Endocrine Abstracts

The leptin/melanocortin pathway plays a critical role in hypothalamic control of food intake. Variants in the genes involved in this pathway, such as leptin (LEP), its receptor (LEPR), proopiomelanocortin (POMC) or proconvertase 1 (PCSK1) are associated with early-onset severe obesity and endocrine abnormalities especially in case of homozygosity. Heterozygous variants in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene are associated with an increased risk of severe obesity. The aim i...

Introduction: While extensive research on the fecal microbiome (FM) has already underscored the gut microbiome’s role in metabolic diseases, it is imperative to recognize its limitations in depicting the entire gastrointestinal tract. Each segment of the tract harbors unique conditions shaping microbial ecosystems, necessitating exploration beyond the FM. The upper small intestine (USI) significantly impacts nutrient digestion and absorption, hinting at its microbiome&#14...