Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Infertility is a common problem and the number of couples receiving assisted reproductive treatment (ART) is increasing. Using GnRH agonists (GnRHa) to trigger oocyte maturation has been shown to reduce risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a common complication of IVF, compared to the more traditional use of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Kisspeptin has recently been shown to be a safe trigger of oocyte maturation in women at high risk of OHSS. Ki...

The kisspeptin/Kiss1R and neurokinin B (NKB)/ tachykinin receptor 3 (TACR3) system in the hypothalamus are essential for reproduction. Recent study suggested that the two peptide systems were both expressed in the ovary, particularly in the granulosa cells. To investigate the two systems in regulating the ovarian function, we collected the granulosa cells and follicular fluids from the 80 infertile patients (42 infertile control women and 38 PCOS women) undergoing IVF in Pekin...

Background: The etiology of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) remains unknown in about 40% of cases and genetic factors are likely to be involved in a large proportion of them. Gene mutations involved in stem cell proliferation and DNA repair may cause isolated NOA or be responsible for syndromic diseases, such as Fanconi Anemia (FA). Although the most frequent presenting symptom in FA is bone marrow failure in childhood, in about 10% of cases the diagnosis is delayed until ad...

Childhood obesity has become a major health problem, which is coupled to different adverse outcomes and diseases. The escalating prevalence of child obesity parallels that of alterations in pubertal timing, also linked to higher disease burden later on life. Yet, the mechanisms underlying for this association remain unfolded. Ceramides, ubiquitous signaling molecules involved in numerous biological processes, have emerged as mediators of metabolic disorders and transmitters fo...

Background: Thyroid hormones play an important role in reproductive and sexual function in both males and females. Comprehensive information on the ill-effects of hypothyroidism on leydig cell, sertoli cell and germ cell function is lacking in the existing literature.Objective: Our objective was to investigate the effect of hypothyroidism and its treatment on testicular function.Patients and design: This study was carried out as a ...