Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Pheochromocytoma (Pheo) is a tumor deriving from chromaffin cells. It can be studied using 18F-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) - positron emission tomography (PET) due to its overexpression of L-type amino acid transporters (LAT1 and LAT2). The oncogenic pathways involved are still poorly understood. This study examined the relationship between 18F-DOPA-PET uptake and LAT1 expression, and explored the role of miR-375 and putative target genes.</...

Background: Hobnail variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (HPTC) has been recently identified. Given the rarity of the variant its characteristics have been studied only in little series, limiting the quality of the data available for its better management. The aims of our retrospective study were 1) to define the clinical and molecular characteristics of a series of HPTC in a monocentric and relatively large series; 2) to define the clinical and molecular characteristics abl...

A 52-year man came to Emergency Department with Atrial Fibrillation with rapid ventricular response due to amiodarone induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT). The patient was found tachi-arrhythmic (153 beats per minute), tachypnoic (27 breaths per minute) and with intense hyperidrosis. His first blood test documented thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) <0.01 mUI/l, free triiodothyronine (fT3) 20.0 pmol/l and free thyroxine (fT4) over 100 pmol/l. Thyroid ultrasonography revealed an enl...

Objectives: The aim was to evaluate the iodine nutritional status in pregnant women residing in Veneto region and its associations with diet, iodine supplements and social status (nationality and education).Methods: 292 consecutive pregnant women at the third trimester of pregnancy were enrolled (≥18 years old, and resident in Veneto). Exclusion criteria were a personal history of thyroid disease and the refusal of the informed consent. Every woman...

Background: Calcitonin (CT) is the most sensitive marker for MTC diagnosis. By the way, many pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical pitfalls worsen its accuracy. Procalcitonin (proCT), a CT precursor, has been suggested as a valuable complementary test in MTC diagnosis, given its stability and the reproducibility between different assay kits.Material and Methods: basal CT (bCT) and proCT (bproCT) and stimulated CT (bCT) and proCT (sproCT) (2&#821...

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. Increased level of EC lipid mediators anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachydonoylglycerol (2AG) and/or a higher expression of cannabinoid receptor type 1 in central and peripheral districts are supposed to contribute to the development and maintenance of obesity and related dismetabolism. To understand the ECS response to insulin signal and to anthropometric and biochemical parameters...

Background: Follicular-derived thyroid cancers (FDTC) generally have a good prognosis. Nonetheless, a minority of them have an aggressive behavior and develop distant metastases, with increased mortality rates. Pre-surgically available prognostic markers, able to identify this group of patients are still lacking.Materials and methods: The study involved 436 FNA samples with a malignant/suspicious cytology obtained from thyroid nodules in 436 consecutive ...