INTRODUCTION:Higher frequency of autoimmune diseases in patients with Turner's syndrome (TS) compared with the general population has been described. 5 to 10% of cases occur before adolescence. The goal of the study was to determine the prevalence of thyro-peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) in correlation with karyotype, clinical symptoms and hormonal thyroid function in TS patients.MATERIAL AND METHODS:96 girls with TS, aged 0.5-19.8 years (mean age 12.3+/-5.0) and 58 girls matched for age and BMI (control group) were analysed. The diagnosis of TS was established basing on clinical features and karyotype analysis. 54 had X monosomy, 7--isochromosome, 1--other X chromosome aberration, 11--mosaicism 45,X/46,XX, 3--45,X/47,XXX, 1--45,X/46,XX/47,XXX, 19--mosaicism with structural aberration: 12--45,X/46,X,i(Xq), 2--others, 5--with Y chromosome. In all children TSH, FT(4), FT(3), TPO-Ab, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, physical and ultrasonographic examination were performed.RESULTS:25% of TS patients were positive for TPO-Ab. This frequency was significantly higher (p=0.0017) than that seen in the control group (5.2%). Positive titers of TPO-Ab were found: in 42% of girls with isochromosome (46,X,i(Xq) and 45,X/46,X,i(Xq)), 22.2% with X monosomy, and 17.4% with other karyotypes. The percentage of positive TPO-Ab titres increased with cumulative age of TS patients. It was 6.7% at the age of 10 years and almost doubled (12.1%) one year later. The next strong increase was observed at the age of 16 (up to 19.1%) and gradually rose to 20 years of age. Mean age of seronegative patients was significantly lower than that of seropositive patients (p=0.018). Only 2 patients manifested symptoms of hyperthyroidism requiring short period of antithyroid treatment. Others did not reveal any clinical features of thyroid dysfunction, although developed thyroid abnormalities such as elevated TSH (11.4%) or goiter (28%). Lack of correlation between TPO-Ab, thyroid hormones and lipid levels was associated with L-thyroxine supplementation, in patients with mildly elevated TSH, prior to the study.CONCLUSIONS:Patients with TS, especially with isochromosome, have antithyroid antibodies more frequently than their co-evals. Therefore, it is important to monitor TPO-Ab from about the age of 10 years even in asymptomatic patients. However, in routine clinical practice, both the thyroid examination and TSH level (even in asymptomatic patients) should be screened yearly for early detection of subclinical hypothyroidism and risk of more severe growth retardation in girls with TS.
INTRODUCTION:Discussion on the frequency of coexistent celiac disease and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) as well as an attempt to standardize diagnostic methods of celiac disease detection among DM1 children have been performed.OBJECTIVES:To assess the incidence of celiac disease among DM1 children in the Pomeranian region of Poland followed by analysis of the putative prognostic factors for celiac disease development in this particular group of children.MATERIALS AND METHODS:70 children aged 9.47+/-4.59 (group 1) de novo diagnosed with DM1 and 223 children aged 10.20+/-3.87 with long-standing diabetes mellitus type 1 (4.47+/-3.16 years from the diagnosis) were enrolled in the study. All the patients had C-peptide, HbA1c, CRP, TSH, fT4, fT3, urinary albumin secretion rate, IgA, level of antigliadin antibodies (AGA), anti-tissue transglutaminase (TGA) IgA and IgG antibodies (ELISA), anti-endomysium (EmA) IgA and IgG antibodies (immunofluorescence) and anti-tyreoglobulin antibodies (TG), anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies (ELISA) evaluated. All the patients had jejunal biopsy and thyroid ultrasound examination.RESULTS:5.7% of group 1 patients were diagnosed with celiac disease based on the positive jejunal biopsy in comparison with 9.4% in the group 2. TGA antibodies were present in 9.52% of group 2, AGA in 7.62%, EmA in 6.19%. 10% of group 1 children had autoimmune thyroiditis versus 24.2% of group 2 children. The group of children with coincident long-lasting DM1 and celiac disease (group A) was characterized by significantly earlier age at diagnosis (p=0.003), higher HbA(1)c (p=<0.001), CRP (p<0.001) and elevated urine albumin secretion in relation to children without celiac disease and autoimmune thyroiditis (group B). Serologic test detecting TGA antibodies was found to be the most sensitive (95.2%) for the detection of celiac disease among DM1 children, while the lowest sensitivity was obtained in the case of the EmA antibody test (61.9%).CONCLUSIONS:The celiac disease morbidity confirmed by jejunal biopsy is high among DM1 children (9.4%). The assessment of the serum TGA appears to be the most sensitive screening marker for the celiac disease detection in DM1 children.
