Is There a Link between Thyroid Peroxidase Gene Promoter Polymorphisms and Autoimmune Thyroiditis in the Polish Population?

(1) Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism and one of the most frequent organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Its pathogenesis is polygenic and still requires further research. The aim of the study was to assess, for the first time in the Caucasian population, the role of selected TPO gene promoter polymorphisms (rs2071399 G/A, rs2071400C/T, rs2071402 A/G, and rs2071403 A/G) in the development of AIT. A total of 237 patients diagnosed with AIT and 130 healthy controls were genotyped for four TPO gene polymorphisms, and the results were statistically analyzed to check for the role of these polymorphisms. There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of the studied TPO gene promoter polymorphisms between patients and controls (p > 0.05). The haplotype distribution (rs2071400-rs2071402-rs2071403) between the two studied groups was similar for the most common variants (CGA, CAG, TGG). Only a rare haplotype (CGG) occurred more frequently among patients compared to controls (p = 0.04). The studied TPO gene promoter polymorphisms did not show an association with susceptibility to AIT in the Caucasian Polish population, contrary to the results in Japanese patients.

Effects of Isoflavonoid and Vitamin D Synergism on Bone Mineral Density-A Systematic and Critical Review.

Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal plant compounds, which bind to α and ß estrogen receptors, thereby causing specific effects. The best-known group of phytoestrogens are flavonoids, including isoflavonoids-genistein and daidzein. They play a role in the metabolism of bone tissue, improving its density and preventing bone loss, which contributes to reducing the risk of fractures. Vitamin D is found in the form of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and is traditionally recognized as a regulator of bone metabolism. The aim of this review was to evaluate the synergistic effect of isoflavonoids and vitamin D on bone mineral density (BMD). The MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched independently by two authors. The search strategy included controlled vocabulary and keywords. Reference publications did not provide consistent data regarding the synergistic effect of isoflavonoids on BMD. Some studies demonstrated a positive synergistic effect of these compounds, whereas in others, the authors did not observe any significant differences. Therefore, further research on the synergism of isoflavonoids and vitamin D may contribute to a significant progress in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Hospital Admission Factors Independently Affecting the Risk of Mortality of COVID-19 Patients.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is a disease characterized by high in-hospital mortality, which seems to be dependent on many predisposing factors. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical symptoms, abnormalities in the results of laboratory tests, and coexisting chronic diseases that independently affected the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the records of patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized from 6 March 2020 to 30 November 2021. RESULTS: Out of the entire group of 2138 patients who were analyzed, 12.82% died during hospitalization. In-hospital mortality was independently associated with older age (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.20-1.97); lower arterial blood oxygen saturation (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.99); the presence of a neoplasm (OR 4.45, 95% CI 2.01-9.62), a stomach ulcer (OR 3.35, 95% CI 0.94-11.31), and dementia (OR 3.40, 95% CI 1.36-8.26); a higher score on the SOFA scale (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.52-1.99); higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05-1.12); higher N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT pro BNP) (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.11); and lower total bilirubin in blood concentration (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: We found that low oxygen saturation, old age, and the coexistence of cancer, gastric ulcers, and dementia syndrome were variables that independently increased mortality during hospitalization due to COVID-19. Moreover, we found that decreased platelet count and bilirubin concentration and increased levels of LDH and NT-proBNP were laboratory test results that independently indicated a higher risk of mortality. We also confirmed the usefulness of the SOFA scale in predicting treatment results. The ability to identify mortality risk factors on admission to hospital will facilitate both adjusting the intensity of treatment and the monitoring of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Lipomas: genetic basis of common skin lesions and their occurrence in rare diseases.

Lipomas are usually sporadic, asymptomatic lesions, and their clinical and histologic presentation does not pose diagnostic difficulties. In ambiguous cases, however, knowledge of genetics is necessary. HMGA2 expression in adipose cells enables the differentiation of normal adipose tissue from lipoma and liposarcoma. Moreover, lipomas can be associated with genetic diseases, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, neurofibromatosis type 1, Wilson's disease, or mitochondrial diseases. Lipomas can run in families (familial multiple lipomatosis) or be a part of genetic syndromes such as PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome, Proteus syndrome, and Pai syndrome. This study aims to present the genetic basis of lipomas and diseases in which these lesions occur in the clinical picture.

