The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high, particularly in the elderly. The data show a strong seasonal variation of serum 25(OH)D in all subgroups of our Romanian population with highest levels in September and lowest levels in March.

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Sertoli‐Leydig cell tumors (SLCT) constitute only 1‐0.5% of all primary ovarian neoplasms. We report a SLCT in a postmenopausal woman aged 69 years. The physical examination revealed severe hirsutism. Basal hormonal evaluation showed high plasma testosterone and estradiol values, with suppressed plasma gonadotropins. Computer tomograph scan revealed a right ovarian tumor mass of 4,3/3 cm, confirming an androgen secreting ovarian tumor. The histopathological and immunocytochemical examination established the diagnosis of well differentiated Sertoli‐Leydig cell tumor. The tumor was positive for cytokeratin KL 1 and S‐100 protein and, in isolated tumor cells, positive for alpha‐fetoprotein. Postsurgical evolution was favorable; controls after 6 months and 3,5 years showed marked reduction of hirsutism, normal plasma testosterone values and gonadotropins in normal postmenopausal range. We discuss the complex aspects of etiology and pathogenesis, the clinical and hormonal settings, the role of immunocytochemical markers in diagnosis, as well as the therapy and the prognostic features of this ovarian tumor.

There is an increased interest and more studies highlight the fact that bone strength depends not only on bone tissue quantity, but also on its quality, which is characterized by the geometry and shape of bones, trabecular bone microarchitecture, mineral content, organic matrix and bone turnover. Fibrillar type I collagen is the major organic component of bone matrix, providing form and a stable template for mineralization. The biomedical importance of collagen as a biomaterial for medical and cosmetic purposes and the improvement of the molecular, cellular biology and analytical technologies, led to increasing interest in establishing the structure of this protein and in setting of the relationships between sequence, structure, and function. Bone collagen crosslinking chemistry and its molecular packing structure are considered to be distinct features. This unique post-translational modifications provide to the fibrillar collagen matrices properties such as tensile strength and viscoelasticity. Understanding the complex structure of bone type I collagen as well as the dynamic nature of bone tissues will help to manage new therapeutic approaches to bone diseases.

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Background. Craniopharyngiomas are benign but locally invasive tumours of the sellar region that arise from ectopic embryonic remnants of Rathke's pouch, affecting both children (adamantinomatous type -aCP) and adults (papillary type -pCP) and associated with significant morbidity.Objective. To study the clinical presentation of CRF as well as the posttreatment evolution of craniopharyngioma in children versus adults in a large mixed cohort.Material and methods. We performed a retrospective review of CRF patients evaluated in the National Institute of Endocrinology in Bucharest between 1990 and 2016.Results. A total of 107 patients (72 adults, 35 children) with a mean follow-up of 6.2 years were included. The presenting symptoms were mostly headache, visual impairment, symptoms of hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus. Some symptoms or hormonal abnormalities were significantly more prevalent in the children group (p<0.05): nausea/ vomiting (47.8% vs 16.7%), photophobia (21.7% vs 5.6%), diabetes insipidus(28.5% vs 8.3%), GH deficiency (68.8% vs 17.1%). Impaired visual acuity (67.6%of cases) or visual fields (71.4%) were more frequent in adults compared to children (44.1%; 51.6%). The tumor dimensions were similar in both groups (3.05± 1.05 cm in children; 2.7± 1.07 cm in adults). Massive suprasellar extension reaching the third ventricle was frequently present in all cases. All cases underwent surgery but only a minority of those not cured received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. Frequent postoperative complications were: aggravation of the endocrine deficit (>80% of cases in both groups needed chronic replacement therapy), central diabetes insipidus (68.2% children, 34.3% of adults).Conclusions. Despite similar tumor dimensions and extension compared to adults, craniopharyngioma in children is more frequently associated with signs of intracranial pressure. The results and complications of treatment are similar in adults and children.

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