Matrix metaloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in various pathological processes including inflammatory response, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is associated with prematury atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Circulating levels of matrix metaloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) so far have not been assessed in children and adolescents with GHD.Serum levels of matrix metaloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), matrix metaloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metaloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) were measured in 44 (11 girls and 33 boys) children and adolescents with newly diagnosed GHD [age (mean+/-SD) 12.5+/-2.7 years, height 1.3+/-0.1 m, body surface area (BSA) 1.1+/-0.2 m(2) and body mass index (BMI) 17.4+/-2.2 kg/m(2)] and in 32 (11 girls and 21 boys) healthy children and adolescents (age 12.4+/-2.9 years, height 1.6+/-0.2 m, BSA 1.4+/-0.3 m(2) and BMI 18.7+/-2.6 kg/m(2)). Human MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 measurements were carried out with the use of ELISA kits.Patients with GHD had significantly higher concentrations of MMP-2 (287.2+/-60.5 vs. 235.8+/-41.3 ng/ml, p<0.0001) and TIMP-2 (81.4+/-14.9 vs. 62.7+/-15.9 ng/ml, p<0.0001) levels than the control healthy group. There was no difference in MMP-9 levels (338.5+/-197.9 vs. 276.3+/-121.7 ng/ml, p=0.12) between patients with GHD and controls.Children and adolescents with GHD have elevated serum concentrations of MMPs-2 and TIMP-2.
BACKGROUND:The elevated blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors of diabetic micro- and macroangiopathy.AIM OF THE STUDY:Evaluation of the prevalence of prehypertension and relationship between prehypertension, metabolic control and chronic complications in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.MATERIALS AND METHODS:83 patients aged 12.0-18.9 years, with a duration of diabetes 0.5-17.3 years, without evidence of arterial hypertension were recruited. In all patients 24-hour automatic blood pressure monitoring was performed with oscillometric device. The individuals with >40% of systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure >120/80 mmHg were defined as prehypertensive. HbA(1)c was measured by HPLC, plasma lipid levels--by an enzymatic method and urinary albumin excretion rate by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay method. Body mass index (BMI) and daily dose of insulin were calculated. Ophthalmoscopic examination and power spectral analysis of heart rate variation were performed.RESULTS:In 30 individuals (36.1%) prehypertension was diagnosed. The prehypertension group had older age (17.5+/-1.1 vs. 15.9+/-2.3 years; p<0.001) and longer duration of the disease (7.3+/-4.7 vs. 4.7+/-3.4 years; p=0.005) as compared with the group with normal blood pressure. There were no significant differences between groups in HbA1c, daily dose of insulin, BMI-SDS, lipids profile, prevalence of microalbuminuria and retinopathy. In the patients with prehypertension the a greater activity of sympathetic activation was observed (LF/HF: 1.00+/-0.06 vs. 0.78+/-0.04, p=0.018).CONCLUSIONS:Prehypertension is frequently recognized in type 1 diabetic children and adolescents. The prevalence of prehypertension is associated with older age, longer duration of diabetes and the shift of the sympatho-vagal balance toward sympathetic activation. There is no relationship between prehypertension and metabolic control or the prevalence of microvascular complications.
