Vitamin D status and prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in different genders throughout life stages: A Brazilian cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the mean concentration of 25-hydroxivitamin D [25(OH) D] and prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in individuals residing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: The data of 80,000 consecutive individuals who had 25(OH) D measurements performed by electrochemiluminescence between 1/2/2018 and 2/5/2018 were selected. Patients who reported the use of therapies/supplements were excluded. Levels of 25(OH) D ≥20 ng/mL (ages <60 years) and ≥30 ng/mL (ages ≥60 years) were considered adequate. RESULTS: We analyzed the data of 24,074 individuals (1-95 years old, 64.7% female). Descriptive curves showed that, in both sexes, the mean values of 25(OH) D decreased from the first years of life until adolescence, then slightly increased, and then tended to stabilize during adulthood. Levels of 25(OH) D <20 ng/mL were observed in 6% of girls versus 3.6% of boys and in 13.6% of adolescent girls versus 12.6% of adolescent boys and 11% of adults. The percentage of seniors with serum levels of 25(OH) D <20 ng/mL was 13.6% in women and 12.7% in men; 53.2% of women and 50.6% of men had levels <30 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Mean 25(OH) D values were higher in children and lower in adolescents and women. Approximately 90% of non-seniors and presumably healthy residents of the urban metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro presented satisfactory levels of 25(OH) D during the summer months; however, in over half of the elderly, the serum concentrations of 25(OH) D were inadequate. Therefore, strategies for the prevention of hypovitaminosis D should be considered in the senior population.

Vitamin D status and prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in different genders throughout life stages: A Brazilian cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the mean concentration of 25-hydroxivitamin D [25(OH) D] and prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in individuals residing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: The data of 80,000 consecutive individuals who had 25(OH) D measurements performed by electrochemiluminescence between 1/2/2018 and 2/5/2018 were selected. Patients who reported the use of therapies/supplements were excluded. Levels of 25(OH) D ≥20 ng/mL (ages <60 years) and ≥30 ng/mL (ages ≥60 years) were considered adequate. RESULTS: We analyzed the data of 24,074 individuals (1-95 years old, 64.7% female). Descriptive curves showed that, in both sexes, the mean values of 25(OH) D decreased from the first years of life until adolescence, then slightly increased, and then tended to stabilize during adulthood. Levels of 25(OH) D <20 ng/mL were observed in 6% of girls versus 3.6% of boys and in 13.6% of adolescent girls versus 12.6% of adolescent boys and 11% of adults. The percentage of seniors with serum levels of 25(OH) D <20 ng/mL was 13.6% in women and 12.7% in men; 53.2% of women and 50.6% of men had levels <30 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Mean 25(OH) D values were higher in children and lower in adolescents and women. Approximately 90% of non-seniors and presumably healthy residents of the urban metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro presented satisfactory levels of 25(OH) D during the summer months; however, in over half of the elderly, the serum concentrations of 25(OH) D were inadequate. Therefore, strategies for the prevention of hypovitaminosis D should be considered in the senior population.

[Acute suppurative thyroiditis with multiple complications]. / Tireoidite supurativa aguda com múltiplas complicações.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis is a rare disorder, most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae, which affects particularly children with pyriform sinus fistula. In adults, the main pathogenic mechanism seems to be hematogenous dissemination from a focus of infection in the oropharynx or respiratory tract. The initial signs and symptoms of acute thyroiditis are similar to those of acute pharyngitis and subacute thyroiditis. This fact often delays diagnosis and increases the risk of complications. We report the case of a previously healthy, 28-year-old man who, after being affected by tonsillitis, developed suppurative thyroiditis complicated by thyrotoxicosis; a large abscess in the right lobe of the thyroid extending to the thorax introitus, which caused a trachea deviation and compressed large vessels; associated with internal jugular vein thrombosis, and sepsis.

