International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume:12 Issue: 2, April 2014

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common reproductive disorders in women. Previous studies have shown that prenatal exposure of female fetuses to androgen can be considered an important factor in the development of PCOS. In the present study we aimed to examine the effects of prenatal exposure of female rat fetuses to previously documented doses of testosterone on different embryonic days on the development of PCOS phenotype in adulthood. Pregnant rats were divided into four groups, experimental and control groups. Three mg of free testosterone was administered subcutaneously to experimental group on gestational days 16-19, daily and 20 mg on day 20, to experimental group 2, and the controls received solvent at the same times. Female offspring of these mothers aged between 90-100 days were examined for development and function of the reproductive system. Independent-sample student t test was used to compare the results between the experimental groups and controls. Anogenital distance (P < 0.001) and clitoris length were significantly increased in the offspring of both experimental groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively). Nipples were not formed in the offspring of experimental group 1, whereas in experimental group 2 the number of nipples was unchanged. Vaginal length was significantly decreased in the offspring of experimental group 1 (P < 0.001), whereas in experimental group 2, no significant difference was observed. In the offspring of experimental group 1, hormonal profiles did not differ, but in experimental group 2, levels of testosterone (P < 0.05) and LH (P < 0.01) were significantly increased, but estrogen (P < 0.05) and anti-Mullerian hormone levels (P < 0.001) were significantly decreased. A significant increase in the number of preantral and antral follicles was observed in the ovaries of offspring of experimental group 1 (P < 0.05); whereas there was no such a difference in experimental group 2. The time of prenatal exposure to androgens may have a significant role in the development of PCOS. Increased prenatal androgen levels are associated with hormonal changes and morphological disorders of the reproductive system. Therefore, avoiding exposure to androgen excess during critical periods of fetal development may prevent or reduce adulthood PCOS manifestations caused by prenatal excess androgen.

Leptin and adiponectin are the two key metabolic hormones secreted from adipocytes to control food intake and energy expenditure. The action of both hormones in regulation of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) secretion from the hypothalamus is mediated through Kisspeptins. Kisspeptins are products of KiSS-1 gene. Leptin and adiponectin are modulators of KiSS-1 expression in the hypothalamus. These peptides have also important roles in pancreatic β-cells to control insulin synthesis and secretion and their receptors are detected in Langerhans islets. We hypothesized that leptin and adiponectin might alter KiSS-1 and Kiss Receptor mRNA expression in the islets. The aim of this study is to investigate any modulatory effect that leptin and adiponectin may have on the expression of Kiss-1 and KiSSR gene in Langerhans islets. We isolated the islets from adult male rats by collagenase and cultured CRI-D2 cell lines to investigate the effect of leptin and adiponectin. Then, we incubated them with different concentrations of leptin and adiponectin for 24 hours. After that, RNA was extracted from the islets and CRI-D2 cells and transcripted to cDNA. KiSS-1 and KissR expression levels were evaluated by real time PCR. In islet and CRI-D2 cells, leptin increased the KiSS-1 mRNA expression significantly, but adiponectin decreased it was expected. These findings indicated the possibility that KiSS-1 mRNA expression is a mediator of leptin and adiponectin function in the islets.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common chronic endocrine disorder. It has significant and diverse clinical consequences including reproductive, metabolic, and psychological morbidities as well as predisposition to malignancies. It is unclear how women with PCOS experience symptoms of this syndrome. The aim of this study was to clarify the dimensions and components of quality of life in iranian women with PCOS.Patients and This study was a qualitative study to explore and document perceptions of women with PCOS about their disorder and quality of life. Semi-structured interviews with open ended questions were conducted with 23 women with PCOS. The interviews were continued to reach data saturation. The study was conducted in the Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed. Constant comparative analysis of the data was conducted manually according to the Strauss and Corbin analysis method. The study revealed that the most important factors affecting quality of life in women with PCOS were the role functioning items as well as physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, and social dimensions. Comprehensive cares concerning various mental, emotional, cognitive, and social dimensions of quality of life should be planned for women with PCOS.

Several studies have demonstrated an increased risk of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in girls in comparison to boys. The aim of this study was to determine the potential interactions that are able to change the effect of gender on congenital hypothyroidism.Patients and We conducted a matched 1:4 case-control study in Hamadan Province, western of Iran, from 2005 to 2011. Based on screening program data, neonates with TSH ≥ 10 mU/L and T4 ≤ 6.4 μg/dL were considered as congenital hypothyroidism (Cases). Cases and controls were matched regarding the year and place of birth. Data was analyzed using two different approaches including propensity score and multiple conditional logistic regression model. A total of 277 cases and 1036 controls were included in the study. Girls accounted for 57.4% of the cases and 51.2% of controls (P = 0.065). Based on the multiple conditional logistic regressions, only the interaction of gender (girl) and birth season (summer) increased the likelihood of CH significantly (OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.09-8.74; P = 0.034). On the other hand, the ORs of the interaction of gender and all other factors (except for birth season) were not statistically significant in CH. Birth season might act as an interaction that is able to increase the risk of CH in girls. Accordingly, awareness of the birth season could help policymakers who plan preventive programs to reduce the false negative results among neonates, especially girls.

Thyroid storm is a rare complication of Graves’ disease that can carry a poor prognosis. In order to prevent major complications, thyroid storm must be quickly identified in patients and treatment must be promptly implemented. Medical treatment is usually initiated with antithyroid medications, such as propylthiouracil (PTU), methimazole, and beta-blockers. However, some patients may experience adverse reactions to these medications and alternate treatment options must be explored.

