Endocrine Abstracts

BackgroundWomen with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at increased risk of pregnancy complications and poor pregnancy outcomes. Defective placentation is among the proposed mechanisms involved. Altered neurokinin B (NKB) placental expression has been associated with several conditions characterized by placental dysfunction, such as pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation. However, the expression of NKB and its receptors has not been studie...

Background and aim: Low energy availability (LEA) may lead to menstrual disorders and low bone mineral density, predisposing to the female athlete triad (FAT) syndrome. The primary aim of this review was to systematically investigate the impact of sports on the energy status of professional female athletes compared to sedentary, recreationally active controls, with regard to their menstrual status and bone mineral density (BMD). A secondary aim was the estimation of the combin...

Introduction: Isolated Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Deficiency (IGD) is a rare disease with a wide spectrum of reproductive and non- reproductive clinical characteristics and is mainly characterized by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with anosmia (Kallmann Syndrome) or normal olfactory function (Normosmic Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism- nIHH). Apart from the phenotypic heterogeneity IGD is also highly genetically heterogeneous with >35 genes impli...

Background: Recent studies have suggested an important role of advanced glycosylation end products receptor (RAGE) in the development of atherosclerosis. However, investigation of the relationship between RAGE polymorphisms (−429T/C, −374T/A) and coronary heart disease (CHD) has shown contradictory results. Furthermore, hyperandrogenemia in women postmenopause has been associated with an adverse CHD risk profile.Aim of the study: To investiga...

Background: Conflicting results regarding adiponectin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been reported. To evaluate adiponectin levels in PCOS, a systematic review of all studies comparing adiponectin levels in women with PCOS to healthy controls and a meta-analysis of those involving women with similar Body Mass Index (BMI) were performed. Influence of possible effect modifiers, such as insulin resistance (IR) and testosterone, was investigated. Influe...

Introduction: Greek Orthodox monasteries due to their sartorial habits, comprise a population with high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D. Intermittent religious fasting is adopted by this population, as well as from a large part of general lay Greek population. Comparative effects of vitamin D supplementation and intermittent fasting on vitamin D equilibrium and calciotropic profiles remain scarce.Aim: To comparatively evaluate effects of vitamin D supple...

Introduction: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and complex disease without a clear pattern of inheritance. There is evidence that PCOS is affected by both genetic and environmental factors, but there is no single and unambiguous explanation for its pathogenesis. Anti-Müllerian-inhibiting hormone (AMH) has an inhibitory effect on FSH-stimulated follicle growth and it has also been shown that serum AMH levels are higher in women with PCOS than in normovulato...

Background: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), a dimeric glycoprotein hormone, stimulates Sertoli cell proliferation and spermatogenesis in males. Azoospermia is defined as the absence of sperm in the ejaculate. The majority of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia have high FSH levels. Isolated FSH deficiency has been reported in a few patients.Case Presentation: A 22-yr-old, 172-cm-tall male presented with azoospermia. He was born at full term wit...