Endocrine Abstracts

MetS is a cluster of interconnected factors that directly increase the risk of cardiovascular atherosclerotic diseases, and diabetes mellitus type 2. Visceral obesity/insulin resistance have gained increasing attention as the core manifestations of the syndrome. HPA axis is one of the main stress response pathways. Apart from having a circadian activity also mediates the adaptive response to stressors. A growing body of evidence point towards a strong relationship between pert...

Background and objective: Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by a broad clinical spectrum. Previous multi-center studies, that analyzed large groups of patients with MEN 1 have been reported before but long term follow up data of these patients focusing exclusively on primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are scarce.Patients and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study we include all patients with P...

Introduction: Immune-check point inhibitors (ICPis) has been shown to significantly improve survival in patients with advanced melanoma. Immune-related endocrinopathies (irEs) and in particular hypophysitis and thyroid dysfunction have been well described with an incidence varying from 9–17% and 3.8–13.2% respectively.Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of irEs in 325 (190 men) patients with melanoma receiving ICPis (PD-1/PDL-1 or CTLA-4 ...

Background: Metastatic pheochromocytomas (PCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms with a <1:106 incidence, defined by the presence of metastatic disease besides recurrent or locally invasive disease.Aim: Retrospective analysis of clinical, biochemical/hormonal, imaging, genetic and histopathological features of patients with malignant PCs/PGLs diagnosed over 15 years.Results: Thirteen patient...

Introduction: CLOCK system is a highly conserved, ubiquitous molecular ‘clock’ which creates internal circadian rhythmicity under the influence of light/dark information. CLOCK system is regulated by the coordinated activation/inactivation of several transcription factors, including the CLOCK, the BMAL1 and other essential regulators, such as the Pers, Crys and RORs. The present study aimed to evaluate the circadian rhythm of clock-related genes expressed in patients...

Introduction: Although the protective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the early stages of atheromatosis process have been investigated, data on its influence on factors implicated in plaque vulnerability are limited. During these stages metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9, their inhibitors TIMP-1,TIMP-2, the RANKL-RANK-OPG system and MCP-1 play a critical role. We aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D on the expression of the above factors on endothelial cel...

Introduction: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. However, patients are often resistant to the GC effects. Response to GCs is triggered through glucocorticoid receptor (GR). An important regulator of GR activity is the FKBP5. FKBP5 binds to co-chaperones promoting a conformation with lower cortisol affinity. The number of GRs is another determinant of GC sensitivity; GR expression is regulated by the nuclear ...

Introduction: In the presence of atherogenic plaque, estrogens may be potentially harmful. Among the key vessel wall components in the later stages of atherogenic process are endothelial cells (ECs). During the stages of plaque instability/rupture, metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9), their inhibitors (TIMP2 and TIMP1), RANK, RANKL, OPG, MCP1, lysyl oxidase (LOX), PDGF, and ADAMTS4 play critical role. We aimed to investigate i) the effect of oestrogens on the expression of the ...

Introduction: Glucocorticoids are used for treatment of various hematological malignancies such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Glucocorticoids are known to induce apoptosis by regulating the expression of key anti- or pro-apoptotic genes. Vitamin D induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in various types of cancer cells. Despite recent advances in treatment of AML, the poor response rate to therapy remains a big challenge.Therefore, discovering new factors that can affect th...

Aim: Postoperative calcitonin (postCT) is a prognostic factor for disease progression in MTC patients. We evaluated the disease course in patients with persistently elevated post-CT.Methods: Of all MTC patients (n=273) followed-up in our Unit (for 1–37, median 7 years), 140 (39.3% men, 67.1% sporadicMTCs) had persistently elevated postCT (≥2.0 pg/ml). Clinical and biochemical data were recorded. Patients were classified in four groups...