Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Screening serum calcitonin (sCT) measurement in patients with thyroid nodules is still debated. Moreover, sCt cutoffs for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) are not univocally defined. Also, sensitivity of cytology by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAb) has been demonstrated to detect approximately half of MTCs. Ct measurement in fine-needle aspiration washout fluid (Ct-FNAb) has high sensitivity and specificity and is helpful in case of non-diagnostic cytology&#18...

Background: SUB:Pituitary – Clinical (Generously supported by IPSEN)GH response to GHRH+Arg is impaired in HIV-infected men and women, compared to gender matched controls. Moreover, reduced GH secretion seems to occur more frequently in HIV-infected males than females.Methods: To determine gender effects on GH secretion in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, we compared GH/IGF1 status and body composition in 103 males and 97 females. ...

Introduction: Among various comorbidities of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, male hypogonadism is very frequent with a prevalence of 19% in patients treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy. However, literature data are still lacking and achieved by studies with <300 subjects each.Aim of the study: Prevalence and clinical characterization of hypogonadism among a large number of men with HIV-1.Methods...

Introduction: Serum Ct is considered the most sensitive tool for MTC screening, but with poor specificity. Pg-test sensitivity and specificity are high, but doubtful for 30–100 pg/ml of Ct peak. FNAB is not routinely used due to its very low sensitivity and specificity. Only few studies from a small number of patients are available on the role of Ct measurement in the wash-out fluid (Ct-FNAB) for MTC diagnosis, providing conflicting results.Aim of t...

Objective: Aromatase, the key enzyme involved in estrogen synthesis, is expressed in a variety of cells and tissues including human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). The present study was designed to evaluate PBL aromatase gene expression in male and female elderly subjects compared to young male controls.Design: CYP19A1 mRNA and protein were measured in PBLs obtained from young men (n=13) aged < 35 years, postmenopausal women (n</...

Introduction: HIV-infected patients often display a moderate to severe GH deficiency (GHD). To investigate the effects of r-hGH on hormonal parameters and body composition in patients with HIV-related lipodystrophy (HIV-r-L) and concomitant GHD, we studied 60 patients with HIV-r-L, 28 male and 32 females aged 18–65 years. According to their response to GHRH+Arginine (GH peak assumed to be normal when >7.5 ng/ml) patients were assigned to the following 3 groups: Group ...

Introduction: In order to study the effect of age and testosterone on sleep related erections, we enrolled 209 men (122: age 30–49 years; 87: age over 50 years), including mild and severe hypogonadal subjects (129) and eugonadal subjects (80).Subjects and methods: The subjects were assigned to four groups, according to their testosterone serum levels. All the subjects underwent nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity monitoring (NPTRM). The followi...

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is the third most common endocrine disorder. The Ca/P ratio is an accurate tool to differentiate patients with PHPT (>3.5 if Ca and P are expressed in mg/dl) from healthy subjects [1]. The reliability of this index is based on the fact that serum Ca and P are inversely related together. However, other disorders of the Ca-P metabolism, such as hypophosphoremia (HypoP), might impair the Ca/P ratio.Aim: To ...

Background: Empty sella (ES), the herniation of the subarachnoid space within sella associated with a variable flattening of the pituitary gland, is classified as primary (PES) or secondary (SES) on the basis of etiological factors.Aim: To assess the differences between PES and SES in terms of pituitary function.Methods: Clinical, radiological and hormonal data were retrospectively extrapolated from the records of 85 patients with ...

Background: AGHD is a recognized clinical entity, but symptoms are quite nonspecific; the lack of objective tools able to measure patients’ health status remains the main barrier in clinical monitoring and treatment.Aim: The MAGHD Study aims improving AGHD patients’ management through a Smartphone app (MAGHDApp) and a fit-watch integrated with a software framework able to merge daily data of patients’ well-being and physical activity with ...