Endocrine Abstracts

The insulin signalling system including the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase (IRTK) is evolutionarily ancient and appears in the first multicellular organisms (Cnidarians). The Drosophila melanogaster genome contains seven genes for insulin-like peptides (ILPs) that are expressed in neurosecretory cells in a highly tissue- and stage-specific pattern, DILP1-7. There is however only one IRTK (dIR). This system is important in the regulation of metabolism, growth, reprod...

Objective: Sexual orientation in males and females is considered to be determined in early life and to be virtually unchangeable in the course of adulthood. In contrast some transsexuals report a change in their sexual orientation most overt following sex reassignment procedures. The reason for this phenomenon is unknown.Methods: We asked 106 transsexual (66 MtF and 40 FtM) patients from our endocrine outpatient clinic to complete a questionnaire, retros...

Somatostatin is a ubiquitous neuropeptidic inhibitor of various cellular functions including endocrine and exocrine secretion. Moreover, this peptide may control cell proliferation in normal and tumoral tissues. Somatostatin biological effects are mediated by five subtype of G protein-coupled receptor, sst1 through sst5. The somatostatin analogs have high affinity for sst2 receptor and the success of in vivo peptide therapy is correlated with high levels of sst2 in th...

Introduction: As in humans, thyroid hormone (TH) plays an essential role on zebrafish development by acting through the specific nuclear receptors (TRα or TRβ) and activating/suppressing the expression of several target genes. In zebrafish, TRα is preferentially expressed in the heart and CNS while the TRβ is mainly expressed in the retina and inner ear, but the specific role of these receptors in the different target tissues is presently unknown. In this s...

Background: The effects of glucocorticoids (GC) on the developing zebrafish embryo (Zfe) are poorly characterised. We have assessed the effects of pharmacological and genetic manipulation of cortisol and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) on global development and stress response during the first 120 hpf.Methods: Cortisol production was modulated by inhibiting the enzyme 11b hydroxylase using morpholino gene knockdown (MO) or incubation in the drug metyrapone...

Leptin, a key metabolic signal controlling both energy intake and energy reserves, informs the brain about energy stores of the body to initiate reproductive processes at puberty. Thyroid hormones are important determinant of overall energy expenditure, basal metabolic rate and thermogenesis. The present study examined the relationship between leptin and thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in boys (n=540) between the age of 1 and 20 years. B...

Diagnosis and management of infants and children with sex steroid disorders requires fast and simultaneous assessment of several sex steroid metabolites in serum at low concentrations and on small sample volumes. Therefore, we developed a sensitive and selective TurboFlow-LC-MS/MS method for quantification of DHEA, DHEAS, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, Δ4-androstenedione and testosterone in serum from pre-pubertal children.Total run time was 10.75 mi...

Introduction: Disorders of sex development where females have a 46,XY karyotype can be seen. Main reasons for this are the conditions of androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) and gonadal dysgenesis. The clinical phenotype of both conditions is variable and can present from an undervirilized or infertile male to an individual with ambiguous genitalia at birth, to a pure female phenotype with unambiguous genitalia, who first present in adolescence with primary amenorrhoea and/or...

3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-Δ4 isomerase (HSD3B) is a key enzyme catalyzing an essential step in the formation of all classes of steroid hormones. Previously, we have reported the presence of androgen receptors in the fetal porcine gonads denoting the role of androgens during gonadal development. There is also growing evidence that steroid hormones modulate HSD3B expression. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of androgen defici...

Introduction: Previous studies indicate a high prevalence of HIV infection in the transgender population and associate it with sexual risk behavior, psychiatrical and socio-economic problems. Anyway, few data are available regarding other factors. We assessed the prevalence of HIV and other associated characteristics in a transgender population of Catalonia.Methods: Cross-sectional study including 234 transsexuals that started follow-up in a reference ce...

Introduction: It has been shown that face classification software might help distinguishing between subjects with and without acromegaly on regular photographs. In this project, we investigated several aspects that will be necessary and helpful to bring this recognition method closer to clinical application.Methods: Face classification was based on nodes placed on frontal and side photographs of individuals and analysis the underlying texture and geometr...

Objective: Transition from pediatric to adult health care is a particularly vulnerable period for patients with inborn metabolic diseases.Our objective in this study was to evaluate the current transition of patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) in Malaga, Spain, by analysis of the metabolic control, medical care, patients satisfaction and phychosocial status.Material and methods: We evaluate all the patients transferred to our adult...

Resistant hypertension (RH) is defined as blood pressure above a goal despite adherence to at least three optimally dosed antihypertensive medications of different classes, one of which is a diuretic.Objectives: We investigated the prevalence of true resistant hypertension in our Department of Endocrinology, and we described the clinico-biological features of theses patients.Methods: We performed a retrospective descriptive study. ...

Younger people with high blood pressure are 28% less likely to be diagnosed than older people. Arterial hypertension warrants further investigations to exclude secondary causes of hypertension in young people (aged <40 years).Objectives: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study to investigate the characteristics hospitalized hypertensive young adults (<40 years) in our department.Results: The sample included 84 patien...