Endocrine Abstracts

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: 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...

Kisspeptin is a neuropeptide secreted in anteroventral-periventricular and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei involved pubertal onset and in other functions of adult life. Kisspeptin levels are sex dependent, so they are higher in prepubertal girls and in adult women compared to age-matched male. This sex-related pattern has been reported in adult obesity, but few data are reported in childhood obesity. In order to evaluate correlations between metabolic status and kisspeptin, we stu...

It is known that in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy improves metabolic control and reduces risk of hypoglycaemia in comparison with multiple daily injection (MDI). Metabolic outcomes usually considered are HbA1c, BMI, and inflammatory parameters. However few data are available on pituitary and gonadal hormone responses, which are involved in metabolic processes. In order to study the response of anabolic hormones in patie...

Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) is a condition characterized by low grade chronic inflammation; increased levels of free light chains of immunoglobulins have been described; moreover, it shares some features with metabolic syndrome (MetS), including insulin resistance and oxidative stress, but with a different pattern of antioxidant response. Finally, it is known that GH, directly or via IGF-1 activity, influences many aspects of immune response; both humoral and cellula...

It is known that adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is associated with oxidative stress (OS): both GH and IGF-1 exert antioxidant functions. OS is in turn related to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular/oncological risk. Discordant data concerning GH effects on antioxidants are reported. Moreover, no data are available in partial GHD, which can induce cardiovascular alterations. To evaluate oxidative damage on macromolecules and systemic inflammation, 80 patients, studi...

It is known that functional hypothalamic amenorrhea is associated with low bone turnover due to low gonadal homone levels. Estrogens are critical for activation of bone remodelling units, suppression of bone reabsorption, increase of 1-25(OH)Vitamin D receptors expression. Other mechanisms could be operative, including improper diet and unbalanced exercise; however the physiopathology of such a condition is not entirely known. In order to evaluate the correlation between pitui...

Hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis are common in patients with Down’ syndrome (DS), leading to common prescription of thyroid replacement therapy. On the other hand, thyroid function is involved in oxidative stress (OS) mechanisms. DS is a well-known high OS condition because several genes involved in OS mechanisms map on chromosome 21 and coenzyme Q10, lipophilic antioxidant, could be more correlated with hypothyroidism than TSH in DS people. To investigate relati...