Effect of Growth Hormone and Estrogen Replacement Therapy on Bone Mineral Density in Women with Turner Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

Osteoporosis is a serious implication of Turner syndrome (TS). Common methods for the treatment of TS are growth hormone (GHT) and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). We examined the relationship between the treatment of TS and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine. The purpose of our study was to show the currency of BMD states among patients with TS for treatment with GHT and ERT. We searched databases for studies published from inception to April 2023. The articles were related to TS, osteoporosis, ERT, GHT, BMD and treatment patients with TS. We applied the selection criteria: lumbar spine values at L1-L4; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA); treatment which was applied: one group of articles: ERT and two group of articles: GHT; results performed as means ± SD. In total, 79 articles were analyzed, of which 20 studies were included and 5 were considered for meta-analysis. The total number of women in the articles selected was 71. Based on the results of the meta-analysis, the effect of ERT on BMD demonstrated a significant increase in BMD (the standardized mean difference in the random model was 0.593 g/cm2, 95% CI: 0.0705 to 1.116; p = 0.026), which showed that treatment with estrogen particularly increases bone mass during treatment, which contributes to reducing the risk of fractures. The effect of GHT on BMD demonstrated a non-significant decrease in BMD in patients with TS. The results for growth hormone show that this therapy does not improve bone density. However, our review emphasizes the beneficial effect of supplementing growth hormone (GH) on the clinical presentation of TS.

Insulin Resistance in Patients with Acne Vulgaris.

Acne vulgaris presents multifactorial pathogenesis, which may include insulin resistance. To investigate whether insulin resistance is a causative factor in acne vulgaris development, this cohort study and a systematic review were conducted. A cohort of 41 acne vulgaris patients and 47 healthy BMI-matched controls were recruited. Glucose and insulin fasting serum levels were obtained and the HOMA-IR was calculated; insulin resistance was diagnosed in cases with a HOMA-IR value over 2.1. The mean ± SD values for glucose fasting serum level were as follows: 94.88 ± 7.731 (mg/dL) in the study group and 79.51 ± 7.175 (mg/dL) in the controls (p < 0.001). The mean ± SD insulin fasting serum levels were 14.47 ± 6.394 (µIU/mL) and 11.83 ± 4.309 (µIU/mL) (p = 0.059), respectively. The HOMA-IR mean ± SD value calculated for the study group was 3.4 ± 1.49 and, in the control group, it was 2.34 ± 0.909 (p < 0.001). Out of 41 patients, 32 were diagnosed with insulin resistance (78%), and 26 of the 47 controls were diagnosed with IR (55%) (p = 0.026). An insulin resistance diagnosis was statistically more common among the acne patients, compared to the controls. In the articles reviewed in this paper, insulin resistance was found to be more frequent in acne vulgaris patients. Both our study and the papers analyzed in the review indicate that insulin resistance might be an independent factor in acne vulgaris development and should be considered when diagnosing and treating acne.

Selected hormone levels and lipid abnormalities in patients with acne vulgaris.

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is one of the most common dermatological diseases. Hormonal imbalance affects the skin condition and results in the formation of acne vulgaris lesions. Aim: To evaluate serum levels of testosterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in patients with acne vulgaris and compare them to healthy population. Material and methods: Forty-one patients with acne vulgaris and 47 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls were enrolled in the study. Results: The mean ± SD testosterone serum level in the study group was 0.45 ±1.03 ng/ml in females and 4.24 ±0.68 in males and in the control group 0.73 ±2.03 ng/ml and 5.3 ±1.3 ng/ml in females and males, respectively. The prolactin serum level was 16.73 ±8.02 ng/ml in the study group and in the control group 13.74 ±8.71 ng/ml (p = 0.011). The FSH serum level was 12.17 ±16.93 mIU/ml and 6.2 ±7.3 mIU/ml in the study and control groups, respectively (p = 0.0001), whereas LH serum levels were 18.44 ±19.71 mIU/ml and 11.26 ±8 mIU/ml, respectively (p = 0.2659). The HDL serum level was 65.63 ±15.67 mg/dl in the study group and 61.53 ±15.89 mg/dl in the control group (p = 0.219), and TG levels were 175.29 ±82.15 mg/dl and 87.32 ±30.64 mg/dl, respectively (p < 0.00001). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates, that hormonal and lipid imbalance could be linked to acne vulgaris formation. Evaluation of hormonal and lipid abnormalities could help in treatment decisions and could affect the occurrence of complications and the course of acne.

