International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume:15 Issue: 1, Jan 2017

Low bone mineral density and osteoporosis is prevalent in elderly subjects. This study aimed to determine the associated factors of bone mineral density and osteoporosis in elderly males..
All participants of the Amirkola health and ageing project cohort aged 60 years and older entered the study. Bone mineral density at femoral neck and lumbar spine was assessed by the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) method. Osteoporosis was diagnosed by the international society for clinical densitometry criteria and the association of bone mineral density and osteoporosis with several clinical, demographic and biochemical parameters. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent associations..
A total of 553 patients were studied and 90 patients (16.2%) had osteoporosis at either femoral neck or lumbar spine. Diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, overweight, and quadriceps muscle strength > 30 kg, metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity and education level were associated with higher bone mineral density and lower prevalence of osteoporosis, whereas age, anemia, inhaled corticosteroids and fracture history were associated with lower bone mineral density and higher prevalence of osteoporosis (P = 0.001). After adjustment for all covariates, osteoporosis was negatively associated only with diabetes, obesity, overweight, and QMS > 30 kg and positively associated with anemia and fracture history. The association of osteoporosis with other parameters did not reach a statistical level..
The findings of the study indicate that in elderly males, diabetes, obesity and higher muscle strength was associated with lower prevalence of osteoporosis and anemia, and prior fracture with higher risk of osteoporosis. This issue needs further longitudinal studies..

Testicular adrenal rest tumors are a benign condition characterized by the presence of remnants of adrenal tissue within the testes that can lead to infertility. Testicular microlithiasis are calculus deposits within the seminiferous tubules. Both are described in congenital adrenal hyperplasia..
Describe the frequency of testicular adrenal rest tumors and testicular microlithiasis in a Brazilian case series of patients with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia and to also relate these changes to disease control and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis disorders..
Case series study. An ultrasound examination of the scrotum was performed on 12 patients between the ages of 5.33 to 22 (14.72 ± 5.26) years. Testicular adrenal rest tumors were classified according to the degree of testicular infiltration in stages by adapting the Grinten’s classification, ranging from the absence of testicular adrenal rests visible by ultrasound (stage ≤ 1) to chronic obstruction of the testicular parenchyma with irreversible damage of the testicle (stage 5)..
Six patients (5 salt wasting and 1 simple virilizing) with an average age of 17.27 ± 3.09 years and have gone through puberty showed testicular adrenal rest tumors (Grinten stage ≥ 3). In 2 of the patients there was a coincidence with testicular microlithiasis. The frequency of testicular adrenal rest tumors did not relate with the levels of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione. In 3 patients with testicular adrenal rest tumors, gonadotropin levels were suggestive of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and one of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism..
Testicular adrenal rest tumors were found in greater frequency during puberty and was not related to hormonal control in this group. Some of them happened with testicular microlithiasis..

Diabetes refers to a group of metabolic diseases with blood glucose of higher than normal ranges. Furthermore, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are necessary for the regulation of the activity of human function. The effect of n-3 PUFA on diabetes has been investigated in animal studies, yet, the exact amount has not been set, to date. Irisin, as a new myokine, is released from skeletal muscle and Irisin levels decrease as a result of physical inactivity, overweightness, and obesity. Also, the reduction of serum irisin level is associated with development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. This study was performed to assess the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on serum irisin level in patients with diabetes..
This randomized clinical trial included 43 patients with type 2 diabetes (21 patients in the placebo group and 22 patients in the n-3 PUFA supplement group). They were randomized to groups, one receiving 10 weeks of either n-3 PUFA supplement and the other the placebo (1250 mg capsule, three times per day). Samples were also matched by age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) in the 2 groups. Anthropometric measurements, demographic information and dietary intakes were obtained both before and after the intervention. Serum irisin levels were measured before and after the intervention using human irisin enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Independent t-test was used to compare the mean outcomes between groups..
At baseline, irisin serum levels were not significantly different between the placebo and n-3 PUFA supplementation groups (P > 0.05). However, a significant change was observed between the groups after intervention (P = 0.04). Also there was a significant difference in mean change (after versus before the intervention) (P = 0.05). Compared to the placebo, n-3 PUFA supplementation decreased serum FBS and HbA1C (P = 0.036 and 0.001; respectively). Also, there were significant differences between changes of diastolic blood pressure and HOMA-IR after the intervention between the groups. The duration of illness was not considered as a confounding factor because there was no significant association between irisin level (after versus before the intervention) and the illness duration..
The current study indicated that n-3 PUFA supplementation with a dosage of 1250 mg three times per day, resulted in increased serum irisin level of diabetic patients..

