Endocrine regulations最新文献

Objective. Nanographene oxide, an oxidation derivative of graphene, is considered to be one of the nanomaterials attractive for biomedical applications, although this nanomaterial is toxic. The increasing exploitation of graphene-based materials necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of the potential impact of these materials on the human health. Moreover, it is necessary to investigate in detail the mechanisms of its toxic effect on living cells particularly at the genome level. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of low doses of nanographene oxide on the expression of key regulatory genes in normal human astrocytes. Methods. Normal human astrocytes, line NHA/TS, were exposed to low doses of nanographene oxide (1 and 4 ng/ml) for 24 h. RNA was extracted from the cells and used for cDNA synthesis. The expression levels of NAMPT, TSPAN13, BCAR3, BRCA1, PTGS2, P4HA1, and P4HA2 mRNAs as well as microRNAs were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results. It was found that the low doses of nanographene oxide induced a dysregulation in the expression of the key regulatory genes in normal human astrocytes in dose-dependent (1 and 4 ng/ml) and gene-specific manner. Nanographene oxide also strongly suppressed the expression of NAMPT, BCAR3, and TSPAN13 genes and significantly up-regulated BRCA1, PTGS2, P4HA1, and P4HA2 ones with a more significant effect in P4HA1 and P4HA2 genes. The expression of miR-96-5p and miR-145-5p was also down-regulated in astrocytes treated with nanographene oxide in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion. The data obtained demonstrate that the low doses of nanographene oxide disturbed the genome functions by changing the expression levels of key regulatory genes in gene-specific and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, a higher dose of nanographene oxide induced more pronounced changes in expression of genes indicating for both genotoxic and neurotoxic possible effects in the normal human astrocytes.

Objective. The aim of the present work is to define the risk factors that can affect the presence of a cognitive impairment and analyze the associations of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism (rs6265), vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism (rs2228570), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor gene polymorphism (rs4880213) with the cognitive impairment in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism in the Western Ukraine population and predict the development of cognitive disorders in these patients. Methods. The study involved 153 patients with various forms of thyroid pathology (hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis, elevated serum antibodies anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid peroxidase). Cognitive impairment in the examined patients was evaluated based on the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test. BDNF, GRIN2B, and 25-OH Vitamin D levels in the serum of the patients and healthy individuals were quantified using highly sensitive commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Genotyping of the VDR (rs2228570), BDNF (rs6265), and NMDA receptor (rs4880213) gene polymorphism was performed using TaqMan probes and Taq-Man Genotyping Master Mix (4371355) on CFX96™Real-Time PCR Detection System. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for TaqMan genotyping was carried out according to the kit instructions. Results. Strong direct relationship between the "Level GRIN2B" and cognitive impairments (p=0.006) was established after evaluating the complex model based on the values of the regression coefficient. An increase in the likelihood of cognitive impairment by 24.898-fold (p=0.012) was seen after assessing the effect of the CT rs6265 genotype. In addition, direct relationship between the influence of the TT rs6265 genotype and an increase in the likelihood of cognitive impairment by a factor of 21.734 (p=0.024) was also established. Conclusion. The present data indicate that the BDNF, TSH, fT4, and vitamin D levels prognostically belong to the significant indicators of the cognitive impairment development.

Objective. The aim of present study was to analyze the serum lipid profile parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and comorbidities [overweight/obesity and/or chronic pancreatitis (CP)] to determine the contribution of these pathologic factors to lipid metabolism disorders in T2DM. Methods. The study involved 579 type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients with comorbid overweight/ obesity and/or CP. The serum lipid panel parameters [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] were determined by commercially available kits on a Cobas 6000 analyzer (Roche Hitachi, Germany). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-HDL-C, and remnant cholesterol (RC) levels were calculated using formulas. The data were statistically analyzed using STATISTICA 7.0. Results. It was shown that dyslipidemia in T2D patients is characterized by unidirectional changes regardless the presence/absence of comorbid overweight/obesity or CP. At the same time, the most severe dyslipidemia was detected in T2D patients with a combination of comorbid over-weight/obesity and CP. Both the elevated body mass index (BMI) and CP can aggravate lipid metabolism disorders in T2DM. In our study, however, the BMI increase positively correlated with the number of dyslipidemia patients characterized by exceeding all target lipid levels for diabetic patients. This is in contrast to T2D patients with normal body weight and comorbid CP, in whom only LDL-C and TG exceeded the target lipid levels. Conclusions. A combination of comorbidities, such as obesity and CP in T2D patients, produced a mutually aggravating course defined particularly by common pathogenic links, insulin resistance, chronic generalized low-intensity inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and dyslipidemia caused primarily by triglyceridemia.