Vitamin D-Related Genes and Thyroid Cancer-A Systematic Review.

Vitamin D, formerly known for its role in calcium-phosphorus homeostasis, was shown to exert a broad influence on immunity and on differentiation and proliferation processes in the last few years. In the field of endocrinology, there is proof of the potential role of vitamin D and vitamin D-related genes in the pathogenesis of thyroid cancer-the most prevalent endocrine malignancy. Therefore, the study aimed to systematically review the publications on the association between vitamin D-related gene variants (polymorphisms, mutations, etc.) and thyroid cancer. PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched for relevant studies. A total of ten studies were found that met the inclusion criteria. Six vitamin D-related genes were analyzed (VDR-vitamin D receptor, CYP2R1-cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily R member 1, CYP24A1-cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1, CYP27B1-cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily B member 1, DHCR7-7-dehydrocholesterol reductase and CUBN-cubilin). Moreover, a meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the data from the studies on VDR polymorphisms (rs2228570/FokI, rs1544410/BsmI, rs7975232/ApaI and rs731236/TaqI). Some associations between thyroid cancer risk (VDR, CYP24A1, DHCR7) or the clinical course of the disease (VDR) and vitamin D-related gene polymorphisms were described in the literature. However, these results seem inconclusive and need validation. A meta-analysis of the five studies of common VDR polymorphisms did not confirm their association with increased susceptibility to differentiated thyroid cancer. Further efforts are necessary to improve our understanding of thyroid cancer pathogenesis and implement targeted therapies for refractory cases.

Pharmacotherapy in Cachexia: A Review of Endocrine Abnormalities and Steroid Pharmacotherapy.

Cachexia is a state of increased metabolism associated with high morbidity and mortality. Dysregulation of cytokines and hormone activity causes reduced protein synthesis and excessive protein breakdown. various treatments are available, depending on the primary disease and the patient's state. Besides pharmacological treatment, crucial is nutritional support as well as increasing physical activity. The main purpose of pharmacological treatment is to diminish inflammation, improve appetite and decrease muscle wasting. Therefore a lot of medications aim at proinflammatory cytokines such as Interferon-α or Tumor Necrosis Factor-ß, but because of the complicated mechanism of cachexia, the range of targets is very wide. in cachexia treatment, use of corticosteroids is common, which improve appetite, diminish inflammation, inhibit prostaglandin metabolism, Interleukin-1 activity. They can also decrease protein synthesis and increase protein degradation, which can be prevented by resveratrol. Estrogen analogs, progesterone analogs, testosterone analogs, Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARM), Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEI), Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), thalidomide, melatonin, Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2 (GHRP-2) may play important role in wasting syndrome treatment as well. However, for the usage of some of them, evidence-based recommendations are not available. This review highlights current therapeutic options for cachexia with a specific focus on steroid therapy.

Insulin resistance in the course of acne - literature review.

Acne vulgaris is a very common skin disease being diagnosed in Westernized populations, however, its multifactorial etiopathogenesis still remains unclear. Recent research has demonstrated a possible linkage between acne and insulin resistance (IR), which is the topic of our review. In addition to an inappropriate diet, excessive androgen production or obesity, it is the IR which might be responsible for lack of efficacy of classical treatment strategy in acne. Interestingly, in all such cases an increased activity of mammalian target of rapamycin kinase complex 1 (mTORC1) has been detected. This observation might be considered as the basis of the possible role of metformin as an adjunct therapeutic modality for patients suffering from acne. The aim of our review is to present the possible etiological correlation between acne and insulin resistance, as well as metformin therapy, which might be highly useful in the treatment to resistant forms of acne.

Fertility Rate and Assessment of the Cytoprotective Capacity of Various Types of Holothuroidea Extracts on Spermatozoa.

