Endocrine Abstracts

In human prostate, Oestrogen receptor α (ERα) expression in the epithelium increases with tumour Grade and promotes proliferation involving classical genomic and rapid non-genomic signalling, as well as transcription regulation of non-coding RNA. Similarly, in the tumour stroma there is up-regulation of ERα, corresponding with declining AR, resulting in a higher ratio of ERα:AR with increasing Grade. Additionally, in prostate cancer-associated fibroblasts (...

Context: Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is a rare endocrine disease, due to cortisol hypersecretion. CS patients have several comorbidities, often still present after biochemical cure. There are no specific nursing healthcare programs to address this disease and achieve improved health related quality of life (HRQoL). Thus, an educational nursing intervention in these patients, through the development and promotion of specific educational tools, appears to be justified.<p cl...

Introduction: Hypercortisolism in Cushing’s syndrome (CS) determines increased mortality and morbidity. Hypercortisolism is also present in chronic depressive disorders and stress, where telomere length (TL) is shorter than in controls. We hypothesized that telomere shortening may occur and contribute to premature morbidity in CS.Aim: Investigate TL in CS compared to matched controls, and longitudinally in a subset of CS patients evaluated both with...

Background: Many patients with acromegaly report limitations of long-acting somatostatin receptor ligand (SRL) injections, including ongoing disease symptoms near cycle-end and injection-site pain. Oral octreotide capsules (OOC) may provide an alternative to monthly injections. The phase 3 CHIASMA OPTIMAL study assessed efficacy and safety of OOC in patients with acromegaly controlled on injectable SRLs.Methods: A multinational, randomized, placebo-contr...

Background: Injectable somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) are currently the most widely used therapy for acromegaly. Oral octreotide capsules (OOC) are a potential therapy for acromegaly; the safety and efficacy were evaluated in the CHIASMA OPTIMAL pivotal study (Samson et al. ENDO 2020). As reported, mean IGF-I levels of the OOC group were maintained within normal range at end of treatment in all patients. However, some patients may not respond to OOC treatment (2...

First generation somatostatin receptor ligands (SRL) are the first-line drugs in primary acromegaly treatment or after surgical failure in patients with active acromegaly. In previous studies we confirmed the association of the expression of SSTR2, Ki67 and E-cadherin (CDH1) in responsive GH-secreting adenomas response to SRL. Moreover, E-cadherin showed a greater predictive capacity than most of the markers described. Loss of E-cadherin is a typical mark of ...

Introduction: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a sensitive, non-invasive imaging technique capable of measuring brain metabolites in vivo. Chronic exposure to endogenous hypercortisolism in Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is associated with negative effects on memory and hippocampal volumes, even after biochemical cure.Objective: To investigate metabolites in the hippocampi of CS patients and controls, using 1</sup...

Introduction: We recently reported cases of segmental overgrowth due to mosaic heterozygous activating mutations in the p110α catalytic subunit of PI3K. The index case presented with life-long, massive overgrowth of both legs with a lean upper body. Mobility was threatened by continued growth. mTORC1 inhibition has been effective at slowing excess growth due to loss of PTEN function, a negative regulator of PI3K. We hypothesised that mTORC1 inhibition would also be effect...

Objectives: We aimed to develop a registry for the rare genetic diseases Wolfram (WS), Alstrom (AS), Bardet Biedl (BBS) and other diabetes syndromes, containing clinical, genetic diagnostic and outcome data. The purpose is to establish the natural history of these diseases; to assess clinical management; to characterize cohorts for future clinical trials; and to establish genotype phenotype relations. This abstract describes the first 50 patients recruited.<p class="abstex...

Ghrelin was isolated from stomach by its ability to stimulate growth hormone (GH) release through the GH-secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a). However, ghrelin/GHS-R expression in multiple tissues and tumor types suggested additional roles for this tandem. Ghrelin, a 28-aminoacid peptide, requires a unique O-acylation at its Ser-3 residue to bind GHS-R1a and release GH. Conversely, unacylated ghrelin (UAG), initially considered inactive, seems to play distinct metabolic role...