 2 drugs. Undertreatment of glycemia was defined as HbA1c > 9%, and BP undertreatment was defined as SBP > 150 mmHg or DBP > 90 mmHg. Deintensification or intensification rates were calculated according to treatment modification initiated by the treating physician(s). Results The rate of overtreatment in the glycemia group (n = 1264) was 9.8% (n = 124) and that in the BP group (n = 1052) was 7.3% (n = 77), whereas the rate of undertreatment was 14.2% (n = 180) and 15.2% (n = 160), respectively. In the adjusted model, use of oral secretagogues (sulfonylureas or glinides) (odds ratio [OR] 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-3.1) and follow-up at a private clinic (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.0-3.3) were predictors of glycemia overtreatment. BP overtreatment was independently associated with the use insulin-based diabetes therapies (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.14-3.04). There was no independent association of BP undertreatment to the study confounders. The deintensification and intensification rates were 25 and 75.6%, respectively, for glycemia and 10.9 and 9.2%, respectively, for BP. Conclusions The results show that one in ten older adults with T2DM are overtreated while one in four require modification of their current antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive treatments. Physicians are eager to intensify medications while they largely ignore deintensification in diabetes management. These results warrant enforced measures to improve the care of older adults with T2DM. Plain Language Summary Plain language summary is available for this article

A Cross-Sectional Study of Overtreatment and Deintensification of Antidiabetic and Antihypertensive Medications in Diabetes Mellitus: The TEMD Overtreatment Study

Introduction Targeting better glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood pressure (BP) goals may endanger older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Overtreatment of T2DM and hypertension is a trending issue, although undertreatment is still common. We investigated the rates and predictors of overtreatment and undertreatment of glycemia and BP in older adults with T2DM and physicians' attitudes to deintensify or intensify treatment. Methods Data from older adults (>= 65 years) enrolled in a large nationwide T2DM survey in 2017 across Turkey were analyzed. Overtreatment of glycemia was defined as HbA1c = 2 oral antihyperglycemics or insulin, and BP overtreatment was defined as systolic BP (SBP) = 2 drugs. Undertreatment of glycemia was defined as HbA1c > 9%, and BP undertreatment was defined as SBP > 150 mmHg or DBP > 90 mmHg. Deintensification or intensification rates were calculated according to treatment modification initiated by the treating physician(s). Results The rate of overtreatment in the glycemia group (n = 1264) was 9.8% (n = 124) and that in the BP group (n = 1052) was 7.3% (n = 77), whereas the rate of undertreatment was 14.2% (n = 180) and 15.2% (n = 160), respectively. In the adjusted model, use of oral secretagogues (sulfonylureas or glinides) (odds ratio [OR] 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-3.1) and follow-up at a private clinic (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.0-3.3) were predictors of glycemia overtreatment. BP overtreatment was independently associated with the use insulin-based diabetes therapies (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.14-3.04). There was no independent association of BP undertreatment to the study confounders. The deintensification and intensification rates were 25 and 75.6%, respectively, for glycemia and 10.9 and 9.2%, respectively, for BP. Conclusions The results show that one in ten older adults with T2DM are overtreated while one in four require modification of their current antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive treatments. Physicians are eager to intensify medications while they largely ignore deintensification in diabetes management. These results warrant enforced measures to improve the care of older adults with T2DM. Plain Language Summary Plain language summary is available for this article

Daily Practice of Mechanical Ventilation and Weaning in Turkish PICUs: A Multicenter Prospective Survey.

Objectives