Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndromes (PAS) are a group of diseases characterized by the association of different endocrine and non-endocrine autoimmune pathologies. Although the diagnosis of PAS is more frequent in adulthood, it can occur in pediatric age, with PAS type 3 being the most frequent.Objective: To study the prevalence and characteristics of PAS in the pediatric population of a tertiary center.Methods: Retros...

Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) is one of the most common chemical ingredients for daily necessities that can be absorbed through the skin, aerosol, or even orally. People are exposed to D5 daily, but the risk of prenatal exposure to D5 is not completely understood. In this study, the effects of prenatal exposure to D5 on neural development were assessed through behavioral tests on offspring mice. First, the developmental neurotoxicity test (DNT) was performed to determine i...

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns document a satisfactory high profile of protection against Covid-19 infection, but auto-immune/inflammatory diseases have been reported following Covid-19 vaccines. A 65-year-old woman reported two days following her first dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine tearing, eye irritation, conjunctival redness, peri-orbital swelling, spontaneous hematoma of the right lower eyelid, right greater than left proptosis, with a spontaneous improvement of symp...

Phthalates are man-made chemicals that are used in many different types of products. The main use is as plasticizers, but they can also be added to, for example, cosmetics, drug coatings, and perfumes. One of the most commonly used phthalates is di-butyl phthalate (DBP), which has been detected in both food and drinking water globally. Once ingested, DBP is rapidly metabolized to its main metabolite, mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), which is frequently detected in human plasma and ...

Chemical contaminants from human activity are omnipresent in the environment. A great number of common industrial compounds are detected in human blood and urine. Common chemicals such as bisphenols, phthalates and parabens that can interfere with endocrine signaling are classified as endocrine disruptive compounds (EDCs). The sex steroid hormonal signaling pathway is complex and sensitive to interference, as circulating concentrations of these hormones are low. Even miniscule...

Background: PCBs are persistent organic pollutants, able to affect thyroid function (endocrine disruptors) and promote inflammation through multiple mechanisms. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor able to bind dioxins and dioxin-like pollutants including PCBs, play a key role in xenobiotic response, by up-regulating specific responsive genes, the so-called “AhR gene battery”, including cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and Nuclear ...

Introduction: The plasticizer Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor with thyroid interfering activity. Obesity is a recognized risk factor for thyroid cancer. A recent study showed that subjects with BMI ≥ 25 are more prone to BPA-related thyroid disruption. To date, few and controversial experimental and epidemiological data provide weak evidence about a correlation between BPA exposure and thyroid cancer development. Aim of the present study was to assess a possi...

The highly toxic heavy metal Cadmium (Cd) is widely spread in the environment and could exert estrogen-like activity in tissues including breast. Previous studies demonstrated that Cd binds to estrogen receptor α positive (ERα+) breast cancer (BC) cells. In this new study, we evaluated effects of Cd on both ERα+ and ERα negative (ERα-) BC models with the aim to further characterize the mechanisms involved in Cd-related BC carcinogenesis. Specifically, ...

Background: World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders included neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone (nTSH) as one of the indicators for assessing iodine deficiency at a population level and as a monitoring tool in programs of iodine supplementation. A prevalence of nTSH concentrations in dry blood spots (DBS) above 5 mlU/l below 3% has been prop...

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are a heterogeneous class of compounds so called for their ability to interfere with the endocrine system. These environmental pollutants are detected in different environmental matrices; they can bioaccumulate in adipose tissue and biomagnificate in food chain due to their high hydrophobicity and low water solubility1. Two EDCs usually used in the manufacture of domestic, industrial, and agricultural products are Dibutylphtalat...

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an endocrine disruptor that belongs to the group of phthalates. Human exposure to DEHP is ubiquitous, considering its use in plastics and other common consumer products. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate its harmful effects on female reproductive system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of short term exposure to DEHP on progesterone synthesis in human granulosa cells. The human nonluteinized gra...