For years, compounds of natural origin have been the subject of extensive biomedical research due to very interesting, new ingredients potentially useful for various pharmaceutical, medical and industrial applications. The therapeutic properties and healing benefits of sea cucumbers may result from the presence of numerous, biologically active ingredients. Sperm subjected to processing and subsequent storage at low temperatures experience a number of damage, including the loss of the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane, DNA and acrosome defragmentation. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to investigate the cytoprotective potential of sea cucumber extract against cryopreserved sperm and semen fertility rate. Commercially available sea cucumber extract was taken from the cellulose shell, then 790 mg of powder was weighed out and placed in 3 glass tubes containing, respectively: 10 mL of water-glycerin solution (WG), water-ethanol (EC), glycerin-ethanol (GE), glycerin-DMSO (DG). Tubes were mixed with vortex for 3 min, then placed in a water bath and incubated for 16 h at 40 °C. Six simmental bulls, 3 years old, of known health status were used for the experiment. Semen was collected from each male once a week (for 18 weeks) using an artificial vagina. After an initial assessment of semen quality, the ejaculates were pooled to eliminate individual differences between males, then diluted to a final concentration of 80 × 106 sperm/mL with a commercial extender (Optixcell, IMV, L'Aigle, France) and divided into 16 equal samples. Control (C) without additive, the test samples contained 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 µL WG, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 µL WE, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 µL GE, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 µL DG. Semen was frozen/thawed and assessed for motility, viability, DNA defragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential and acrosome integrity. It was shown a positive effect of water-glycerin (WG) and glycerine-ethanol (GE) extracts on the efficiency of sperm preservation at low temperatures. Established that, depending on the type of prepared extract, the sea cucumber can have both cytoprotective (WG, GE, WE) and cytotoxic (DG) effects. Moreover, too high concentrations of the extract can adversely affect the sperm in terms of parameters such as viability, motility, mitochondrial potential, and the integrity of the acrosome or DNA of cells. The present study, thanks to the use of model animals to study the cytoprotective potential of the sea cucumber extract, proves that it can be a potential candidate for use in semen cryopreservation technology to improve the efficiency of storage at low temperatures. Further research is needed to optimize the composition of individual types of extracts and their effect on sperm. The highest effectiveness of female fertilization was observed when doses from GE groups (2 and 4) were used for insemination. The results of this analysis prove that the addition of the tested extract may improve the fertilization efficiency.

Systematic Review of the Treatment of Persistent Hyperparathyroidism Following Kidney Transplantation.

Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder is one of the complications associated with chronic kidney disease. About 10-50% of patients following kidney transplantation have persistent hyperparathyroidism. Hypercalcaemic hyperparathyroidism has a negative impact on the kidney transplant outcome; therefore, it requires treatment. The data regarding the treatment of persistent hyperparathyroidism provided in scientific publications are divergent and contradictory. Therefore, the aim of our systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of persistent hyperparathyroidism treatment in patients following kidney transplantation. The Cochrane, PubMed, and Scopus databases were browsed independently by two authors. The search strategy included controlled vocabulary and keywords. The effectiveness of calcitriol, paricalcitol, cinacalcet, and parathyroidectomy was compared and analysed. The mean calcium and parathormone (PTH) concentrations per patient in the group of paricalcitol increased by 1.27% and decreased by 35.14% (n = 248); in the group of cinacalcet decreased by 12.09% and 32.16% (n = 368); and in the group of parathyroidectomy decreased by 19.06% and 86.49% (n = 15) at the end of the study compared to the baseline (n = 244, n = 342 and n = 15), respectively. Paricalcitol, cinacalcet, and parathyroidectomy decreased the intact PTH level. Cinacalcet and parathyroidectomy lowered calcium levels in renal transplant patients with hypercalcaemia. Conversely, paricalcitol increased the serum calcium concentration. Cinacalcet seems to be a good candidate in the treatment of post-transplant hyperparathyroidism.

