Endocrine Abstracts

Serum TSH is universally considered the best laboratory test to evaluate thyroid function. Current TSH reference ranges are 0.3–5.0 mU/l, but a narrower range (0.4–2.5) has been recently advocated, which better defines normal thyroid function. The question is still debated and matter of controversy, since it has been argued that with the narrower range, an additional 10% of the general population could be diagnosed as mild or subclinically hypothyroid, although most ...

Primary subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is commonly defined by laboratory parameters (TSH above the commonly accepted reference range of about 0.4–4.0 mU/l with normal FT4). This definition does not implies actual thyroid dysfunction, since individual variations of hypothalamic-pituitary feedback set point due to endogenous (genetic, age/gender, NTIS) or exogenous (e.g. drugs) factors may lead to TSH increase in the absence of thyroid disease. Thus, to answer the question...

Introduction: Thyroid hormones affect male and female sexual and reproductive function, but few studies have been performed on sexual dysfunctions in hyper- and hypothyroid women.Aim of the study: To evaluate female sexual function in untreated and treated hyper- and hypothyroidism and in euthyroid Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT).Patients and methods: Fifty consecutive women (38.5±8.2 years, range 18–53 years), 22 with ...

Introduction: Regorafenib, a Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) recently approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer patients previously treated with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, VEGF and EGFR inhibitors, may, like others TKIs produce hypothyroidism, but this effect has not been systematically evaluated so far.Description of methods: Prospective evaluation of thyroid function, autoimmunity and morphology during treatment with Regorafe...

The relationship between papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and autoimmune thyroiditis remains controversial. To gain mechanistic insights, we developed a mouse model by combining three strains: BRAFv600E knock-in and TPO-CRE-ER transgenic to induce PTC upon tamoxifen injection, and NOD.H2h4 congenic to induce thyroiditis upon iodine administration.A total of 113 mice of the desired genotype (BRAF mutant homozygous, CRE transgenic hemiz...

Introduction: Gonadal and erectile function in patients submitted to heart transplantation has not been previously investigated.Aim of the study: To evaluate gonadal and sexual function in patients successfully submitted to cardiac transplantation.Materials and methods: Fifty-two patients, aged 20–78 years (mean±S.D.: 54±15 years; range 20–78 years) transplanted 88±65 (range 4–220) month...

Introduction: Primary endocrine failure in β-Thal is caused by iron overload in epithelial cells and in interstitial macrophages. Autoimmune phenomena are not believed to play any significant role, although iron overload, through non-specific inflammatory process, could trigger autoimmunity, as recently suggested for the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus in β-Thal patients.Purpose: We investigated thyroid function and anti-thyroid autoantibodie...

Background: The development of thyroid dysfunction is a frequent side effect associated to sunitinib therapy but scanty data are available on thyroid function on long-term sunitinib-treated patients.Objective: Prospective evaluation of 28 patients suffering from mRCC treated with sunitinib, enrolled between September 2013 and October 2015. 28 patients (24 men and 3 women (median age 57.7, range 51–77)) with comparable tumor staging, normal thyroid f...

Purpose: To characterize the interference of concomitant thyroid diseases in the localization of HP in pHPT and develop a valuable diagnostic strategy.Subjects and methods: Forty pHPT patients were selected for the presence of coexistent thyroid nodules (TN) or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Neck ultrasound (US) and sesta-MIBI scintigraphy (MIBI) were performed in all cases. US and MIBI were concordant in 16 cases (group I) while in the remaining 24 ...

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is usually a sporadic disorder, but in <10% of cases occurs as part of hereditary syndromes, including multiple endocrine neoplasia types 1 and 2A (MEN1 and MEN2A), hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome (HPT-JT) and familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP).MEN 1 is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by tumours in multiple endocrine glands, most commonly parathyroid, enteropancreatic and anterior pitui...