32 research outputs found

    Bilateral ovarian teratoma presenting with a clinical picture of acute abdomen

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    We describe the case of a 30-year-old patient with bilateral mature cystic teratoma (MCT) of the ovaries. The patient had been complaining of mild abdominal pain for several months that had suddenly become severe. Early diagnosis at the emergency room was acute appendicitis, but definitive diagnosis was bilateral ovarian teratoma. We therefore recommend considering ovarian teratomas in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen in young women in an emergency care setting

    Circadian blood pressure rhythm and intimal-medial thickness changes in non-dipper normotensive patients

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    We investigated 25 non-dipper normotensive vs 25 dipper normotensive patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) in the two groups. At the admission patients underwent anamnesis and general examination, blood sampling for lipid profile measurement, glycemia, homocysteine, ambulatory blood pressure measurement to assess the circadian blood pressure profile, and Doppler ultrasound to measure carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT). Our results showed that IMT is significantly higher in the non-dipper group (P&lt;0.006) vs dippers. Non-dipper status has been recognized in several studies a condition with increased risk for target organ damage in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. However, to our knowledge, a possible relationship between IMT and normotensive non-dipper patients has not yet clearly investigated. Our study instead has clearly demonstrated a significant relationship between IMT and the non-dipper status.</p

    Reversibility in male idiopathic osteoporosis possible

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    Summary: A 44-year-old athletic man presented in 2009 with severe low back pain. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry revealed severe osteoporosis; serum testosterone was 189 ng/dL while serum estradiol (E2) measured by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was 8 pg/mL. DNA was extracted and sequenced from a blood sample from the patient since his maternal first cousin also had low bone mass and both patients were screened for aromatase dysfunction by PCR analysis for the CYP19A1 gene, which encodes aromatase. No known pathologic mutations were observed in the coding exons, but novel single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected both in the proband and in his cousin. Treatment with topical testosterone started in August 2010. Over the next 8 years, testosterone dosage was varied and switched from topical gel to injections and maintained on depo-injections of testosterone at about 60 mg once per week. Re-examination in March 2012 included a brain MRI to exclude pituitary lesions; hyperparathyroidism was ruled out (normal serum parathyroid hormone, calcium, and calcium to phosphorous ratio) and celiac disease was excluded (negative transglutaminase antibodies). Follow-up in October 2018 showed improved bone mineral density of the lumbar spine by 29% and of the left femoral hip by 15% compared to baseline measurements. This reveals the importance of measuring serum E2 for making the correct diagnosis, as well as for monitoring a therapeutic effect. Herein, we propose treatment of male osteoporosis where serum E2 levels are below about 20 pg/mL with testosterone to reverse osteoporosis. Learning points: Estrogen deficiency in the diagnosis of male idiopathic osteoporosis. Importance of serum estradiol in male osteoporosis. Role of polymorphisms in aromatase gene on bone health. Reversal of osteoporosis. Tailored testosterone treatment for bone health
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