International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Year:2010 | Volume:8 | Issue:2|Papers Count:8

Background: Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are common, with important epidemiological data, including family and twin studies, supporting a strong genetic background on the etiology of AITD.Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between two polymorphisms of Thyroid Peroxidase gene (TPO) and serum level of Anti-TPO titer in an Iranian population.Patients and Methods: A sample of 184 participants from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study was selected as the case (No.=112) and control (No.=72) groups. Inclusion criteria for cases were Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg>100U/L with a history of hypothyroidism. Anti-TPO level in subjects was measured by the ELISA kit. Genomic DNA was extracted using Salting-out/Proteinase K method. Polymorphism detection of Exon 8 and 12 was done using the PCR-RFLP method. The PCR products were incubated with restriction enzymes SacII and BsrI, respectively.Results: The C allele frequency of C2145/T polymorphism Exon 12 (rs732608) was observed in 71.2% of patients and 28.8% of normal individuals. This allele was significantly associated with increased levels of anti-TPO [(TT, 140±330 pmol/L, vs. CC, 436±380 pmol/L, P<0.001), (OR: 9.2)]. The G1193/C was not polymorphic and no association between this SNP and the level of serum anti-TPO was found in this study.Conclusions: We found that the C allele polymorphism in C2145/T exon 12 is associated with the high level of serum anti-TPO and that carriers of this allele are predisposed to disease 9.2 times more than those, who have no C allele. The selected polymorphism of exon 8 has no effect on increased levels of anti-TPO.

Background: Metabolic syndrome is considered to be an inflammatory situation with highly production of adipokines. Garlic and its products are known to induce anti-inflammatory effects. However, no data are available on the anti- inflammatory effects of garlic in subjects with metabolic syndrome.Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of a chemically well characterized garlic preparation on biomarkers for inflammation, and lipid metabolism in subjects with metabolic syndrome.Patients and Methods: This study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 40 adult women, aged > 18 year, who were diagnosed to have metabolic syndrome based on ATPIII criteria and 10 normal women. The cases were randomly assigned to 2 parallel treatment groups: garlic tablets (1.8 g/d), or placebo. Serum adiponectin, interleukin 6, TNF a and lipid profiles were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment and anthropometric measurements were recorded.Results: Compared to the placebo group, garlic treatment resulted in significantly lower weight and waist circumference in women with metabolic syndrome. No effect on weight was detected in normal subjects with garlic. None of the inflammatory biomarkers and plasma lipid levels showed significant differences between the garlic-treated and the placebo groups.Conclusions: This study confirms that garlic has no effect on major plasma lipoproteins and furthermore has no impact on inflammatory biomarkers in women with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Although hyperthyroidism is associated with anemia in men, the exact mechanism is not very well known. In the hyperthyroid state, the activity of this pump in red blood cells is decreased, so changes in the maintenance of the cell volume and the fluidity of the membrane of RBCs occur and changes in both the osmotic resistance, as well as changes in the blood profile in the hyperthyroid state are expected.Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the possible impact of hyperthyroidism on the hematological parameters and osmotic fragilityof the red blood cells (RBC) in male rats.Materials and Methods: Forty-eight male wistar rats (body weight, 221 ± 4g) were divided into 4 groups (10-13 each). Levo-thyroxine treated groups (I and III given 12mg/L levothyroxine in drinking water for 30 and 60 days respectively), while the control groups (groups II and IV) received only tap water. Blood samples were collected to measure hormone levels and osmotic fragility. The osmotic fragility was tested by incubation of RBCs at 37oC for 30 min in different concentrations of NaCl (0 – 0.9 g/100 ml). The extent of hemolysis was measured by colorimetry of the supernatant. Percent hemolysis was calculated on the basis of the 100% hemolysis in the first tube (zero NaCl).Results: Results of the study show that although hemoglobin (16.4 ± 0.3g/dL), haematocrit (52.2 ± 1.4%), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (18.2 ± 0.3pg) and mean corpuscular volume (57.4 ± 0.8fL) in group III differed significantly (P<0.05) compared to the control group (15 ± 0.4, 46.7 ± 1.2, 17.2 ± 0.3, 53.6 ± 0.5 respectively), the osmotic fragility showed no significant difference.Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that not only does experimentally induced hyperthyroidism not induce anemia in rats, but it apparently enhances the erythropoiesis without alteration of the osmotic fragility of the RBC. Exploring the mechanism may further help to explain the altered osmotic fragility observed in humans.

