Obesity and the activity of the autonomic nervous system

This study was conducted to examine the autonomic nervous system functions of obese people. The study group consisted of 30 healthy obese people (20 female, 10 male, age range 18-58, median 37.6±9.7 years of age) and the control group consisted of 30 healthy nonobese people (18 female, 12 male, age range 17- 56, median 34.4±7.5 years). Each function was tested by non-invasive applications (orthostatic test, isometric exercise test, Valsalva ratio test, 30/15 ratio test, heart rate change test by deep respiration). The results of the orthostatic test and isometric- exercise test yielded a statistically significant difference between the study and control groups. The Valsalva ratio, 30/15 ratio, and heart rate change with deep respiration tests also demonstrated significant differences in the study and in the control group. The results indicate characteristic hypofunctional sympathetic autonomic nervous system dysfunction in obese subjects

Presence of Dry Eye in Patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Purpose. To evaluate the tear function tests in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and to compare the results with healthy subjects. Methods. A hundred and ten patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and 100 healthy subjects were included in this study. The presence of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy and tear function tests were evaluated clinically. The results were first compared between the patients and the control groups and then compared between patients with NOSPECS and patients without NOSPECS. Logistic regression analyses of the risk factors for dry eye including sex, gender, free plasma thyroxine, proptosis, upper eyelid margin-reflex distance, and duration of the disease were also evaluated. Results. The mean ocular surface disease index score was significantly higher and mean Schirmer and mean tear break-up time scores were significantly lower in patients compared to control subjects. Mean Schirmer and tear break-up time scores were found to be significantly lower in patients with NOSPECS when compared to the patients without NOSPECS. Both proptosis and free plasma thyroxine levels were significantly associated with dry eye. Conclusions. Patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis tend to develop dry eye more common than healthy subjects. Proptosis and lower free plasma thyroxine levels were found to be risk factors for the presence of dry eye

A comparison between low-dose (1 mu g), standard-dose (250 mu g) ACTH stimulation tests and insulin tolerance test in the evaluation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in primary fibromyalgia syndrome

Objective: Primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) is a nonarticular rheumatological syndrome characterized by disturbances in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The site of the defect in the HPA axis is a matter of debate. Our aim was to evaluate the HPA axis by the insulin-tolerance test (ITT), standard dose (250 mug) ACTH test (SDT) and low dose (1 mug) ACTH test (LDT) in patients with PFS

A comparison between the effects of low dose (1 mu g) and standard dose (250 mu g) ACTH stimulation tests on adrenal P450c17 alpha enzyme activity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: Numerous studies have found elevated androgen production by the adrenal glands in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the role and the mechanisms responsible for the adrenal androgen excess in women with PCOS are not well understood

High prevalence of diabetes in patients with pancreatic cancer in central Anatolia, Turkey

Tumor-induced pancreatic damage or insulin resistance may be responsible for diabetes in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients, but the exact cause of association remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of diabetes in patients with PC in central Anatolia, Turkey, and to evaluate whether diabetes is caused by PC. A total of 40 patients with primary PC were enrolled in the study. 13 (32.5%) of the patients had diabetes before PC diagnosis. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in the remaining 27 patients. The period between the diagnosis of diabetes and detection of PC was less than 1 year in seven (17.5%) patients who had previous diabetes. Recent-onset diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance were detected in 13 (32.5%) and two (5%) of the PC patients, respectively. The prevalence of recent-onset and shortly-before-diagnosed diabetes has been found very high (50%) in our patients with PC. Interestingly, we determined higher levels of insulin and C-peptide in PC patients having abnormal glucose tolerance than patients having normal glucose tolerance. In conclusion, as it has been reported in other population, we determined high prevalence of diabetes in PC patients in central Anatolia. High insulin and C-peptide level indicate that different mechanisms such as insulin resistance may be responsible for abnormal glucose tolerance in PC patients other than the tumor caused insulin deficiency. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved