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Malaria is one of the worlds most important infectious diseases, occurring in many tropical and subtropical countries. The causative agent is a parasitic protozoan of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. More than 200 million people get malaria every year worldwide, and hundreds of thousands of them, mostly children under 5 years of age, die of it. Thanks to prevention programmes implemented by various organisations headed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with the aim of eliminating malaria, cases have been declining in recent years. However, particularly in African countries, malaria continues to be a health and economic issue.

Cushing's syndrome is associated with typical central redistribution of adipose tissue. The aim of the study was to assess lipolysis and catecholamines and their metabolites in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue using an in-vivo microdialysis technique. Nine patients with Cushing's syndrome and nine age-, gender- and body mass index (BMI)-matched control subjects were included in the study. Local glycerol concentrations were significantly increased in subcutaneous adipose tissue of patients with Cushing's syndrome (p

Presently the laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) becomes most popular since 1992 when it was performed for the first time by laparoscopic method by Gagner. Typical indication for LA is the aldosteron-secreting adenoma, Cushing's syndrome, feochromocytoma or scarcity tumors such as adrenal cyst or myelolipomas.The evaluation of the laparoscopic adrenalectomy as safe method for adrenals tumout's extirpation to the sizes 10 cm.LA is provided with transperitoneal lateral approach most frequently then in back side position. Retroperitoneal approach is used less commonly.Since 2006, firstly at the 1st Surgical department of 1st Medical School of Charles University and General Faculty Hospital and lastly at the Surgical department 2nd Medical School of Charles University and Central Military Hospital, has been performed on the whole 120 LA in 114 patients. The bilateral LA was performed in 6 patients. The conversion from the laparoscopic to open adrenalectomy was necessary by reason of the king size of the tumor (13/14 cm) in two cases. The lateral position and transperitoneal approach was used in all cases. The harmonie scalpel was used with advantage. Average length of the operation was 82 minutes (40-154 min), respective 180 minutes (130-270 min) in the case of the bilateral LA. The median size of the adrenal tumor was 4.9 cm (1.5-12.5 cm) with average weight 44 g (18-421 g). All of the patients after LA were monitored for 24 hours in the Intensive care units. The average time of the hospitalization was 3.7 days (2-6 days).Laparoscopic adrenalectomy presently becomes as the "gold standard" for the treatment of adrenal tumors to the size 10 cm namely and in the event of malignancy. The harmonie scalpel is useful and sparing advice for the LA.

Adrenal cancer is a rare disease which is often diagnosed at a late stage and usually has a poor prognosis. This review article gives a current knowledge on the etiopathogenesis, which could lead to the improvement of therapeutic strategies and possibly outcomes of therapy. Further, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach and current treatment options in patients with adrenal cancer are summarized. The multidisciplinary approach as well as centralized care is necessary for successful management of patients with adrenal cancer and for improvement of their poor prognosis.

Product line concepts are widely used and adopted across a number of industries. Whilst the software product line concepts are readily accessible to commercial software product companies, the application within corporate environments whose core business is not software has been less evident. What are the types of challenges that large corporate organisations need to overcome? This paper presents a number of hurdles which have been observed during the adoption of the concepts at two large financial services organisations. One particular hurdle relates to the difficulty that business divisions within those organisations have in perceiving a return on investment when a product line is established that crosses business unit boundaries. Furthermore a number of enabling mechanisms, related to funding, IT project and general management aspects are proposed which are showing positive results in facilitating the adoption of product line practices in corporate financial service organisations.

Visceral obesity, insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are strongly related. Development of visceral obesity and regulation of body fat distribution in general are influenced by many factors. This article is a summary of current knowledge about pathogenesis of insulin resistance in different endocrinopathies, particularly in the Cushing's syndrome and acromegaly, as they are both connected with the pathological conditions mentioned above.

Computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) quite often detect unexpected cases of enlargement in the hypothalamus-hypophysial region, without the above methods being indicated for clinical manifested symptomatology provoked by the tumour. This is not surprising if we consider that autopsies show the presence of hypophysial adenomas of 10-15% of population on an average. X ray, CT or MRI are indicated in the case of head traumas, lateral nasal cavity inflammations, headaches, strokes, neurological diseases and other disorders. A number of tumours of diverse etiology occur in the hypothalamus-hypophysial region, but hypophysial adenomas are by far the most frequent among all (above 90 %). Among other primary enlargements, the most frequent are craniopharyngeomas and meningeomas, while other enlargements are by fare less common. Such randomly detected tumours are mostly asymptomatic, but targeted anamnesis may show some of the symptoms quite clearly. The symptomatology can be linked with possible slight hormonal overproduction of hypophysial adenomas, a deficit of hypophysial hormones or local manifestations of expansion. Exact assessment of MRI results, of hormonal activity of the enlargement, of the relation to surrounding structures, especially the optic nerves, and the assessment of hypophysial functions are important for the therapeutic decision. Depending on the type and extension of the tumour the options considered are pharmacotherapy (the treatment of choice in the case of prolactinomas), surgery, radiotherapy (today prevailingly using the gamma knife), and if no intervention is necessary, follow up with regular MRI examinations. Tumorous growth is more often observed in "macroadenomas" than in "microadenomas" (up to 10 mm).

Adrenal incidentalomas are called as a disease of modern technology because increased availability and accuracy of imaging techniques lead to increased incidence of incidentally discovered adrenal masses. Adrenal incidentalomas are found in about 0.35-4.36% of abdominal CT scans performed for purpose other than suspicion of adrenal diseases. However, in autoptic studies the percentage of incidentally discovered adrenal tumours in much higher, in some of then being even more than 20%. Important component of differential diagnosis is endocrinological examination aimed to reveal potential autonomous hormonal overproduction. Approximately more than 10% of adrenal incidentalomas is characterized by autonomous cortisol production, 5-10% is phaeochromocytomas and 5-7% is aldosteron producing adenomas. Vast majority of adrenal incidentalomas are nonfunctioning tumours, mainly adenomas. Rational ways and recommendations for screening of hormonal activity of adrenal incidentalomas is discussed. Very important issue is to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions and between adenomas and non-adenomas. The accuracy of CT, MR, and fine needle aspiration cytology in distinguishing between adenomas from non-adenomas is comparable, in general not exceeding 90%. Particular characteristics of particular adrenal tumours are discussed. From the relationship between the tumour size and probability of malignancy, current recommendations are derived, that non-functioning tumours smaller than 4 cm are indicated for further follow-up, size over 6 cm is indication for adrenalectomy and in tumours between 4-6 cm decision process is complex.

The hormones with a strong influence on the lipid spectrum and the development of atherosclerosis include cortisol, growth hormone and oestrogens. Cortisol accelerates atherosclerosis both through dyslipidemia and through an increase in visceral fat, hypertension, increased insulin resistance and the development of reduced glucose tolerance which may result in diabetes mellitus. Even when a cortisol excess disappears, as is the case of patients cured of Cushing syndrome, arterial walls remain permanently vulnerable to the atherosclerotic process. In conditions involving a lack of growth hormone, dyslipidemia develops and increases the burden on the cardiovascular system if not treated in a timely manner by the substitution of growth hormone. Oestrogens have a double effect: they have an anti-atherogenic effect on artery walls that are not yet damaged by an atherosclerotic process, but where atherosclerosis has already developed they have a prothrombotic effect and destabilise the atheromatous plaques. If oestrogen is to be used as protection against the onset of atherogenesis, it is necessary to start in a period when the atherosclerotic process has not yet begun to damage the woman's arterial walls and it is best to use natural hormones (estradiol) and to prevent endometriosis it should be combined with crystalline progesterone applied locally--inravaginally. Oestrogens should be given in small doses, preferably parenterally. Even this will not prevent genetic oestrogen effects though.

Ghrelin is recently discovered peptide hormone involved in the regulation of growth hormone secretion as well as in the regulation of food intake and energetic homeostasis. The study was aimed to describe the changes in ghrelin serum levels in patients with anorexia nervosa and its relationship to some other studied parameters. Sixteen women patients with anorexia nervosa and thirteen healthy women of comparable age were examined clinically and blood samples were taken for estimation of serum levels of ghrelin, leptin, soluble leptin receptor, IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3. Ghrelin serum levels were significantly increased in the group of patients with anorexia nervosa (p0,05). In contrary, serum leptin levels were decreased in the group of patients with anorexia nervosa (p0,01). Serum ghrelin levels did not correlate with any other of studied parameters with exception of BMI. We can conclude that serum ghrelin levels are increased in patients with anorexia nervosa and their increase fails to significantly stimulate food intake in this group of patients.