Testosterone deficiency is linked to low-grade inflammation in humans, but this condition is not replicated in an animal study. The current study aims at determining the effects of testosterone deficiency and its replacement on the circulating inflammatory cytokine level in orchidectomized male rats..
Three-month-old Sprague-Dawley male rats (n = 18) were randomized equally into 3 groups. Bilateral orchidectomy was performed on 2 groups. The sham group was subjected to similar surgical stress, but their testes were retained. One of the orchidectomized groups received intramuscular injection of 7 mg/kg testosterone enanthate suspended in peanut oil weekly and the other 2 groups received equivolume of peanut oil injection. After 8 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and their blood was collected for the analysis of the levels of inflammatory cytokines and testosterone..
Testosterone level was significantly lower in the untreated orchidectomized group compared to the sham group. Testosterone replacement significantly increased the level of testosterone in the orchidectomized rats compared to the sham and untreated orchidectomized rats. Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) showed an increasing trend in orchidectomized rats, albeit not statistically significant. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) level increased significantly in the orchidectomized group compared to the sham group. Testosterone replacement at the supraphysiological dose did not alter the level of inflammatory cytokines significantly in orchidectomized rats..
Testosterone deficiency can elicit a state of low-grade inflammation, shown by an increase in interleukin-6 level, but exogenous supraphysiological testosterone replacement does not suppress the inflammation..

Interfering antibodies are capable of causing potentially misleading results in automated thyroid hormone immunoassays..
We report the case of a 46- year-old female patient with autoimmune hypothyroidism in chronic replacement treatment with levothyroxine who was presented 8 years after diagnosis with a thyroid function test showing an increased level of TSH and a very high level of FT4. Interference in the laboratory serum free thyroxin (FT4) test was suspected, due to the lack of symptoms of hyperthyroidism and a different immunoassay platform confirmed a low FT4 result. The discrepancy between the two results was explained by the presence of antiT4-autoantibodies..
Antibody interference with serum free thyroxine must be considered when clinical findings and laboratory results show discrepancies..

Psychosis, as the first presentation of thyrotoxicosis, is extremely rare. Consequently, it is often misdiagnosed as a primary psychiatric disorder, especially in developing countries with poor healthcare facilities. Owing to the high level of illiteracy and lack of knowledge, it is fairly common to ascribe many illnesses to spiritual attacks in Nigeria and other African countries, especially when the disease is rarely seen or is associated with psychiatric manifestations. Herein, we present the case of a teenage female Nigerian and review the literature on this subject..

The association of diabetes mellitus and insulinoma is unusual. We are reporting the case of a 58 years old patient having diabetes mellitus type 2 for several years. This patient was well balanced with oral anti-diabetic treatment. However, the diagnosis of insulinoma was discussed due to recent episodes of hypoglycemia that persisted even after stopping the treatment. Abdominal CT allowed the topographic diagnosis. The patient underwent a caudal pancreatectomy. Furthermore, the postoperative period shows that the diabetes mellitus requires the oral anti-diabetic treatment and basal insulin have to be stable. Then, the occurrence of hypoglycemia in the diabetic mellitus type 2 and, especially the persistence after discontinuation of therapy, suggest the unusual diagnosis of insulinoma as illustrated in our observation..