Prevalence and predictors of gestational diabetes mellitus: a nationwide multicentre prospective study.

AIM: Prevalence rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) show considerable variation among different countries and regions of the world. The primary aim of this study was to determine the nationwide prevalence and predictors of GDM in Turkey. METHODS: We conducted prospective nationwide screening among pregnant women. Between August 2016 and November 2017, a total of 2643 pregnant women from 51 centres in 12 different regions were enrolled. A two-step screening method and Carpenter and Coustan criteria were used in the diagnosis of GDM. Clinical and biochemical data were obtained using electronic database software. RESULTS: The national prevalence of GDM was found to be 16.2% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 15.0% to 17.4%] without a significant difference between urban and rural regions. Women with GDM were older (mean age: 32 ± 5 vs. 28 ± 5 years, P < 0.001) and heavier (mean BMI: 27.2 ± 5.1 vs. 24.7 ± 4.7 kg/m2 , P < 0.001) than their counterparts without GDM. The prevalence of GDM tended to increase with age (< 25 years, 6.9%; 26-35 years, 15.6%; and 36-45 years, 32.7%; P < 0.001). Maternal age, maternal BMI, history of previous GDM and family history of diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of developing GDM (P < 0.05 for all). Low-risk women (age < 25 years, BMI < 25 kg/m2 , no family history of diabetes) comprised 10.7% of the total population and the prevalence of GDM in these women was 4.5% (95% CI 2.4% to 7.8%). CONCLUSION: The results of this nationwide study indicate that GDM is very common, affecting one in seven pregnancies in Turkey. Implementation of international guidelines on screening and management of this public health problem is required.

Preoperative parathyroid hormone levels are correlated with parathyroid adenoma volume and bone mineral density but not serum calcium levels.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between biochemical parameters, parathyroid adenoma volume, and bone mineral density with respect to intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who were diagnosed and followed in our clinic between 2005 and 2008. Forty-eight (female/male=42/6) patients with a mean age of 52.8±13.1 years were enrolled into the study. RESULTS: Bone pain was the most common presenting feature, seen in 41.7% of patients, while 29.1% of patients were asymptomatic. The mean serum calcium and iPTH concentrations were 2.9±0.6 mmol/L and 657.1±682 ng/L, respectively. The mean total Z/T scores of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan at the femur and lumbar spine were -0.4±1.6/-1.0±1.7 and -1.4±1.6/-2.2±1.5, respectively. Preoperative iPTH levels were correlated with serum phosphate (r=-0.412, P=0.005), alkaline phosphatase (r=0.698, P=0.0001), and femur (r=-0.402, P=0.020) and lumbar spine total Z scores (r=-0.441, P=0.013), whereas parathyroid adenoma volume was correlated with iPTH (r=0.367, P=0.036) and alkaline phosphatase (r=0.570, P=0.001). There was no correlation between iPTH, serum calcium levels and total T scores at the femur and lumbar spine. After excluding patients with 25-OHD insufficiency, there was still no correlation between serum iPTH and calcium levels. Parathyroid adenoma volume, serum iPTH and calcium levels were also not different between patients with and without 25-OHD insufficiency. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that serum iPTH level may be useful in predicting parathyroid adenoma volume and it is also well correlated with femur and lumbar spine Z scores.

The effect of vitamin D replacement therapy on insulin resistance and androgen levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the common features of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and recent studies indicate the possible role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of IR and glucose metabolism. Aim of this study was aimed to determine the effect of vitamin D replacement therapy on glucose metabolism, insulin, and androgen levels in obese, insulin-resistant women with PCOS. Eleven women with PCOS were included in the study. Mean age of the patients was 23.6+/-5.7 yr, body mass index 33.9+/-5.1 kg/m(2). Six patients (54.5%) had acantosis nigricans and 10 (90.9%) oligoamenorrhea. The mean Ferriman Gallwey score was 14.1+/-4.6. Only 2 women were within the normal limits of vitamin D levels as >20 ng/ml. Three weeks after the administration of the single dose of 300,000 units of vitamin D3 orally, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 significantly increased from 16.9+/-16 ng/ml to 37.1+/-14.6 ng/ml (p: 0.027) and only 2 women were detected to have vitamin D3 levels <20 ng/ml. Although glucose and insulin levels were decreased non-significantly, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-IR significantly decreased from 4.41+/-1.38 to 3.67+/-1.48 (p: 0.043). No significant alterations were witnessed at the levels of DHEAS, total and free testosterone, androstenedione. No correlation was found between vitamin D with HOMA and other hormonal parameters. In conclusion, women with PCOS have mostly insufficient vitamin D levels, and vitamin D replacement therapy may have a beneficial effect on IR in obese women with PCOS.

Effect of levothyroxine treatment on clinical symptoms and serum cytokine levels in euthyroid patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria and thyroid autoimmunity.

