International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume:1 Issue: 3, sep 2003

Autoimmune diseases, once developed, are often hard to control and thus preventionof disease development is obviously of great importance. Postpartum onset ofautoimmune diseases, especially autoimmune thyroid disease, is frequently observed and postpartum hypothyroidism is a good candidate for investigation of prediction and a trial of prevention of disease development. In order to clarify the method of prediction of postpartum onset of hypothyroidism, 9 patients who had had previous episodes of postpartum hypothyroidism and high titers (more than 5 × 103) of anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies were examined during the postpartum period of their current pregnancies. Thyroid function, size of goiter and titer of anti-microsomal antibodies were observed every month for 12 months after delivery. The other two patients, who were expected to develop postpartum hypothyroidism after present parturition and had high anti-thyroid microsomal antibody titers of more than 5 × 103, were treated with short-term glucocorticoid therapy. All 9 patients, who had previous postpartum transient hypothyroidism and had had high anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies, developed recurrence of postpartum hypothyroidism at almost the same postpartum time. A shortterm glucocorticoid therapy was tried for two other cases who were expected to have recurrence of postpartum hypothyroidism. In the first case, occurrence of postpartum hypothyroidism was delayed by 2 months and peak value of TSH was lower than that of the previous episode. Inthe second case, duration and dose of predonisolone was doubled and development of postpartum hypothyroidism was successfully prevented. Postpartum recurrence of hypothyroidism was predicted in patients who had previous episodes of postpartum transient hypothyroidism and higher titers of anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies. The short-term predonisolone therapy successfully prevented postpartum development of hypothyroidism in one case.

This study examined cardiovascular risk factors among adult male university students in Kerman, Iran. Study populations of male university students, enrolled for physical education classes during the winter of 2001, at the Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, were examined and evaluated. Tthe partial correlation coefficient was used to quantify the association between body mass index and waist-to-hip circumference ratio with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the influence of body mass index and waist-to-hip circumference ratioon the variance of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 13.6% and 2.2%, respectively. 45.5% of the subjects had normal weight and 38.4% were underweight. 11.4% of the participants had waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR) ≥ 92. We found a positive correlation between body mass index and waist-to-hip circumference ratio.Stepwise linear regression analysis controlled for age revealed that both body mass index and waist-to-hip circumference ratio were independently correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The present results suggest that of the university students studied, those with either higher body mass index or central adiposity distribution are potential candidates at increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Hearing loss and auditory disturbances may be present in both iodine deficient and hypothyroid children. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of iodine supplementation on the auditory threshold in iodine deficient children. 54 schoolchildren of the Kiga village, an area of severe iodine deficiency were studied before and one and three years after injection of 480 mg iodized oil. Goiter was graded according to WHO classification. Serum T4, T3, TSH and thyroglobulin concentrations and urinary iodine levels were measured. Audiometry was performed with a pure tone audiometer. There was a significant rise in serum T4 and significant decrease in the prevalence and severity of large goiters, and in serum TSH and thyroglobulin concentrations, one and three years after intervention. Before iodine supplementation, hearing was abnormal in 44% of schoolchildren. Mean hearing threshold was 15.4±6.0 prior to, and decreased to 13.9±6.0 and 10.1±4.7, dB, one and 3 years after, intervention, respectively (P<0.001). Hearing thresholds above 15 dB were detected in 45, 14 and 10% of pupils prior to, and one and 3 years after intervention, respectively (P<0.001). It is concluded that iodine supplementation improves auditory thresholds in previously iodine deficient children.

There is evidence implying the influence of vitamin C on prevention of hemoglobin glycation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin C on the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2-diabetes. 18 patients with type 2 diabetes (14 females, 4 males) were enrolled in a clinical trial study. 1000 mg of supplemental vitamin C (divided into 4 doses) per day was given to the subjects for 6 weeks. Body mass index (BMI), a 3-day diet recall, fasting plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were measured beforeand after the administration of supplemental vitamin C. Data were analyzed by paired ttest. Body weight and BMI were slightly higher at the end of study, as compared to before. Glycosylated hemoglobin level decreased significantly at the end of study 11.8±1.48 vs, 10.2±1.28%, (p<0.015). Fasting plasma glucose did not change. Our findings indicate that vitamin C as a result of its structural similarity to glucose can compete with it to reduce hemoglobin glycosylation in patients with type 2-diabetes.

Biosynthetic growth hormone is now available in virtually unlimited quantities. As a result, because of its growth promoting and anabolic effects, it is widely used in various disorders in both children and adults. Growth hormone has been proven to be beneficial in a small number of diseases causing short stature in children, and in adults with severe growth hormone deficiency or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The hormone is also used on an investigational basis in a variety of disorders causing short stature, as well as in the aged and in several catabolic conditions. It is likely that with time the indications for treatment with this hormone will increase.

Latest advances in the scientific research of testosterone reflected by a high number of recent publications make it necessary to summarize the findings in this review.Both in vitro and in vivo studies have shed light especially on the complex net of intracrinological interactions, testosterone kinetics on cellular level and its recognition by a wide spectrum of nuclear, cytoplasmatic and membranebound receptors. This recently accumulated knowledge has important pathophysiological and clinical implications. Apart from androgendependent cancers, infertility therapy, cardiovascular diseases and ageing are also among the fields of biomedical investigation where testosterone plays a crucial role. Future studies will further facilitate both, basic research and clinical medicine and uncover the secrets of cognitive effects and chronobiology of testosterone.

Adrenal tumors are rare in children. Most of these tumors are virilizing. We present here the report of a girl with childhood virilization due to adrenal tumor in early childhood. In this patient after tumor resection and regression of secondary male sex characteristics, signs of secondary female sex characteristics developed before the age of 8 years due to pituitary activation (true precocious puberty). Treatment was performed with aGnRH analogue. Virilizing adrenal tumors have not been included in the etiology of true precocious puberty. It is suggested to consider these tumors as one of the causes of true precocious puberty.