INTRODUCTION:Despite that numerous investigations on the nature of diabetic microangiopathy were carried out, its pathomechanism remains unclear.OBJECTIVE:The aim of the study was to analyze the relation between early diabetic microangiopathy and the proinflammatory cytokines, NAG and its A and B isoforms in blood and urine in children diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 1.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study was carried out on the group of 56 children with diabetes mellitus 1 (age 13.6+/-3.74) and 35 healthy children selected as the controls. All the patients had 24 hrs albuminuria, HbA1c, C-peptide as well as the NAG enzyme and its A and B isoforms serum and urine activities measured. Additionally, all the children had TNF-a and IL6 level in serum measured. Each patient had 24 hrs blood pressure monitored and underwent ophthalmologic examination.RESULTS:Children with long-standing diabetes mellitus and retinopathy (group 1, n=15) were older and were characterized by a statistically significant longer duration of the disease and higher HbA1c level in comparison with the patients who presented with no sign of diabetic retinopathy (group 2, n=41). In the group 1 statistically significant higher TNF-alpha serum level (p=0.01), NAG (p=0.002) and its isoforms A (p=0.007) and B (p=0.001) urine activities were measured in relation to the group 2. Additionally the level of IL-6 and NAG and its isoforms A and B serum activities were higher in group 1 than in group 2, however the differences were of no statistical significance. Moreover the children from group 2 in comparison with the healthy controls showed statistically significant higher TNF-alpha serum activity (p=0.016) and NAG (p<0.001) and its A (p<0.001) and B (p<0.001) isoforms both serum and urine activities.CONCLUSIONS:The occurrence of the detectable serum TNF-alpha activity in children with diabetes mellitus type 1 showing no sign of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy and no microalbuminuria with the concomitant increase of NAG and its isoforms serum and urine activities might point toward prompt occurrence of these changes in the eye and the kidneys.
INTRODUCTION:The modern therapy of Hodgkin's disease (HD): chemotherapy (CT) or/and radiotherapy (RT) gives a chance of a long time survival but it brings a possibility of early and late complications including thyroid gland function disorders (post-radiotherapy thyroiditis, thyroid hypofunction, Graves disease, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer).AIM:Evaluation of thyroid gland function in patients with total HD remission status from 6 to 16 years after the treatment.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study included 29 patients suffering from HD (9 women, 20 men, mean age 22.8 years), treated with CT (cycles MVPP and B-DOPA) and with RT (cervical region; 18-40 Gy) in their childhood. The patients were examined by palpation, ultrasound, fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The thyroid gland on the average 6 (1st examination) and 16 years (2nd examination) after the treatment as well as thyroid hormones (TSH, fT3, fT4), thyroglobulin (Tg) and anti-thyroid antibodies in blood serum were estimated. The results were analyzed statistically; the percentage of abnormal results of estimated hormones with reference range was calculated.RESULTS:There were no abnormalities in thyroid palpation examination in any patient. The mean thyroid volume in ultrasound in 2nd examination cor-responded to 66.3% of healthy individuals thyroid volume. In 8 patients thyroid nodules were found, in one thyroid papillary carcinoma was diagnosed. In one patient (3.4%) the features of subclinical thyroid hypofunction and in 17.2% the increased level of Tg in blood serum with normal thyroid hormone levels were found. In two patients (6.8%) the raised titre of a-TG and a-TPO was observed.CONCLUSIONS:1. In majority of patients with HD after RT in cervical region in long term remission period the normal thyroid function was observed. 2. Due to thyroid cancer hazard even many years after radiotherapy regular morphological thyroid evaluation is necessary.
BACKGROUND:Because of many disadvantages of growth hormone (GH) stimulation tests the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is still problematic for the clinician. THE AIM of the study was the estimation of diagnostic usefulness of the GH provocation tests and basal IGF-I concentration measurement in the diagnosis of GHD.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study group consisted of 180 children with short stature diagnosed in the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes in the years 1998-2003. Pharmacological stimulation test with insulin, clonidine, glucagon and L-dopa were used. GH concentration in physiological test after the onset of sleep was also measured. In 60 patients IGF-I concentration was estimated. For statistical analysis Spearman test was used.RESULTS:The highest mean GH concentrations (19.18 microl U/ml) and GH peaks (26.39 microl U/ml) were observed in sleep test. IGF-I concentration was correlated with GH concentration levels in physiological test after onset of sleep (r=0.4; p<0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Sleep is the strongest stimulatory agent for GH secretion. The estimation of GH secretion after the onset of sleep can be used as a screening test in the diagnosis of GHD. Because of many diagnostic problems in estimation of pituitary function the auxologic parameters should be considered as the most important part in the diagnostic work-up of children with short stature due to GHD.
