Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Differences in the prevalence and prognosis of cardiovascular disease have been linked with gender specific risk factors as well as the differential impact of sex hormones. Moreover, specific genetic polymorphisms may increase further the risk of cardiovascular disease development. Polymorphisms of genes encoding the NADPH/NADPH oxidase system and the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) have been associated with atherosclerosis in the general population, but...

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common liver disorder associated with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance is also a prominent feature even in lean women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The objective of this study was to identify the presence of NAFLD in young lean women with PCOS.Methods: Fifteen women with PCOS and 10 controls participated in the study.Mean...

Introduction: Approximately 90% of the hypertensive population is characterized as having essential hypertension. Apart from renin and K+, ACTH plays an important role in aldosterone secretion, being a potent stimulant under situations of stress. Up to date, the association between stress and aldosterone-related hypertension has not been studied and that is the aim of our study.Methods: 36 hypertensive patients and 14 matched for age and sex c...

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the clinical features of gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms type 1 (GNEN1).Methods: We have analyzed the clinical data of the first 73 patients with GNEN1 from our registry.Results: The mean age(±S.D.) of the patients (51 (68.9%) females) and the mean follow-up were 55±12.3 years and 28.8±42.2months, respectively. All patients had sporadic tumors and all wer...

Background: Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), a potentially homeostatic antigen, has been shown to be involved in physiological and non-physiological conditions. Experimental data is supporting the role of HSP60 in placental and mitochondrial steroidogenesis. Under stress conditions, HSP60 are translocated into the endothelial-cell plasma membrane and the extracellular space, promoting the atherosclerotic process. Aim: We decided to investigate the associat...

Introduction: Ephrin receptors (EPHs) have a role in tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis of several neoplasms. Aim of the study was to investigate the expression and possible clinical significance of EPH-A4 and EPH-A2 protein expression in the pathophysiology of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs).Methods: EPH-A4 and -A2 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemical analysis along with Ki-67 proliferation index (%) on 28 paraffin emb...

Background: The normal cut-offs of screening and diagnostic tests for autonomous aldosterone (AAS) and cortisol (ACS) secretion are poorly defined, mainly due to the presence of adrenal adenomas among those who have served as controls and the stimulating effect of ACTH on aldosterone secretion.Methods: We investigated cortisol and aldosterone secretion in 151 patients with benign cortical adrenal adenomas (BCAA) and in 119 healthy controls with a normal ...

Objectives: Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the initial investigation of choice for thyroid nodules. The Bethesda System (B) classifies thyroid cytological patterns into six categories (B1-6) according to risk for malignancy.Methods: A total of 1113 patients (210 males/903 females) underwent FNAB for the same number of thyroid nodules. Their mean age was 56.2±21.6 years±S.D. We correlated the demographic profile (age and ...

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are neoplasms that arise from cells of the endocrine and nervous systems. They most commonly occur in the intestine and are graded histologically according to markers of cellular proliferation. G1 and G2 neuroendocrine neoplasms are called neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) – formerly called carcinoid tumors. G3 neoplasms are called neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs).Objectives: We present a case of a patient with ...

Introduction: Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare, X-linked inherited, genetic disease, characterized by a disorder of peroxisome metabolism, leading to the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) mainly at the central nervous system and the adrenal glands. It usually occurs in childhood, but there are types of the disease that manifest later in life.Case: A 57-year-old man with a history of progressive spastic paresis, starting at the age ...