Ghrelin is an acylated peptide stimulating secretion of the growth hormone (GH). It was originally isolated from the rat stomach as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Although being predominantly produced by endocrine cells of the gastric fundus, its secretion has been found in various tissues including the kidney. To study the influence of renal failure on plasma ghrelin levels we examined 16 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving hemodialysis (8 men and 8 women) and 19 controls (10 men and 9 women). Both groups were comparable in age and BMI. In all subjects we assessed plasma levels of ghrelin, leptin, soluble leptin receptor, insulin, IGF-I, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-6. Ghrelin levels were significantly higher in the group of dialyzed patients (4.49+/-0.74 vs. 1.79+/-0.15 ng/ml; p0.001). These patients had significantly higher levels of GH, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-6, leptin and percentage of body fat (p0.05). In the group of patients with ESRD plasma ghrelin levels positively correlated with IGFBP-1 (p0.01). In the control group, ghrelin positively correlated with GH concentrations (p0.01) and negatively correlated with the levels of insulin and creatinine (p0.05). In conclusion, patients with ESRD have higher ghrelin concentrations, which might be caused by a decreased excretion/metabolism of ghrelin in the kidney during renal failure.

Ghrelin is a member of the group of growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs). It is a peptide hormone, recently isolated from stomach as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). Ghrelin is mostly produced by the stomach, although its production has been proved in various tissues. It is a potent releaser of growth hormone (GH) from anterior pituitary cells, but it also stimulates the release of other hypophyseal hormones. Ghrelin stimulates food intake and induces metabolic changes leading to an increase in body weight and body fat mass. This effect seems to be independent of GH action and needs an intact NPY/AGRP (neuropeptide Y/agouti-related protein) system. Plasma ghrelin levels are decreased in obesity, elevated in cachexia and show a diurnal rhythm. Its preprandial elevation suggests, that it might be a signal for meal initiation. Ghrelin further stimulates the release of gastric acid and gastric motility and affects pancreatic functions. It has vasodilatatory, cardioprotective and antiproliferative effects. This article is focused on ghrelin's endocrine and metabolic functions.

Effect of growth hormone (GH) on the growth and development of children is generally known. Effects of GH in adults are favorable, though. The aim of the work was to verify effects of GH administration on body composition in adult patients with GH deficit (GHD). The authors examined 15 adult patients with GHD originated in 13 of them in adulthood and in two of them in childhood. Their mean age was 43.9 +/- 11.3 years, the mean body mass was 80.0 +/- 15.2 kg. The GH deficit was verified by the stimulation insulin tolerance test. For the period of 12 months, they were subcutaneously administered recombinant human GH in a substitution dose of 0.5 to 1.5 IU/m2 body surface/day. A stable substitution of the hormone was applied for the period of at least six months in all these patients provided any deficit of other hormones had not been demonstrated. The examination by whole-body dosimeter Lunar DPX-L was made in the patients before the GH treatment began and after 12 months of therapy. It enabled to determine the amount of lean body mass (LBM) and fatty mass. After 12 months of GH treatment the mean level of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) was increased (P = 0.002). A statistically significant increase of total LBM (48.6 +/- 9.8 vs. 50.8 +/- 9.9 kg, P = 0.004) developed, the fatty mass did not change. Nine of these 15 patients were further followed and the administration of GH proceeded for six months. The densitometric examination was repeated, but no change of LBM was observed. The administration of GH was halted and after the period of 12 months the whole-body densitometric examination was done. The increase of LBM lasted. The amount of fat mass did not change, a decrease of fatty mass was observed after the GH administration ended. After 12 months of GH treatment there was also an increase of maximal output reached on bicycle ergometer (157.3 +/- 34.2 vs. 197.5 +/- 68.1 W, P = 0.006). A positive correlation between LBM and maximal output reached on bicycle ergometer before GH administration (r = 0.58, P = 0.02) was observed. A favorable effect of the substitution dose of GS administered to adult patients with GHD on the increase of LBM and physical output was confirmed.

