International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Year:2018 | Volume:16 | Issue:1|Papers Count:7

Background: Thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) has a well-established role in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, and the “ Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology” is used to interpret FNA results. Bethesda categories III and IV encompass varying risks of malignancy. In addition, there issomedebate in the literature abouthowto selectamongmanyacceptable treatment approaches. Objectives: To establish an association between these 2 cytological categories and malignancy rates in patients treated in a referral tertiary cancer center, where surgical treatment is recommended for all these patients. Methods: A total of 615 thyroid nodules (582 patients) were included in this retrospective study. There were 478 nodules that were classified as Bethesda category III and 137 nodules as Bethesda category IV. Electronic records were reviewed to establish a correlation between the FNA cytological results and the final histopathological analyses. Incidentally detected carcinomas were considered separately. Results: Among the bethesda category III group, 75 malignant nodules (15. 7%) were coincident with the target nodule (74 patients, 16. 2%). Incidental carcinomas were found in 13. 8% of these patients. The remaining 403 (84. 3%) target nodules were benign. Among the bethesda category IV nodules, 23 malignant nodules (16. 8%) were coincident with the target nodule. Incidental carcinomas were found in 25 patients (19. 7%). The other 114 target nodules were benign. A total of 46 patients (52. 3%) had carcinomas in the thyroid lobe contralateral to the one containing the target nodule, and 40 patients (45. 5%) had carcinomas exclusively in the contralateral lobe. Conclusions: We observed a 16% rate of malignancy in nodules classified as bethesda category III and 17% among bethesda category IV. When incidental carcinomas were included, the rates of malignancy doubled.

Introduction: Factitious hypoglycemia, caused by the surreptitious use of insulin and sulfonylureas, is one of the most challenging differential diagnoses of hypoglycemia. Diagnosis is usually established via exclusion with respect to the special patterns of plasma insulin and C-peptide during hypoglycemic episodes. Case Presentation: We report a case of recurrent hypoglycemic episodes and confusing patterns of insulin and C-peptide levels. In the primary evaluations, insulinoma was suspected considering the high plasma concentrations of insulin and C-peptide, besides negative urine and plasma sulfonylureas during hypoglycemic episodes. Considering the normal imaging studies and refractory hypoglycemia to medical therapy, distal pancreatectomy was performed. The patient had no episodes of hypoglycemia after the surgery. Fivemonthslater, similar episodes recurred. Further investigations revealed different plasma concentrations of insulinand C-peptide in each hypoglycemic episode. Regarding various biochemical patterns during hypoglycemia and absence of evidence supporting other differential diagnoses, we suspected factitious causes. Close observation revealed that the patient had a history of intermittent glyburide consumption and analog insulin injection. Discussion: Most commercial insulin immunoassays can only detect human insulin and lack the ability to identify synthetic analog insulin. In addition, common detection methods for sulfonylureas and meglitinides are of low diagnostic value in the human plasma and urine. These laboratory defects can lead to the misdiagnosis of insulinoma or noninsulin-mediated hypoglycemia due to the surreptitious use of insulin secretagogues or analog insulin, respectively. Therefore, due to the lack of any definitive laboratory findings, clinical suspicion is the best strategy for diagnosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a simple dietary advice with two energy-restricted diets with different carbohydrate and fiber contents on anthropometric, biochemical, and inflammatory markers over an 8-wk intervention period in individuals with diabetes. Methods: Forty-seven patients with type 2 diabetes (31 women and 16 men; age: 52. 9 8. 0 years, body mass index: 29. 5 4. 9 kg. m-2) completed an 8-wk randomized intervention trial that compared a simple dietary advice aimed to modulate carbohydrate intake (n = 13) with the two calorie-restricted (CR) diets (25% caloric restriction from total energy requirements) differing with regard to carbohydrate and fiber content, one with higher fiber (CRHF) containing 55% energy from carbohydrate plus a tablespoon of psyllium powder (n = 18) and the other with lower carbohydrate (CRLC) containing 40% energy from carbohydrate plus placebo powder (n = 16). Weight, plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, lipids, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- ) were determined at baseline and after 8 weeks. Results: The mean change of body weight and plasma lipids were not different between the groups. Fasting plasma insulin and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly lower in the CRHF group (changes from baseline values in simple advice, CRHF, and CRLC were 1. 3 1. 9,-1. 0 1. 2, and 0. 3 3. 1  IL/mL for insulin and 0. 5 0. 7,-0. 3 0. 6, and 0. 2 0. 9 for HOMA-IR, respectively). The levels of IL-6 significantly decreased in the CRHF and CRLC groups (changes from baseline values in simple advice, CRHF, and CRLC were 7. 5 6. 8,-1. 2 4. 7, and-4. 2 5. 6 pg/mL, respectively). TNF- levels were significantly lower only in the CRHF compared to the advice group (P < 0. 05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that in comparison with simple advice to modify carbohydrate intake, a calorie-restricted, moderate carbohydrate diet supplemented with psyllium has better effects on plasma insulin and pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Ganglioneuroblastoma is a primary malignant tumor of the sympathetic nervous system. It usually occurs in children and is extremely rare in adults. Here, we report a case of an adrenal ganglioneuroblastoma in a 38-year-old man. The adrenal incidentaloma was surgically removed and pathologically diagnosed as a ganglioneuroblastoma. The characteristics were described, because it is an unusual tumor based on the published reports in adults. To the best of our knowledge, fewer than 50 cases of ganglioneuroblastoma and 19 cases of adrenal ganglioneuroblastoma, including this case, are reported in the literature.

