Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Androgen-producing tumors are a rare cause of hyperandrogenism (±0.2%). Ovarian steroid cell tumors represent <0.1% of all ovarian tumors. They may present at any age and in 12–50% of cases are associated with virilization. The majority of these tumors are benign or low-grade malignanies.Clinical case: A 74-year-old female patient, with history of vaginal hysterectomy for genital prolapse at the age of 50, is referred to Endoc...

Background: Recently, we showed that rats on a free-choice high-fat high-sugar (fcHFHS) diet became rapidly obese and developed glucose intolerance within a week. Interestingly, rats on a free-choice high-fat diet (fcHF), although equally obese and hyperphagic as rats on a fcHFHS diet, did not develop glucose intolerance. Glucose tolerance was also unaffected in rats on a free-choice high-sugar diet, although they consumed more liquid sugar than rats on a fcHFHS diet. Hence, t...

Transthyretin (TTR) is a plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-circulating protein. Besides the primordially attributed systemic role as transporter molecule of thyroxine (T4) and retinol (through the binding to retinol-binding protein (RBP)), TTR has been recognised as a protein with important functions in several aspects of the nervous system physiology. TTR has been shown to play an important role in behaviour, cognition, amidated neuropeptide processing, and nerv...

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Introduction: Cellular differentiation and development of germ cells critically depend on a coordinated activation and repression of specific genes. The underlying regulation mechanisms, however, are largely unknown. Here, we describe the interplay between two transcription factors to be critical for cell type-specific expression in testis.Methods: We investigated the binding of CREMτ (cAMP response element modulator tau) and GCNF (germ cell nuclear...

Cortisol secretion follows a distinct circadian rhythm, with circulating levels low at sleep onset, beginning to rise between 0200 and 0400 h, peaking within an hour of waking and then declining through the day. This circadian rhythm is determined by the central endogenous clock (pacemaker) of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, located in the hypothalamic supra-chiasmatic nucleus. The HPA axis plays an important role in maintaining alertness and modulatin...

Clinical features associated with PCOS include obesity, hirsutism or acne, cycle abnormalities and infertility. Therefore, depending on the primary complaint these patients visit different medical specialists such as general practitioner, pediatrician, dermatologist, medical endocrinologist and gynecologist. The variability in primary complaint asks for different approaches in the work-up of these patients. Hence, doctors usually see just a proportion of the overall spectrum o...

Background: Calcitonin (CT) is a specific marker of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC). However, its routine measurement in the assessment of nodular thyroid disease (NTD) remains controversial because MTC is rare and CT may have false positive results.Objective: To evaluate the frequency of hypercalcitoninemia (hyperCT) among patients with benign NTD and to disclose possible underlying factors.Methods: Retrospective study including...

The IGFs are present ubiquitously at very high levels throughout the body and affect virtually every aspect of cell function. These high levels are maintained due to their association with 6 distinct binding proteins (IGFBP-1 to -6) which specifically bind IGFs (but not insulin). The IGFs are not stored within any cells but are stored in the circulation due to their binding to IGFBP-3 which then results in its association with a large glycoprotein, the acid labile subunit (ALS...

Introduction: Gynecomastia is a relatively common reason for consultation, with a high prevalence in the neonatal period, puberty and with aging. The diagnostic approach should be more thorough in normal-weight individuals with recent onset of gynecomastia, rapid growth of breast tissue, or in the setting of a large painful breast. Besides the evaluation of liver function, testosterone, estradiol, LH and β-hCG, testicular ultrasound evaluation is important to exclude test...