Severe hyponatremia as the first sign of late-onset Schmidt's syndrome: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Schmidt's syndrome (SS) is a rare endocrine disorder (14-20:1000000), which consists of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and autoimmune Addison's disease (aAD), and usually occurs in young adults. Here, we report a unique case of late-onset SS manifesting initially with isolated severe hyponatremia and present the hazardous outcomes of preliminary misdiagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old female presented to the emergency department with a two-day history of diarrhea, emesis and disturbances in consciousness. She also reported general fatigue and increasing weakness in the last month. Urgent laboratory findings revealed isolated severe hyponatremia (serum sodium=108 mmol/l) and initial treatment with active sodium infusions was started, although with no improvement in the patient's neurological status after 5 days (serum sodium=127 mmol/l). Meanwhile, the patient developed recurring episodes of hypoglycemia and symptoms portending adrenal crisis (blood pressure=105/58 mmHg, heart rate=96 bpm, severe whole-body muscle pain, two loose stools), which required immediate i.e. hydrocortisone treatment. Reduced blood cortisol, elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and atrophic morphology of the adrenal glands in computed tomography imaging contributed to the final diagnosis of aAD and SS consequently, since the patient had a past medical history of AIT. CONCLUSION: Isolated severe hyponatremia should not be underestimated as the first sign of aAD. Appropriate cause-specific treatment is crucial in managing hyponatremia.

The relationship between the severity of clinical symptoms of chronic urticaria and serum D-dimer levels.

INTRODUCTION: Urticaria and angioedema belong to a heterogeneous group of diseases and it is often very difficult to determine the specific cause of clinical symptoms. Coagulation factors play an important role, and patients with chronic urticaria have elevated plasma concentrations of coagulation factor VII, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 and D-dimers. AIM: To assess the relationship between the severity of clinical symptoms of chronic urticaria and serum D-dimer levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients with a diagnosis of chronic spontaneous urticaria, diagnosed and treated in the Dermatology Department of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences were qualified for the tests. The control group consisted of 35 healthy volunteers. All patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria were previously subjected to individual stages of the diagnostic process, in accordance with the guidelines of EAACI and the Polish team of specialists in the field of dermatology and venereology, and allergology. The dermatological condition was assessed using the UAS scale. The serum D-dimer concentration was determined by immunoturbidimetry. RESULTS: In the basic group, statistically significant, positive and high correlations between the serum D-dimer concentration and the severity of urticaria symptoms were shown, as well as between the severity of pruritus and the value of the disease activity index were shown. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of D-imers are significantly correlated with the severity of urticaria.

Is there an association of cortisol, DHEA-S and cortisol/DHEA-S ratio with obesity and selected metabolic parameters?

A growing problem of obesity observed worldwide results in an increased interest of its pathogenesis. One hypothesis is the association between hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and obesity. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess cortisol and DHEA-S secretion and their association with body mass and other selected metabolic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 91 obese patients and 50 non-obese controls were recruited. The obese group was further subdivided into metabolically healthy and metabolically unhealthy individuals. Blood cortisol was assessed in the morning and in the evening. Other laboratory and anthropometric parameters were also checked. In the obese group, DHEA-S was measured additionally and cortisol/DHEAS ratio calculated. RESULTS: Morning and evening cortisol concentrations were comparable in two studied groups (p>0.05). The only significant difference was the morning to evening cortisol amplitude (212.97±140.24 in the obese vs 171.81±94.00 in the non-obese, p=0.04). Cortisol secretion parameters were not correlated with age, body mass or BMI when whole group was analyzed. In the obese group morning cortisol was negatively correlated with body mass (r=-0.29, p=0.01) and cortisol amplitude with body mass (r=-0.26, p=0.02) and BMI (r=-0.22, p=0.04). DHEA-S was negatively correlated with fasting glucose (r=-0,48 p<0.01) and HOMA-IR (r=-0.26 p =0.03) in the obese group, although it was no longer significant after correcting for age. CONCLUSIONS: There is no strong association between cortisol secretion parameters or DHEA-S and obesity; however, some alterations can be observed with increasing body mass. Further studies should explain their potential role in obesity pathogenesis.

The Comparison of Predictive Value Among Chemerin, IL-18 and Hormonal Parameters in Assessing the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Men.

