Perinatal effects of maternal FT3/FT4 ratio on gestational transient thyrotoxicosis

ABSTRACT Objective: The effects of maternal thyroid hormone levels on the course of pregnancy and birth weight have attracted interest. The aim of the present study was to consider FT3 and FT3/FT4 ratio in the evaluation of the effects of maternal thyroid functions in gestational transient thyrotoxicosis (GTT). Materials and methods: This case-control study included 45 patients with GTT and 45 healthy pregnant women. Maternal history before pregnancy, thyroid function tests, thyroid autoantibodies, and thyroid ultrasonography results in 6th to 10th weeks of pregnancy were used in the differential diagnosis of GTT. In both groups, the effects of FT3, FT4 and FT3/FT4 ratios on gestational age and birth weight were evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference in the gestational age between the GTT and control groups (39,3±1,0 weeks and 39,2±1,2 weeks, respectively). Birth weights were similar in both groups (3205,2±4899 g and 3196,6±309,3 g, respectively). When maternal weight was adjusted, a positive correlation was observed between maternal FT3/FT4 ratio and birth weight (r=0,317, p=0,017). Additionally there was a positive correlation between the gestational age and the birth weight in the control group (ρ=0,726, p=0,001). Conclusion: GTT had no significant effect on the gestational age and the birth weight. On the other hand an increase in the maternal FT3/FT4 ratio had a positive effect on the birth weight in the patient with GTT. Maternal characteristics (age, weight, BMI) and FT3/FT4 ratio should be taken into consideration in future impact assessment studies on this issue.

Use of automated quantitative pupillometric evaluation for monitoring the severity of diabetic retinopathy / Uso da pupilometria quantitativa automatizada no monitoramento da severidade da retinopatia diabética

ABSTRACT Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the use of automated quantitative static and dynamic pupillometry in screening patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and different stages of diabetic retinopathy. Method: 155 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes mellitus group) were included in this study and another 145 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals to serve as the control group. The diabetes mellitus group was divided into three subgroups: diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy (No-diabetic retinopathy), nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Static and dynamic pupillometry were performed using a rotating Scheimpflug camera with a topography-based system. Results: In terms of pupil diameter in both static and dynamic pupillometry (p<0.05), statistically significant differences were observed between the diabetes mellitus and control groups and also between the subgroups No-diabetic retinopathy, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy subgroups. But it was noted that No-diabetic retinopathy and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy groups have showed similarities in the findings derived from static pupillometry under mesopic and photopic conditions. The two groups also appeared similar at all points during the dynamic pupillometry (p>0.05). However, it could be concluded that the proliferative diabetic retinopathy group was significantly different from the rest of the subgroups, No-diabetic retinopathy and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy groups, in terms of all the static pupillometry measurements (p<0.05). The average speed of dilation was also significantly different between the diabetes mellitus and control groups and among the diabetes mellitus subgroups (p<0.001). While weak to moderate significant correlations were found between all pupil diameters in static and dynamic pupillometry with the duration of diabetes mellitus (p<0.05 for all), the HbA1c values showed no statistically significant correlations with any of the investigated static and dynamic pupil diameters (p>0.05 for all). Conclusion: This study revealed that the measurements derived from automated pupillometry are altered in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The presence of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy does not have a negative effect on pupillometry findings, but with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, significant alterations were observed. These results suggest that using automated quantitative pupillometry may be useful in verifying the severity of diabetic retinopathy.

RESUMO Objetivos: Procuramos avaliar o uso da pupilometria estática e dinâmica quantitativa automatizada na triagem de pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e em di­ferentes estágios de retinopatia diabética. Métodos: Cento e cinquenta e cinco pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (grupo com diabetes mellitus) foram incluídos neste estudo e outros 145 controles saudáveis pareados por idade e sexo para server como grupo controle. O grupo com diabetes mellitus foi dividido em três subgrupos: diabetes mellitus sem retinopatia diabética (retinopatia não diabética), retinopatia diabética não proliferativa e retinopatia diabética proliferativa. A pupilometria estática e dinâmica foi realizada utilizando uma camera rotative Scheimpflug com um sistema baseado em topografia. Resultados: Em termos de diâmetro da pupila, tanto na pupilometria estática quanto na dinâmica (p<0,05), foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos diabetes mellitus e controle e também entre os subgrupos retinopatia não diabética, retinopatia diabética não proliferativa e retinopatia diabética proliferativa. Mas foi observado que os grupos de retinopatia não diabética e retinopatia diabética não proliferativa mostraram semelhanças nos achados derivados da pupilometria estática em condições mesópicas e fotópicas. Os dois grupos também pareciam semelhantes em todos os pontos durante a pupilometria dinâmica (p>0,05). No entanto, pode-se concluir que o grupo de retinopatia diabética proliferative foi sugnificativamente diferente do restante dos subgrupos, retinopatia não diabética e retinopatia diabética não proliferativa, em termos de todas as medidas de pupilometris estática (p<0,05). A velocidade média de dilatação também foi significativamente diferente entre os grupos diabetes mellitus e controle, e entre os subgrupos diabetes mellitus (p<0,001). Enquanto correlações significativas fracas a moderadas foram encontradas entre todos os diâmetros da pupila na pupilometria estática e dinâmica com a duração do diabetes mellitus (p<0,05 para todos), os valores de HbA1c não mostraram correlações estatisticamente significantes com nenhum dos diâmetros da pupila estática e dinâmica investigados (p>0,05 para todos). Conclusão: Este estudo revelou que as medidas derivadas da pupilometria automatizada estão alteradas em pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2. A presença de retinopatia diabética não proliferativa não afeta negativamente os achados pupilomé­tricos, mas com a retinopatia diabética proliferative, alterações significativas foram observadas. Estes resultados sugerem que o uso da pupilometria quantitativa automatizada pode ser útil na verificação gravidade da retinopatia diabética.

Mixed medullary-papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) are two distinct types of thyroid carcinoma with considerable difference in terms of cellular origin, histopathological appearance, clinical course and prevalence. The histogenetic origin and possible molecular mechanisms responsible for the development of mixed medullary-papillary carcinoma of the thyroid are still unclear. The most widely accepted hypotheses considering co-occurrence of MTC and PTC are stem cell theory, collision effect theory and hostage theory. Herein we describe two rare cases of mixed medullary-papillary thyroid carcinoma with co-occurrence of MTC and PTC which developed with concomitant MEN 2A and different sites of lymph node metastasis in the fi rst patient, while with atypical clinical presentation in the second patient. In conclusion, co-expression of thyroglobulin, synaptophysin and chromogranin by the papillary component of mixed tumor seems to support stem cell theory in our fi rst case, whereas positive staining for calcitonin but not for thyroglobulin in the medullary component of the tumor along with separation of these two tumors from each other by a normal thyroid tissue seem to indicates the likelihood of collision effect theory in our second case.