Objective. The present study evaluates the occurrence of subacute thyroiditis in temporal connection with SARS-Cov2 vaccinations described in the literature last year and confirmed by our clinical routine. Methods. Systematic literature search in Medline for studies reporting diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis in temporal connection with vaccinations against Covid 19. Results. The literature search yielded 24 relevant references out of which 22 were "case reports" and two "Letters to the Editor" and encompassed 37 patient cases, in total. They had received a SARS-Cov2 vaccination shortly before the diagnosis (median interval to vaccination six days). In none of these cases, infection of the upper respiratory tract had previously been identified as a classic trigger of the disease. Newly occurring hyperthyroidism and increased laboratory signs of inflammation were described in 78% and 74% of cases, respectively. Atypical clinical pictures (asymptomatic, euthyroid, no inflammation marks) have been observed in both the literature and our patients suspected of thyroid cancer referred to surgery. Conclusions. In times of pandemics and the resulting vaccination, new rapidly occurring sonographic changes in the thyroid gland should be revaluated after 2-3 weeks, or recommended to undergo a fine-needle biopsy, in order to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions.

Objective. The present work was framed to study the relationship between body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and atherosclerosis risk factors on the basis of three lipid ratios in type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients. Methods. A prospective, comparative, and cross-sectional study was performed at the level of three health facilities in Sidi-Bel-Abbes city (north-western Algeria). Anthropometric parameters, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and lipid profiles were assessed in adults T1D and T2D patients over a period of eleven months. Individual atherogenic risk factors were estimated based on lipid ratios in relation to corpulence and hypertension. Results. From the total 237 adult diabetic patients, 90 T1D and 147 T2D ones were involved in the study. Total cholesterol (TC)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides (TG)/HDL ratios were significantly higher in normal weight T2D comparing to T1D. The TC/HDL ratio was significantly higher (p=0.046) in obese men. Nevertheless, no significant differences were revealed in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/HDL ratio between T1D and T2D patients. Higher TC/HDL ratios were observed in T2D patients (males and females) with normal blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, SBP ≤13.5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure, DBP ≤8 mmHg) comparing to T1D patients. Likewise, the LDL/HDL ratio was significantly higher in T2D men with normal DBP (p=0.044). Conclusion. The lipid ratios constitute good indices while managing diabetes. It is also recommended to screen T1D and T2D patients for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity and initiate the management at early stages to prevent the related complications, such as atherosclerosis, as a priority.

Objective. The positive effects of exercise on adiponectin and vitamin D have independently been reported. Recent studies have suggested that vitamin D increases adiponectin synthesis through inhibition of the rennin-angiotensin system in adipose tissue. However, studies evaluating the effects of an aerobic exercise on adiponectin and vitamin D simultaneously investigating the potential mechanism of vitamin D-dependent adiponectin pathways in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are still limited. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on adiponectin and its association with vitamin D in patients with T2DM. Methods. Total twenty-two patients with T2DM were randomly divided into intervention and control group. The intervention group underwent a moderate intensity of a walking mode treadmill aerobic exercise for four weeks. The exercise protocol was adapted from modified Bruce test with a periodic speed and inclination increase. In both groups, body mass index (BMI), vitamin D, and adiponectin levels, were measured before and after four weeks of the lasting program. Results. The mean of the increased adiponectin and vitamin D levels after exercise was significantly higher in the intervened than the control group, but statistically significant difference was only found in the adiponectin effect (p=0.017). There was a significant association found between vitamin D and adiponectin in the intervention group after data adjustments to age and BMI (p=0.005). Conclusion. Moderate intensity of treadmill exercise with increased speed and inclination periodically increased adiponectin level in patients with T2DM. The increased adiponectin might potentially be mediated by increased vitamin D, but the level of their association impact was dependent on the age and BMI.

Objective. The study was aimed to assess the effect of hydrocortisone (HC) replacement therapy on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 37 PAI patients treated with HC. BMD and selected bone turnover markers (β-crosslaps and osteocalcin) were measured. A stepwise binary logistic regression model was applied to determine the independent variables associated with low BMD.

Results: Osteoporosis was noted in 14.3% and osteopenia in 34.3% of cases. These patients were older (p=0.01) and received higher daily HC dose compared to patients with normal BMD (p=0.01). BMD values in the lumbar spine and the femoral neck were negatively correlated with daily HC dose (r=-0.36, p=0.03 and r=-0.34, p=0.05, respectively). Plasma osteocalcin was negatively correlated with disease duration (r=-0.38, p=0.02) and cumulative HC dose (r=-0.43, p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, a daily HC dose ≥12 mg/m2/day was independently associated with a higher risk of osteopenia/osteoporosis [OR (95% CI), 9.0 (1.1-74.6); p=0.04].

Conclusions: Impaired bone mineralization in patients with PAI is correlated with HC dose. A daily HC dose ≥12 mg/m²/day was associated with an increased risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis in these patients.