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The association between hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and abnormal thyroid function is well known. The prevalence, aetiology and course of thyrotoxicosis in women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) were studied. Women admitted for HG, who underwent thyroid function evaluation between 1 August 2016 and 30 April 2019, were studied. Laboratory data included baseline human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and baseline (t1), discharge (t2) and follow-up (t3) thyroid function tests (thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] and free thyroxin [fT4]). Available TSH receptor antibody status was assessed. Eighty-two patients were included. The incidence of thyrotoxicosis was 49% based on local laboratory TSH range and 48% if trimester-specific ranges used. In the majority of normal pregnancies, thyrotoxicosis was hCG-mediated (72.5%), 15% were confirmed to have Graves' disease and 12% had a molar pregnancy. Very high fT4 levels (> 40 pmol/l) at baseline [t1] were documented in 24% of women with hCG-mediated thyrotoxicosis. Clinical features were absent in a third of women with Graves' disease and the diagnosis was reliant on positive antibody status. Free T4 values declined from (t1) to later in gestation (t3) (p < 0.001). The incidence of thyrotoxicosis in women with HG is high. Free-T4 values decrease with clinical stabilisation of HG, suggesting a contribution of dehydration to the large variation in baseline fT4 measurements. Testing for TSH-receptor antibodies should be considered in women with TSH < 0.01 pmol/l and persistent fT4 elevation on follow-up. Final review of thyroid function should be performed after 15 weeks' gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, there is a rising trend in obesity, known to increase morbidity and mortality. Metabolic surgery and adequate weight loss decrease mortality but may worsen pre-existing nutrient deficiencies. Most data on pre-existing nutritional deficiencies in the population undergoing metabolic surgery is from the developed world, where an extensive micronutrient assessment is achievable. In resource-constrained environments, the cost of a comprehensive micronutrient assessment must be weighed against the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies and the potential harm if one or more nutritional deficiencies are missed., Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies in participants scheduled to undergo metabolic surgery in Cape Town, South Africa, a low-middle income country. 157 participants were selected and 154 reported on; who underwent a baseline evaluation from 12 July 2017 to 19 July 2020. Laboratory measurements were conducted, including vitamin B12 (Vit B12), 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), folate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), ferritin, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), magnesium, phosphate, albumin, iron, and calcium., Results: Participants were predominantly female, aged 45 years (37-51), with a preoperative BMI of 50.4 kg/m 2 (44.6-56.5). A total of 64 individuals had Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), with 28 undiagnosed cases at study entry (18% of study population). 25(OH)D deficiency was most prevalent (57%), followed by iron deficiency (44%), and folate deficiency (18%). Other deficiencies (vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, phosphate) were rarely encountered and affected ≤1% of participants. Folate and 25(OH)D deficiency were related to obesity classification, with a higher prevalence in participants with a BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 (p <0.01)., Conclusion: A higher prevalence of some micronutrient deficiencies was noted compared with data from similar populations in the developed world. The minimum baseline/preoperative nutrient evaluation in such populations should include 25(OH)D, iron studies, and folate. Additionally, screening for T2D is recommended. Future efforts should seek to collate broader patient data on a national scale and include longitudinal surveillance after surgery. This may provide a more holistic picture of the relationship between obesity, metabolic surgery and micronutrient status inform more appropriate evidence-based care., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Sadhai, Coetzee, Conradie-Smit, Greyling, van Gruting, du Toit, Lubbe, van de Vyver and Conradie.)

Background: Hormone therapy in transgender individuals may impact processes that lead to changes in biochemical analytes, and therefore reference intervals. Currently, few reference interval studies are available for the transgender population. We determined biochemical reference intervals for transgender individuals receiving hormone therapy., Methods: Our retrospective, laboratory-based, observational study included healthy transgender males ( N = 24) and transgender females ( N = 84) on hormone therapy. Various biochemical reference intervals were established for each cohort and compared to their cisgender counterparts., Results: We detected significant differences in reference intervals for sodium, 139-142 mmol/L vs. 136-145 mmol/L when comparing transgender males (TM) with cisgender males (CM). The following significant changes in upper reference limits (URL) for TM versus CM were detected, ALP (URL: 96 U/L vs. 128 U/L), GGT (URL: 27 U/L vs. 67 U/L) and testosterone (URL: 46.7 nmol/L vs. 29.0 nmol/L), respectively. Moreover, when comparing transgender female (TF) to cisgender female (CF), significant differences in creatinine (URL: 117 μmol/L vs. 90 μmol/L), albumin (lower reference limit: 41 g/L, vs. 35 g/L), AST (URL: 50 U/L vs. 35 U/L), ALP (URL: 118 U/L vs. 98 U/L) and oestradiol (URL: 934 pmol/L vs. 213 pmol/L) were noted, respectively. Significantly higher LDL-C was observed for TM on hormone treatment, compared to baseline (2.9 mmol/L vs. 2.2 mmol/L, p <0.01)., Conclusions: Biochemical results for TM and TF receiving hormone therapy can be evaluated against our transgender-specific reference intervals for some analytes, while others can be compared to their identified gender reference intervals.

The role of the endocrine system on the immune response, especially in the lung, remains poorly understood. Hormones play a crucial role in the development, homeostasis, metabolism, and response to the environment of cells and tissues. Major infectious and metabolic diseases, such as tuberculosis and diabetes, continue to converge, necessitating the development of a clearer understanding of the immune and endocrine interactions that occur in the lung. Research in bacterial respiratory infections is at a critical point, where the limitations in identifying and developing antibiotics is becoming more profound. Hormone receptors on alveolar and immune cells may provide a plethora of targets for host-directed therapy. This review discusses the interactions between the immune and endocrine systems in the lung. We describe hormone receptors currently identified in the lungs, focusing on the effect hormones have on the pulmonary immune response. Altered endocrine responses in the lung affect the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses and play a role in the response to infection in the lung. While some hormones, such as leptin, resistin and lipocalin-2 promote pro-inflammatory responses and immune cell infiltration, others including adiponectin and ghrelin reduce inflammation and promote anti-inflammatory cell responses. Furthermore, type 2 diabetes as a major endocrine disease presents with altered immune responses leading to susceptibility to lung infections, such as tuberculosis. A better understanding of these interactions will expand our knowledge of the mechanisms at play in susceptibility to infectious diseases and may reveal opportunities for the development of host-directed therapies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Webber, Ronacher, Conradie-Smit and Kleynhans.)