INTRODUCTION:Turner syndrome is a common chromosomal aberration. Among other features of that syndrome susceptibility to autoimmune diseases is well known. Most often there is Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Because of short stature the evaluation of thyroid volume according to chronological age seems to be not efficient. THE AIM of the study was to find an adequate method of thyroid volume evaluation in girls with Turner syndrome using standards for healthy children.MATERIAL AND METHODS:54 girls with Turner syndrome were examined, mean age was 11 years and 9 months. Physical and ultrasonographic examination of thyroid gland was performed. The hormonal state and presence of antithyroid autoantibodies were evaluated. The thyroid volume was evaluated according to normal range (by Delange) for chronological and height age of each girl.RESULTS:According to chronological age the thyroid volume was in normal range, but according to height age in 3 patients the thyroid volume was over 97 percentile. They were the same girls in whom we detected goiter according to physical examination.CONCLUSIONS:We suggest that proposed method gives the possibility of an accurate evaluation of thyroid volume in patients with Turner syndrome and in other patients with growth deficiency.
INTRODUCTION:Sensitivity to insulin changes during puberty. It is necessary to distinguish physiological insulin resistance (IR) from pathological one. In children the IR index proposed by Belfiore (IRI(Belfiore)) could be used. Application of this formula is possible, when the reference values of the area under curve of glucose (GLU(AUC)) and insulin (INS(AUC)) concentration during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) are available for the studied population. Derivation of such reference values was the goal of this study.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Forty healthy children, aged 8-18.2 years, were enrolled in the study. Regarding the stages of puberty, the children were divided into 3 groups: A--stage I, B--stage II or III and C--stage IV or V. Serum glucose and insulin concentrations were measured for each child during OGTT and GLU(AUC) and INS(AUC) were calculated. The obtained mean values of GLU(AUC) and INS(AUC) for each group were used to calculate IRIBelfiore. To determine the cut-off point between physiological and pathological IR, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed for 40 studied children and 50 obese and insulin resistant children (according to QUICKY and/or elevated insulin concentration during OGTT), matched for age, sex and stages of puberty with the study group.RESULTS:The following mean values of GLU(AUC) and INS(AUC) were obtained in particular groups: A--189.3 mg/dL and 37.1 ulU/mL; B--207.4 mg/dL and 54.5 ulU/mL; C--188.8 mg/dL and 59.4 ulU/mL, respectively. The cut-off point value between physiological and pathological IR at the level 1.27 for IRI Belfiore was calculated.CONCLUSIONS:1. The mean values of GLU(AUC) and INS(AUC) obtained during OGTT could be used to calculate IRI Belfiore in children. 2. IRI(Belfiore) values above 1.27 indicate pathological IR in developmental age.
UNLABELLED:Etiology and the course of diabetes mellitus type 1 diagnosed in infancy remains the subject of intensive investigations, nonetheless the diagnosis of hyperglycemia in this period obliges prompt start of the insulin therapy. The treatment of newborns and infants is challenging because of the necessity to use very low doses of insulin.CASE REPORT:A boy was transferred from the neonatal ward on the 8th day of life with the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. He was born of young healthy parents (mother: 27, father: 30 years old), with no family history of diabetes or other autoimmune disorders. The course of the pregnancy remained normal until 37th week of gestation when due to alterations in the fetal heart rate the cesarean section was done. In spite of precise i.v. insulin therapy fluctuations in glucose levels persisted. Additionally the achievement of the metabolic compliance was complicated by generalized infections caused by hospital pathogens that required broad-spectrum i. v. antibiotic therapy. At the age of 7 weeks personal insulin pump Pradigm 712 for the delivery of NovoRapid insulin was introduced. Already on the 3rd day of such treatment, the daily insulin dose could be decreased from 0.7 unit/kg/24 hrs down to 0.5 unit/kg/24 hrs, and glucose levels normalized. In the course of this treatment the patient weighed 6300 g at the age of 6 months, and his psychomotoric development reached the milestones adequate for the age. The biochemical examinations revealed C-peptide levels both fasting and after glucagon stimulation <0.5 ng/ml. Additionally, the analyzed immunologic markers of type 1 diabetes are negative. The genetic testing for Kir6.2 mutation gave negative results.CONCLUSIONS:The presented case shows that the insulin therapy carried out via personal insulin pump is the possible and effective treatment in children diagnosed with diabetes mellitus during infancy.
