Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Bronchial carcinoids (BC) are still orphan of medical therapy. We previously demonstrated that the typical BC human cell line NCI-H727 is sensitive to Everolimus, in terms of cell viability reduction, while the atypical human BC cell line NCI-H720 is not. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been fully clarified.Aim: The aim of our study is to investigate the mechanisms of resistance to mTOR inhibitors in BC cells.<...

Introduction: Steroid cell tumors are rare ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors with malignant potential comprising <0.1% of all ovarian tumors. A subtype called not otherwise specified (NOS) accounts for approximately one-half of all ovarian steroid cell tumors. The average age of presentation is 43 years, with androgenic clinical features in 56–77% of cases.Case report: A 21-year-old female, on liver transplantation waiting list due to Niemann&#150...

Introduction: Several studies point towards lower testosterone levels (TL) in patients with obesity and/or insulin resistance (IR).Aim: To analyze the influence of anthropometric parameters and IR on TL in obese men and weight-dependent changes after a short-term weight loss program.Methods: Data were collected from a group of male patients, aged 18 to 65, when they attended a first obesity appointment and at reassessment 6 months ...

Purpose: The pathogenesis of idiopathic GH deficiency (GHD) in children, including possible cerebral metabolic alterations, remains unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate the metabolic changes within the normal appearing brain in children with GHD using MR spectroscopy (MRS) and to correlate MRS measurements with hormonal concentrations.Materials and methods: 71 children with GHD (mean age 6.9 years) and 11 healthy controls (mean age 8.4 years) we...

Introduction: Although long-term complications such as nephrocalcinosis and renal insufficiency are well-known in chronic hypoparathyroidism (HPT), standardized investigations of their prevalence and causes are still lacking.Objective: To systematically investigate the prevalence of renal calcifications and dysfunction and their predictors in a well-characterized cohort of patients with HPT.Methods: Cross-sectional assessment of co...

Introduction: Reduction of quality of life in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism (HPT) has been reported by several studies. Additionally, self-report data point to a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders in HPT compared to patients after thyroidectomy.Objectives: To characterize psychiatric diseases in a systematically reviewed cohort of patients with chronic HPT.Methods: We systematically assessed psychiatric comorbidities...

Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy. Currently the main therapeutic option is surgery, but due to difficult and delayed diagnosis and to the onset of metastases, medical therapy is often tried. ACC treatment is mainly represented by Mitotane alone or in association with chemotherapy, with variable results. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate ACC proliferation could be useful to identify new therapeutic options. Aim of our study is t...

Background and aims: Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic inflammatory condition where the key feature is the alveolar bone loss. Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor in the occurrence of PD and vitamin D has been found to play a role in the development of diseases such as PD for its immunomoduratory and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between PD and vitamin D levels in type 1 diabetic patients.S...

It is well established that most TSH effects on the thyroid gland, including stimulation of proliferation, thyroid hormone synthesis and expression of thyroid-specific genes, are transmitted mainly by the adenylate cyclise pathway. However, in human follicular cells and in rat FRTL-5 cells, TSH can also stimulate the β-isoforms of PLC that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidyl-inositol 4,5-phosphate, yielding the second messengers DAG and inositol 1,4,5-phosphate facil...

Bronchial carcinoids (BC) are rare tumors originating from endocrine cells dispersed in the respiratory epithelium. Currently, the main BC treatment is surgery, that can be curative in most of the cases, but is not feasible for large, infiltrating and metastatic disease. In these settings, medical therapy is often tried, being mainly represented by chemotherapy and radiation in the attempt to reduce tumor mass, while somatostatin analogues are employed for symptomatic control....