System of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its binding proteins (IGFBP) may be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular damage in Type 2 diabetes. Aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between this system and microvascular reactivity in Type 2 diabetes as measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry.Thirteen Type 2 diabetic patients (8 women and 5 men) with microangiopathy and fifteen healthy subjects (8 women and 7 men) were examined clinically, underwent laser-Doppler flowmetry and intima-media thickness measurements. Fasting serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP and lipids were examined. Percentage perfusion increase in the test with postocclusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH) as well as in that with thermal hyperaemia (TH) were significantly decreased in Type 2 diabetic patients (p0.05). Maximal perfusion after heating (THmax) was lower in Type 2 diabetic patients. Reaction of microcirculation after heating (THmax/t) was slower in Type 2 diabetic patients (p0.001). The changes in microvascular reactivity didn't significantly correlate with any of measured parameters of IGF-I/IGFBP system.Microvascular reactivity is impaired in Type 2 diabetic patients. The function of microcirculation is not significantly related to the particular parameters of the IGF-I/IGFBP system.

The system of IGF-I and its binding proteins is a complex system with many physiological functions including metabolic regulations. Present study was aimed to describe changes of its particular components in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients and patients with obesity.We examined 21 patients with obesity, 13 patients with type 2 and 22 with type 1 diabetes in comparison with 16 age matched healthy controls. We performed clinical examination and estimation of serum concentrations of IGF-I, free-IGF-I, IGFBP-1, -2, -3 and -6, insulin, C-peptide and fasting glucose. Patients with obesity featured by decreased IGF-I (p0.05), free-IGF-I (p0.05), IGFBP-1 (p0.01) and IGFBP-3 (p0.05) serum levels. Type 2 diabetes were associated with a decline of IGF-I (p0.05) and IGFBP-2 (p0.05) serum levels. Type 1 diabetes was characterised by typical decrease in IGF-I (p0.05), free-IGF-I (p0.01) and IGFBP-3 (p0.01) serum levels as well as by increase in IGFBP-1 (p0.01) serum levels. Type 2 diabetic patients had lover IGFBP-2 and higher IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-6 levels than obese subjects.The study showed a changes in the system of IGF-1 and its binding proteins associated with studied metabolic diseases that confirm active participations of this system in carbohydrate metabolism regulation.

Somatostatin is a hormone with broad spectrum of physiological effects. Somatostatin and its analogues are employed in the diagnosis and treatment of various clinical conditions. The article reviews the use of somatostatine and somatostatine analogues in the clinical medicine. It also comprises the overview of the basic therapeutical and diagnostic indications for somatostatine and its analogues and the theoretical basis of their use.

The technologic advancement of imaging techniques especially computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MRI) is associated with an increasing number of incidentally discovered sellar masses. The endocrinologists are facing the problem to distinguish between benign and clinically often insignificant non-functioning pituitary adenomas (pituitary incidentalomas) and other pituitary or sellar and parasellar masses, which require further therapy. This paper gives an overview about different types of pituitary or sellar and parasellar masses, their aetiology and basic symptoms arising from either endocrine disturbances or as a result of mass effect of an enlarging tissue. Further, the paper shortly characterises most common pituitary and non-pituitary sellar masses that are necessary to distinguish. Finally, the basic diagnostic approach to the patients with sellar and parasellar masses is described.

Ghrelin is a new endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. It activates the release of growth hormone from the pituitary and it also participates in the regulation of energy homeostasis. The aim of the study was to characterize changes in serum ghrelin levels in obese subjects and their relationship to the serum levels of leptin and soluble leptin receptor. Eight obese patients (6 women and 2 men) with body mass index (BMI) 40.3+/-13.4 kg.m(-2) and eight healthy controls (5 women and 3 men) with BMI 22.7+/-1.3 kg.m(-2) were examined. The ghrelin serum levels (165.0+/-58.1 vs. 343.37+/-81.96; p0.001) and soluble leptin receptor serum levels (7.25+/-3.44 vs. 21.80+/-4.99; p0.0001) were significantly lower in obese patients. The leptin serum levels (23.45+/-12.90 vs. 6.41+/-2.96; p0.005) were significantly higher compared to the lean subject group. In both measured groups the levels of serum leptin significantly positively correlated with BMI. We proved a significantly lower serum ghrelin levels in the group of obese patients in comparison with the control group.

