Endocrine Abstracts

The Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor is expressed in the lung having a very important role in the modulation of the Angiotensin Converting Enzymes (ACEs). ACE1 cleaves angiotensin-I into angiotensin-II, which is converted by ACE2 to Ang(1-7). Ang(1-7) has vasodilating effects. The Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition disrupting the alveolar architecture and physiology. IPF develops by a sequence of inflammati...

Background: Hypothyroidism affects cardiac function, leading to cardiomyopathy, pericarditis, lower left ventricular performance, etc. The present study investigates different parameters (clinical, hormonal, biochemical, echocardiographic) in overt primary hypothyroidism (OPHypo) and overt central hypothyroidism (OCHypo).Material and methods: The study included 33 untreated patients with OCHypo (5 with empty sella, 3 with idiopathic hypopituitarism, 7 wi...

Objective: Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is considered a surrogate marker of insulin resistance, and insulin resistance is known risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Until now, few studies have investigated the relationship between TyG index and coronary artery calcification (CAC), thus we investigated the correlation between TyG index and CAC in healthy Korean Adults.Methods: A total of 4,463 participants underwent cardiac computed tomography in he...

Oral combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) have been suggested to induce more unbeneficial metabolic effects than vaginal CHCs. CHCs are used routinely to treat the clinical symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but there are no studies investigating whether the vaginal route is safer in women with known metabolic risks.Twenty-five women with PCOS defined according to the Rotterdam criteria were randomized to use either oral contraceptive pills...

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a circulating protein that promotes degradation of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, has been emerged as a novel therapeutic target for the dyslipidemia. It is well known that the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) involves lipid metabolism alteration, but the predictive value of circulating PCSK9 level concerning coronary disease severity is largely unknown. The main objective of this study is to deter...

Introduction: The Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) has been proven to be an indicator of adipose distribution and function that indirectly expresses cardiometabolic risk, in particular in specific populations such as women with polycystic ovary syndrome, acromegaly or type 2 diabetes. Little information is known about its usefulness in the definition of cardiometabolic risk in ageing population.Objective: To study VAI in relation to metabolic and hormonal ...

Introduction: Measurement of microRNA (miRNA) in aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) tissue from primary aldosteronism (PA) patients show levels of the miR24-1 cluster miRNAs (i.e. miRNAs 24-1, 27b and 23b) are significantly reduced relative to normal adrenal tissue. Our previous studies also show that miRNA-24 directly targets CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) gene expression. Circulating miRNAs released into the bloodstream may be diagnostic biomarkers or signalling mo...

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness is a measure for physical activity and a prognostic health indicator. However, measurement of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) is not possible in clinical practice.Aim: We hypothesized that body composition and testosterone levels could be used as possible determinants of VO2max in young men.Participants and design: The Odense Androgen Study, a population-based, observational study including...

Introduction: The beneficial interaction between the microbiota and humans is the way how bacteria contained within the gut ‘talk’ to the immune system. Into this landscape probiotics and nutraceuticals play a major role. The study aims to determine whether probiotics plus nutraceuticals such as smectite or omega-3 are superior to probiotic alone on the monosodium glutamate (MSG) induced obesity model in rats.Methods: Totally 7...

Introduction: Leptin is a 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted by adipose tissue and acts as a sensor for energy stores. It feedsback at the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus to suppress appetite. Leptin treatment has been highly effective in suppressing appetite in the rare cases of leptin-deficient obesity and improving the metabolic profile in congenital generalised lipodystrophy. These patients require 2.5–10 mg once daily recombinant leptin treatment. We hypothesised that prol...