Endocrine Abstracts

Background/aim: The novel insulin-mimetic adipocytokine visfatin has been linked to the metabolic syndrome but how the release of the hormone itself is regulated is not characterized yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different glucose and insulin concentrations on visfatin plasma levels in humans, and to study the involved pathways in vitro in human adipocytes.Methods: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossove...

Despite the known health hazards of cigarette smoking, many smokers fail to quit smoking, mainly due to nicotine’s addictiveness, but also because of fear from gaining weight. However, the mechanism of weight gain after smoking cessation is not fully elucidated yet.Healthy long-term smokers (28±2 years, 10F/20M, 23.4±1.3 kg/m2) participating in a smoking cessation programme underwent 3-hour oral glucose tolerance tests (oGTT) an...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects more than 5% of women in reproductive age and is characterized by a heterogeneous spectrum of oligoanovulation and biochemical or clinical evidence of hyperandrogenism. Insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinaemia play a significant role in pathogenesis of PCOS.Chronic low level inflammation and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type2-diabetes are reported in women with PCOS.<p class="a...