Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Everolimus is an oral mTOR inhibitor that exerts antineoplastic effects inhibiting cell proliferation, survival and angiogenesis. Its activity in advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has been demonstrated in controlled trials and everolimus was approved by the FDA for the treatment of progressive, advanced pNETs in May 2011.Materials and methods: We treated with everolimus, at the dosage of 10 mg once daily, 14 patients with advanced, prog...

Observational studies have consistently shown a relationship between low testosterone (T) and a higher cardiovascular (CV) risk profile. However, it is still obscure whether reduced T levels in the elderly play a direct pathogenetic role in the stratification of CV risk, or if CV diseases (CVD) and low T are concomitant conditions, both associated with the aging process. Much evidence supports both of these possibilities. In the meanwhile, recent reports in the scientific and ...

Introduction: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the most frequent chromosomal disorders, occurring in 1:500 to 1:1000 live male births, associated to male infertility. Although significant research has been conducted, KS remains frustratingly underdiagnosed with a remarkable portion of cases being unidentified. Under diagnosis may be due to man’s hesitancy about seeking medical counseling, low awareness of KS among health professionals, and failure by health professionals to p...

Introduction: Conventional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors identify only half of subjects with incident major adverse CV events (MACE). Hence new markers are needed in high CV risk subjects, as those with erectile dysfunction (ED). A role for dynamic peak systolic velocity (D-PSV) at penile color Doppler ultrasound (PCDU) has been suggested, but it is operator-dependent and time-consuming. Flaccid penile acceleration (FPA) is a PCDU parameter that reflects PSV, the systolic r...

Gastric carcinoids secondary to autoimmune atrophic gastritis (GC type 1) are usually well differentiated neoplasia, with an indolent course and an excellent overall prognosis. However, a subset of these tumors (<5%) may develop advanced disease, with lymph node and/or hepatic metastasis. The pathogenesis of these carcinoids is related to chronic trophic stimuli to enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells due to chronic hypergastrinemia. Treatments directed to remove the source o...

Background: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is rare, usually presenting with hyperparathyroidism and severe hypercalcemia. A standardized diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approach has not been provided yet and TNM staging algorithm is not universally accepted. Surgery is the first-choice treatment and is the only effective therapy to control hypercalcaemia. Chemo- or radio-therapy, local treatments or novel drugs should be reserved to selected cases.Cas...

The role of psychological symptoms in recognizing late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is still controversial. The aim of the study is to evaluate the association between LOH and specific psychological symptoms and to verify whether investigating intra-psychic domain improves the accuracy of a validated case-history tool (ANDROTEST) in detecting LOH. A consecutive series of 1009 subjects (mean age 49.23±13.34) consulting for sexual dysfunction was studied. Intra-psychic symptoms...

Background: The concept of testosterone (T) supplementation (TS) as a new anti-obesity medication in men with testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is emerging.Aim: To systematically review and meta-analyze available observational and register studies reporting data on body composition in studies on TS in TDS.Methods: An extensive Medline Embase and Cochrane search was performed including the following words: ‘testosterone&#1...

Background: The role of testosterone (T) in regulating body composition is conflicting.Aim: To meta-analyze the effects of T supplementation (TS) on body composition and metabolic outcomes.Methods: All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of TS on different endpoints were considered.Results: Overall, 59 trials were included in the study enrolling 3029 and 2049 patients in TS and control gr...

Introduction: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) algorithm is one of the most efficient instruments for the prediction of incident type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Recently it has been shown to predict another relevant cardiovascular (CV) risk factor, such as chronic kidney disease.The aim of the present study is to verify whether, in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED), the use of ARIC diabetes risk score might improve the efficacy in predicting ...