Serum leptin concentrations in pre- and postmenopausal women on sex hormone therapy.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of endogenous estradiol and estrogen and estrogen-progestin therapies on concentration in pre- and postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study groups consisted of 26 women with surgical menopause (mean+/-standard deviation (SD): age 51.8+/-2.6 years, body mass index (BMI) 26.45+/-4.56 kg/m(2)), 54 with natural menopause (mean+/-SD: age 50.5+/-3.0 years, BMI 25.75+/-4.09 kg/m(2)) and 40 premenopausal controls (mean+/-SD: age 48.3+/-2.3 years, BMI 26.23+/-4.12 kg/m(2)). The group with surgical menopause received estradiol transdermally (50 microg/day) and those with natural menopause received additionally medroxyprogesterone acetate (5 mg/day) for the last 12 days of the cycle. Before and after 4 months of therapy, body weight, waist and hip circumferences and blood pressure were measured, and BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Serum leptin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E(2)), testosterone, prolactin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured prior to and after treatment. RESULTS: Leptin concentrations did not differ statistically among the groups. No correlations between leptin and E(2), FSH, prolactin, testosterone and DHEAS concentrations were found in any of the groups before and after treatment. Leptin level correlated positively with body mass, BMI and hip and waist circumferences in all groups. There were no correlations between leptin and WHR in the pre- and postmenopausal groups. In the premenopausal group and in some postmenopausal groups, serum leptin level correlated with blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Endogenous E(2) and androgens in premenopausal women and estrogen and estrogen-progestin therapies in postmenopausal subjects do not influence serum leptin concentrations. Leptin level is related to body mass and BMI, but not to sex hormone status. The distribution of adipose tissue and the type of obesity (android or gynoid) have no influence on serum leptin concentration. The correlation between serum leptin level and blood pressure requires further investigation.     

Does Drinking Coffee and Tea Affect Bone Metabolism in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases?

Patients suffering from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are at higher risk of osteoporosis due to lower bone mineral density. Risk factors of osteoporosis are divided into unmodifiable, namely, age, gender, genetic factors, as well as modifiable, including diet, level of physical activity, and the use of stimulants. Coffee and tea contain numerous compounds affecting bone metabolism. Certain substances such as antioxidants may protect bones; other substances may increase bone resorption. Nevertheless, the influence of coffee and tea on the development and course of inflammatory bowel diseases is contradictory.     

Levels of biological markers of nitric oxide in serum of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

The aim of the study was a determination of the levels of nitric oxide（NO）and its biological markers such as malonyldialdehyde（MDA）and nitrotyrosine in the serum of patients with squamous cell carcinoma（SCC）of the oral cavity and identification of the relationships between NO and those markers.These studies were performed on patients with SCC of the oral cavity before and after treatment.Griess reaction was used for the estimation of the total concentration of NO in serum.The nitrotyrosine level in serum was assessed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）kit,and MDA level using a spectrophotometric assay.Higher concentrations of NO in blood serum were determined in patients with stage IV of the disease before treatment in comparison to the control group and patients with stages II and III of the disease.Moreover,higher concentrations of MDA and nitrotyrosine were determined in the serum of patients in all stages of the disease in comparison to healthy people.After treatment,lower concentrations of NO in the serum of patients with stage IV of the disease were observed in comparison to the amounts obtained prior to treatment.In addition,lower levels of nitrotyrosine in the serum of patients with all stages of the disease were recorded,whereas higher concentrations of MDA were determined in these patients in comparison to results obtained before treatment.The compounds formed with the contribution of NO,such as MDA and nitrotyrosine,may lead to cancer progression in patients with SCC of the oral cavity,and contribute to formation of resistance to therapy in these patients as well.Moreover,the lack of a relationship between concentrations of NO and MDA,and between NO and nitrotyrosine in serum suggests that the process of lipid peroxidation and nitration in patients with SCC does not just depend on NO.     

Factors Affecting Dental Caries Experience in 12-Year-Olds,Based on Data from Two Polish Provinces

(1) Background: Dental caries is a chronic disease that affects a child’s dentition from the first stages of life. Several factors contribute to the development of the disease, including an improper diet. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify risk factors of dental caries in 12-year-old adolescents from Greater Poland and Lubusz Provinces (Poland). (2) Material and methods: The research was conducted in adolescents from five primary schools. A questionnaire consisted of close-ended questions on socioeconomic characteristics on family, diet, and oral hygiene habits. An assessment of the dentition was carried out in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. In addition to cavitated carious lesions, incipient caries lesions were noted according to the International Caries Detection and Assessment System, adapted for epidemiological studies (ICDASepiDMFt). (3) Results: The mean number of teeth with untreated caries; removed due to caries; and restored because of caries (DMFt) was 1.52 ± 1.90, while the ICDASepiDMFt index amounted to 2.64 ± 2.55, respectively. Children who did not brush every day had significantly higher odds of having ICDASepiDMFt > 0 than children brushing at least once daily (OR = 10.32, 95% CI = 1.36–78.32, p = 0.0240). Adolescents who drank sweet carbonated drinks every day had significantly higher ICDASepiDMTt than children who drank sweet carbonated drinks less frequently (p = 0.0477). (4) Conclusions: The research revealed that dental caries indices of 12-year-old adolescents from Greater Poland and Lubusz Provinces depend mainly on oral hygiene behaviors. The only significant nutritional factor that differentiated the caries intensity was the daily consumption of sweet carbonated drinks.     

Five-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Clinical Trial of Unilateral Thyroid Lobectomy with or Without Postoperative Levothyroxine Treatment

Background  

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of recurrent nodular goiter in the contralateral thyroid lobe among patients after unilateral thyroid lobectomy for unilateral multinodular goiter (MNG) receiving versus not receiving postoperative prophylactic levothyroxine (LT4) treatment.     

Heterotopic pancreas in the stomach (type II according to Heinrich) - literature review and case report

Heterotopic pancreas is a rare congenital disorder characterized by the presence of normal pancreatic tissue located outside the pancreas. The most common locations include the duodenum, stomach, and jejunum. Most cases of heterotopic pancreas are asymptomatic. However, the development of clinical symptoms depends on the size, location and pathological changes similar to those observed in case of the normal pancreas. The Authors presented a case of multiple stomach heterotopic pancreatic lesions in an adult male patient. The atypical clinical presentation including non-specific endoscopic and CT images were responsible for the misdiagnosis before surgery. The patient underwent surgery. The tumor located in the posterior wall of the body of the stomach was excised by wedge resection. The postoperative course proved uneventful. Proper diagnosis was established on the basis of the histopathological examination of the resected tumor: heterotopic pancreas-multiple lesions, type II, according to Heinrich. The presented case report demonstrated that heterotopic pancreas should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of gastric tumors.