Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is associated with increased mortality and morbidities. Hypercortisolism is also present in chronic mood disorders (CMD) and stress, where telomere length (TL) has been found to be shorter than in matched controls. Since hypercortisolism is present in CS and CMD, we hypothesized that telomere shortening could also be present in CS. The aim of this study was to investigate TL in CS patients compared to matched controls.<p class="ab...

Background: Phaeochromocytomas (PCC) and paragangliomas (PGL) are neuroendocrine tumours that can secrete catecholamines. PCC are found in the adrenals, whereas PGL are found at any level between the skull base to the pelvis. More than 25% of cases are associated with mutations in susceptibility genes such as the SDH subunits. Screening for PCC/PGL crucially depends on detection of biochemical markers such as catecholamines and metanephrines (catecholamine metabolites).<p ...

The European Registry on Cushing’s syndrome (ERCUSYN) is designed to collect prospective and follow-up data at EU level on patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Baseline data on 481 CS patients (390 females, 91 males; mean age (±S.D.): 44±14 years) collected from 36 centres in 23 countries. This cohort included new patients since 2008 and retrospective cases since 2005. Patients were divided into four major etiologic groups: pituitary-depend...

Introduction: Somavert is a GH receptor blocker, which inhibits hepatic production of IGF1. While it has been approved for the treatment of acromegaly since 2003 there are few data regarding its effects in everyday clinical practice.Methods/design: ACROSTUDY is an open-label, international, prospective, non-interventional, post-marketing surveillance study monitoring the long-term safety and efficacy of Somavert.Results: As of Dece...

Introduction: Patients with Cushing’s syndrome might present a variety of brain alterations. There is however little evidence from MRI studies demonstrating atrophy of either frontal or medial temporal brain regions.Aims: To study cortical alterations (decreased cortical thickness) on MRI in patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS), as compared to controls (C), and long-standing major depressive disorder (MDD).Material and m...

High levels of macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIP1α and MIP1β), related to the recruitment of Th1 and Th2 cells, respectively, have been evidenced in some organ and non organ-specific autoimmune diseases. CXCL10/IP10 has been evidenced in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) and in Addison’s disease (AD); MIP1α and MIP1β chemokines have not been so far evaluated in these diseases.Aim: To evaluate plasmatic levels MIP...

Neoplastic thyroid diseases (multinodular goiter (MNG), follicular adenoma, differentiated (DTC) and undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma) have a higher incidence in women than in men. In fact, in the last ten years, DTC is the only cancer increasing the frequency in women, with an incidence similar to ovarian carcinoma or lymphomas.TGFb is a secreted factor important in the normal function of the thyrocyte. It has two independent actions: a fast antiproli...

Background: There is significant interest in how the use of different treatment regimens (e.g. surgery, medical therapy) impacts the clinical course of Acromegaly. This study has been designed to better understand clinical decision making in the context of various treatment options.Methods: OASIS is an international, observational study in recently diagnosed acromegalic patients. Ethical committee approval was obtained where applicable. Observations incl...

Chronic exposure to hypercortisolism has a significant impact on patient’s health and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), as demonstrated with generic questionnaires. Objective: Develop and validate a disease-generated questionnaire to evaluate HRQoL in patients with Cushing’s syndrome-CS- (Cushing QoL). Methods: After a literature review, interviews with expert endocrinologists and 10 patients identified HRQoL domains and clinical aspects of the disease; an anal...

I live in Umbria and have recently become concerned for the young couple, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, convicted of the horrific murder in Perugia on November 1st 2007 of English student Meredith Kercher, They were supposedly acting with an Ivorian, Rudy Guede, who was tried and convicted separately.I am still haunted by a wrongful conviction half a lifetime ago, which involved the murder of 11-year old Lesley Susan Molseed. Just before Christmas ...