Endocrine Abstracts

Glucocorticoids suppress insulin secretion, inhibit glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, and promote gluconeogenesis in the liver. These effects are known to be mediated via genomic mechanisms of slow onset. Despite recent evidence on rapid non-genomic glucocorticoid signaling in several organs, there is no information on rapid glucocorticoid effects on carbohydrate metabolism in humans.Here we present data on the rapid effects of hydrocortisone on the ...

Background: Despite adequate hormone replacement therapy, evidence suggests that mortality is increased in patients suffering from primary adrenal insufficiency (AI), mainly because of cardiovascular diseases. Since activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system (RAAS) plays an important role in the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease we aimed to investigate, if there are differences in AI compared to healthy controls.Methods: E...

Background: Obesity is a major risk factor to develop heart failure, in part due to possible lipotoxic effects of increased intramyocardial (MYCL) and/or pericardial (PERI) lipid accumulation. Recent evidence suggests that MYCL is highly dynamic and might rather be a surrogate marker for disturbed energy metabolism than the underlying cause of cardiac dysfunction. On the other hand, PERI might contribute directly by mechanic and paracrine effects. Therefore, we hypothesized th...

Introduction: Heterozygous inactivating mutations of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) gene cause mild alterations in calcium metabolism (familiar hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH)). However, in addition to the parathyroid gland CaSR expression was recently identified in the myocardium and many other endocrine cells including pancreatic islet cells, entero-endocine cells and adipose tissue. So far, it is unknown whether FHH is associated with cardio-metabolic altera...

Background: In severe obesity, hypogonadism in men and androgen excess in women are frequently observed. Sex hormones play an important role in body composition, glucose and lipid metabolism. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment strategy to combat morbid obesity. However, if preoperative gonadal dysfunction impacts weight loss and metabolic improvements after surgery is not known.Methods: 49 men and 104 women were included in a retrospective...

Background: Patients being cured of craniopharyngioma (CP) often suffer from severe hypothalamic obesity due to tumor localization or therapeutic interventions, which has a major impact on increased mortality and reduced quality of life. Gastric bypass surgery (GBS) was suggested to be an effective therapeutic option for weight reduction in those patients. However, long-term changes in body weight and postsurgical complications are unknown.Methods: 5 pat...

The mechanisms responsible for the progressive failure of hypoglycemia counter-regulation in type-1 diabetes (T1DM) are poorly understood. Alterations of brain energy metabolism could influence glucose sensing by the brain and, thus contribute to hypoglycemia associated autonomic failure. Thus, we measured intraneuronal kinetics of total ATP-synthesis from PCr (kfor) in T1DM patients and effects of hypo/hyperglycemia on this brain energy metabolism. Healthy n...

Recent data suggest that circulating retinol binding protein-4 (RBP4) is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in rodents and humans. Moreover, protein C inhibitor (PCI) which specifically binds retinoic acid was found to be increased in myocardial infarction survivors who are also insulin-resistant.Therefore, we investigated the association of insulin resistance with plasma retinol binding factors (RBP4 and PCI active antigen) in nondiabeti...

Glycogen storage disease type 1 (GSD1) is a rare inherited defect of endogenous glucose production. While children present with severe hypoglycemia the propensity for hypoglycemia may decrease with age in these patients. It was the aim of this study to elucidate the mechanisms for milder hypoglycemia symptoms in grown up GSD1 patients. Four patients with GSD1 (BMI: 23.2±6.3 kg/m2, age: 21±3 yr) and four healthy controls matched for BMI (23.1±3.0 kg/m<...

Background: Growth hormone (GH) plays an important role in modifying body composition. In acromegaly, a state of chronic GH/IGF-I excess, visceral and ectopic fat mass, especially in the liver, are significantly reduced. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of GH/IGF-I on hepatocellular lipid content (HCL) and energy metabolism in a non-acromegalic cohort of patients with and without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods: We pe...