Clinical endocrinology
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Clinical endocrinology · Apr 2007
Adequacy of current postglucose GH nadir limit (< 1 microg/l) to define long-lasting remission of acromegalic disease.
Some authors proposed to lower the present postglucose GH nadir cut-off (i.e. < 1 microg/l) to that obtained in healthy subjects to establish remission of acromegaly. The aim of the study was to correlate GH nadir with hormonal and metabolic parameters and to confirm the adequacy of the current limit to define disease remission. ⋯ The current GH nadir limit is still adequate to define both short- and long-lasting remission of acromegaly, independently of the type of definitive treatment. Patients with the lowest GH nadir should probably be monitored long-term for adequacy of their GH secretion.
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Clinical endocrinology · Apr 2007
Assessment of left ventricular diastolic function and the Tei index by tissue Doppler imaging in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.
The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function and myocardial performance (the Tei index) by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). ⋯ TDI analysis of mitral annular velocities, Em/Am and the Tei index is useful for assessing LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with PHPT. The parameters obtained from the lateral mitral annulus by TDI can be used for the identification of LV diastolic dysfunction in PHPT patients.
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Clinical endocrinology · Mar 2007
Kickboxing sport as a new cause of traumatic brain injury-mediated hypopituitarism.
Traumatic brain injury, which is a frequent and a worldwide important public health problem, may result in pituitary dysfunction. Concussion, a common type of lesion after traumatic brain injury, is an injury associated with sports including boxing and kickboxing. Kickboxing is one of the most popular martial arts and approximately 1-million people around the world participate in kickboxing sport. Head is the most common site of injury in amateur and professional kickboxers. Pituitary consequences of chronic repetitive head trauma in kickboxing have not been investigated until now. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the pituitary function in both retired and active amateur kickboxers. ⋯ Present data clearly demonstrate for the first time that amateur kickboxing is a novel cause of hypopituitarism and kickboxers are at a risk for hypopituitarism especially isolated GH deficiency. Therefore, participants of the combative sports who were exposed to chronic repetitive head trauma need to be screened.
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Clinical endocrinology · Feb 2007
Cortisol secretary pattern and glucocorticoid feedback sensitivity in women from a Mediterranean area: relationship with anthropometric characteristics, dietary intake and plasma fatty acid profile.
Chronic stress is associated with a dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis consisting on disturbances on the cortisol response and lipid metabolism. ⋯ A disturbed HPA axis is associated with abdominal fat distribution and a higher content of fat and saturated fatty acids in the diet. Women who chose a dietary pattern closer to the Mediterranean diet, with high monounsaturated fatty acid intake, showed lower levels on HPA axis disturbance.
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Clinical endocrinology · Jan 2007
Controlled Clinical TrialEffect of long-term orlistat treatment on serum levels of advanced glycation end-products in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
BACKGROUND Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit elevated serum advanced glycation end-products (AGE) compared with healthy subjects. Short-term administration of orlistat has been shown to reduce the postmeal increase in serum AGE levels in women with PCOS and in controls. ⋯ Our data suggest that orlistat has a beneficial effect in reducing elevated AGE levels and improving the hormonal and metabolic profile in women with PCOS after 6 months of treatment, independently of BMI changes.