Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Pasireotide is a second line treatment for acromegaly. Besides the growth hormone (GH) lowering efficacy, clinical use is limited by side effects on glycemic control. The aim of this study was to evaluate longitudinal changes in beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity induced by pasireotide therapy in patients with acromegaly.Methods: We performed a retrospective study in 33 patients. Efficacy (GH and IGF-I concentrations; tumor size) and ...

Context: CHH/KS is a major cause of pubertal and bone maturation delay due to sex steroids deficiency. FH and TH have not been evaluated in large series of CHH/KS patients. Analysis of auxometric measures in patients’ siblings has never been performed.Patients and methods: We selected 216 (164/52 men/women; 112/104 KS/normosmic CHH) with available auxometric measures. Sibling stature was available in a subgroup of 162 patients. Difference between th...

Background: Oncocytic neoplasms are rare adrenal tumours usually considered as benign and non-functional. Conversely, in recent large nationwide study from COMETE network over 50% of the oncocytic adrenocortical tumours were diagnosed as carcinoma according to Lin Weiss-Bisceglia-score. However, until now only 11 cases of metastatic oncocytoma were reported in English literature.Case report: A 54-year-old man with history of abdominal pain and weight los...

Context: Insulin-like peptide three (INSL3) is a testicular hormone, secreted by Leydig cells, during fetal life, in newborns, and after puberty. These 3 phases of testicular activation are impaired in CHH.Objective: To evaluate in a single center circulating INSL3 in a significant series of men with CHH in order to asses the consequences of pre- and postnatal gonadotropin deficiency, to specify the INSL3 regulation by gonadotropins and to evaluate the p...

Somatostatin (SS) receptors (SSR) expression may be modulated by estrogens in breast cancer cells. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of estradiol (E2) on SSR levels in prostate epithelial cells (PEC).Methods: We investigated the effects of E2 and SS-analogue SOM230 combined treatment on two PEC lines: EPN that expresses both ERalfa and beta and CPEC, showing no ERalfa and very low ERbeta expression. Cells starved in red ...

Context: Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), defined by LH and FSH deficiencies, lead to impairment in testicular growth, testicular hormonal secretions and spermatogenesis. HH can have a prenatal (congenital HH, CHH) or post-natal (acquired HH, HHA) onset. Direct comparison of reproductive phenotypes (RP) between CHH and AHH has not been systematically performed in large series representative of these two populations.Patients and methods: 60 normal men,...

Prokineticin 1 (Prok1), the product of EGVEGF/PROK 1 gene, acts through two G-coupled receptors (PKR1 and PKR2) and is involved in a wide spectrum of actions, including tumorigenesis. Increased Prok1 expression has been found in prostate hyperplasia and cancer, suggesting a role in prostate cancer and BPH. Aim of this study was to elucidate the role of Prok1 on prostate cell function and growth. We evaluated the effects of Prok1 on epithelial prostate cell (PC) migration and p...

Context: Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH), is a rare disorder associated with severe testosterone deficiency and with impaired bone mineral mass (BMM) acquisition and osteoporosis. Estradiol (E2) play a major role in bone development and maintain in BMM in humans.Objective: To evaluate in detail the degree of E2 deficiency in adult men with CHH.Design and patients: Using a sensitive E2...

Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is produced by Leydig cells. In boys, the levels of INSL3 rise at pubertal stage P2 and further increase throughout puberty in close correlation with T and LH concentrations. In men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) INSL3 levels have been found very low and increased after short-term hCG treatment. Whether FSH plays a role in regulating INSL3 secretion is questioned. Aim of this study was to evaluate serum INSL3 levels during long-term hCG a...

Reversible Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a rare variant of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) reported in men, in which gonadotropin, testosterone (T) and fertility recover spontaneously following treatment with gonadotropins or T. In a few cases mutations of FGFR1 and KAL1 genes have been found. In this report we describe a subject with a KS carrying a new homozygous mutation of PROK-R2 gene and displaying an apparent reversal of his reproductive condition. The proband, born from...