BACKGROUND: Screening for thyroid autoimmunity in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is generally recommended. However, there are not yet sufficient data as to whether levothyroxine treatment is beneficial for the clinical symptoms of CIU in patients with thyroid autoimmunity. AIM: We investigated the effect of levothyroxine treatment on clinical symptoms and serum tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma levels in euthyroid patients with CIU and thyroid autoimmunity. METHODS: In total, 15 patients with CIU and positive thyroid autoantibodies were randomized to receive either levothyroxine plus 5 mg/day desloratadine (suppression group, n = 8) or 5 mg/day desloratadine alone (control group, n = 7) for 12 weeks. Clinical symptoms of CIU, thyroid hormone levels, thyroid antibodies and serum cytokine levels were assessed at baseline and after the treatment. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in pruritus score and severity of weals in both groups compared with baseline values, but when the two groups were compared, there was no significant difference in the patients' clinical symptoms. Thyroid antibody titres were not different according to intragroup and intergroup analysis. In the suppression group, serum IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha levels were increased after treatment with levothyroxine compared with baseline values and there was a borderline statistical significance (P = 0.05 for both). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that levothyroxine treatment is not a reasonable option in euthyroid patients with CIU and thyroid autoimmunity. Augmentation of cytokine production after levothyroxine treatment seems to be related to the immunomodulatory effects of TSH-suppressive treatment.

Total and acylated ghrelin levels in type 2 diabetic patients: similar levels observed after treatment with metformin, pioglitazone or diet therapy.

Ghrelin, a potent gut-brain orexigenic peptide, has a role in stimulation of food intake and long-term regulation of body weight. Metformin and pioglitazone treatment have different effects on body weight. This discrepancy might be related with the effect of these two drugs on plasma ghrelin levels. We investigated the effect of these two drugs on post-prandial acylated and total ghrelin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Eleven patients treated with diet, 12 patients treated with 850 mg/day metformin monotherapy and 12 patients treated with 30 mg/day pioglitazone monotherapy for at least 6 months were enrolled in the study. Plasma acylated and total ghrelin levels were investigated at baseline and at the 60 (th), 120 (th), 180 (th), 240 (th) minutes after a mixed meal test. There were no differences between groups in any of baseline metabolic and anthropometric parameters, including acylated and total ghrelin levels. Acylated and total ghrelin concentrations were suppressed similarly after food consumption, and we could not determine any significant difference between the groups at any time interval. A prolonged postprandial suppression of acylated ghrelin concentrations was observed in the pioglitazone treatment group compared with baseline values. In conclusion, total and acylated ghrelin levels after a mixed meal test were similar in type 2 diabetic patients treated with metformin, pioglitazone or diet therapy alone. These results suggest that changes in body weight during metformin and pioglitazone treatment are not associated with plasma ghrelin levels.

The investigation of the efficacy of insulin glargine on glycemic control when combined with either repaglinide or acarbose in obese Type 2 diabetic patients.

Combinations of insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD) are often prescribed instead of insulin alone. In this study, the effects of insulin glargine (IG) in combination with repaglinide or acarbose on glycemic parameters were investigated. Obese Type 2 diabetic patients with fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels >or= 7.7 mmol/l [corrected] and hemoglobin glycated (A1C) >or=9% under maximal OAD combination therapy were enrolled. Previous therapies were discontinued, and patients were randomized into 2 groups. The combinations of IG and repaglinide were administered to group 1, and of IG and acarbose to group 2 for 13 weeks. Twenty patients in group 1 and 18 patients in group 2 completed the study. A1C levels were significantly decreased from 10.9+/-1.4% to 7.7+/-1.1% in group 1 and 11.0+/-1.4% to 8.1+/-1.4% in group 2. FBG levels were significantly decreased from 11.9+/-2.7 to 7.1+/-2.3 mmol/l in group 1 and 11.1+/-2.5 to 6.8+/-1.4 mmol/l in group 2. Post-prandial glucose levels were significantly decreased from 15.3+/-3.8 to 10.3+/-3.0 mmol/l in group 1 and 14.0+/-3.1 to 8.9+/-2.2 mmol/l in group 2. Intergroup comparisons indicated no significant differences. More weight gain was detected in group 1, compared to the baseline. Symptomatic hypoglycemia incidence was similar in both groups. Severe hypoglycemic attacks were seen in two patients in group 1. Flatulence incidence was higher in acarbose group. Conclusively, repaglinide and acarbose were equally effective when combined with IG for obese Type 2 diabetic patients controlled inadequately with OAD alone. Furthermore, acarbose seems to have advantages over repaglinide concerning weight gain and severe hypoglycemic attacks.

Frequency of atopy and allergic disorders among adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus in the southern Marmara region of Turkey.

AIM: Autoimmune disorders are considered to be associated with a Th1 immune response whereas allergic diseases with a Th2 response. Studies mainly performed on children revealed conflicting results regarding the association of atopy/allergic disease and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of allergic diseases in adult Type 1 diabetic patients. METHODS: Eighty-nine Type 1 diabetic patients and 64 controls were enrolled into the study. Skin-prick test and European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire were performed on all cases. Patients who gave at least one positive answer to questions about asthma in the questionnaire underwent pulmonary function test and methacholine challenge test. RESULTS: Patients' mean age were similar in diabetic patients and controls (28.2+/-8.9 and 28.1+/-5.2 yr; respectively). In skin-prick test, the rate of positive response to at least one allergen was not significantly different in diabetes (29.2%) and in the control group (31.3%). In European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire, diabetic patients waked up by an attack of cough more than controls did. The rate of physician-diagnosed asthma was similar in both groups. There was no difference between the 2 groups based on the answers of other questions about asthma and other allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, eczema, and drug allergy. CONCLUSION: We found that atopy frequencies were similar in an adult population of Type 1 diabetic patients and controls. Although asthmatic symptom prevalence is increased in diabetic patients, the incidence of current asthma was similar in both groups.