The role of elastography in the assessment of thyroid nodules in acromegaly.

BACKGROUND: Nodular thyroid disease is a frequent finding seen in patients with acromegaly. Ultrasound-elastography (US-E) appears to be a helpful tool for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The aims of this study were to evaluate thyroid nodules in acromegaly and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of US-E in detecting thyroid cancer in this population. METHODS: US-E was applied to 166 nodules detected in 102 acromegalic patients and to 105 nodules found in 95 nonacromegalic subjects. The lesions were classified according to the elasticity scores (ES) as soft (ES 1-2) or hard (ES 3-4). RESULTS: : Mean age was 55.1 ± 12.47 years [59 (58%) women]. The prevalence of hard nodules (ES 3 and 4) was significantly higher in the group of acromegalic patients than in control subjects (48% to 20%, p < 0.001). Mean ES was higher in patients with acromegaly (2.45 to 2.22, p: 0.001), however, the mean strain index (SI) was similar between groups (1.53 to 1.65, p: 0.204). DISCUSSION: Thyroid nodules in acromegaly patients have a higher elasto score and the prevalence of hard nodules is higher in active disease. However, increased stiffness of nodules by US-E in patients with acromegaly does not seem to estimate the malignancy of the nodules.

The assessment of neuropathic pain in patients with prediabetes.

AIMS: Neuropathic pain is associated with several clinical conditions, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and decreased quality of life; however, less evaluated in prediabetes. This study aims to assess neuropathic pain through validated diagnostic tools in prediabetes. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-two patients with prediabetes and 170 controls were included in this cross-sectional study. The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) Pain Scale and Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN4) were used to evaluate neuropathic pain. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to estimate pain intensity. RESULTS: Twenty-three (13.4%) and 12 (7%) patients with prediabetes were diagnosed with neuropathic pain using DN4 and LANSS questionnaires, respectively. Neuropathic pain rates of the patients were higher than controls with two pain scales (p < 0.001). VAS scores were higher in prediabetes group than in controls (p = 0.021). LANSS, DN4, and VAS scores were positively correlated with HbA1c level (r = 0.184, p = 0.016; r = 0.180, p = 0.018; r = 0.188, p = 0.014, respectively). LANNS and DN4 scores were higher in female patients than in males (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Neuropathic pain was increased in prediabetes by DN4 and LANNS questionnaires. An appropriate diagnosis of neuropathic pain in prediabetes may prevent patients from different pain-related clinical conditions.

The Assessment of Ventricular Arrhythmia Indicators Based on Electrocardiography in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Followed Up With Levothyroxine Suppression.

Levothyroxine suppression therapy (LST) can cause some unfavorable effects on the cardiovascular system in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of this study was to evaluate ventricular arrhythmia predictors based on electrocardiography (ECG) in patients with DTC with LST. The ECG parameters including QT, corrected QT (QTc), Tp-e intervals, Tp-e/QT, and Tp-e/QTC ratios of 265 patients with DTC who met the inclusion criteria were compared with 100 controls. No difference was observed in the number of patients with DTC and controls with prolonged and borderline QTc interval (P = .273). Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT, and Tp-e/QTc ratios were significantly higher in patients (P = .002, P = .02, P = .003; respectively). Linear regression analysis suggested that male gender was a predictor of higher Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT, and Tp-e/QTc ratios (ß = 4.322, R2 = 0.024, P = .042; ß = 0.016, R2 = 0.048, P = .005; ß = 0.015, R2 = 0.044, P = .006, respectively). A higher serum fT4 level was found to be associated with a higher Tp-e/QT ratio (ß = 0.018, R2 = 0.089, P = .007). Ventricular arrhythmia indicators were found to be higher in patients with DTC with LST. Defining ventricular arrhythmia predictors through ECG, an easily accessible cardiac diagnostic tool, can be potentially useful in raising awareness of the possible cardiac harm of LST.

The assessment of thyroid autoantibody levels in euthyroid patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: Thyroid hormone abnormalities are commonly seen in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and have considerable effects on comorbidities. The association with PCOS and thyroid autoimmunity which lead to thyroid pathologies are not revealed clearly. We targeted to commentate anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) antibody levels and thyroid autoimmunity in PCOS. Material and Methods: One hundred eighty four patients who got the diagnosis of PCOS regard to the revised 2003 Rotterdam criteria were embodied in this study. One hundred six age-matched female volunteers were included in the control group. Characteristics, biochemical parameters, thyroid hormone and autoantibody levels of groups were investigated. Results: Although; we did not find out a statistically significant difference in TSH and sT4 levels between two groups (p>0.05), anti-TPO and anti-TG antibody levels were determined higher in PCOS group significantly (p<0.001). Anti-TPO Ab and anti-TG Ab positivity prevalence of PCOS patients were significantly higher as against to controls (p<0.001; p=0.01). Conclusion: Not only thyroid hormone levels but also thyroid autoantibody levels should be screened during the investigation of PCOS and the patients with positive results need to be followed up carefully in the long run.