Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Recent evidence recognized the value of Retinol-Binding Protein (RBP4), as potential biomarker of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular pathology. The possible association between RBP4 and functional vascular disease remains unexplored, while recent data in postmenopausal populations suggested lack of association between RBP4 and subclinical atherosclerosis. We evaluated the possible link between RBP4 and menopause-specific cardiovascular risk factors, in a sample o...

IntroductionMenopausal transition has been associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk, which is possibly linked with the hormonal imbalance following ovarian senescence. Both insulin levels and circulating androgens (FAI) have been associated with endothelial dysfunction, through studies evaluating flow mediated dilation (FMD). We aimed to investigate whether the link between these hormones and FMD might be explained by markers of oxidative stres...

Background: Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), a potentially homeostatic antigen, has been shown to be involved in physiological and non-physiological conditions. Experimental data is supporting the role of HSP60 in placental and mitochondrial steroidogenesis. Under stress conditions, HSP60 are translocated into the endothelial-cell plasma membrane and the extracellular space, promoting the atherosclerotic process. Aim: We decided to investigate the associat...