Advanced Analysis of Auditory Evoked Potentials in Hyperthyroid Patients: The Effect of Filtering

The purpose of the study is to evaluate Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEPs) in patients with hyperthyroidism and to compare their frequency components with those of healthy subjects. In this study the AEPs in hyperthyroidism were studied both in time and frequency domains rather than studying just in the time domain by peak scoring. This paper presents a method for filtering auditory oddball standard and target AEPs by using singular spectrum analysis (SSA) and feature extraction in the frequency domain via spectral analysis. AEPs were recorded during an auditory oddball paradigm in 25 newly diagnosed hyperthyroid patients and 15 healthy subjects. The signals are captured in the presence of ongoing background EEG activity so they are often contaminated by artifacts. This paper presents a method for filtering auditory odd-ball standard and target AEPs by using Singular spectrum analysis and feature extraction in frequency domain via spectral analysis. Information about the frequency composition of the signal is then used to compare normal and hyperthyroid states. While there was no significant difference either in the target or standard unfiltered signals between the hyperthyroid patients and the control group (p>0.05), there was a significant difference in the filtered signals between the two groups (p<0.01). In conclusion, our results revealed that SSA is an effective filtering method for AEPs. Thus, a much more objective and specific examination method was developed

INVESTIGATION OF PITUITARY DYSFUNCTION IN RETIRED PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYERS

Introduction: It is well-known that pituitary dysfunction can develop as a result of traumatic brain injuries. One reason for such injuries is collision during contact sports. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of heading the ball and concussion on pituitary function in retired soccer players. Methods: Thirty-two retired soccer players, with an average age of 43.38 +/- 5.49 (35-59) and 26 sedentary individuals with an average age of 43.31 +/- 6.38 (35-59) were included in this study. The subjects were questioned about their soccer-playing background, history of head trauma and concussion, and cardiometabolic diseases. One day one, blood samples were taken to investigate the baseline hematologic and biochemical parameters. On day two, the ACTH stimulation test was conducted, and on day three, glucagon stimulation tests were carried out. Resting EKG, transthoracic ECHO and exercise stress tests (for MET values) were also conducted. For the statistical analysis, The Student's t-test was used to compare the results of the two groups. The level of significance adopted was p<0.05. Results: It was identified that 5 out of 32 soccer players (16%) had experienced concussion during their soccer careers. The growth hormone (GH) levels of 3 retired soccer players (9.2%) and 3 sedentary individuals (10%) was below 1 ng/dl, which was accepted as the threshold value. There were no significant differences between hematological, biochemical and cardiometabolic parameters of the soccer players with low GH levels and those with normal GH levels. There was no significant relationship between the number of headers performed and GH deficiency. Conclusion: Although low GH levels were detected in almost 10% of the retired soccer players, the frequency of hypopituitarism was not higher than in the sedentary control group

Biphasic Insulin Analogues in Type 2 Diabetes: Expert Panel Recommendations

Recently, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has reached pandemic levels all over the world, and the problem is still growing. Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease, in which insulin resistance and decrease in beta cell function accompany obesity. Early disorder, which ensues in clinical progression of the disease, is the defect of early phase insulin secretion. Patients have already lost approximately half of their beta cell reserve at the time of diagnosis. Aims of type 2 diabetes treatment are to eliminate hyperglycemia caused by insufficient insulin secretion and/or insulin resistance, to slow down beta cell destruction/depletion, to improve concomitant metabolic problems and to prevent complications. In treatment algorithms, insulin is evaluated as a replacement therapy at the following stage after life style changes (medical nutrition therapy, exercise) and oral anti-diabetic drugs (OADs) options. Since beta cell depletion is present at initial stages of the disease, it transforms insulin therapy into an earlier approach in treatment stages. Premixed insulin forms are one of the proposed treatment options in patients with hyperglycemia that is not controlled by OADs. These types of insulins are developed to meet both basal and postprandial insulin requirements of patients. Currently, premixed human insulin forms are replaced by analogue insulin forms, which can mimic the physiological secretion in more acceptable manner. Biphasic analogue insulin is one of the readily available pre-mixed analogue insulin forms, an example of this, Biphasic Insulin aspart 30 which is the one of the premixed analoge insulin forms, contains 30% insulin aspart and 70% protaminated insulin aspart. Consensus recommending the individualized approach in insulin therapy implies that physicians should have more detailed information about the use of different insulin forms. Although a global consensus report about initiation, titration and intensification and the use of Biphasic Insulin Aspart 30 treatment has been published recently, these types of guidelines cannot always respond to all of the local requirements. Therefore, it is aimed to prepare a guideline to facilitate the use of Biphasic Insulin Aspart 30 in the right patient, at the right time and in the right manner, as well as to help the physicians. A guideline, aiming to contain current evidences and to meet local requirements, was developed in May and June 2010 by an expert panel composed of experienced endocrinologists working at different parts of Turkey. The guideline includes initial treatment, optimization of initiation dose, and intensification of Biphasic Insulin Asparl 30 during the disease progression. Although previously published global guidelines about initiation, intensification, dose division, dose addition and combination of Biphasic Insulin Aspart 30 with OADs is in applicable situation in general, the content is enlarged by adding some special conditions. Administration information presented in this article forms simply a suggestion rather than a strict recommendation. Since the treatment of every diabetic patient should be individualized, suggestions of this guideline do not have any obligatory power on physicians

The results of therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with severe hyperthyroidism: A retrospective multicenter study

Hyperthyroidism characterized by elevated serum levels of circulating thyroid hormones. The aim of hyperthyroidism treatment is to achieve a euthyroid state as soon as possible and to maintain euthyroid status. However, drug withdrawal and utilization of alternative therapies are needed in cases in which leucopenia or impairment in liver functions is observed during medical therapy. In the present study, we aimed to present our cases which underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) due to severe hyperthyroidism. The results of 22 patients who underwent therapeutic plasma exchange due to hyperthyroidism in Apheresis Units of Erciyes University and Gaziantep University, between 2006 and 2012, were retrospectively reviewed. These cases had severe thyrotoxic values despite anti-thyroid drug use. After TPE, we observed a significant decrease in free thyroxin (FT4) (p<0.001) and free triiodotyhronin (FT3) (p<0.004) levels. There was statistically significant increase in the mean values of TSH levels after TPE (p<0.001)