Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Statins are widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs. They inhibit cholesterol synthesis through inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. They have also been recently identified as bone stimulatory agents (Mundy et al., 1999). They have been found to increase the expression of BMP-2 that triggers a cascade of events leading to increased bone formation. However, the exact mechanism for the stimulatory action of statins is not fully elucidat...

Adult growth hormone deficiency (aGHD) is characterized by an altered metabolic profile and increased cardiovascular risk. Neudesin is a newly discovered protein mainly secreted from adipose tissue and brain, under evaluation for its possible activity as negative regulator of energy expenditure. Liver expressed antimicrobial peptide (LEAP)-2 is a competitive antagonist of ghrelin on its receptor. Spexin is a polypeptide related to the galanin-kisspeptin family, secreted along ...

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 1 is a rare hereditary autosomal dominant tumor syndrome characterized by two or more endocrine tumors. Non-endocrine neoplasms have been described as well. MEN1 is caused by inactivating mutations of the onco-suppressor gene MEN-1 (chromosome 11q13) which encodes the protein menin. Currently, 897 public variants of MEN-1 gene are reported. We present the case of a recently discovered pathogenic mutations of MEN-1 gene. A 32-year-old Italian ...

Several hormones, including cortisol, have a circadian rhythm in plasma and saliva. Salivary cortisol is now extensively used for screening and following patients with various conditions where the regulation of hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis is abnormal, for example in major depression where salivary cortisol levels show a disruption or loss of circadian rhythm. Annexin 1 is a glucocorticoid-induced protein, which is responsible for mediating several anti-inflamm...

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a glycoprotein synthetized by various cell types, including neutrophils, that acts as siderophores scavenger and play an important role in different chronic inflammatory processes. Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD), both partial and total, are characterized by inflammatory features. The objectives of our cross-sectional study were: 1) to compare LCN2 levels in these clinical pictures; 2) to evaluate the relations between...

Background: Ghrelin and its endogenous antagonist liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide-2 (LEAP-2) are involved in GH secretion, both acting on GSH-r1α, and regulation of glucose and lipids metabolism. Metabolic impairments are often accompanied by an upregulation of LEAP-2 expression, with a usual concomitant reduction in ghrelin secretion. Adult growth hormone deficiency (aGHD), characterized by weight gain, increased fat mass and insulin resistance, represent a conditi...

Patients affected by adult growth hormone deficiency (aGHD) show worse metabolic profile, with insulin-resistance, increased total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, reduced HDL, and higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular complications. Adult GHD and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are closely related to each other, since they share the previous depicted clinical features, while obese MetS patients display lower IGF-1 levels due to a functional reduction...

Introduction: Although the pathogenic mechanism is not completely understood, pharmacological treatments could negatively affect seminal parameters. The analysis of inflammatory (i.e. cytokines) and oxidative stress parameters represent a new tools to investigate the causes of idiopathic male infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of medications on oxidative stress, inflammatory parameters and semen characteristics in male with idiopathic infertility.</p...

Introduction: It is known that thyroid disorders can influence menstrual cycle, but subclinical hypothyroidism (SH), as cause of ovulation disorders and luteal deficiency (LD) in particular,is underestimated. Monitoring women’s cycles, according to the Billings Ovulation Method (BOM), can allow a precise timing for hormonal evaluation and diagnose LD. Usually, a basal TSH value of 2.5 mg/ml is considered as cut-off for a good luteal function, but alone cannot identify all...

Adipose tissue inflammation may be an important mechanism in the development of systemic insulin resistance, such that modulation of this system may be a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes and obesity-related disorders. AMPK has anti-inflammatory properties, yet the anti-inflammatory actions of AMPK in adipocytes remain poorly characterised. We questioned whether AMPK activation influences pro-inflammatory responses in cultured adipocytes in basal and stimulated conditions...