Background. Several factors such as stress, depression, infection, and vaccination influenced the menstrual cycle in women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. We investigated whether there were changes in the menstrual cycle in women after COVID‐19 vaccination or infection and, if so, the nature of the change. Methods. This study was designed as a descriptive, cross‐sectional study. A face‐to‐face survey was conducted among menstruating women aged 18–50 years from May 31 to July 31, 2022. Women were inquired about their first three menstrual cycles that occurred after COVID‐19 infection or vaccination. Results. Of 241 women with COVID‐19 infection, 86 (35.7%) mentioned that they experienced various changes in their menstrual patterns in the first three cycles after infection. Of 537 participants who received various COVID‐19 vaccines, 82 (15.1%) stated that they experienced changes in their menstrual patterns after vaccination. The incidence of postvaccination menstrual change was higher in women who received Pfizer‐BioNTech and Sinovac (CoronaVac) vaccines. Only 10.9% of women who reported a change in their menstrual pattern after vaccination or infection consulted a physician. Conclusion. COVID‐19 infection and vaccination can affect the menstrual cycle in women. It is important to be aware of the menstrual changes after COVID‐19 infection and vaccination and to warn and inform women about this issue.

Context: The aims of the study are to compare characteristics of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) related to different etiologies, and to identify predictors of recurrence of SAT and incident hypothyroidism. Methods: This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study included 53 endocrinology centers in Turkey. The study participants were divided into either COVID-19–related SAT (Cov-SAT), SARS-CoV-2 vaccine–related SAT (Vac-SAT), or control SAT (Cont-SAT) groups. Results: Of the 811 patients, 258 (31.8%) were included in the Vac-SAT group, 98 (12.1%) in the Cov-SAT group, and 455 (56.1%) in the Cont-SAT group. No difference was found between the groups with regard to laboratory and imaging findings. SAT etiology was not an independent predictor of recurrence or hypothyroidism. In the entire cohort, steroid therapy requirement and younger age were statistically significant predictors for SAT recurrence. C-reactive protein measured during SAT onset, female sex, absence of antithyroid peroxidase (TPO) positivity, and absence of steroid therapy were statistically significant predictors of incident (early) hypothyroidism, irrespective of SAT etiology. On the other hand, probable predictors of established hypothyroidism differed from that of incident hypothyroidism. Conclusion: Since there is no difference in terms of follow-up parameters and outcomes, COVID-19– and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine–related SAT can be treated and followed up like classic SATs. Recurrence was determined by younger age and steroid therapy requirement. Steroid therapy independently predicts incident hypothyroidism that may sometimes be transient in overall SAT and is also associated with a lower risk of established hypothyroidism.

Aims We aimed to evaluate the elastographic features of Achilles tendon with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse in patients with and without diabetic neuropathy. Methods According to the presence of peripheral neuropathy, 45 patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into 2 subgroups. Those with peripheral neuropathy were defined as group I (22 patients) and those without peripheral neuropathy were defined as group II (23 patients). A total of thirty age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched healthy individuals were selected as controls. All participants underwent both ultrasonographic and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse elastographic examination in order to evaluate Achilles Tendon thickness and stiffness. Results Achilles tendon thicknesses were similar between groups (p=0.991). Achilles tendon thicknesses of both patient groups were significantly higher than the control group (group I vs control p=0.01; group II vs control p=0.006). Stiffness values of Achilles tendons were similar between the control group and group II (p=0.993). Shear Wave Velocity was significantly lower in group I than group IIand control group (p<0.001). Conclusion Diabetic patients with neuropathy have thicker and softer Achilles tendon while the elasticity of Achilles tendon in diabetic patients without neuropathy is similar to the healthy controls. Softening of the Achilles tendon may be an early sign of diabetic foot and reveal the patients with a risk of diabetic foot.

Background/aim; Overt thyroidism is known to cause neuropsychiatric disorders but studies on subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCH) are limited. Subclinical hyperthyroidism induction by administering L-Thyroxine (LT4) is the standard treatment method in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) follow-up. Our aim was to investigate whether anxiety, depression and quality of life are affected in DTC patients followed-up with exogenous SCH. The patients were divided into exogenous SCH by LT4 -DTC (n= 127), euthyroid-DTC (n= 66) and exogenous euthyroid- benign thyroid nodüle (BTN) who underwent thyroidectomy for benign thyroid pathology (n= 85) groups. The rate of moderate/severe anxiety was significantly higher in SCH-DTC than euthyroid-BTN group (27.5%, n= 35 vs. 9.4%, n= 8) (p= 0.001). TSH levels and Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) scores were significantly negatively correlated (p= 0.009 r= -0.16). Free T4 and BAI were significantly positively correlated (p= 0.04 r= 0.4). The groups were similar in terms of depression severity (p= 0.15). Subclinical hyperthyroid- DTC group scored significantly lower than euthyroid-BTN group in all scales of SF-36 quality of life survey. LT4-induced SCH, which is a part of traditional DTC treatment, can exacerbate the anxiety symptoms in patients and disrupt their quality of life, depending on the level of fT4.