Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) family of neuropeptides and their receptors affect innate immunity. A fully working peripheral CRF system is present in adipose tissue. In obesity, macrophages and adipocytes interact causing local and systemic inflammation. In addition, macrophages and adipocytes share common characteristics including production of inflammatory cytokines in response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) via the toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) which b...

Obesity, the condition resulting from excess of body fat, is often accompanied by chronic low-grade levels of inflammation. These have been strongly associated with the development of insulin resistance (IR). Elevated BMI has also been linked to reduced cognitive performance, especially in executive functions, independently of medical co-morbidities.Aim of this research is to investigate whether higher cognitive resources may present a moderating, ‘...

Introduction: Obesity lowers adiponectin levels. Adiponectin has anti-inflammatory effects. It has been suggested that the lower levels of adiponectin in obesity results in chronic low grade inflammation (CLGI). Aim of this study was to examine if plasma adiponectin is a valid marker of CLGI in normal weight, overweight and obese individuals. In addition, we also assessed adiponectin as marker of body fat and insulin resistanceMethods: We measured adipon...

We have previously shown that Corticotropin – releasing factor (CRF) and Urocortins (UCNs) induce the production of catecholamines from normal human and rat adrenal chromaffin and PC12 pheochomocytoma cells via induction of tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzyme of catecholamine biosynthesis. We have also shown that CRF induces calcium ion entrance into the cytoplasm from both extracellular sources (influx) and from intracellular stores (mobilization) in PC12 cell...

Background and aims: Vitamin D deficiency during the perinatal period has been hypothesized to increase risk for several psychiatric disorders in humans. As newborn vitamin D levels are entirely dependent on maternal vitamin D status, vitamin D deficiency in utero may leave the infant vulnerable to cognitive defects and behavioral problems. Few human studies have examined these associations with inconclusive results. We aimed to investigate the associations of maternal 25-hydr...