Endocrine Abstracts

The discovery of the new properties of somatostatin (SSTRs) and dopamine (DRs) receptors has led to a renewed interest in agents targeting these receptors, and has opened new perspectives for medical treatment of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Indeed, patients unresponsive or resistant to the ‘classical’, currently available somatostatin analogs may benefit from these insights. Moreover, SSRs and DRs crosstalk at membrane level may trigger alternative in...

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of several neoplasias and the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) may have a role as autocrine/paracrine factors in regulating the local actions of the IGFs. In the present study we investigated IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3 production in cultured media from three human lung cancer cell lines (Calu-3, Calu-6, A549) and in human neoplastic and normal lung tissue samples obtained at surgery fr...

BackgroundIn Liguria, a region of north-western Italy, the Albanian population is currently estimated to be around 20 000, constituting 15% of foreign citizens living in this area; approximately 50% of these Albanians reside in the Genoa district.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all the outpatients of the Endocrine Unit of San Martino Polyclinic Hospital from 2002 to 2019. Data on sub...

Introduction/Background: Patients with NETs and acromegaly are commonly treated with somatostatin analogues (SSAs), such as octreotide and lanreotide depot formulations. The Pharmathen syringe is now available in several European countries and the USA for lanreotide depot injection. When using SSAs, confidence in and ease of use with syringes is important for decision-making in long-term therapy.Aims: PRESTO 3 compared nurses’ preference for the Som...

Background: Acromegaly is a severe systemic condition characterized by elevated circulating levels of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and increased mortality and morbidity. The role of GH and IGF-I in mammary hyperplasia is well established and GH/IGF-I elevation has been hypothesized to favor neoplastic development. We recently demonstrated that premenopausal females with active acromegaly may display an increased mammographic breast density (MBD)...

Introduction: The ideal strategy and the role of the different therapeutic options in acromegaly remain unclear. This research focuses on observing treatment options, and the respective level of disease control in acromegaly.Methods: A retrospective chart audit was conducted in US, France, Italy, and Brazil (September 2012). 97 endocrinologists completed structured case report forms for the 4 most recently-seen patients (two with somatostatin analogues (...

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is associated with increased rates of cardiovascular (CV) risk. Moreover, it is not fully clear whether surgery can attenuate CV risk. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid vessels is considered a marker of atherosclerosis and CV events.Aim: Of the study was to evaluate IMT and some metabolic parameters in PHP patients.Subjects: Of 56 subjects were studied. Patients were divided i...

Estrogens play a protective role on the peripheral vascular endothelium in both females and males, however, no studies have reported on the effects of estrogens on male coronary arterial reactivity. We investigated the effects of estrogen therapy on coronary and endothelial function in a group of male to female transsexuals (M-to-F).Eight M-to-F transsexuals (group A), receiving oral estrogen therapy for 72 months were studied in comparison with 23 age-m...

Elevated insulin levels are correlated with colonic adenomas and carcinomas in the general population. Patients with acromegaly are considered at high risk to develop colonic lesions and have a high insulin levels. To evaluate the role of insulin levels on colonic polyps (hyperplastic, adenomatous, single or synchronous) or adenocarcinoma in acromegaly we designed this analytical, observational, open, prospective, study enrolling 189 patients (100 women, 89 men, age 20–82...

Gastrointestinal abnormalities in acromegaly include dolichomegacolon and increased prevalence of colonic polyps. No data are available on the small intestine. The aims of this study were to investigate orocecal transit time (OCTT) and the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in acromegaly. 41 acromegalic patients and 30 controls entered the study. Acromegalics were classified according to whether they were on medical treatment with somatostatin analogs (SS...