Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRs) are 16–29 nucleotide long, non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression via RNA interference. It has been shown that they participate in control of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, signal transduction, cell death and carcinogenesis.Aim: To examine the role of the miRs in sporadic pituitary tumourigenesis.Methods: Twenty-five sporadic pituitary adenoma spe...

Objective: To investigate whether three polymorphisms of the glucocorticoid receptor gene known to influence the sensitivity to glucocorticoids could be implicated in the pathomechanism of Graves’ orbitopathy.Methods: Allelic frequencies of the ER22/23EK, Bcl l and N363S polymorphisms of the glucocorticoid receptor gene were investigated in 99 patients with Graves’ orbitopathy (mean age, 47.8±13.4 years) and in 175 healthy individuals (mea...

Objective: Genetic variation in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene may be related to the clinical heterogenety and severity of the Cushing’s syndrome. BclI, N363S and ER22/23EK polymorphisms are the three most investigated polymorphisms within the GR gene, however, the importance and magnitude of their effect in hypercortisolemic states are unclear. The BclI and the N363S variants are associated with increased, while the ER22/23EK variant is associated with reduced glu...

Objevtives: Maternal hyperandrogenism occurs rarely during pregnancy as the consequense of maternal ovarian or adrenal disorders, or placental aromatase deficiency.Case: A 33-year-old pregnant women was referred because of high serum testosterone (240 ng/dl; normal, 20–60 ng/dl) measured at the 7th week of pregnancy. At presentation she had symptoms of moderate hyperandrogenism, which slightly increased until delivery. Abdominal and pelvic ultrasoun...