Endocrine Abstracts

The critical role played by local microvasculature in ovarian and uterine events during different functional states is well established. Surprisngly, little is known about the cervix, particularly the microvascular changes and roles associated with cervical ripening (a process of tissue remodeling, characterized by an inflammatory reaction, which facilitates passage of fetus at term). Because vascular remodeling is crucial in inflammatory responses it may (along with other fac...

Although synthesis of estrogen by male gonads has been well documented for over half a century, it is only recently that the role of estrogen in male reproductive events has gained appreciation. We recently reported abundant expression of ER-alpha and -beta in perinatal rat penis, whose levels diminished with advancing age. The present study investigates whether the penis is capable of synthesizing its own estrogen by examining presence of aromtase, the microsomal enzymatic co...

The role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of numerous complications associated with diabetes is well established. However, little is known of VEGF's role in erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition commonly experienced by diabetic men. We hypothesized that expression of VEGF, its receptors and its signaling pathway, Akt, may be altered in diabetic penile tissues and, consequently, induce expression of molecules involved in the development of ED in...

Background: Secondary adrenal insufficiency is a common complication of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy (TSS) for pituitary adenoma. It is therefore imperative to rapidly and accurately identify patients requiring glucocorticoid replacement, thus minimising risks of adrenal insufficiency or unnecessary glucocorticoid exposure. The gold-standard test of HPA axis reserve, the insulin tolerance test (ITT), cannot be performed safely until after post-operative recovery. Nine am cor...

The Intersex Society of North America stated in 1993 that “Intersex Genital Surgery in Infancy is a form of child sexual abuse”. This peremptory statement based on outcome data judged from outdated medical and surgical procedures, leaded to an even more accurate surgical management of the intersex baby.An etiological precise diagnosis of the condition and of the FURTHER post-pubertal sexual abilities of the patient, is mandatory before surgery....

Altered adipokine levels may explain the link between obesity and insulin resistance. One potential candidate is retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) which is elevated in type 2 diabetes and correlates with the magnitude of insulin resistance. Low adiponectin levels are also associated with insulin resistance. Adiponectin circulates in multimeric complexes and multimer distribution may also be important.We measured RBP4 and adiponectin multimers in 24 obese ...

Introduction: Acromegalic patients have an increased risk of developing colorectal neoplasms (CN). A common polymorphism (C677T) in gene coding for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a key enzyme in folate metabolism and in DNA synthesis, reparation and methylation, has been associated with CN risk in general population, but its role in acromegalic patients has never been explored yet.Aim: To investigate the contribution of MTHFR C677T polymorp...

Background: Kisspeptin is a critical regulator of normal reproductive function. In humans inactivating mutations of the kisspeptin receptor GPR54 cause hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and pubertal failure. Activating mutations of GPR54 cause precocious puberty. Hypothalamic amenorrhoea (HA) accounts for over 30% of cases of amenorrhoea in women of reproductive age. Current treatments have limited success rates and side effects. In rodent models of HA hypothalamic KISS1 expressi...

Objective: The specificity and cellular origin of the SSRS findings in CN, HN, PC and GD is currently unclear and partially contradicts the well defined action of somatostatin on thyroid cell signaling. Therefore, we systematically evaluated SSTR2 expression in benign cold (CN) and hot thyroid nodules (HN), papillary carcinomas (PCs) and Graves’ disease (GD) in comparison with intraindividual control surrounding tissues (ST) by means of immunohistochemistry.<p class="...

Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors derived from neural crest cells: if localized in the adrenal medulla they are called Pheocromocytomas (Pheo).The 30–40% of Pheo are mutated in one of the susceptibility genes among which there are genes encoding for the four subunits of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Germ line mutations of SDHB are metastatic in about 80% of the cases. Surgery is the current therapy, but in presence of metastasis there is no effective trea...