Background: In the recent years, thyroid cancer incidence has increased worldwide. It has been questioned whether factors, such as insulin resistance, are involved in this rise. The main aim of this study was to examine the association between insulin resistance and differentiated thyroid cancer. Methods: This case-control study was performed on 30 newly diagnosed patients with differentiated thyroid cancer and 30 healthy controls. Thirty euthyroid patients recently diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer, based on the fine needle aspiration cytology, were examined for insulin resistance before thyroidectomy in the euthyroid state. For each patient in the case group, one healthy euthyroid individual without thyroid nodule from general population was matched based on gender, age ( 1 year), and body mass index (BMI) ( 1). Thyroid function test, thyroid antibodies, serum glucose, serum insulin, and thyroid ultrasonography was performed for all participants. Insulin resistance was defined based on homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) to be more than 2. 5. Results: In the patient group, 24 (80%) cases were female and 6 (20%) were male. Insulin resistance was more prevalent in the case group than the control group (43. 3% versus 13. 3%). Insulin sensitivity index was lower in the case group than in the control group (50 and 81, respectively). There was a significant positive association between serum HOMA-IR levels and differentiated thyroid cancer (OR: 2. 43 for 1 unit increase inHOMA-IR, 95% CI: 1. 35-5. 51; P = 0. 001). Insulin resistance was significantly associated with differentiated thyroid cancer (OR: 4, 95 % CI: 1. 27-17. 6; P = 0. 016). Conclusions: There was a significant association between insulin resistance and differentiated thyroid carcinoma. More research with a larger sample size and prospective design are needed to determine the role of this factor in the development of differentiated thyroid cancers.

Background: The number of studies on venous thromboembolism (VTE) and thyroid cancer is very scarce and existing data are contradictory. This paper reviews VTE in thyroid cancer. Methods: The following words were used for a comprehensive literature review using MEDLINE database: Blood coagulation factors; thyroid hormones; blood coagulation tests; venous thromboembolism; receptors thyroid hormone; hemostasis; fibrinolysis; bleeding; blood coagulation disorders; thyroid neoplasms; Thyroid cancer, papillary; Thyroid cancer, follicular; Thyroid carcinoma, anaplastic; Thyroid cancer, Hurthle cell; Familial medullary thyroid carcinoma; venous thrombosis; Pulmonary embolism; Blood coagulation factors. The studies, which include any changes in hemostasis and thyroid cancer were included and reviewed. Results: Although few studies have shown a possible increase in VTE occurrence in thyroid cancer in patients  60 years old and in proximity to cancer diagnosis, other studies could not find any difference compared to general population. New thyroid cancer classification excluding common subtype(s) with benign nature, may affect the results of the future studies on association of VTE and thyroid cancer. Conclusions: Prospective studies on the occurrence of VTE in various types and severities of thyroid cancer and in different age groups are warranted, as the results would affect clinical practice on the necessity of usage of anticoagulants in some thyroid cancer groups.

The basis of treatment in autoimmune diabetes is insulin therapy; however, many clinical cases have proven that this method does not solve all problems. Trials of causal treatment including blocking the autoimmune processes and insulin-producing cells transplants were carried out. Those methods require more research to be concerned as efficient and safe ways of treatment in type 1 diabetes. The use of non-insulin adjunct treatment is a new trend. It has been successfully used in laboratories as well as clinical trials. Metformin is the most widely used drug, together with sodium-glucose co-transporters 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, amylin analogues, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The results of administration of these medicaments give good outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1. Most likely, in the near future, they will progressively be used in both adult and adolescent patients with type 1 diabetes. Further multicenter, randomized studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of treatment and long term safety of these drugs.