BACKGROUND:Insulin resistance--a key element of the metabolic syndrome--is observed in children with simple obesity. Adipose tissue is producing bioactive substances called adipocytokines. Some of them may play a role in the development of insulin resistance. AIM OF THE STUDY:Estimation of the frequency of insulin resistance and its correlation with leptin, adiponectin and resistin levels in children with simple obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The 53 children (BMI>97 centile), mean age 13.57 years. Mean BMI was +4.04 SDS. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Insulin levels at 0' < or = 15 microIU/mL and/or insulin peak during OGTT < or = 150 microIU/mL and/or peak at 120' < or =75 microIU/mL were established as normal values. Homa ratio was calculated. Patients were divided into groups depending on the presence or absence of hyperinsulinemia / insulin resistance. Concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, resistin were measured. RESULTS:In 13.23 % children various types of hyperglycemia were diagnosed and hyperinsulinemia in OGTT was noted in 83.02 %. Severe insulin resistance (HOMA>3) was diagnosed in 71.82 %. In the hyperinsulinemia group higher glucose levels in OGTT were stated comparing to the non hyperinsulinemia group. In children with insulin resistance, higher BMI and SD BMI were observed. In this paper results of correlations of adipocytokines levels and anthropometric parameters or carbohydrates metabolism in children with / without insulin resistance are presented. CONCLUSIONS:In children with severe insulin resistance adiponectin concentrations correlate negatively with glucose levels, there is a positive correlation of adiponectin and glucose and insulin in a group without severe insulin resistance. In patients with insulin resistance leptin concentrations correlate positively with the degree of obesity and insulin levels in OGTT.
In the last two decades the problem of arterial hypertension in patients in the developmental age gained an increasing interest. The frequency of arterial hypertension in children was estimated at the level of 1-5% of the population. It was demonstrated that hypertension is observed in patients with type 1 diabetes over two-three times more frequently than in the general population. Arterial hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardio-vascular complications. The coexistence of diabetes type 1 and arterial hypertension predisposes to ischemic heart disease, stroke and premature death. Normal range of arterial tension for children was established during the Task Force on Blood Pressure Control study in children. Models depending on age and sex were created. Measurements above the 95 percentile for age and sex were referred to as significant hypertension and above the 97 percentile as heavy hypertension. For the development of arterial hypertension in patients with type 1 diabetes, which is the dominant type in children and adolescents, apart from the genetic predisposition, the coexistence of nephropathy is important. In children and adolescents almost exclusively secondary nephrogenic hypertension is observed, which develops usually 2 years after microproteinuria. Seldom in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes essential hypertension or hypertension of other causes, as for example contraction of the nephrotic artery, may be observed. A particular form of arterial hypertension is lack of pressure decrease during the night, with a maintenance of the normal rhythm during the day. Recently the state called "pre-hypertension", considered as a precursor of hypertension and a predictor of excessive cardiovascular risk, has gained increasing interest. The pharmacological therapy of arterial hypertension in patients with diabetes type 1 may be taylored individually, depending on the degree and form of diabetes, and also on its late complications. In case of an unfavourable course dialysis may be considered and transplantation of the kidney, as hemodialysis in children with type 1 diabetes is connected with frequent complications. It is crucial to consider the transplantation of the kidney at early stages, when the creatinine level is above 5 mg/dl. It has been proved that the results of transplantation in patients with diabetes are similar to those in patients without diabetes.
