Endocrine Abstracts

: A link between thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus exist. Uncertainties on the role of glycemic variability on thyroid hormones and TSH concentrations still persist. We want to evaluate the influence of glycemic variability on thyroid hormones and TSH concentrations in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). 77 patients with T1DM on insulin therapy without thyroid dysfunction and 100 healthy controls were evaluated for basal glucose concentrations, HbA1c, thyroid hormone...

Diurnal salivary and plasma cortisol variations are considered valid expression of circadian cortisol rhythmicity. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of salivary and plasma cortisol evaluating if glycemia and glycemic oscillations may interfere with their concentration.Methods: Forty-seven type 2 diabetic patients and 31 controls were studied for glycemic profile and diurnal salivary and plasma cortisol variations on two contemporary sam...

Somatostatin (SS) receptors (SSR) expression may be modulated by estrogens in breast cancer cells. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of estradiol (E2) on SSR levels in prostate epithelial cells (PEC).Methods: We investigated the effects of E2 and SS-analogue SOM230 combined treatment on two PEC lines: EPN that expresses both ERalfa and beta and CPEC, showing no ERalfa and very low ERbeta expression. Cells starved in red ...

Hypothyroidism therapy is based on the administration of appropriate dose of L-thyroxine (L-T4). Absorption of L-T4 takes place in the duodenum and upper tract of the small intestine (jejunum), is maximal when stomach is empty, and is affected by a number of gastrointestinal disorders, including Helicobacter pylori–related gastritis, as well as ingestion of drugs, dietary fibers, and herbal remedies. Failure to achieve a good control of disease may be due to malabsorption...

Objective: Our institution (University Hospital “L. Vanvitelli“ - Naples, Italy) is a high-volume (HV) center in Naples metropolitan area and many patients are referred there to repeat thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) after initial FNAC performed in low-volume institutions (LV). The aims of the study were to 1) to examine the inter-observer agreement between HV and LV institutions according to the Italian thyroid cytology system, and 2) explore how the ...

Context: Women with autoimmune Addison’s disease with normally ovulatory cycles but positive for steroid cells antibodies (StCA) have been considered at risk of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).Design: Thirty-three women younger than 40 years, with subclinical-clinical Addison’s disease but with normally ovulatory menses, were followed-up for 10 years to evaluate the long-term time-related variations of StCA, ovarian function and follicula...

Erythrocytosis is a frequent adverse event associated with testosterone (T) administration in aged hypogonadal men, but the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. T administration to aged men reduced hepcidin (Hpc) levels, a cytokine regulating iron availability, suggesting a potential role in deregulated erythropoiesis. Aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of T replacement therapy on Hpc levels in young hypogonadal men.Methods: Fifty-...

Prokineticin 1 (Prok1), the product of EGVEGF/PROK 1 gene, acts through two G-coupled receptors (PKR1 and PKR2) and is involved in a wide spectrum of actions, including tumorigenesis. Increased Prok1 expression has been found in prostate hyperplasia and cancer, suggesting a role in prostate cancer and BPH. Aim of this study was to elucidate the role of Prok1 on prostate cell function and growth. We evaluated the effects of Prok1 on epithelial prostate cell (PC) migration and p...

Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is produced by Leydig cells. In boys, the levels of INSL3 rise at pubertal stage P2 and further increase throughout puberty in close correlation with T and LH concentrations. In men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) INSL3 levels have been found very low and increased after short-term hCG treatment. Whether FSH plays a role in regulating INSL3 secretion is questioned. Aim of this study was to evaluate serum INSL3 levels during long-term hCG a...

Polyclonal antibodies against somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) available up to now recognizing intracellular sites of receptors and their recycling products do not detect bioactive ligand binding domains (LBDs) and are of limited performance in paraffin-embedded tissues. Aim of this study was to evaluate by immunohistochemistry the expression of SSTR5 on an archival series of pituitary tumors using a new MoAbs against the SST-binding domain (Y-SSTR5).Metho...