Endocrine Abstracts

Understanding human pancreatic beta cell differentiation provides safe, normal pathways by which to manipulate stem cells for the ambitious treatment of Type 1 diabetes (1-3). The transcription factor Neurogenin 3 (Ngn3) is a transient, yet critical regulator of this process, committing progenitor cells to an endocrine cell fate (4). However, the downstream consequences of NGN3 expression remain incompletely understood.To identify new target genes of NGN...

Background: Most patients consulting an endocrinologist for hypercalcemia suffer from primary hyperparathyroidism. Rarely, toxic vitamin D levels can also induce hypercalcemia while suppressing parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Infantile hypercalcemia can be caused by mutations in CYP24A1 (24-hydroxylase), which are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner (1). This enzyme is responsible for the inactivation of 25-OH-vitaminD (25-OHD) and 1,25(OH)2vitaminD3</...

Background: GH secretion and action change with age in adult human subjects, and this play an important role in substrate metabolism in aging subjects. Targeted disruption of the GH receptor in mice extends longevity, and this is associated with decreased expression of apoptosis-related genes including caspase-9 (CASP9) in skeletal muscle.Aim: To study DNA methylation of putative GH target genes in skeletal muscle of adult male subjects in relation to bo...

Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone known for its skeletal effects. Recently, the extraskeletal effects of vitamin D are under investigation. Vitamin D is thought to exert an immunomodulatory effect, having multiple effects on the immune system. It is known to induce immune tolerance and also to enhance the immune response to bacteria.The aim was to study the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on interferon I secretion by human mononuclear cells ...

Introduction: In patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), the urinary concentration of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) is used to monitor disease progression or response to treatment. The sensitivity and specificity in the presence of the carcinoid syndrome are approximately 70 and 90%, respectively. However, there are problems with the accurate meaurement of a 24-h collection, and this is often inconvenient for patients. In addition, serotoni...

Introduction: Vitamin D is currently known for its effects on the bone and muscle systems as well as for its pleiotropic and antiproliferative effects. The relationship between vitamin D and diabetes mellitus is in the focus of scientific research. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be associated with the development of diabetes mellitus type 1 as well as with poor glycemic control in diabetes mellitus type 2.Aim: The aim was to study the effect of v...

Introduction: Melatonin is a hormone mainly synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland. It is involved in the orchestration of circadian rhythms its levels being elevated during the hours of darkness in the human. Melatonin may have other pleiotropic functions in the human organism. In particular, it may be involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism and the pathogenesis of diabetes.Aim: The aim was to study the effect of melatonin on rat islet ce...

Introduction: Vitamin D is a hormone related to calcium homeostasis and normal function of the musculoskeletal system. Recently, the extraskeletal actions of vitamin D are the focus of scientific interest. The hormone is thought to possess anticancer properties, these properties being especially related to cancer of the prostate.Aim: The aim was to study the effect of vitamin D on PC3 prostate cancer cells in vitro.Methods...

Introduction: AGEs have been shown to be accumulated in granulosa cell layer from human ovaries in normal and in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance. AGEs interfere with insulin signaling pathways of several target tissues and are implicated in insulin resistance mechanisms. There is evidence that within the ovary these pathways are also important for glucose metabolism and normal folliculogenesis. The effect of human glycated albumin (HGA) eit...

Subject: Treatment options for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are still unsatisfactory. We could recently demonstrate that several patients with ACC exhibit a high and specific uptake of 123I-Iodometomidate (123I-IMTO). Therefore, we investigated if 131I-IMTO holds potential for radiotherapy in ACC.Methods: Dosimetry with 40 MBq I-131-IMTO was performed over 5 days in 7 patients and calculated activities were administered on a compassionate use basis in ...