Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 β-HSD1) converts cortisone into its active metabolite, cortisol. Mechanisms regulating the promoter-activity of 11β-HSD1 are of considerable importance to understand the basics of intracellular cortisol, lipid and glucose metabolism. The incretine glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) has been suggested to affect insulin sensitivity. However, the mechanisms of this effect are unclear yet....

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is an incretin hormone secreted by K-cells of proximal small intestine that is secreted postprandial in response to glucose and fat ingestion. Its effect is mediated through a GIP receptor (GIPR) which is widely expressed in different tissues, e.g. pancreatic islets, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, adrenal cortex, heart, pituitary and in some regions of the brain. However, only the effect of GIP in pancreatic beta-cells is we...

Adrenal insufficiency can result in severe hyponatremia due to inappropriate high plasma vasopressin (pAVP). To elucidate the glucocorticoid AVP feedback we monitored thirsting of 12 male volunteers without and after on or five days of prednisolone (30 mg/d). Although prednisolone suppressed pAVP below 0.2 pg/ml the rise in plasma osmolality during thirsting was not influenced by prednisolone. Independent of exogenous glucocorticoid thirsting resulted in higher urine osmolalit...

The development of diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) is affected by genetic and lifestyle factors. Polymorphisms within the KIR6.2 gene seem to be associated with a higher risk for T2DM. The protein encoded by this gene represents a potassium channel, which plays an essential role in insulin and glucagon secretion by the pancreas.A hyperglycaemic clamp without insulin was performed over 2 h in 10 healthy persons with the Kir6.2 E23K wild type Glu/Glu, 10 a...

Background & Aims: NutriAct is a 36-month randomized controlled multi-center trial aiming to analyze the effects of a dietary pattern focusing on a high-protein and high-unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) intake on healthy aging. We aimed to explore changes in intake of macronutrients and determine factors associated with a successful modulation of dietary pattern after 36 months in elderly community dwelling participants.Methods: 502 participants were ra...

Background: Acromegaly is associated with significant excess morbidity and mortality. Surgery and radiotherapy (including radiosurgery) aim to reduce the burden of growth hormone excess while preserving normal pituitary function, but their effective deployment is dependent on high quality imaging that allows accurate localization of site(s) of active de novo or residual/recurrent disease. Despite the existence of several comprehensive guidelines on the managem...

Introduction: Free fatty acids (FFAs) affect pituitary function. While no effect of FFAs on ACTH and cortisol seems to exist in men, data in women are somewhat controversial. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of an acute increase of circulating FFA levels induced by the infusion of a lipid-heparin infusion on ACTH and cortisol secretion in healthy young women.Methods: Following a 10-h overnight fast 13 healthy female volunteers were investigated i...

BackgroundLong-term effects of an increase in unsaturated fatty acids and protein on changes in intrahepatocellular lipids (IHL) are still unclear. We aimed to explore the impact of changes in individual macronutrients on IHL changes within the NutriAct intervention trial over 12 months in middle-aged and elderly subjects (50–80 yrs) at risk for age-related diseases.DesignIn the NutriAct randomized contr...

Background: 11C-methionine positron emission tomography (Met-PET) is a potentially important imaging adjunct in the diagnostic workup of pituitary adenomas, including somatotroph tumours. Met-PET can identify residual or occult disease and make definitive therapies accessible for a subgroup of patients who would otherwise require lifelong medical therapy. However, data on its use is still limited to small case series. Here, we report the currently largest sing...

Context: The polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism and associated with obesity and impaired glucose metabolism. Despite the high prevalence of PCOS and the considerable clinical impact, the precise interplay between metabolism and hyperandrogenemia is not entirely clear. We therefore aimed to analyse the relation between circulating free fatty acids (FFAs) and androgen metabolism in vivo in women.Design and partic...