Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is a new method employed in the management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The integrated FDG-PET plus computed tomography (PET/CT) fusion imaging system seems able to provide some additional advantages over PET alone, mainly related to a better anatomical localisation of the hypermetabolic metastatic lesions. The influence of serum TSH levels on 18F-FDG uptake by recurrences o...

INTRODUCTIONThe plasma concentrations and urinary excretion rates of 18-OH-F and 18-oxo-F are high in Conn's syndrome and glucocorticoid suppressible hyperaldosteronism, reputedly because aldosterone synthase (AS) has abnormal access to cortisol (F). However, both compounds are also excreted in normal subjects. Two enzymes, 11beta-hydroxylase (11OH) and AS, located in the zona fasiculata (ZF) and zona glomerulosa (ZG) respectively, are capable of 18-hydroxylation but only ...

Background and aims: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by phenotypic heterogeneity and a wide variety of consequences. About half of PCOS women are overweight or obese and their obesity may be a contributing factor to PCOS pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate if PCOS alone affects the patients’ quality of life and to what extent obesity contributes to worsen this disease.Methods and results: In total, 200 women with PC...

Introduction: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) is an innovative method for the detection of primary tumours or metastases of thyroid cancer; however, recurrence or metastases of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) are still difficult to detect.Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical use of 18F-FDG PET in patients with MTC.Patients and methods: We enr...

Introduction: Papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma (PTMC) is a well-differentiated thyroid cancer ≤10 mm in diameter. The recent higher prevalence of PTMC is due to the frequent detection of micro-carcinomas as an incidental finding in surgical specimens, but especially during routine imaging of the neck with highly sensitive techniques.Aim: To review the clinical course of PTMC so to reach its optimal management by adapting therapy and follow-up sche...

Disruption of the normal cell cycle is one of the most frequent alterations in tumour cells, contributing to uncontrolled cell proliferation during tumour development. The CDK inhibitor p27 plays a pivotal role in controlling cell proliferation during development and tumourigenesis, and has been implicated in tumorigenesis in rats. Previous studies have demonstrated changes in p27 protein expression, in human pituitary tumours,especially in corticotroph tumours, where p27 prot...

Introduction: Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation (RTA) is a new promising therapeutic approach to manage compressive thyroid nodules (TNs).Aim: To investigate effectiveness and safety of RTA in the treatment of compressive TNs in patients not receiving surgery or radioiodine.Study design: Forty patients (31–86 years) with compressive TNs were enrolled. Twenty-two patients had non-toxic TNs and 18 had toxic TNs and we...

Background: Evaluation of plantar pressure is useful for detecting functional abnormality of foot, especially in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate plantar pressure and force in diabetic patients using Tekscan F-Scan in-shoe foot force and gait analysis system.Methods: Plantar pressure and force were measured by selecting an area of interest under the six areas of the foot: hallux, first metatarsal, second metatarsal, 3–5 metat...

Archipelago/hCdc4/Fbw7 is the F-box protein specific for recognising and binding phosphorylated cyclin E and targeting it for ubiquitination. Mutations in Archipelago that prevent it from binding to phoshorylated cyclin E have been described in various human cancers including breast, ovarian and endometrial tumours. Previous studies have suggested that cyclin E is over-expressed in corticotroph tumours and other pituitary adenoma subtypes, and we postulated that this may be se...

Background: We have previously shown that a higher BMI and less favorable body composition are associated with relatively higher FT3 levels (within the euthyroid range) in healthy young men. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether FT3 and the ratio FT3:FT4 are also associated with cardiovascular markers in a healthy euthyroid population of middle-aged men and women.Methods: Thyroid parameters were measur...