Ghrelin is a new endogenous peptide, discovered in 1999 by Kojima et al., as the result of a search for an endogenous ligand for an orphan receptor of known structure and function. Ghrelin is composed of 28 amino acids and is produced mostly by cells of the stomach, hypothalamus, and hypophysis, but it has also been detected in other tissues. Its discovery is related to the development of a new hypothesis regarding the regulation of growth hormone secretion. It is an antagonist of somatostatin. Ghrelin activates the release of growth hormone from the somatotrophic cells of the hypophysis. It participates in the regulation of energy homeostasis, increases food intake, decreases energy output and exerts a lipogenetic effect. Its metabolic effects do not depend on the GH/IGF-I system, but are mediated by the NPY/Y1 and AGRP receptor system. Ghrelin influences the secretion and motility of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the stomach. The presence of ghrelin and its receptors has also been demonstrated in many other tissues. Its function in these tissues has not yet been studied, thus providing many possibilities for further research.

The system of IGF-I and its binding proteins may be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular damage in Type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between this system and the microvascular reactivity in Type 1 diabetes as measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Twenty-two Type 1 diabetic patients (13 women and 9 men) with microangiopathy and fifteen healthy subjects (8 women and 7 men) were examined clinically, underwent laser-Doppler flowmetry and intima-media thickness measurements. Fasting serum levels of IGF-I, free IGF-I, IGFBPs and lipids were examined. The microvascular reactivity was impaired in Type 1 diabetic patients. Maximal perfusion during post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORHmax) and during thermal hyperemia (THmax) was significantly decreased in Type 1 diabetes (p0.01). Percentage perfusion increase in both tests (PORH and TH) was lower in Type 1 diabetes mellitus (p0.01) and the reaction after heating was slower in diabetic patients (THmax) (p0.01). We did not find any significant dependence of microvascular reactivity on the parameters of IGF-I or its binding proteins. We conclude that the microvascular reactivity is impaired in Type 1 diabetes mellitus, but this impairment is not clearly dependent on the activity of the IGF-I system. It is probably only a complementary pathogenic factor.

In the last fifteen years the development of imaging techniques, especially the routine use of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lead to increased number of incidentally discovered adrenal masses. Facing the incidentalomas, it is necessary to make decisions about further management of the patient. This paper gives a review of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the adrenal incidentaloma, with available imaging tools and with the stress on the importance of particular imaging techniques.

The IGF-I system and its binding proteins participate in the pathogenesis of vascular affections under various pathological conditions. The mechanism and mode of its action were however not elucidated in details so far and views on its role are controversial. The objective of the study was to assess the relationship of this system and the blood flow in the microcirculation in obese patients. The authors examined 21 obese patients (BMI 39.7 +/- 7.3 kg/m2) and a group of healthy volunteers. They examined: serum concentrations of total IGF-I, free IGF-I, IGFBP-1,-2,-3, and -6, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides as well as the intimomedial thickness of the common carotid arteries and parameters of blood flow in the microcirculation, evaluated by a laser-Doppler examination. In obese patients there were significantly lower serum concentrations of IGF-I and free-IGF I (p0.05) as compared with the control group. Comparison of the function of the microcirculation revealed in obese patients, as compared with the control group, a lower percentage increase of perfusion after occlusion (PORH%, p0.05) and after heating (TH%, p0.05) and a slower onset of thermal hyperaemia (THmax/t, p0.05). In the control group serum concentrations of free-IGF-I correlated inversely with the maximum perfusion after heat induced hyperaemia (THmax (r = -0.54, p0.02) and the rate of onset of hyperaemia after heating (THmax/t) (r = 0.51, p0.02). In the group of obese patients serum concentrations of free-IGF-I correlated inversely with the maximum perfusion after heat induced hyperaemia (THmax) (r = -0.55, p0.02), and IGFBP-3 concentrations correlated inversely with maximum hyperaemia after occlusion (PORGmax) (r = -0.57, p0.01). The results suggest that the function of the microcirculation in obese subjects is affected. The activity of the IGF-I system and its binding proteins is related to the affected function of the microcirculation and a negative part is played particularly by serum concentrations of free IGF-I. The negative effect of IGFBP-3 on the function of the microcirculation is surprising.

