Current Issue : October-December Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 4 Articles : 6 Articles
Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the gut microbiota (GM) in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and those with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Clinical data from 33 pregnant Chinese women (15 with GDM and 18 without GDM) and 28 nonpregnant Chinese women (14 with T2DM and 14 without T2DM) were collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS software (Version 21.0). Normally distributed data were compared using an independent samples t-test, whereas nonnormally distributed data were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. All statistical tests were two-sided, and p < 0.05 was considered significant. The 16S rRNA gene amplicons of the GM were sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform and compared for differences in genomic diversity, structure, and abundance using bioinformatics. Results: Significant differences in beta diversity were observed between pregnant women with GDM and healthy pregnant women, as well as between women with T2DM and healthy women. However, pregnant women with GDM and healthy pregnant women did not exhibit significant differences in alpha diversity, whereas women with T2DM and healthy women did. Additionally, the abundance of Firmicutes in pregnant women with GDM was higher than that in healthy pregnant women, whereas the abundances of Bacteroidetes and Lachnobacterium were lower (p < 0.05 ). The abundance of Phascolarctobacterium in women with T2DM was higher than that in healthy women, whereas the abundances of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Roseburia, Turicibacter, and Streptococcus were lower (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The GM in pregnant women with GDM and those with T2DM differed significantly from that in the control group, providing a reference for future clinical attempts to apply intestinal microecological agents in the treatment of GDM and T2DM....
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by the association of parathyroid, pituitary, and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Medullary thyroid carcinoma, on the other hand, is the major manifestation of MEN2. The coexistence of MEN1 and medullary thyroid carcinoma is exceptional and controversial. This review aims to analyze the available data and clarify the possible existence of a pathophysiological link....
Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and depression frequently co-occur, but the specific clinical factors driving this association remain incompletely understood, particularly in Middle Eastern populations. Objective: This study is aimed at investigating the association between T2DM and depression and identifying which clinical factors (complications, glycemic control, and treatment modality) are most strongly associated with depression risk in a Syrian patient cohort. Methods: A case-control study enrolled 225 patients with T2DM and 226 nondiabetic controls. Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Associations were analyzed using chi-square tests and binary logistic regression, with adjustment for age and sex in subgroup analyses. Results: Depression prevalence was significantly higher in the T2DM group (68.4% by HDRS and 68.9% by DASS-21) than in controls (40.3% and 41.6%, respectively). A T2DM diagnosis was associated with approximately threefold increased odds of depression (OR = 3.22 , 95% CI [2.19–4.74] for HDRS; OR = 3.12 , 95% CI [2.11–4.58] for DASS-21). Microvascular complications were associated with a marked increase in depression odds (OR = 17.05-17.89). Achieving glycemic control was strongly protective (OR = 0.116-0.125). Complex insulin-based regimens were associated with greater depression severity, even when the binary presence of depression did not differ significantly by treatment type. Conclusion: In this Syrian cohort, T2DM was associated with a threefold higher odds of depression, but this risk was not uniform. The presence of microvascular complications was the strongest associated factor. These findings support the implementation of routine depression screening in diabetes care, particularly for patients with complications or complex treatment regimens, and highlight that intensive diabetes management may also contribute to depression prevention....
Background: Poor glycemic control in elderly diabetes patients leads to complications like nephropathy. Semaglutide (SEM), a GLP-1 receptor agonist, may improve both blood glucose (BG) control and renal function (RF). This study evaluates the effects of SEM combined with insulin therapy on BG and RF. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 220 elderly type 2 diabetes patients from January 2023 to May 2024. Patients were assigned to either a control group (CG, insulin therapy) or an observation group (OG, SEM þ insulin). Key outcomes included BG levels, insulin indices, vascular function, RF, and safety parameters. Results: SEM reduced FPG, 2hPG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, VEGF, ET-1, 24hUpr, and UACR, while improving HOMA-β, NO, and eGFR. The OG showed greater weight loss compared to CG. No significant differences in adverse events were observed. Conclusions: SEM combined with insulin therapy effectively controls BG, improves insulin function, and may offer short-term renal protective benefits in elderly diabetes patients; however, long-term studies are needed to confirm effects on CKD progression....
Purpose Pituitary Tumor Centers of Excellence (PTCOE) were developed to standardize multidisciplinary care for pituitary disorders; however, their impact on patient-reported outcomes remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to compare health-related quality of life, illness perception, and outpatient satisfaction between patients followed in a PTCOEaligned, though not formally accredited, specialized pituitary clinic and those managed in general endocrinology clinics, and to identify organizational factors associated with these outcomes. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 175 adults with prolactinoma (n = 70), non-functioning pituitary adenoma (n = 54), acromegaly (n = 35) and Cushing’s disease (n = 16) were evaluated across two tertiary endocrinology centers. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using validated Turkish versions of the SF-36, Illness Perception Scale, and Outpatient Satisfaction Scale. Results Certain baseline clinical profiles differed significantly between the two groups, with patients in the specialized clinic exhibiting higher rates of pituitary surgery (63.9% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.001) and hypopituitarism (28.9% vs. 14.1%, p = 0.02). Patients in the specialized clinic showed significantly lower SF-36 Role Physical, Role Emotional, Social Functioning, and Bodily Pain scores (all p ≤ 0.03). Illness-perception patterns also diverged, with higher Timeline, Consequences, and Treatment Control scores in the specialized clinic. Outpatient satisfaction, however, was consistently higher across all subscales in the specialized clinic (all p ≤ 0.006). In multivariable analyses, clinic type, sex, hypopituitarism, surgical history, and followup duration independently contributed to variation in multiple patient-reported outcome domains. Conclusion PTCOE-aligned specialized care was associated with more favorable illness representations and higher patient satisfaction, even among cases with greater disease burden. This underscores the need for integrating patient-reported outcomes into the evaluation and refinement of pituitary care models....
Background: The parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurements in washouts from the fineneedle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of parathyroid adenoma could be considered in preoperative diagnostics of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Aims: Preoperative remission of PHPT following FNAB is presented, with discussion of the possible pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications. Case presentation: We describe a case of a female patient with confirmed PHPT and a suspected parathyroid adenoma who underwent FNAB with PTH washout measurement as part of the diagnostics. Following FNAB, the patient experienced normalization of biochemical parameters, accompanied by a reduction in tumor size. This outcome is presumed to be associated with autoinfarction or hemorrhage within the adenoma triggered by the biopsy procedure. Conclusions: This case highlights a rare but clinically significant phenomenon of FNAB-induced remission of PHPT and explains why alternative treatments such as thermal ablation may be considered to avoid surgery....
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