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ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels in diabetic men with and without hypogonadism and figured out the potential factors influencing the connection between vitamin D and testosterone.MethodsA total of 367 men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were investigated, including 254 men with normal gonadal function (Group 1) and 113 men with hypogonadism (Group 2). Men with hypogonadism were classified as either hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (Group 2a) or hypergonadotropic hypogonadism (Group 2b). Serum 25(OH)D levels were detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in all cases. Morning total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), prolactin (PRL), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid function, parathyroid and adrenal hormones, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (Fins) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were also assessed.ResultsThe prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in men with T2DM was up to 96.46%. Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in men with hypogonadism than those with eugonadism (16.65 ± 6.44 ng/mL vs. 18.17 ± 6.17 ng/mL, P=0.033). The lowest 25(OH)D level was observed in Group 2a (16.22 ± 6.52 ng/mL). After adjustment for the selected factors, serum 25(OH)D concentrations were shown to be positively correlated with TT concentrations (r=0.137, P=0.032). The relationship between 25(OH)D and testosterone was altered by age, duration of T2DM, body mass index, and HbA1c. Serum 25(OH)D level was positively associated with serum TT level in men with age <60 years (r=0.180, P=0.003), or with duration≥5 years (r=0.186, P=0.013), or with body mass index (BMI)≥28kg/m2 (r=0.431, P=0.000), or with HbA1c≥9% (r=0.145, P=0.031).ConclusionsThese findings indicate that type 2 diabetes patients with hypogonadism have lower 25(OH)D levels than those without hypogonadism. There seems to be a positive association between the serum 25(OH)D and TT levels, which affected by age, duration, BMI, and HbA1c

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of ethanol ablation (EA) and microwave ablation (MWA) in the treatment of cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. Methods: Clinical data of patients with cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules intervened with EA or MWA in the Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2013 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into EA group (n=30) and MWA group (n=26). The volume and volume reduction rate of thyroid nodules before ablation, and at 3 months and 12 months after ablation were compared between the two groups. The effective rate and incidence of adverse events in both groups were recorded. Results: The median volume reduction rate at 3 months after ablation was significantly higher in EA group than MWA group (81.30% vs. 75.76%, P=0.010), while no significant difference was detected at 12 months (93.39% vs. 89.34%, P=0.141). There was no significant difference in effective rate between the two groups during the follow-up (P>0.05). The maximum diameter of the thyroid nodule (2.96 ± 0.78 cm vs. 3.78 ± 1.02 cm, P<0.05), mean volume of thyroid nodule (4.92 [2.93-10.19] ml vs. 8.33 [4.92-15.02] ml, P<0.05) and medical cost (111.73 ± 55.22 USD vs. 2443.79 ± 285.46 USD, P<0.001) were significantly lower in EA group than MWA group, while EA group required more treatment cycles 2.5 [1.0-3.3] times vs. 1 [1.0-1.0] time, P<0.001). Serious adverse events were not reported in both groups. Conclusion: EA and MWA are both effective and safe in the treatment of cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. Although EA is more cost-effective, it requires more times of treatment and may poses a higher risk of postoperative pain compared with MWA.