Selected Organ and Endocrine Complications According to BMI and the Metabolic Category of Obesity: A Single Endocrine Center Study.

Obesity is a chronic and complex disease associated with metabolic, organ and endocrine complications. In the study, we analyzed a group of 105 patients suffering from obesity without any other previously recognized serious disorders who had been referred to a single endocrine center. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of selected organ and endocrine complications by subdividing the group, firstly according to body mass index (BMI) and secondly with regard to metabolic syndrome (MetS), pre-MetS and the metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) category. We have observed that in our groups, the prevalence of hyperlipidemia, hypertension, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) depended on BMI category, whereas the incidence of hyperlipidemia, hypertension, OSA, hypothyroidism, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes was related to the metabolic category. We concluded that the distribution of particular organ and endocrine complications change significantly with increased BMI and with the shift from MHO to pre-MetS and MetS. Thus, to determine the risk of organ and endocrine complications more effectively, BMI and metabolic status should be assessed during the examination of patients with obesity.

Use of oral contraceptives for management of acne vulgaris and hirsutism in women of reproductive and late reproductive age.

Hormonal contraception in both reproductive and late reproductive age, as well as contraceptive action, is used also for other indications like dysmenorrhoea, menstrual disorders, endometriosis, acne vulgaris, and hirsutism. Acne vulgaris and hirsutism are important signs related to hyperandrogenaemia and present a serious medical problem for the patients and a challenge for medical doctors in terms of effective treatment. The application of hormonal contraception to treat acne vulgaris and hirsutism requires knowledge of the mechanism of antiandrogenic actions and the possible contraindications and complications. These data are presented in this review.

Podocyturia as an early diagnostic marker of preeclampsia: a literature review.

CONTEXT: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related disease, and it is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by the new onset of hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation together with signs of organ damage, most commonly the kidneys. The treatment of PE is symptomatic and final intervention requires delivery, regardless of the gestational age of the foetus. Furthermore, PE is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease - even many years after the delivery. OBJECTIVE: Current research of PE has revealed that detection of podocytes in urine (podocyturia) could be a useful method for both confirmation of PE diagnosis and for the prediction of the severity of the disease. CONCLUSION: The main aim of this review is to summarize the current state of available methods for podocyte detection and to discuss their relevance in clinical practice.

Denosumab - a new medication in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a chronic, systemic skeletal disorder characterised by decreased bone density. It leads to an increased risk of bone fractures - one of the major causes of disability in modern societies. Bisphosphonates are the most commonly used medications in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Denosumab, a new approach to fracture prevention, is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), an important cytokine regulating formation and function of osteoclasts. Generally, denosumab is not used as initial therapy; however, in some cases it should be considered. It concerns patients at high risk of fracture, such as older patients who have difficulty with the dosing requirements of oral bisphosphonates or who have markedly impaired renal function. Denosumab can be also considered in patients who present intolerance or unresponsiveness to other therapies. Clinical studies have shown that denosumab is highly effective in increasing bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women regardless of the site analysed, as well as reducing the risk of bone fractures. The risk of developing antiresorptive, agent-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw related to denosumab therapy is low.

Inositol and human reproduction. From cellular metabolism to clinical use.

Inositol is an organic compound of high biological importance that is widely distributed in nature. It belongs to the sugar family and is mainly represented by its two dominant stereoisomers: myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol that are found in the organism in the physiological serum ratio 40:1. Inositol and its derivatives are important components of the structural phospholipids of the cell membranes and are precursors of the second messengers of many metabolic pathways. A high concentration of myoinositol is found in the follicular fluid and in semen. Inositol deficiency and the impairment of the inositol-dependent pathways may play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and hypothyroidism. The results of the research also point out the potential beneficial role of inositol supplementation in polycystic ovarian syndrome and in the context of assisted reproduction technologies and in vitro fertilization. The main aim of the article is to overview the major inositol-dependent metabolic pathways and to discuss its importance for reproduction.