Endocrine Abstracts

A 44 year old woman presented in November 2000 with a two week history of headaches, vomiting and blurred vision. Past history consisted of type 2 diabetes and migraine. Initial investigation revealed hyponatraemia (sodium 114 mmol/l) and deranged liver biochemistry. ANA, anti dsDNA, cANCA, pANCA, anti Ro, La, RNP, Scl-70, Jo-1, smooth muscle and mitochondrial antibodies were negative. MRI revealed a 13x18x15mm pituitary mass elevating the optic chaism, without evidence of rec...

A 44 year old woman presented in November 2000 with a two week history of headaches, vomiting and blurred vision. Past history consisted of type 2 diabetes and migraine. Initial investigation revealed hyponatraemia (sodium 114 mmol/l) and deranged liver biochemistry. ANA, anti dsDNA, cANCA, pANCA, anti Ro, La, RNP, Scl-70, Jo-1, smooth muscle and mitochondrial antibodies were negative. MRI revealed a 13x18x15mm pituitary mass elevating the optic chaism, without evidence of rec...

Background: There is growing evidence that adhesion molecules, proinflammatory cells and cytokines play an important role in a variety of cardiac pathophysiological conditions; Cytokines are responsible for the modulation of immune and inflammatory processes. It has been suggested that cytokines such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF alpha are important modulators of atherosclerotic effects with IL-2 and Interferon γ having a proinflammatory atherogenic effect and IL-8 a...

Background: The patomechanism of developing ischemic heart disease (i.h.d.) is stenosis of coronary blood vessels with plaque placed on vascular endothelium built with monocytes/macrophages, foam cells, oxidized LDL, leukocytes, platelets and collagen. Atherosclerotic lesions are heavily infiltrated by cellular components associated with inflammation and influenced by other inflammatory factors. Trimetazidine, a clinically effective antianginal agent acts by optimizing cardiac...

Introduction: Interferon alpha (IFN alpha) is a cytokine with pleiotropic effects and via different pathways influences secretion of certain cytokines and hormones. Growth Hormone (GH) secreted from the pituitary has its physiological effects on various target tissues. The question is how IFN alpha administered in various type of diseases influences GH secretion. This study investigated acute effect of IFN-alpha on GH mRNA expression in rat anterior pituitary<p class="abst...

Cytokines play a role in cardiovascular diseases by inducing inflammation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. It is well known that activated macrophages are one of the main sources of inflammatory cytokines. Previous studies have shown that the cells found in the vascular wall produce various kind of cytokines which are involved in cardiovascular diseases. It has been reported that some cytokines (IL-6, IL-8) are increased in acute coronary syndrome. The results of some other ...

A 42 year-old man presented in 1994 with a two-week history of headaches, drowsiness and confusion. There had been reduced libido and weight gain for 2 years. There was testicular atrophy and morbid obesity, but no neurological abnormality. CT scan showed a large, partially calcified, suprasellar tumour extending up into the third ventricle. Downward displacement of the posterior clinoid was identified with features of haemorrhage peripherally. MRI scan showed tumour of mixed ...

Diabetes mellitus and abdominal obesity are considered to be risk factors for venous and arterial thrombosis, but till now it still remains unclear, what factor is a primary in the genesis of these abnormalities: fibrinolysis dysfunction, vascular endothelium impairment or pathology of the platelet homeostasis component.Forty-two persons included in the study were primary divided into 3 groups: 1 group – nearly healthy (10 males, 12 females), 2 grou...

Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has a positive therapeutic effect in some autoimmune diseases due to immunomodulatory action.The aim of the study was to assess the influence of PTX on apoptosis and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) proliferation in patients with Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO).Twenty-four patients with GO and 32 healthy controls were investigated. GO patients were divided into two grou...