Background: Liver and muscle glycogen are main energy sources, that play crucial rolesin muscular function and maintenance of blood glucose levels during short and vigorous exercise. Much data is available on the effects of different types of physical exercise training on liver and muscle glycogen contents, showing that endurance-trained humans and animals have higher liver and muscle glycogen contents, when compared with sedentary counterparts.Objectives: The purpose of current study was to investigate the effects of treadmill running at different intensities on the glycogen contents of liver and skeletal muscle.Materials and Methods: Forty male wistar rats (14-16weeks old, weighing 250-260 g) were randomly assigned to controls (No. = 10), and the low (18 m/min) (No. = 10), moderate (26 m/min)( No. = 8) and high (34 m/min) (No. = 10) intensity groups. The three training groups ran for 60 min/d, 5d/wk at 18, 26, and 34 m/min and 0% grade for 12 weeks. Forty-eight hours after the last exercise session, rats were sacri, and liver and gastrocnemius muscle were collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen for glycogen measurements. One way ANVOA was, used and significance level was set at P £ 0.05.Results: Data demonstrated that the trained groups had higher liver and lower muscle glycogen contents when compared to the control group, with the moderate exercise group having the highest levels.Conclusions: Moderate intensity exercise seems more suitable for maintaining and improving glycogen levels in liver and muscle.

Background: Neurohormones like testosterone and estrogen play important roles in learning and memory. Estrogen receptors, densely expressed in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus, mediate the effects of estrogen on learning and memory. Estrogen receptors belong to a family of transcription factors, the nuclear receptor super family, and have two subtypes, estrogen receptor a and estrogen receptor b.Objectives: Study the effect of pre-training infusions of estrogen receptor ligands in the CA1 region of hippocampus on passive avoidance taskMaterials and Methods: The current research has been conducted to assess the effects of estradiol valerat, estrogen receptor b selective agonist, diarylpropionitrile, non-steroidal selective estrogen receptor b modulator, and Cyclofenil on passive avoidance task on adult male rats. Male adult rats were bilaterally cannulated into the CA1 area of hippocampus, and then administered vehicle dimethyl sulfoxide or estradiol valerat (15 mg/0.5ml/side), diarylprop-ionitrile (0.2, 0.5, 1 mg/0.5ml/side), Cyclofenil (5, 7.5,10 mg/0.5ml/side), 30 min before training.Results: Results showed that pre-training intra CA1 injections of EV (15 mg/0.5ml/side), diarylpropionitrile (0.5, 1 mg/0.5ml/side), and Cyclofenil (10 mg/0.5ml/side), significantly decreased step-through latencies and increased time spent in the dark chamber in inhibitory avoidance learning.Conclusions: Our data suggest that estrogen receptor b plays has an important role in learning and memory acquisition in the inhibitory avoidance task.

Background: High blood glucose levels induce oxidative stress and decrease antioxidant defenses.Objectives: The present study aims to assess the association, if any, between increase in proteolytic enzyme activities and oxidative stress in diabetic subjects.Patients and Methods: Fifty-one non diabetic patients (33 men, 18 women, mean age 54.47 year) and 53 diabetic patients (39 men, 14 women, mean age 52.92year) were included in the study. Diabetic status was assessed by the fasting blood sugar (FBS) using glucose oxidase method. Oxidant stress was measured by estimating erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) in terms of thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS). Proteolytic activity was estimated by the amount of amino groups released by the erythrocyte lysate of the diabetic individual using phenyl hydrazine treated hemoglobin.Results: Erythrocyte MDA was higher in diabetics (cases) (4.7±1.7 n moles/gHb) than in controls (3.3±2.2 n moles/gHb) (p=0.001). Erythrocyte proteolytic activity was also higher in cases (167.2±648 n moles/gHb) than the controls (27.9±31.7 n moles/gHb).Conclusions: Both erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and the proteolytic activity in the erythrocyte lysates of diabetic patients was significantly higher in cases than in controls. Diabetes is associated with a significant increase in TBARS, an index of oxidant stress. Proteolytic enzymes degrade many oxidatively altered proteins preventing the accumulation of altered and damaged proteins in the cell.

Transient diabetes insipidus (DI), a rare complication of pregnancy, results from excessive activity of placental vasopressinase. If unrecognized, it may threaten the life of both mother and fetus. Here we report a case of 33 year-old women with a twin pregnancy and transient diabetes insipidus, believed to be due to increased vasopressin degradation rate. The purpose of this case report is to reassess gestational DI and to discuss its appropriate management.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Recent studies indicate that some degree of pituitary dysfunction may be observed after an acute stroke and this condition is commonly misdiagnosed. Reported here is the case of a 65 year- old man who developed symptoms of pituitary deficiency a few months after a frontal lobe stroke and finally presented with hypoglycemia and coma. Investigation revealed panhypopitutarism and presence of empty sella and a very small pituitary. He responded to treatment well.Conclusion: Patients with history of ischemic stroke and suggestive symptoms need evaluation of pituitary function.