Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Male hypogonadism is commonly caused by hypothalamo-pituitary testicular disease. The effect of modifiable risk factors (obesity, alcohol, smoking, prescribed medications and recreational drugs) on secondary hypogonadism in a clinic-based cohort is unclear. The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence and effects of modifiable risk factors on secondary hypogonadism.Method: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional observational study...

Case History: We report the case history of a 64-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital for evaluation of unsteadiness associated with postural hypotension. There was no history of headache, visual blurring, weight loss, diarrhoea or steroid treatment. She was taking high dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 100 mg three times per day for 5 years following diagnosis of complex hyperplasia on endometrial biopsy for postmenopausal bleeding. Her past history included ischa...

Adiponectin (ADPN), resistin (RSN) and leptin are proteins that affect insulin resistance and atherosclerosis significantly. Although low levels of adiponectin and high levels of resistin and leptin are associated with coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease risk factors, it is unclear whether adiponectin, resistin and leptin levels are related to the risk of developing ischemic stroke. The aim of the study was to evaluate the adiponectin, resistin and leptin serum l...

Type 1 deiodinase (D1) catalyses deiodination of tyroxine (T4), which leads either to synthesis of triiodothyronine or reverse triiodothyronine (rT3). Triiodothyronine (T3) regulates the expression of many tumour suppressor genes and oncogenes. We previously revealed that the expression of the whole pool of D1 transcripts was dramatically lowered in ccRCC tissues. One of the mechanism resulting in this aberration could be miRNA-mediated repress...

Introduction: Acromegaly is a chronic disease with a serious impact on patients’ morbidity, mortality and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Recently a disease-specific questionnaire assessing HRQOL in acromegaly was developed (AcroQoL). Using this tool we have compared QoL in patients with controlled versus uncontrolled acromegaly.Patients and methods: It was a prospective, cross-sectional study. For the period 2007–December 2008 163 pati...

Introduction: Carbohydrate disorders in the form of glucose intolerance or overt diabetes are prevalent and well-documented in acromegalic patients.Aim: To assess the prevalence of carbohydrate disorders and the correlations between BMI, the duration of the disease, GH and IGF-1 concentrations depending on the stage of progression of glucose intolerance in our acromegalic patients.Methods: Acromegaly was diagnosed using standards e...

Glucocorticoid (GC) production rates are elevated in obese, insulin resistant individuals. We and others have demonstrated decreased hepatic cortisol regeneration through reduced 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) activity that converts inactive cortisone to cortisol. In addition, there is enhanced cortisol clearance by A-ring reductases, (notably 5α-reductase). We have argued that these changes drive the hypothalamo-pituitary–adrenal axis a...

Cognitive dysfunctions, observed in the course of thyroid diseases (hyper- and hypothyroidism), have – in the recent years – been the subject of interest for many research teams. Even mild disorders of thyroid functionality are associated with hormone concentration changes which affect the general mood and cognitive functions. The efficiency of cognitive functions, which allow the man’s adaptation to environment al conditions, is determined by the activities of ...

Introduction: The admission glucose may be a predictor of survival and is independently associated with infarct size and higher mortality in patients with ACS. Hyper-homocysteinemia in patients with ischaemic heart disease represents a strong predictor of vascular morbidity. The role of glucose increase above normal levels in non-diabetic patients with ACS is not adequately defined. The aim was the assessment of dependence between admission blood glucose and homocysteine conce...

Introduction: Pituitary gland, sella turcica and parasellar region can be involved by wide variety of lesions. Diagnosis of this pathology demands a multidisciplinary effort, especially endocrinological, ophthalmologic and neurological procedures. Each of these entities has unique diagnostic and treatment considerations.Aim: Review of clinical symptoms related to sellar–parasellar region tumors and documentation of heterogeneity of clinical syndrome...