[Associations of emotional state and quality of life with lipid concentration, duration of the disease, and the way of treating the disease in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus]. / Serganciuju 2 tipo cukriniu diabetu emocines bukles ir gyvenimo kokybes sasajos su lipidu koncentracija, ligos trukme bei vartojamais vaistais.

The aim of the study was to evaluate associations of emotional state and quality of life with lipid concentration, duration of the disease, and the way of treating the disease in males and females with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 53 persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (27 males and 26 females; mean age, 58.7+/-8.9 years) and 56 healthy persons (26 males and 30 females; mean age, 54.7+/-8.3 years) participated in the study. Emotional state was evaluated by means of Profile of Mood State and quality of life by means of WHO Brief Quality of Life Questionnaire. Emotional state and quality of life were significantly worse, tension-anxiety and fatigue-inertia were significantly higher, vigor-activity was significantly lower in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus than in healthy males. In females, no significant differences in emotional state and quality of life comparing type 2 diabetes mellitus group and controls were detected. In females with type 2 diabetes mellitus, emotional state and quality of life were significantly better, scores of tension-anxiety, depression dejection, anger-hostility, and fatigue-inertia were significantly lower, and score of vigor-activity was significantly higher than in males with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Some significant correlations were found. In males, vigor-activity correlated with total cholesterol level and negatively correlated with triglyceride level. In females, significant correlations were found between scores of emotional state (tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, confusion-bewilderment, and total score of emotional state) and lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels). There were no significant associations of emotional state and quality of life with duration of the disease in males and females with type 2 diabetes mellitus. No significant differences in emotional state and quality of life were found between males and females with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who were treated with oral antidiabetic preparations and insulin preparations.

Predicting outcome of treatment with radiotherapy in endocrine ophthalmopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the concentration of C-reactive protein and the level of antibodies to thyrotropin receptors might predict the outcome of retrobulbar irradiation in patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with moderate endocrine ophthalmopathy received orbital radiotherapy. The overall severity of endocrine ophthalmopathy was assessed using the total eye score based on the NOSPECS classification before the treatment and 6 months later. Treatment outcome was evaluated using major and minor criteria recommended by L. Bartalena 6 months after the treatment. Patients who improved in at least one major or in two or more minor criteria were considered responders. Patients in whom no changes occurred or who responded in only one minor criterion or eye status worsened were classified as nonresponders. The active disease was considered present in a patient who responded successfully to retrobulbar irradiation, and the inactive one when a patient did not respond. RESULTS: The level of antibodies to thyrotropin receptors in responders was 24.0 IU/L (range 2.0-405.0 IU/L) and in nonresponders 23.0 IU/L (range 2.0-405.0 IU/L); P=0.72. C-reactive protein levels in responders and nonresponders were 0.1 mg/L (range 0.1-3.1 mg/L) and 0.1 mg/L (range 0.1-1.5 mg/L), respectively; P=0.92. Although responders and nonresponders differed by proptosis, the severity of endocrine ophthalmopathy, and clinical activity score, but according to the binary logistic regression model, only the clinical activity score could give additional information on the prediction of the treatment outcome. If clinical activity score increased by 1, odds ratio for successful treatment outcome increased 2.4 times. CONCLUSIONS: 1) At the baseline of radiotherapy, the level of antibodies to thyrotropin receptors and concentration of C-reactive protein in responders did not differ from nonresponders; 2) Responders did not differ from nonresponders to radiotherapy by age, gender, duration of endocrine ophthalmopathy and thyroid disease; 3) The pretreatment clinical activity score, total eye score, proptosis of the responders were higher.

[The results of thyroid ultrasound examination in randomly selected schoolchildren]. / Atsitiktinai atrinktu jaunesniuju klasiu moksleiviu skydliaukes ultragarsinio tyrimo duomenys.

UNLABELLED: Iodine deficiency is an actual problem of public health and mostly manifests as enlargement of the thyroid (goiter). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of goiter using different evaluation criteria and to establish the relationship between changes in thyroid volume and dimensions of the body. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thyroid palpation and ultrasound examination were performed in 310 (7-11-year-old) randomly selected schoolchildren from two Lithuanian nearby small towns (Birzai and Rokiskis) in the district with lowest urinary iodine excretion (5.4 and 4.5 microg/dl). The size of thyroid gland was determined by inspection and palpation using the World Health Organization criteria. All children were examined ultrasonographically; thyroid volume was assessed by two criteria: F. Delange (1997) and M. B. Zimmermann (2004). RESULTS: There were no differences in means and medians of age and all body parameters (height, weight, body surface area, body mass index) in boys and girls of the same age. Higher means and medians of the body surface area in all age groups were found in Birzai as compared to Rokiskis (p<0.05). Comparing body mass index of all investigated schoolchildren with upper limits (97th percentile) of body mass index of normal British children, no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of obesity between towns was observed (1.9% - in Rokiskis, 5.0% - in Birzai; p>0.05). Grouping the children according to age revealed a higher prevalence of goiter in Birzai as compared to Rokiskis (88% vs. 63%, respectively, according to M. B. Zimmermann and 25% vs. 10%, respectively, according to F. Delange; p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of goiter between the towns when children were grouped by body surface area. In all groups by age and body surface area, the mean thyroid volume exceeded 97th percentile by M. B. Zimmerman and did not exceed by F. Delange. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of goiter, assessing the thyroid volume in 7-11-year-old children by the different criteria, is significantly different. We recommend using the criteria based on body surface area in order to evaluate the constitutional characteristics of individual child's development.

[The evaluation of clinical signs and hormonal changes in women who complained of excessive body hair growth]. / Moteru, kurios skundesi padidejusiu kuno plaukuotumu, klinikiniu pozymiu ir hormonu pokyciu ivertinimas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical signs and hormonal changes in women who complained of increased hair growth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 122 female residents of Lithuania aged 18-35 years who were referred to the Clinic of Endocrinology of Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital in 2002-2003 for excessive body hair growth. Increased body hair was graded using the Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) method. Hirsutism was defined when the F-G score was > or =8. RESULTS: Hirsutism was present in 74 (60.66 %) females and in 48 (39.34 %) no hirsutism was noted. The females with hirsutism complained more frequently of infertility (p<0.05), increased greasiness of skin (p<0.05) and noted the progressing increase of hair growth (p<0.05). No differences in frequency of menstrual disorders and acne were found. The females with hirsutism had significantly higher body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, larger waist and hip circumference (p<0.001) and higher waist/hip ratio (p<0.01). The significantly higher levels of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (p<0.05), higher values of free androgen index (p<0.001) and significantly lower levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (p<0.01) were found in females with hirsutism. Women were prone to overestimate the increased hair growth, when compared with the physician's assessment (p<0.05). No significant difference was found (p>0.05) comparing the mean values of testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, free androgen index and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate between two groups divided according to the subjective evaluation of excessive hair growth by females. CONCLUSIONS: Women are prone to overestimate the increased hair growth. The significantly higher levels of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, higher values of free androgen index and lower levels of sex hormone binding globulin (p<0.01) were found in females with hirsutism. The females with hirsutism complained more frequently of infertility, increased greasiness of skin, had higher body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, larger waist and hip circumference and higher waist/hip ratio.