Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are characterized by the overexpression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). To efficiently engage and activate tumor infiltrating lymphocytes against NET cells, we designed a novel bispecific T-cells engager (BiTE) composed of 2 molecules of somatostatin-14 (SST14), the hormone that physiologically binds SSTRs, linked with a single chain variable fragment (scFV)-based anti-CD3.Methods: The optim...

RT-coding genes are expressed at very low levels in differentiated, non pathological tissues, while are significantly up-regulated in undifferentiated and transformed cells, suggesting a direct correlation between the level of expression of RT and the proliferative state of the cell. Either nevirapine and efavirenz, two RT inhibitors, used in the therapy of AIDS, reversibly down-regulate cell proliferation and induce differentiation in several human tumor cell lines.<p cla...

Objectives: Patients with diabetes have longer and more complicated hospital stays than non-diabetic patients. The 2001 UK National Service Framework (NSF) recommends that the management of these patients should be supplemented by diabetes nurse specialists (DNS). This study aimed to audit the implementation of this recommendation, how it can be targeted and the impact it has on patient care.Study design and setting: One month long cross-sectional study ...

Background and aim: Obesity is associated with a dysregulation of the immune system which can result in a predisposition to the development of autoimmune diseases. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate anti-pituitary antibodies (APA) in severe obese patients, in order to identify a possible role of the immune system in obesity and to correlate these antibodies with pituitary hormone changes found in obese patients.Matherials and methods: ...

Oxidative stress (OS) can have an impact both in the pathogenesis and in the progression of TC, as it has been shown to induce oncogenes and inhibit tumor suppressors. The main source of cellular ROS is represented by NADPH oxidases (NOXs). Aims of the study were to investigate the NOX-derived OS in TC samples, benign nodules and corresponding normal tissues, and to correlate the level of OS with histological classification, genetic profile and clinical and prognostic features...

Tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins is one of the main processes associated with the development of some specific functions of ejaculated human spermatozoa. Although this process, as well as the identity of the phosphorylated targets, has been well characterized, only few tyrosine kinases (TKs) have been identified so far. Moreover, their roles in regulating sperm functions are still unknown.In the present work, we report the presence and localization o...

Background: Osteopetrosis is a rare chronic bone disease with high bone mineral densitiy due to impaired osteoclast activity or development. Genetic mutations result in severe infantile (autosomal recessive, incidence 1:200,000) and less severe adult forms (autosomal-dominant osteopetrosis/ADO). The incidence is estimated at 1:20,000 for noninfantile forms. In adults osteopetrosis is often asymptomatic with increased risk for bone fracture. Treatment is symptom-based (e.g. cal...

TERT is the protein component of the telomerase enzyme and is overexpressed in many cancer types. The most well-known role for TERT is the regeneration of telomeres allowing the avoidance of senescence and the continued proliferation of stem and cancer cells. Recent studies have identified other roles for TERT in compartments outside the nucleus, in particular in mitochondria, with a protective role against endogenous and therapy-induced oxidative stress (OS). A small subset o...

Introduction: Non-functioning (NF), sporadic and MEN1 associated, G1-G2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) usually display an indolent course. Surgery is the first-choice treatment for localized tumors >2 cm. Unresectable or metastatic PanNETs expressing somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) are treated with somatostatin analogs (SSAs). The standard treatment for patients with PanNETs ≤ 2 cm is active surveillance (AS). Yet no evidence of the value of SSA treatment ...

Introduction: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominantly inherited endocrine tumor syndrome characterized by development of cancer in various endocrine organs, particularly in pituitary, parathyroid and pancreas. Moreover, in some cases, also non-endocrine tumors can be diagnosed, developing atypical phenotypes.Case report: We report herein the clinical history of a patient affected by MEN-1 syndrome who developed atypical feat...