Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) remodel extracellular matrix (ECM) in physiology as well as in cancer, inflammatory states and cardiovascular disease. In type 2 diabetes, there is evidence of activation of MMPs in vasculature, while decreased activity of MMPs and excessive accumulation of ECM is thought to contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy.Material and methods: We measured serum MMP-2, MMP-9 in 22 subjects with type 2 DM ...

Background: Adiponectin and resistin belong to the group of adipocytokines, that are thought to be involved in regulation of insulin sensitivity, and that also exert the opposite effects on inflammatory processes related to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. Glucocorticoids have anti-inflammatory properties, but also increase insulin resistance. There are, however, conflicting data on the effects of glucocorticoids on serum concentrations of adiponectin and resistin....

A 32-year old Caucasian was admitted with at 14 weeks of gestation with hypotension and weight loss. Family members noted that she appeared ‘tired’ prior to pregnancy. Past medical history included primary hypothyroidism treated with thyroxine (100 μg/day). Her mother had also been hypothyroid. She had a healthy daughter aged 2.5 years who had been born small for gestational age.At about 8 weeks of gestation she started to vomit several ti...

Background, subjects & methods: Dexamethasone increases visfatin synthesis in vitro, but it is not clear, whether it is reflected in the changes of serum levels of this cytokine. We have therefore assessed fasting serum concentrations of visfatin, glucose, insulin and cortisol in 20 subjects (4 males, 5 subjects with type 2 diabetes) age (mean±S.D.) 42.1±17.2 years, BMI 36,7±8.38 kg/m2 before and after 48 hours of administrat...

Background, subjects & methods: Visfatin, also known as pre-B cell colony enhancing factor (PBEF), is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat, and exerts insulin-mimicking effects in rodents through activation of an insulin receptor, though in a manner distinct from insulin. Visfatin levels do not change in response to acute hyperinsulinaemia in mice, but it is not clear whether this also applies to humans. In order to investigate this we measured serum visfati...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance and obesity. Recent studies have shown that plasma omentin-1 levels decrease with obesity. Currently, no data exists on the relative expression and regulation of omentin-1 in adipose tissue (AT) of PCOS women.Objectives: To assess mRNA and protein levels of omentin-1 in omental (om) AT of PCOS women and matched controls, including circulating omentin-1. Ex vivo and in vivo</...