Endocrine Abstracts

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a class of rare and heterogeneous neoplasms derived from the neuroendocrine system. Animal models are indispensable tools for investigating the pathogenesis, mechanisms for tumour invasion and metastasis and new therapeutic approaches for cancer. Unfortunately, only few models are available for NETs, probably due to the rarity and heterogeneity of this group of neoplasms. The tropical teleost zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a popular vertebrate mode...

A variety of endocrine and metabolic signals regulate pituitary cell function acting through the hypothalamus-pituitary neuroendocrine axes or directly at the pituitary level. The underlying intracellular transduction mechanisms in pituitary cells are still debated. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a cellular sensor of low energy stores in all mammalian cells and promotes adaptive changes in response to calorie restriction. It is also regarded as a target for t...

Introduction: Obesity is a cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) whereas its relationship with male infertility is more conflicting. The term metabolically healthy obesity (HO) has been used to describe an obese phenotype that does not have the burden of any metabolic disorder. The aim of the present study is to analyse the contribution of HO in the pathogenesis of ED and male infertility and to verify the value of HO in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).<...

Acquired lipodystrophies (AL) are syndromes characterized by an irreversible loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue and are conventionally distinct in partial (Barraquer-Simons) or generalized forms (Lawrence Syndrome) based on the pattern of adipose tissue disappearance. Alike to congenital forms, AL exhibit metabolic abnormalities that include insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertliglycerdidemia, reduced leptin levels, hepatomegaly and steatosis. While in most cases of ...

We investigated the direct effects of the somatostatin analog octreotide on hallmarks of autophagy and of cell viability and metabolic activity in rat pituitary tumor cells (GH1 and GH3 cells). The Western blot analysis of cell lysates suggested that octreotide (100 nM) treatment could induce changes in hallmarks related to autophagy activation (increased LC3-I protein lipidation) and to enhanced autophagic flux (SQSTM1/p62 protein downregulation) in pituitary tumor cells in d...

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) tend to be slow growing (although aggressive forms exist) and are often diagnosed when they have already metastasised.Treatment of NETs is typically multidisciplinary and should be individualised according to the tumour type, burden, and symptoms. Therapeutic tools in NETs include surgery, interventional radiology and medical treatments such as somatostatin analogues, interferon, chemotherapy, new targeted drugs and peptide ...

Background: Prevalence of hypogonadism is high (30%) in men with HIV. In these patients T treatment (TT) is currently used mainly to counteract wasting syndrome and/or HIV-related lipodystrophy, irrespective of patients’ serum T. However, its effect and safety in HIV-infected men is still not completely known.Aim: To investigate both beneficial and adverse effects related to TT in HIV-infected men using a meta-analytic approach.<p class="abstext...

Steroids are still widely prescribed in pituitary trans-sphenoidal surgery (TSA). Pituitary-adrenal/thyroid/gonadal functions were prospectively evaluated in 72 consecutive NFPA pts (20–87 years, 37 M) before and after endoscopic-TSA (E-TSA) (63 at first operation, 9 at re-operation). All had macroadenoma with suprasellar extension: impinging optic chiasma in 28, extending into cavernous sinus (CS) in 23, giant in 12. Hydrocortisone was infused peri-operatively only in pt...

Background: Low testosterone (T) is frequent in men with chronical illnesses. The clinical features of T deficiency (TD) overlap with those of chronic diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relative contribution of chronic disease score (CDS) and low T to the presence of TD symptoms.Methods: A consecutive series of 3862 men (aged 52.1±13.1 years) consulting for sexual dysfunction was studied. Several clinical and biochemical parameters w...

Introduction: Tadalafil 5 mg once daily (T5od) has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), along with erectile dysfunction (ED). Recent pooled data analyses demonstrated that T5od–International Prostate Symptom Score related improvements were significant regardless of confounders. In addition, PDE5 inhibitors exert a positive effect on ejaculatory latency. We assessed the clinical outcome of 30 d...