Abstract. The ssociation between coronary heart disease and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is unclear. We aimed to determine hs-CRP concentrations in patients with SCH. Seventy-seven patients (age 34.6 ± 13.7 yr) with SCH (TSH >4.2 mIU/ml and serum free thyroxine level between 0.932-1.71 ng/dL), and 80 control subjects (age 33.9 ± 13.3 yr) were studied. Thyroid hormones, C-reactive protein, insulin, glucose, total, HDL, LDL and VLDL-cholesterol levels and HOMA-IR index were also determined. TSH levels of SCH group were higher than control (7.4 ± 2.9 and 1.55 ± 0.78 mIU/ml, respectively, p = 0.0001). However, FT4 levels were lower than control subjects (1.18 ± 0.22 ng/dL and 1.38 ± 0.26, respectively, p = 0.001). Serum hs-CRP levels of subjects with SCH were higher than control subjects (4.2 ± 0.8 mg/l and 1.05 ± 0.3 mg/l respectively, p = 0.0001). Insulin levels of SCH group were higher than control (8.5 ± 4.3 mU/ml and 7.1 ± 3.1 mU/ml respectively, p<0.02) but, Homa-IR levels of the two groups were not different. Mean total and LDL-cholesterol levels of SCH group were higher than control (p = 0.01 and p<0.02). We also found a positive correlation between hs-CRP levels and insulin (r = 0.362, p = 0.002 in men, r = 0.358, p = 0.0001 in women), TSH (r = 0.611, p = 0.0001 in men, r = 0.411 p = 0.0001 in women), and prolactin (r = 0.340, p = 0.01 in men r = 0.553, p = 0.0001 in women). Conclusions: Patients with SCH, irrespective of gender, have higher serum hs-CRP, insulin, total and LDL-cholesterol levels than healthy subjects. 2-High hs-CRP level, and thereby low grade inflammation may be associated with fasting hyperinsulinemia before insulin resistance becomes evident in patients with SCH.

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These mutations in patients with early-onset obesity represent a novel molecular mechanism of human POMC deficiency whereby naturally occurring mutations in its N-terminal sequence impair the ability of POMC to enter the trafficking pathway in which serial propeptide processing normally occurs.

Firstly, patients treated with EPO are insulin sensitive compared to patients not treated with EPO. Secondly, duration of erythropoietin treatment is positively correlated with insulin sensitivity in hemodialysis patients.

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The background and aim of the study is to evaluate insulin sensitivity in hyperprolactinemic subjects via euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. Sixteen hyperprolactinemic subjects and 12 healthy subjects were included in the study. HOMA-B and HOMA-IR values of groups were calculated. Euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique was performed in both groups, and the M value of the groups was defined. Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests were used in statistical analysis. Basal insulin level of hyperprolactinemic patients were higher than the control group (6.85 +/- 4.68; 3.66 +/- 0.88 microU/ml respectively; P < 0.05). Mean HOMA-IR and HOMA-B values of patients were higher than control group (1.49 +/- 1.30; 0.78 +/- 0.27 respectively; P = 0.02 and 136.28 +/- 72.53; 64.77 +/- 23.31, respectively, P < 0.001). M values of the patients were statistically lower than the control group (5.64 +/- 2.36; 7.05 +/- 1.62 kg/mg/min respectively; P < 0.05). (1) Hyperprolactinemic patients were more insulin resistant than control subjects. (2) Insulin resistance in hyperprolactinemic patients is not associated with obesity or anthropometric parameters such as fat content, waist circumference and BMI.

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in serum levels of leptin, cytokines and lipoproteins in women with pre-eclampsia and to evaluate their clinical significance in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. We performed a prospective study involving 45 women with pre-eclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy and 30 normotensive women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Serum level of leptin was measured by enzyme immunoassay using a Cayman chemical kit. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, soluble IL-2 receptor (slL-2R), IL-6 and IL-8 were measured by using a non-radioimmunoassay chemiluminescent method. Serum lipid concentrations were measured by an Abbott Aeroset (USA) autoanalyzer. Serum levels of apolipoprotein (Apo)A-I and ApoB were evaluated by nephelometrics assays. Differences between groups were evaluated with Student's unpaired t test and, when a variable was not normally distributed, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. The relationship between the variable was explored by the Pearson correlation test. Serum levels of leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6 and IL-8 in the pre-eclamptic women were significantly higher than in normotensive women (p < 0.001). In the pre-eclamptic women serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were significantly increased (p < 0.001), while high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and Apo-A were significantly decreased compared to levels in normotensive pregnant women (p < 0.001). No significant differences were noted between the groups in Apo-B (p > 0.05). Serum levels of TNF-alpha were significantly correlated with the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, triglycerides, sIL-2R, Apo-A and hematocrit in pre-eclamptic women (r = 0.418, p < 0.05; r= 0.389, p < 0.01; r=0.312, p < 0.05; r= -0.318, p < 0.05; r= -0.340, p < 0.05 and r=0.41, p < 0.01, respectively). A negative correlation was seen between serum level of leptin and both IL-1beta and Apo-A in pre-eclamptic women (r=-0.44, p < 0.05; r=-0.39, p < 0.05, respectively). Serum levels of IL-6 were also significantly correlated with the serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) in pre-eclamptic women (r=0.40, p < 0.01; r=-0.568, p < 0.01; r= -0.30, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, serum level of IL-8 were significantly correlated with the serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and BMI in pre-eclamptic women (r= 0.368, p < 0.05; r=0.513, p < 0.01 and r= -0.41, p < 0.01, respectively). We found that the pre-eclampsia associated with increases in serum levels of leptin, TNF-alpha, cytokines, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was associated with a significant reduction in serum levels of HDL-cholesterol and Apo-A. These association may be due to the abnormal lipid metabolism and immune activation involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.