Endocrine Abstracts

Pasireotide (SOM230) is a multireceptor ligand somatostatin analogue with high binding affinity to somatostatin receptor subtype 5, which is predominantly expressed in ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. It is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative. Our study evaluated the effects of pasireotide, administered for 12 months at a dose of 600–900 μg/daily, in five...

Background: Increased rates of autoimmune diseases (ADs) have been reported in association with Hashimoto′s thyroiditis (HT); however, the risk factors for coexisting ADs in HT patients have been poorly investigated.Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with AD comorbidities in patients with HT.Materials and Methods: We recruited 687 patients (626 F and 61 M, mean age at diagnosis 39 ± 14.06 yr, F:...

Objective: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that that have been reported to cause a variety of toxic effects, including inflammation and cancer, through binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). In turn, AhR promotes xenobiotic detoxification and antioxidant defense, by up-regulating specific responsive genes, the so-called “AhR gene battery”. AhR is also involved in modulation of immune response, by regulating programmed cell ...

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF), a monogenic disease from mutations in the CFTR gene on chromosome 7, causes pancreatic insufficiency and impaired nutrients absorption. Unlike other malabsorption disorders, no data are available in literature on L-T4 absorption in CF. This study analyzed L-T4 absorption and requirement in hypothyroid CF patients.Methods: Ten CF patients (7 F, 3 M; mean age 37 yr), with autoimmune (n=6) or post-thyroidectomy (<e...

Mortality risk is increased in acromegalics, due to cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events. These events are namely related to atherosclerotic vascular alterations, both at coronary and peripheral level. Systemic comorbidities increase the risk of atherosclerosis, but the role of GH and IGF-1 excess is still debated. To evaluate the relationship between GH/IGF-1 excess, systemic atherogenic complications and vascular alterations we investigated stiffness index (β), pul...

Objective: AGEs, compounds formed by the transformation of proteins, are increased in conditions of oxidative stress and promote inflammation by interacting with their receptor (RAGE) on cell membrane. By contrast, the soluble receptor for AGE (sRAGE), that is proteolytically cleaved from cell surface receptor via matrix metalloproteinases, sequester RAGE ligands and act as a cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory agent. AGEs/sRAGE interaction play a role in the pathogenesis of ...

Background: IL-37, member of the IL-1 family, is a natural suppressor of immune and inflammatory responses. Increased serum IL-37 levels were observed in several autoimmune diseases, including Graves’ disease. No data on TH are available from the literature.Materials and methods: We enrolled 45 euthyroid HT patients (5 M e 40 F, mean age 38.5±12.6) and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. None was on LT-4 therapy. Smokers, subjects with ki...

The work-up of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (DTC) patients includes thyroid surgery, thyroid remnant ablation (TRA) with 131-radioiodine and long life follow-up. 131I-post therapy whole body scan (pT-WBS) and thyroglobulin (Tg) are used in identifying metastatic patients. Some authors suggested to use post-surgical Tg (ps-Tg) values in deciding for or against TRA. The aim of our study was to verify the sensitivity and PPV of 131I-pT-WBS compared to serum Tg levels in detectin...

Background: The expression of thyroid-specific genes [thyroglobulin (Tg) and sodium iodide symporter (NIS)] is modulated by several cytokines (IL-1, IFNγ, TGF-ß) and it is down-regulated in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Also, lymphocytic infiltration and inflammation in HT results in intra-thyroidal accumulation of hyaluronan (HA). During inflammation, HA can be degraded into small fragments, able to up-regulate pro-inflammatory genes by stimulating the toll-li...

Background: PCBs are persistent organic pollutants, able to affect thyroid function (endocrine disruptors) and promote inflammation through multiple mechanisms. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor able to bind dioxins and dioxin-like pollutants including PCBs, play a key role in xenobiotic response, by up-regulating specific responsive genes, the so-called “AhR gene battery”, including cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and Nuclear ...