Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is showing a rapid and continuous evolution in terms of new waves, the spread of variants and the evidence of reinfections. The growing heterogeneity of clinical presentation requires the identification of underlying pathogenic mechanisms to allow a better risk stratification. Previous studies analysed the role of sex hormones in disease severity demonstrating in male patients the association of...

Background: The fourth type of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) is a rare variant of MEN presenting a MEN1-like phenotype and originating from a germline mutation in CDKN1B. However, due to the small number of cases documented in literature, the peculiar clinical features of MEN4 are still largely unknown, and clear indications about the clinical management of these patients are currently lacking. In order to enlarge our knowledge on MEN4 and to better typify the clinical fe...

It is known that adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is associated with oxidative stress (OS): both GH and IGF-1 exert antioxidant functions. OS is in turn related to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular/oncological risk. Discordant data concerning GH effects on antioxidants are reported. Moreover, no data are available in partial GHD, which can induce cardiovascular alterations. To evaluate oxidative damage on macromolecules and systemic inflammation, 80 patients, studi...

Background: The recently discovered myokin Irisin, a peptide originated by a proteolytic cleavage of the transmembrane protein fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) whose expression is induced by exercise and/or by increasing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ co-activator 1α (PGC-1α), has been considered a prognostic factor in Chronic Ischemic Cardiomyopathy and Acute Heart Failure. Nevertheless, no data are available on Irisin level...

Objectives: Acromegaly is a rare disease that can cause complications in multiple organs. Although excess IGF-1 may contribute to the development of thyroid nodules, the association between acromegaly and thyroid nodules is still a topic of debate, and the available data are limited and contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential influence of acromegaly and its treatment on thyroid nodules.Methods: This is a retrospective, singl...

Background: Patients affected by gastroenteropancreatic-neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) present an increased risk of bone fragility due to several factors, such as bone metastases, vitamin D deficiency, hormonal secretion, medical and surgical treatments. Although patients with well-differentiated GEP-NETs generally present a long life-expectancy, occurrence of fragility fractures could significantly impair quality of life.Objectives: The study aims to ...

Background: Serum testosterone (T) levels may fall at different stages of sexual development in Klinefelter syndrome (KS), whereas overt hypogonadism typically arises after puberty. Nevertheless, normal mini-puberty and puberty are still debated in KS subjects. Anogenital distance (AGD) is an anthropometric parameter under the influence of early life and childhood androgen exposure. Genital anomalies, testicular cancer and oligospermia have been associated with a shorter AGD i...

Background: Skeletal fragility is an important clinical issue in women with early-stage breast cancer and men with non-metastatic prostate cancer under hormonal hormone deprivation therapies (HDTs). Vertebral fractures (VFs) have been reported in a remarkable number of subjects exposed to HDT especially when the diagnosis of fractures is performed by a radiological and morphometric approach. Notably, prediction of fractures in this clinical setting is a challenge and determina...

Background: primary empty sella (ES) represents a frequent finding (up to 35% of the general population). According to the literature, the prevalence of hypopituitarism in ES ranges between 19-52%. Data on the natural history of ES over a long time, especially in incidental ES, are still lacking and the management can be challenging.Objective: our primary aim was to assess in a large cohort of patients with ES the prevalence and determinants of hypopitui...