Endocrine Abstracts

Obesity and associated insulin resistance are associated with increased numbers of infiltrating macrophages at various sites of white adipose tissue. The adipose tissue macrophages are considered to be a major cause of obesity-associated chronic low-grade inflammation. The macrophages present in adipose tissue secrete a wide variety of proinflammatory molecules including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)...

Introduction: Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a dominantly inherited syndrome, first identified in 1967 by Refetoff, characterized by reduced organ responsiveness to thyroid hormone. The most typical pattern being an elevated serum free T4 (fT4) concentration in association with non-suppressed TSH, usually accompanied by high serum levels of free T3 (fT3), with a considerable inter-individual variation and heterogeneous phenotype. The most frequent defect which causes R...

Introduction: Obesity and connected metabolic alterations are a growing problem in paediatric age, but few data are available in the youngest population. Poor evidences on metabolic syndrome (MS) definition are present in childhood and the most used definitions are those of the modified National Cholesterol Education Program and of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of MS in obese children using these two definitions and ...

Physiological role of acylated ghrelin (AG), unacylated ghrelin (UAG) and obestatin is poorly understood especially in childhood. To understand their biological implications in obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS), we measured AG, UAG, obestatin, at fasting and every 60′ during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 60 prepubertal (PP–OB; 32) and pubertal (P-OB; 28) children. Paediatric IDF 2007 criteria was used to identifying MS. In PP-OB group, 20 (62.5%) children ...

Introduction: The association between vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and metabolic parameters is not confirmed in some population studies. 25(OH)D concentration in blood is influenced by seasons and this covariate may explain some discordant results. The first aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in a population of obesity children (2–18 years) living in the North of Italy (latitude, 45°27′n) with respect to the season. The...

Introduction: Generously supported by IPSEN)-->In children, GH secretion is considered sufficient when at least one value is >20 ng/ml at the GHRH + arginine (ARG) test. Because GH typically peaks at 45 min, we evaluated whether peak occurrence at one specific time is predictive of clinical outcomes in short stature children who are GH sufficient.Subjects and methods: Children who performed a GHRH plus ARG ...

Key circulating molecules that link the emerging role of vitamin-D to pediatric obesity and its co-morbidities remain unclear. To identify potentially involved regulators, this study analyzed plasma proteoma from obese children dichotomized by 25OH-vitamin D (25OHD) levels and upon vitamin-D3 therapy in 25OHD deficient subjects.A total of 42 obese children (M/F=18/24, bmi>95° centile) were selected and divided according to 25OHD levels into defi...

Introduction: A rise in serum insulin levels during GH therapy is reported. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Few data describe insulin secretion and sensitivity after the end of GH therapy in children.Methods: Aim of our study was to evaluate changes in insulin secretion and sensitivity in 24 children with isolated GHD at 3 times: i) during the last year of therapy (T0); ii) 6 month...

Introduction: Vitamin D plays an important role on musculoskeletal composition, but new evidences highlight others possible pleiotropic effects on many tissues and also metabolic functions. Vitamin D insufficiency should be associated with all-cause mortality, in particular with cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. International studies suggested that 25(OH)D level sufficiency should be established at 30 ng/ml, insufficiency between 30 and 20 ng/ml and deficiency low...

GH has well documented insulin antagonistic effects. By inference, GHD may be expected to result in increased insulin sensitivity. Young GHD children have a tendency to both fasting and readly provoked hypoglycaemia probably resulting from impaired hormonale counter-regolation. Increased insulin sensitivity could also contribute to their hypoglycaemia; however, this has not been directly demonstrated. Interestingly, susceptibility to hypoglycaemia in GHD children diminishes wi...