[Endocrine late-effects and bone mineral density after combined treatment of malignant brain tumors in childhood and adolescence].

BACKGROUND: The implementation of standardized protocols for combined treatment of cancer into clinical practice inevitably leads to a long-term consequence. AIMS: To study the prevalence of endocrine disorders, to assess the prevalence and degree of decline of bone mineral density (BMD) in individuals who have undergone combined treatment of malignant brain tumors in childhood and adolescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 59 young adults (31 men; 28 women) who have undergone surgical treatment of malignant brain tumour followed by radiation treatment (craniospinal radiation in combination with or without polychemotherapy). Group I consisted of 37 patients, who were treated between the ages of 3 and 16 years. Group II included 22 patients who received treatment between the ages of 16 and 38 years. RESULTS: GH deficiency according to the results of the insulin hypoglycemia test was diagnosed in 48 patients (81%), 22 -patients had secondary adrenal insufficiency (37%). The majority of those examined (33 patients (56%)) did not achieve the target growth. Only 5 people from I group was treated with recombinant GH. Correlation analysis demonstrates that age of treatment is the main factor affecting final growth (r=0,619, p<0,001). Many cases of hypothyroidism (n=39 (66%)) and hypogonadism (19 women; 17 men) were detected. According to the DXA, a decrease of BMD ≤-2.0 SD (Z-score) in L1-L4 was found in 35 of 59 patients (59%). The BMD in the I group was significantly lower than in patients treated at an older age (p<0.001). A moderate correlation was discovered between BMD in L1-L4 at the time of examination and the level of estradiol in women (r=0.596, p<0.05) and testosterone in men (r=0.472, p<0.05). Direct correlation between BMD and age of diagnosis was revealed (r=0.781, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that patients need to be monitored annually and for life after the combined treatment of malignant brain tumors in order to detect the long-term effects of the treatment. The high incidence of osteopenic conditions determines the relevance and need for early diagnosis to prevent further bone loss, reduced bone strength and the risk of fractures.

[Primary hyperparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency].

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is the third most common endocrine disease after diabetes mellitus and thyroid pathology. Recent epidemiological and experimental data have shown that long-term maintenance of low vitamin D levels in the blood can lead to the development of hyperplastic processes in the cells of the parathyroid glands, followed by autonomous production of parathyroid hormone. In PHPT vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency according to various sources occurs with a frequency of 5377% of cases. The literature review indicates more severe disease in patients with concomitant vitamin D deficiency. The expediency of preoperative assessment of vitamin D levels in all patients with PHPT in order to minimize the risk of hypocalcemia after parathyroidectomy is discussed. This article presents the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and PHPT, as well as possible methods for correcting vitamin D deficiency in PHPT. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of the occurrence of pathological processes in the parathyroid glands under conditions of low vitamin D levels are presented.

[Differential diagnosis of normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism and idiopathic hypercalciuria on the example of clinical case].

Idiopathic hypercalciuria is a heterogeneous generalized disorder caused by various defects in calcium transport and increased urinary calcium excretion. The main etiopathogenetic factors are violations of vitamin D metabolism, changes in the sensitivity of calcitriol receptors and violations of the processes of calcium reabsorption in the proximal tubules and in the ascending knee of the Henle loop. This article presents a clinical observation of patient with idiopathic hypercalciuria, initially high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the absence of hyperparathyroidism. Therapy with thiazide diuretics allowed to achieve normalization of daily urinary calcium excretion and reducing PTH. Despite the low prevalence of idiopathic hypercalciuria, differential diagnosis of this metabolic disorder should be carried out with mandatory consideration of clinical and laboratory data, as well as with diseases that may cause increased PTH production.

["Other types" of diabetes: contra-insular hormones and genetic predisposition, new horizons of diagnostics and treatment].

This article deals with various specific types of diabetes mellitus and other carbohydrate metabolism distortions occurring against the background of different endocrinopathies: hypercorticism, acromegaly, hyperparathyroidism, pheochromocytoma and other. Epidemiology of carbohydrate metabolism distortions as well as pathophysiological mechanisms of hyperglycemia development in various endocrinopathies are included in the article, the necessity of endocrinopathy screening among patients with refractory carbohydrate metabolism distortions is substantiated, objectives and tactics of glucose-reduction-therapy in these patients are defiend. This article also contains data upon prevalence and prevention of long-term complications of diabetes mellitus.

[Comparison of the effects of carbohydrate metabolism compensation and atorvastatin treatment on lipid metabolism and C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetes mellitus].

AIM: To compare effects of atorvastatin treatment and carbohydrate metabolism compensation on lipid spectrum and a C-reactive protein (CRP) level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The lipid spectrum was studied in a random sample of 165 patients (66 males, 99 females) with type 2 DM (age median 57 years, duration of the disease 7 years). Out of this sample 26 patients with LDLP cholesterol >3 mmol/l were randomized into 2 groups. The study group received 20 mg/day atorvastatin for 3 months, the control group received no inhibitors of GMG-Coa-reductase. The patients' blood was tested for glycosylated hemoglobin, aminotransferase, creatinphosphokinase, total, HDLP, LDLP cholesterol. RESULTS: Changes in the lipid spectrum were detected in 98.2% patients, 42.4% of them had combined dyslipidemia: elevated total cholesterol (TC), LDLP cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and low HDLP cholesterol. After 3 months of therapy both groups demonstrated the same significant lowering of HbA(1c). The control group had also elevated level of HDLP cholesterol, unchanged levels of TC, LDLP cholesterol, TG. 3-month therapy with atorvastatin lowered TC from 6.41 to 4.76 mmol/l, LDLP cholesterol from 4.19 to 1.87 mmol/l, TGfrom 2.69 to 1.62 mmol/l, apo B from 1.64 to 1.13 mg/dl, raised HDLP from 0.99 to 1.21 mmol/l (p < 0.05). CRP fell from 5.65 to 2.33 mg/dl (p=0.026) irrespective of carbohydrate metabolism compensation (CRP in the control group did not change). CONCLUSION: More than 98% type 2 diabetics have atherognic impairment of the lipid spectrum. Atorvastatin produces an antiatherogenic effect due to both improvement of the lipid metabolism and CRP level reduction irrespective of the degree of compensation of carbohydrate metabolism in type 2 DM