Endocrine Abstracts

The different balance in the sex hormones, androgens and estrogens, is a cardinal aspect of the biology of gender difference and plays a fundamental role in maintaining the physiological state at each age of life. However, the imbalance in sex hormones is involved in some metabolic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes, with androgens playing an interesting sexually dimorphic role. In particular, the bulk of evidence suggests that hyperandrogenism in women or hypogonadism in ...

Introduction: type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypogonadism are common conditions afflicting the aging male, often present together. The specific role of testosterone (T) replacement therapy (TRT) on glycometabolic profile and body composition, particularly in patients with T2DM, is still the object of an intense debate. The aim of the present study is to meta-analyze the role of TRT in T2DM considering all placebo and non-placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs...

Introduction: Abnormalities of the Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) are rare and agenesis has an estimated incidence of 0.01% in the general population. We here report a probable association with congenital hypopituitarism.Case report: A baby girl presented with respiratory distress after the birth and 1 month later, because of prolonged jaundice, was found to have low FT3, FT4, and TSH (FT3 was <2.3 pmol/l FT4 was <3.5 pmol/l, TSH which was <0....

Thyroid hormones (TH)s have as a major target the heart, where they regulate many different functions, including the modulation of the heart rate and myocyte contractility. Their effects on ventricular repolarization are controversial and QT prolongation was reported both in patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, in their overt or subclinical forms. We analyzed the effects of 3.3',5.5'-tetraiodo-L-Thyronine (T4), 3.3',5-triiodo-L-Thyronine (T3) and of 3.3',5'-triiod...

Among the uncertainties surrounding the etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) the role of increased peripheral cortisol metabolism has become interesting, particularly in relationship to the pathogenesis of adrenal hyperandrogenism. The patways of cortisol metabolism include irreversible inactivation of cortisol by 5α- and 5β-reductase. To evaluate the association of 5α- and 5β-reductase activity with adrenal hyperandrogenism in PCOS, we recruited 90...

Background: Standard treatment for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is mitotane in monotherapy or combined with etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin (EDP), yet biomarkers predictive of treatment response are lacking. Inflammation-based scores were proposed as predictors for gemcitabine+capecitabine efficacy, used as second-line in progressive ACC. We investigated the role of inflammation-based scores in predicting response to first-line treatment in advanced ACC.<p ...

Background: Treatment for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) consists of mitotane alone or combined with etoposide, doxorubicin and cisplatin (EDP), yet their efficacy is limited and burdened with significant toxicity. Moreover, markers of response are lacking. Inflammation-based scores have been proposed as prognostic factors in several malignancies including ACC, and recently also as predictors of gemcitabine+capecitabine efficacy, second-line treatment in progressive d...

Glucocorticoids play a significant role in immune modulation and regulation of inflammation. In patients with endogenous glucocorticoid excess (Cushing’s syndrome [CS]) multiple haematological alterations are recognized, such as neutrophil leukocytosis, lymphopenia, and eosinopenia, often leading to severe clinical complications. However, little is known in patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS). Serum inflammation-based scores may reliably reflect system...

Introduction: Several studies have described ethnic differences in HbA1c. Non-Caucasian patients have been found to have a higher HbA1c than the Caucasian ones. These differences have often been attributed to disparities in access to medical care or quality of the care. However differences in HbA1C in ethnic minorities could also relate to biological factors so we looked at mean levels of glycaemia. The aim of our study was to observe if there is a similar correlation between ...

The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO) is increasing worldwide, posing important challenges to public health and national health care system, especially during the COVID pandemic. In subjects with SO, it is essential to reduce body weight preserving lean mass, in order to avoid a worsening of muscle function. Lifestyle modification with adequate nutrition and proper physical activity is essential to counteract SO progression. In accordance with the Position Statement of the...