Tireoidite supurativa aguda com múltiplas complicações / Acute suppurative thyroiditis with multiple complications

A tireoidite supurativa aguda é uma desordem rara, mais frequentemente causada pelo Staphylococcus aureus ou Streptococcus pneumoniae, e atinge particularmente crianças com fístula do seio piriforme. Em adultos, a disseminação por via hematogênica a partir de foco infeccioso em orofaringe ou trato respiratório parece ser o principal mecanismo patogênico. Os sinais e sintomas iniciais da tireoidite aguda são semelhantes aos da faringite aguda e da tireoidite subaguda. Esse fato frequentemente retarda o diagnóstico dessa doença e aumenta o risco de complicações. Relatamos o caso de um paciente masculino de 28 anos, previamente saudável, que, após quadro de amigdalite, apresentou tireoidite aguda complicada por tireotoxicose, volumoso abscesso no lobo direito da tireoide, que se estendia à abertura superior do tórax com desvio da traqueia e compressão de grandes vasos, associado à trombose de veia jugular interna e sepse.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis is a rare disorder, most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae, which affects particularly children with pyriform sinus fistula. In adults, the main pathogenic mechanism seems to be hematogenous dissemination from a focus of infection in the oropharynx or respiratory tract. The initial signs and symptoms of acute thyroiditis are similar to those of acute pharyngitis and subacute thyroiditis. This fact often delays diagnosis and increases the risk of complications. We report the case of a previously healthy, 28-year-old man who, after being affected by tonsillitis, developed suppurative thyroiditis complicated by thyrotoxicosis; a large abscess in the right lobe of the thyroid extending to the thorax introitus, which caused a trachea deviation and compressed large vessels; associated with internal jugular vein thrombosis, and sepsis.

Síndrome dos ovários policísticos e insulina: revisão do vínculo fisiopatológico e do tratamento com sensibilizadores de insulina / Polycistic ovary syndrome and insulin: revision of entail physiopathologic and insulin sensitizing agents treatment

A síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP) é uma desordem complexa que engloba um amplo espectro de sinais e sintomas, predominando aqueles de disfunção ovariana. Acomete cerca de 10 por cento das mulheres em idade reprodutiva. Resistência insulínica e hiperinsulinemia desempenham papel importante na patogênese da doença. Nesse contexto, a utilização de sensibilizadores de insulina (metformina e glitazonas) tem sido recentemente proposta como terapia de escolha para muitas mulheres com SOP. O uso desse agentes está associado a decréscimo nos níveis de androgênios e gonadotropinas, melhora na tolerência à glicose, perfil lipídico e função endotelial com redução dos marcadores de doença aterosclerótica subclínica. O tratamento é potencialmente útil no controle do hiperandrogenismo, das alterações metabólicas e particularmente da fertilidade.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a complex disorder that encompasses a wide range of signs and symptoms, mainly those related with ovarian dysfunction, and affects about 10 per cent of women during their reproductive years. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia play important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. So, insulin-sensitizing agents (metformin and glitazones) have been recently proposed as the therapy of choice for many women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Insulin sensitizer treatment has been associated with a reduction in serum androgen levels and gonadotropins, improvement in glucose tolerance, lipid profile and endothelial function with reduction in sub-clinica atherosclerotic markers. The treatment is potentially useful in the control of hyperandrogenism, metabolic changes and improvement of fertility.

Influence of methyltestosterone postmenopausal therapy on plasma lipids, inflammatory factors, glucose metabolism and visceral fat: a randomized study.

BACKGROUND: There has been a growing interest in treating postmenopausal women with androgens. However, hyperandrogenemia in females has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the effects of androgen replacement on cardiovascular risk factors. DESIGN: Thirty-seven postmenopausal women aged 42-62 years that had undergone hysterectomy were prospectively enrolled in a double-blind protocol to receive, for 12 months, percutaneous estradiol (E2) (1 mg/day) combined with either methyltestosterone (MT) (1.25 mg/day) or placebo. METHODS: Along with treatment, we evaluated serum E2, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index, lipids, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein; glucose tolerance; insulin resistance; blood pressure; body-mass index; and visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat mass as assessed by computed tomography. RESULTS: A significant reduction in SHBG (P < 0.001) and increase in free testosterone index (P < 0.05; Repeated measures analysis of variance) were seen in the MT group. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lowered to a similar extent by both regimens, but high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased only in the androgen group. MT-treated women showed a modest rise in body weight and gained visceral fat mass relative to the other group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant detrimental effects on fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the combination of low-dose oral MT and percutaneous E2, for 1 year, does not result in expressive increase of cardiovascular risk factors. This regimen can be recommended for symptomatic postmenopausal women, although it seems prudent to perform baseline and follow-up lipid profile and assessment of body composition, especially in those at high risk of cardiovascular disease.