Chemerin (CHEM) is a new proinflammatory adipokine involved in the immune, metabolic and reproductive processes. Low-grade state inflammation (LGSI) is a key element in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MS). Low SHBG is a good marker of male hypogonadism in MS. This study evaluated the prognostic value of selected adipokine, LGSI, and androgenic parameters in predicting the risk of MS among men. One hundred thirty-two random men aged 40 to 70 years old were enrolled. Measurements of anthropometric indices, blood pressure, and laboratory tests were carried out. A total of 62 men (47%) were diagnosed with MS. Chemerin concentrations were higher in men diagnosed with MS compared to healthy: 89.48 (78.12-112.10) vs. 77.9 (65.12-98.64) ng/mL; p = .002. Men diagnosed with MS presented with lower levels of total testosterone: 5.75 (4.00-6.57) vs. 6.40 (5.50-8.40) ng/mL; p = .0014 and SHBG: 46.58 (35.13-66.28) vs. 71.97 (56.1-92.7) nM/L; p < 0.000001. Elevated LGSI indices were demonstrated in men with MS as opposed to healthy [IL-18: 530.64 (409.12-640.56) vs. 418.85 (348.14-496.44) pg/mL; p = .000033 and hs-CRP: 2.15 (0.97-4.26) vs. 1.01 (0.41-2.68) ng/mL; p = .0057)]. In multivariate regression analysis, the highest negative predictive value in assessing the risk of MS was SHBG serum concentration, while the highest positive predictive values were: IL-18, hypertriglyceridemia, and waist circumference. Decreased SHBG levels, combined with elevated IL-18 concentrations in men showing hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype, significantly increase the risk of MS.

Endocrine abnormalities induced by the antiviral drugs and frequency of their occurrence.

Viral infections lead to many disorders with a different course and prognosis. Clinical trials are ongoing on new groups of antiviral drugs, which are very promising. However, treatment with antiviral drugs causes numerous adverse effects (AEs) including hormonal dysfunctions. The aim of this article is to discuss endocrine abnormalities induced by the antiviral drugs including frequency of their occurrence. The review is based on the available literature in the Medline database and considers the latest articles describing endocrine disorders with relation to antiviral therapy. The hormonal and metabolic dysfunctions were discussed, including the AEs like: osteoporosis, osteomalacia, hypoand hyperthyroidism, metabolic syndrome, lipodystrophy, hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus and others. Awareness of frequency and type of complications caused by antiviral drugs, enables faster linking of the disease with the therapy, so it allows the personalization of treatment. It's necessary to monitor the general condition of the patients and appropriate diagnostic parameters that it can help diagnose hormonal disorders and adjust an individual antiviral therapy for the patient with endocrinopathy.

The Role of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy.

Purpose: Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disease that typically occurs in the course of Graves' disease. VDR gene has been tested for its association with autoimmune thyroid diseases, with conflicting results. The study aimed to evaluate the association of selected VDR polymorphisms (rs2228570, rs1544410, rs7975232, rs731236, and rs11568820) with susceptibility to TAO.Methods: 108 TAO patients and 130 control subjects were enrolled. Polymorphisms were studied by PCR-RFLP or TaqMan real-time PCR.Results: Genotype distributions of rs2228570 differed significantly between TAO and controls under a dominant model (OR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.03-4.08; p = .04). TAO patients also had slightly increased frequency of C allele of rs2228570 comparing to controls (p = .05). However, the study failed to find any associations between VDR polymorphisms and the analyzed clinical features of the disease.Conclusions: These preliminary results have shown that C allele of rs2228570 may contribute to the development of TAO in patients of Caucasian Polish origin.

Can Low SHBG Serum Concentration Be A Good Early Marker Of Male Hypogonadism In Metabolic Syndrome?

INTRODUCTION: In men suffering from metabolic syndrome, accompanying insulin resistance may result in a lowering of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) plasma levels and cause changes in their androgenic status. AIM: The objective of the research was to assess selected androgens and SHBG plasma levels in males meeting diagnostic criteria for MS compared to healthy males. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The group consisted of 65 men aged between 40 and 70 years old fitting IDF metabolic syndrome criteria and 84 controls. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate (DHEA-S), total and free testosterone and SHBG serum levels were evaluated. Calculated free and bioavailable testosterone were estimated using an algorithm proposed by the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male. RESULTS: Men diagnosed with MS showed a statistically significant decrease in plasma levels of DHEA in comparison to healthy ones: 11.579 (8.39-15.56) vs 14.014 (9.611-17.125) ng/mL; p = 0.0350, SHBG: 47.46 (35.78-62.83) vs 71.965 (54.45-91.56) nM/L; p<0.0001 and total testosterone: 5.2 (3.8-6.5) vs 6.3 (5.4-8.25) ng/mL; p = 0.0001 (values presented as a median with Q1-Q3). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that SHBG is a good early marker for metabolic dysregulation in MS, considering its strength of association and significance is comparable to, or better than, those of MS criteria.