The epidemic of obesity concerns also children and adolescents. Excess weight increases the risk of metabolic complications, diabetes type 2, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary and musculoskeletal disorders, psychosocial problems. Simple obesity leads to secondary endocrine disturbances. Long lasting insulin resistance and proinflammatory state induced by cytokines, which are produced in adipose tissue, play the main role in the development of obesity associated complications. Many disturbances can be reversed at the early stage, if even small weight loss is achieved.
INTRODUCTION:Adolescent girls often visit the outpatient endocrinological clinic because of menstrual disorders. The problem arises whether to recognize the menstrual cycle irregularity as a physiology of the adolescence or to initiate diagnostic procedures to exclude pathology. Although irregular menses during first 3 years after menarche are usually symptoms of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis immaturity, it does not exclude disorders to be subject of diagnosis and treatment. THE AIM OF THE STUDY was to evaluate causes of menstrual disorders in adolescent girls, who visited the outpatient clinic of the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology for Children and Adolescents, Wroclaw Medical University, between 2001-2005.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study comprised 76 patients, who visited the outpatient endocrinological clinic because of menstrual disorders. Only the girls at least 2 years after menarche or with amenorrhoea primaria were included. The following parameters were analyzed: age, age of menarche, height and body mass, BMI, evidences of androgen excess, hormone levels, gynecological and ultrasound examination.RESULTS:Average age in the examined group was 16.2 years (min 12.5, max 20), average age of menarche was 12.5 years. Evidence of androgens excess were found in 48 patients (63.2%). The girls were coming to the clinic most often because of rare menses, most rarely because of primary lack of menstruation. Depending on the type of disorders they were divided into five groups: group I--amenorrhoea primaria--4 patients (5.3%), group II--amenorrhoea secundaria--14 patients (18.4%), group III--oligomenorrhoea--38 patients (50%), group IV--polymenorhea--8 patients (10.5%), group V--mixed disorders--12 patients (15.8%). The causes of menstrual disorders depended on the group.CONCLUSIONS:1. Menstruation cycles irregularity in the first years after menarche may be a symptom of pathology demanding diagnosis and treatment. 2. PCO should be taken into consideration as a frequent cause of menstrual disorders in adolescent girls.
In this review we discuss contemporary opinions about the Leśniowski-Crohn disease in particular hormonal abnormalities including growth hormone resistance and the role of adipocytokines. The place of growth hormone in the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease was also discussed.
UNLABELLEDIn males AMH is produced by the testes from fetal life to puberty. The main role of AMH in the male fetus is to cause Müllerian duct regression, in prepubertal boys AMH is involved in testicular development and function. THE AIM OF THIS STUDY was to assess the use of a sensitive assay kit of AMH measurements in the diagnosis and management of children with abnormal sexual differentiation and cryptorchidism. We also compared the serum AMH levels with testosterone levels after hCG stimulation.METHODSWe assessed serum AMH levels in 79 prepubertal patients: gonadal dysgenesis (n=23), partial androgen insensitivity (n=4), scrotal hypospadiasis (n=16), bilateral cryptorchidism (n=20), anorchia (n=10) and unilateral cryptorchidism (n=6). Earlier hCG test was performed (one dose of 2000 IU/m2 i.m.) and testosterone levels were determined.RESULTSAMH level was not impaired in patients with unilateral cryptorchidism and partial androgen insensitivity (median 350 pmol/l). AMH was normal in most of boys with scrotal hypospadiasis (median 317 pmol/l). Significant differences were observed between AMH levels in boys with hypospadias and patients with gonadal dysgenesis (median 174 pmol/l; p<0,001). In the cryptorchid group AMH level was normal in 50% of boys. There was a significant difference between AMH levels in cryptorchid boys (median 249.5 pmol/l) and patients with anorchia; (p<0,001). AMH levels were almost undetectable in boys with vanishing testes (median 1.0 pmol/l). The basal AMH levels were correlated with testosterone response to hCG.CONCLUSIONSWhen testes are non-palpable a single measurement of serum AMH level can distinguish between cryptorchidism and anorchia. AMH determination can help in the diagnosis of intersex conditions. Our data demonstrated that basal AMH measurements correlate with testosterone response to hCG. Serum AMH concentration in prepubertal children is a marker of testicular function. Preoperative measurement of AMH can be useful in the management of children with cryptorchidism and intersex disorders.
Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is a physiological phenomenon, necessary for normal function of every organism. This is an active process, per-current with a participation of the cellular metabolism embracing the activation of genes and the synthesis of proteins. The signal to apoptosis can be started practically in every cell of our organism. Disturbances of the apoptosis regulation determine the essential link of the pathogenesis of many diseases, including autoimmune thyroid disorders. Such molecules as FasL, TNF (tumor necrosis factor), TRAIL (the ligand inducing apoptosis), inducing different apoptotic pathway can play the key-role in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Besides in the destructive thyroiditis an important role is also played by proteins from the bcl-2 family and the proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this publication is to present the influence of different factors on the apoptosis and the role of programmed cells death in autoimmune thyroid diseases.
The main method of treatment of adrenocortical tumours is surgery. The efficacy of the mitotane therapy is still controversial with many serious side effects of the therapy. Moreover, patients receiving mitotane should be carefully monitored for adrenal insufficiency and usually require long-term hormone replacement therapy. We present a rare case of normalisation of the contralateral adrenal function after long-term mitotane therapy as a post-surgical treatment of the adrenocortical tumour.
INTRODUCTION:Abnormal activation of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in diabetes mellitus leads to extracellular matrix changes through the structural protein composition changes. The metalloproteinases inhibitors (TIMPs) are regulatory factors in this activity. Not all regulating mechanisms are completely known, especially in patients with type 1 diabetes.THE AIM OF STUDY:evaluation of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1, TIMP-2 levels in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.MATERIAL AND METHODS:74 patients in the mean age 15 years (+/-3.0) suffering from type 1 diabetes for mean 6.6 years (+/-3.6) took part in the study. Patients were treated with flexible multiple daily insulin (n=54) and with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion - personal insulin pump (n=20). MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 blood serum levels were measured in all patients. 45 healthy persons matched for age, without atherosclerosis risk factors, with proper BMI and lipids levels were in the control group.RESULTS:MMP-2 level as well as TIMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels were significantly higher in patients with type 1 diabetes in comparison to the control group (p respectively <0,01; <0,02; <0,001). We observed higher MMP-9 level in obese patients than in patients with BMI value below 90 pc for sex and age (p<0,02). We noted lower MMP-2 level in patients with chronic complications and/or arterial hypertension (n=24) in comparison to patients without that kind of complications (p<0,05). Positive correlation between TIMP-1 level and HbA1c level was noted. Age of patients as well as BMI negatively correlated with MMP-2 and TIMP-2 and positively with TIMP-1. We observed a correlation between MMP-2, TIMP-2 and especially TIMP-1 with lipid levels. Strong positive correlation was noted between MMP-2 and TIMP-2 (r=0.8; p<0,0001).CONCLUSIONS:1. MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels are higher in patients with type 1 diabetes than in the control group. 2. Age, diabetes duration, metabolic control, BMI and lipids levels have influence on the MMPs/TIMPs system. 3. TIMP-1 is supposed to be the key marker of metabolic disturbances in type 1 diabetes.
INTRODUCTION:The cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is a transmembrane molecule present on T cells that plays a critical role in the down regulation of antigen-activated immune response. Its gene polymorphism is a strong candidate gene for conferring susceptibility to thyroid autoimmunity. THE AIM of the study was to analyse the surface CTLA-4 (CD 152) expression on peripheral blood lymphocytes.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Blood samples from 66 children were analysed: 36 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 30 healthy, age-matched controls, mean age: 13.4 years. The percentages of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were analysed by evaluation of CD antigens surface expression with three colour flow cytometry using Coulter EPICS XL cytometer. CD28, CD152, CD4, CD8 antigens were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using t- test and other tests of the Statistica programme. P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.RESULTS:In children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis the surface expression of CD8(+) CD152(+) T cells was statistically significant lower than in healthy controls. P-value was 0,02. Percentage of other CD examined in the study did not differ significantly in patients and in the control group.CONCLUSION:In children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis the surface expression of CTLA-4 (CD152) on peripheral blood lymphocytes CD8(+) was statistically significantly lower than in healthy controls.
