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Skeletal muscle weakness is a frequent symptom of thyroid dysfunction. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may cause signs and symptoms of neuromuscular dysfunction. It has been reported in previous studies that muscle strength recovers after treatment of thyroid dysfunction. The aim of the current study was to evaluate knee extensors and flexors strength in patients with thyroid dysfunction before and after medical treatment and compare the data with those of a matched control group. For this purpose 11 hyperthyroid, 9 hypothyroid patients and 27 healthy controls were recruited. All were tested isokinetically on the dominant side. The results suggest that return of thyroid hormone concentrations to their reference ranges, significantly increases muscular strength in hyperthyroid patients. However there was no significant recovery in the hypothyroid group. Nevertheless in both groups post-treatment muscle strength was significantly lower than in the control group. The findings suggest that patients with thyroid dysfunction, especially with hypothyroidism, should train for muscle strengthening after establishing euthyroidism to obtain optimum life conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND AIM:: Orlistat and metformin are the currently used drugs for weight loss. We aimed to compare the effect of orlistat and orlistat plus metformin combination therapy on weight loss and insulin resistance in obese women. PATIENTS AND METHODS:: In all, 57 obese women (body mass index =30?kg/m2 and normal glucose tolerance) were included. All subjects took the same content and caloric diet therapy during the study. After a month of diet period, each individual was randomly assigned to receive 360?mg orlistat per day (group 1; n=30) or 360?mg orlistat plus 1700?mg metformin per day (group 2; n=27) during the next 3 months. Body weight and insulin resistance by the homeostasis model assessment model (HOMA-IR) was measured at baseline, first month and fourth month. RESULTS:: The mean weight loss in groups 1 and 2 was 1.36±0.8?kg (1.4±0.7%) and 1.11±0.7?kg (1.1±0.7%) from baseline to first month; 4.8±2.9?kg (5.28±3.0%) and 5.77±2.5?kg (6.17±2.9%) from first month to fourth month. Body weight was decreased in groups 1 (P< 0.001) and 2 (P< 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference between groups. Change of HOMA-IR in groups 1 and 2 was 0.41±0.4 (14.9±10.1%) and 0.23±0.7 (8.16±12.3%) from baseline to first month; 0.49±0.77 (22.0±26%) and 0.95±0.88 (34.8±29.1%) from first month to fourth month. HOMA-IR value was decreased in groups 1 (P< 0.001) and 2 (P< 0.001) but was not different between groups during the study period. CONCLUSIONS:: Combination of orlistat with metformin did not result in an additional effect on weight loss and insulin resistance when compared to orlistat alone in our study. However, new studies which have more sample sizes and the longer study period are necessary for this purpose.International Journal of Obesity (2004) 28, 1059-1063. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802707 Published online 22 June 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body awareness is an expression of the extent of sensitivity and attentiveness to internal bodily signals and sensations. The foot has a critical function in providing interoceptive and exteroceptive information. The purposes of this study were to 1) compare body awareness in individuals with and without hallux valgus (HV) deformity, and 2) investigate the relationship between body awareness and HV-related parameters., Methods: A total of 129 participants completed the assessments. The severity of the HV was evaluated using the Manchester Scale; pain severity was evaluated using the numeric pain rating scale; and the functional status was evaluated using the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire. The patients were divided into two groups according to the Manchester Scale scores as the presence or absence of HV. The body awareness of the individuals with HV was assessed using the Body Awareness Questionnaire., Results: Included in this study were 69 participants with HV and 60 healthy participants. There was no difference between groups in terms of demographic properties. Two groups were found different only in pain severity (P < .01). The correlation analysis showed that there was a low correlation between the body awareness score and pain severity in both feet (right foot, r = 0.306, P = .011; left foot, r = 0.320, P = .007) in individuals with HV., Conclusions: Participants with HV had higher pain severity and the pain severity was associated with the body awareness. The level of body awareness should be assessed and taken into consideration in the management of pain in patients with HV.

Background: Amputee-specific, self-assessment mobility scales are essential to evaluate mobility in lower-limb amputees., Objectives: To evaluate the validity and reliability of a Turkish translation and adaptation of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility., Study Design: This is a validation study., Methods: Turkish translation of the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M-T) from its original was performed following the rules of intercultural adaptation and translation methods. The PLUS-M-T and its 12-item short form were applied to '100 induviduals with limb loss twice in 3-day intervals. The structural validity analysis was determined by calculating the correlation with the Amputee Mobility Scale, which is a valid, reliable scale for assessing the functional level in amputees. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated to analyze the internal consistency. The interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman correlation coefficient (r) were calculated, and the test-retest reliability was determined., Results: A positive, high correlation was found between the first application and its repetition of both PLUS-M-T (ICC = 0.85, r = 0.94, P < 0.001) and 12-item short form (ICC = 0.92, r = 0.93, P < 0.001). The internal consistency was high for both PLUS-M-T (Cronbach alpha = 0.94) and 12-item short form (Cronbach alpha = 0.91). A positive, high correlation was found between the scores obtained from the Amputee Mobility Scale and PLUS-M-T (r = 0.84, P < 0.001) and 12 question short form (r = 0.77, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Turkish translation of the PLUS-M questionnaire is a valid and reliable scale for assessing the mobility of individuals who have undergone lower-extremity amputation using a prosthesis., (Copyright © 2022 International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.)

Background: Coronary heart disease is the major cause of death in the developed world. Platelet activation and aggregation are central processes in the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a determinant of platelet function, is a newly emerging risk factor for atherothrombosis. The present study was designed to evaluate levels of MPV in subclinical hypothyroidic subjects compared with euthyroidic subjects in a cross-sectional study., Material/methods: Thirty-six subclinical hypothyroidic subjects and 20 euthyroidic control subjects matched for age, gender, and body mass index were selected., Results: Metabolic parameters and platelet counts were not different among the study groups (p>0.05). The level of MPV was significantly higher in the subclinical hypothyroidic group than in the euthyroidic group (9.9+/-0.9 fl vs. 9.2+/-0.7 fl, p<0.001). The anti-TPO levels positively correlated to MPV levels in the subclinical hypothyroidic group (p<0.05)., Conclusions: These results suggest that subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism tend to have increased platelet activation. Increased platelet activity could contribute to increasing the risk of atherothrombotic complications in subclinical hypothyroidism.

Mean platelet volume (MPV), a determinant of platelet function, is a newly emerging risk factor for atherothrombosis. The risk profile of white coat hypertension has not yet been completely clear. The present study was designed to evaluate MPV in white coat hypertensive subjects compared with essential hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects. We selected 36 essential hypertensive patients, 36 white coat hypertensive subjects and 36 normotensive control subjects matched for age, gender, and body mass index. MPV was very significantly higher in essential hypertensives and white coat hypertensives than in normotensives (P < 0.00); it was also higher in essential hypertensives than in white coat hypertensives (P < 0.05). Platelet counts were not different among the study groups (P > 0.05). MPV was positively correlated with ambulatory diastolic blood pressure in essential hypertension and white coat hypertension groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggests one possible mechanism by which white coat hypertensive subjects may be at increased cardiovascular risk.

A 43-year-old female patient with Basedow-Graves' disease developed agranulocytosis in the eighth month of propylthiouracil therapy. After discontinuing the drug, a broad spectrum antibiotic regimen plus recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), a human haematopoietic growth factor, were started. Her granulocyte count returned to normal with the second dose of G-CSF, and ulcerating pharyngitis improved rapidly. We think that in patients with propylthiouracil-induced agranulocytosis, G-CSF will reduce the risk and severity of infection, and should be accepted as a part of the standard therapy.