Endocrine Abstracts

Glucocorticoids have profound effects on bone leading to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis observed at long term steroid therapy. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a hormone-induced transcription factor controlling gene expression as a monomer or dimeric molecule. We demonstrated- in contrast to the prevailing view - that the induction of genes by dimeric GR molecules suppresses inflammation in disease models. In contrast the monomer GR mediates inhibition of bone formatio...

Glucocorticoids have profound effects on bone leading to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis observed at long term steroid therapy. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a hormone-induced transcription factor controlling gene expression as a monomer or dimeric molecule. We demonstrated- in contrast to the prevailing view - that the induction of genes by dimeric GR molecules suppresses inflammation in disease models. In contrast the monomer GR mediates inhibition of bone formatio...

In most countries in the world, an increasing number of people suffer from the metabolic syndrome, normally defined as obesity, high blood sugar, high blood fats and high blood pressure. The new understanding that adult humans possess active brown adipose tissue has led to hope that a (re)activation of this tissue (browning) may be helpful in ameliorating the metabolic syndrome. Brown adipose tissue has the ability to combust (extra) food intake in a direct way, due to the uni...

Brown adipose tissue presently attracts broad interest due to the possibility that it may have the potential to counteract development of obesity and may have other positive metabolic effects, e.g. on glucose and lipid handling. As brown adipose tissue is found, to different extent, in nearly all humans up to middle age, the possibility to affect its activity may be of significance for human health. Brown adipose tissue is affected by several (neuro)endocrine factors. Best stu...

For decades, measurements of the circulating concentrations of GH and IGF1 have constituted a mainstay in the diagnosis and clinical management of GH disorders. However, it is also well-known that considerable discrepancies exist between different assays, resulting in highly assay dependent results. Therefore, in 2009 an International Expert Committee was established with the aim to produce an international consensus statement on the standardization and evaluation of GH and IG...

Glucorticoids (GCs) belong since their discovery to the standard therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a severe auto-inflammatory bone disease. One major side effect of GCs affects the skeleton itself leading to GC induced osteoporosis (GIO), the most secondary osteoporosis.To optimize anti-inflammatory therapies utilizing steroids a profound understanding of GC action on the interface of inflammation and skeletal integrity is required.<p class="abst...

The main pathophysiological feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus is based on combination of impaired β-cell insulin secretion and insulin action in peripheral tissues. However, as progressive loss of the β-cells developes as a consequence of apoptosis, the insulin supply is later necessary. This picture is completely different in type 1 diabetes when insulin insufficiency is developed early in the disease and exogenous insulin is exagerated to maintain metabolic homeo...

Background: Despite good prognosis patients with previously treated well-differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) require lifelong monitoring for recurrent disease. The diagnostic value of radioiodine whole body scanning and serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement is most accurate during thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulation. The introduction of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH)-stimulated testing offers the possibility to avoid hormone withdrawal associated with the morbidity of ...

Cyclic AMP sensitizes human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) to progesterone and promotes differentiation into decidual cells, a process indispensable for pregnancy. Our studies have shown that cAMP enhances progesterone responses, at least in part, by attenuating ligand-dependent sumoylation of the progesterone receptor (PR). In fact, decidualization is associated with global hyposumoylation and redistribution of SUMO-1 conjugates into distinct nuclear foci. This altered pat...

Modern lifestyle diminished significantly the need of everyday exercise, which is probably one of the major factors leading to the development of several metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis with its deadly consequences. Epidemiological studies proved that higher levels of cardio-respiratory fitness are associated with lower mortality irrespective of fat stores. Physical activity reduces all-cause, cardiovascular as well as cancer asso...