The breakdown of chitin within an acidic upland grassland was studied. The aim was to provide a molecular characterisation of microorganisms involved in chitin degradation in the soil using soil microcosms and buried litter bags containing chitin. The investigation involved an examination of the effects of liming on the microbial communities within the soil and their chitinolytic activity. Microcosm experiments were designed to study the influence of lime and chitin enrichment on the grassland soil bacterial community ex situ under controlled environmental conditions. Bacterial and actinomycete counts were determined and total community DNA was extracted from the microcosms and from chitin bags buried at the experimental site. PCR based on specific 16S rRNA target sequences provided products for DGGE analysis to determine the structure of bacterial and actinomycete communities. Chitinase activity was assessed spectrophotometrically using chitin labelled with remazol brilliant violet. Both liming and chitin amendment increased bacterial and actinomycete viable counts and the chitinase activity. DGGE band patterns confirmed changes in bacterial populations under the influence of both treatments. PCR products amplified from DNA isolated from chitin bags were cloned and sequenced. Only a few matched known species but a prominent coloniser of chitin proved to be Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

The role of IGF-I/IGFBP's system in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications is widely discussed in the literature. We studied the influence of this system on microvasculature in patients with type 1 diabetes with respect to the effect of IGFBP-1.17 patients with type 1 diabetes were included in the study. We examined IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 serum levels, parameters of compensation of diabetes and basic values of lipid metabolism. The function of microvasculature was examined using the laser-Doppler system Periflux. We didn't found any relation between the total IGF-I serum levels, parameters of lipid metabolism or level of diabetes compensation and the degree of impairment of the function of microcirculation. IGFBP-1 serum levels positively correlated with the peak perfusion in thermal hyperaemia (r = 0.39; p0.03). IGFBP-3 serum levels did not affect the function of microcirculation.We can conclude that the activity of IGF-I/IGFBP's system belongs to factors contributing to the development of diabetic microangiopathy in type 1 diabetes. IGFBP-1 as the modulator of IGF-I activity plays probably protective role against the progression of microangiopathy. These results correspond with observations of some other authors.

The aim of the treatment of acromegaly is to normalise the hormonal activity. Besides the surgical and radiation treatment, medical therapy can be used. The project was set to determine the value of combined therapy with lanreotide and terguride in patients with active acromegaly.Nine patients previously treated with lanreotide for at least one year without normalisation of hormonal activity were included in the study. Terguride was added to lanreotide for one month. The combined treatment brought about reduction of growth hormone (GH) levels, however, with marginal significance only. GH-BP, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 serum levels were not changed significantly. Considering the individual cases, the combined treatment resulted in normalisation of GH levels in one patient and that of IGF-I in another one. Substantial decrease of GH levels (50%) was found in three patients and that of IGF-I (20%) in another one patient.The combined treatment of acromegaly appears to be more effective than monotherapy with lanreotide only in a subset of acromegalic patients.

Osteoporosis is one of the most serious consequences of Cushing's syndrome. Only a small number of longitudinal observations on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with treated Cushing's syndrome have been reported so far. To evaluate changes in bone mass in patients with Cushing's syndrome after surgical cure of the disease, BMD was evaluated cross-sectionally.BMD (DPX-L, Lunar) was measured in the lumbar spine and femoral neck (i.e. in skeletal areas with high proportion of trabecular and cortical bone, respectively) in 72 patients after successful surgical cure of Cushing's syndrome (8 men, 34 women before menopause and 30 women after menopause who were not on hormone replacement therapy). No other drug's interfering with skeletal metabolism were used. The reference group consisted of young healthy Czech women and/or men. The mean lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD increased to normal values within 3 and 5 years after surgery, respectively. In women after menopause, however, the significant positive relationship between BMD and time after surgery was negatively influenced by time after menopause. It is likely that several other factors contributed to the increase in bone mass in the patients (cure of hypercortisolism, recovery from hypogonadism and restoration of muscle strength).After surgical cure of Cushing's syndrome in premenopausal women and in men, BMD rapidly and substantially increases. The recovery is negatively affected by estrogen deficiency in postmenopause.