We report a case of a 30-year-old female initiated on PTU after diagnosis with Graves’ disease that later presented an acute thyroid storm.

Therapy was changed to methimazole, yet the patient subsequently developed angioedema and dyspnea. Medical management was discontinued and emergent thyroidectomy was performed without complication

Received: September 18, 2013; Revised: October 15, 2013; Accepted: December 10, 2013Context: Normal pregnancy is associated with sodium and water retention, which results in plasma volume expansion prior to placental implantation. The explanation offered for these events is that pregnancy ‘resets’ both volume and osmoreceptors.Evidence Acquisition: The mechanisms for such an enigmatic ‘resetting’ in pregnancy have not previously been explained. However, recent human pregnancy studies have demonstrated that the earliest hemodynamic change in pregnancy is primary systemic arterial vasodilation. This arterial underfilling is associated with a secondary increase in cardiac output and activation of the neurohumoral axis, including stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, sympathetic, and non-osmotic vasopressin systems. Resistance to the pressor effects of angiotensin and sympathetic stimulation in pregnancy is compatible with an increase in endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity. In contrast to the sodium and water retention which occur secondary to the primary arterial vasodilation in cirrhosis, glomerular filtration and renal blood flow are significantly increased in normal pregnancy. A possible explanation for this difference in arterial vasodilation states is that relaxin, an arterial vasodilator which increases during pregnancy, has a potent effect on both systemic and renal circulation. Endothelial damage in pregnancy is pivotal in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia in pregnancy. Against a background of the primary arterial vasodilation hypothesis, it is obvious that reversal of the systemic vasodilatation in pregnancy, without subsequent activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (78), will evoke a reversal of all the links in the chain of events in normal pregnancy adaptation, thus, it may cause preeclampsia. Namely, a decrease of renal vasodilation will decrease glomerular filtration rate.

Development of autonomous parathyroid gland function can occur in cases of long standing renal disease, leading to hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia. Debate exists over the optimum surgical treatment strategy and the choice lies with the individual surgeon. We illustrated the method of total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation to the forearm and proposed it to be superior to both total and subtotal parathyroidectomy. This case illustrated the development of secondary and subsequently tertiary hyperparathyroidism in a 66-year-old man with a history of chronic renal failure. The patient was managed surgically by parathyroid autotransplantation and serial explantation. Refractory hypercalcemia due to autonomous parathyroid tissue following parathyroidectomy can be managed with greater ease and efficacy by serial explantation of autotransplanted tissue versus a more difficult re-exploration of the neck.

Mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (3-oxothiolase) deficiency is a rare metabolic disorder involving ketone body metabolism characterized by acute attacks of vomiting, acidosis, ketosis, and lethargy along with some laboratory criteria including excessive excretion of 2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyric acid in urine. This is a case report of 3-oxothiolase deficiency in a young Iranian boy with presentation of intractable vomiting and severe metabolic acidosis following a common cold in six months of age with abundant urinary 2-methyl-3- hydroxybutyric acid. This is the first Iranian 3-oxothiolase deficiency case report as searched in the literature. Because of the high rate of consanguineous marriages in Iran, physicians should consider the 3-oxothiolase deficiency in the differential diagnosis of any patient with intractable vomiting and severe metabolic acidosis.

Obesity is common in type 2 diabetic patients in some of the Middle Eastern countries, which are amongst the countries with highest rates of diabetes mellitus and obesity.

We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of obesity in Yemeni patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Patients and

Body mass index (BMI) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were 25-years-old or older was measured during their first visit to an endocrinology and diabetes clinic in Sana’a, Yemen over a 4-year period from May 2007 to May 2011.

The BMI was measured in 1640 patients (721 males and 919 females) who attended the clinic. According to the measured BMI, 328 (45.5%), 314 (43.5%), 79 (11%) of the male patients were non-obese (BMI < 25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), respectively. On the other hand, 256 (28%), 369 (40.0%), and 294 (32%) of the female patients were non-obese (BMI < 25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), respectively.

The prevalence of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Yemen is high with respect to the Yemeni population, especially in females.

Context: To evaluate treatment success and hypothyroidism following main methods of radioiodine therapy of toxic nodular goiter (TNG); calculated versus fixed dose and high versus low dose of radioiodine.Evidence Acquisitions: We searched MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases from inception till July 2013, for clinical trials that compared two different methods of radioiodine administration in TNG. The trials were classified into two groups, those that compared fixed versus calculated dosimetry method and those that assessed high fixed dose versus low fixed dose method. Treatment response was defined as euthyroidism or hypothyroidism, one year after radioiodine administration. We calculated the risk ratio and risk difference of treatment response as well as permanent hypothyroidism as outcome variables. Random effects model was used for data pooling. The literature search yielded 2538 articles. Two randomized and five non-randomized clinical trials with 669 patients met the eligibility criteria for the meta-analysis. Patients with TNG who were treated according to the calculated method had 9.6% higher cure rate (risk ratio=1.17) and only 0.3% more permanent hypothyroidism compared to patients treated with the fixed dose method. There was no significant difference in the amount of administered radio-iodine in the two groups. Patients treated with fixed high dose had 18.1% more cure rate (risk ratio = 1.2) and 23.9% more permanent hypothyroidism (risk ratio = 2.40) compared to patients treated by fixed low dose protocols. Calculated radioiodine therapy may be preferred to fixed dose method in patients with TNG. High dose methods are associated with more response and more hypothyroidism.