Endocrine Abstracts

For almost three decades, my group and I have been studying the functions of known proteins and deciphering the roles of novel genes and small RNAs expressed within the reproductive axis. Many of these studies have focused on the glycoprotein hormones as well as members of the transforming growth factor β superfamily. We have also used multiple strategies to identify unique germ-cell expressed genes and probed their essential roles in knockout mouse models. These studies ...

Many cases of hypertension are associated with inappropriately high levels of aldosterone secretion and it has been proposed that microRNAs play a role in this dysregulation. Previously, we showed that microRNAs expressed within the adrenal cortex significantly repress aldosterone production. Furthermore, stimulation of aldosterone secretion by three different means in the H295R cell line – the most commonly-used in vitro model of the human adrenal cortex – ...

Introduction: A relationship between osteopenia/osteoporosis and calcium nephrolithiasis has been recognized in several studies. An association has also been observed between bone mineral density loss, hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia and nephrolithiasis.The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of aminobisphosphonates and thiazides on renal lithogenic activity and bone mineral density in patients with recurring renal calcium lithiasis.<p class=...

Introduction: Calcium nephrolithiasis is the most frequently diagnosed type of nephrolithiasis. It is related to metabolic alterations, inhibitor deficiencies, anatomical factors, alterations in urinary pH, and bone alterations.The objective of this study is to analyze the alterations in bone mineral density and bone and calcium-phosphorus metabolism in patients with calcium nephrolithiasis.Methods/design: We designed a study with ...

Introduction: One of the factors influencing a predisposition to calcium renal lithiasis is a lack of crystallization inhibitors, the most important of which is citrate. The aim of our study was to analyze the importance of urinary citrate and the urinary calcium/citrate ratio in patients with calcium renal lithiasis and severe lithogenesis in comparison with control group patients without lithiasis.Methods/Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study of...

Introduction: Chronic inflammation has been found to play an important role in the development of cardiovascular risk factors and erectile dysfunction (ED). Metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with endothelial dysfunction and higher cardiovascular risk. The end point of this study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with ED in comparison with control subjects and to analyse the association with acute phase reactants (CRP, ESR) and hormone leve...

Introduction: The adrenal glands are paired organs neuroendocrine, formed by the adrenal cortex and medulla, two distinct structures for histology, function, and embryological origin. The processes that most frequently affect the adrenals are adenomas 81.8%, 11.8% cysts, metastases, 11.8%, 5.9% carcinoma, pheochromocytoma 2.9%, 2.9% adrenalitis. 20–40% of adrenal masses are afuncionantes and/or discovered incidentally (incidentalomas) scans during abdominal imaging.<p...

Background: Dopamine agonists are first-line agents for the treatment of prolactinomas and sometimes are used in patients with acromegalia. There is evidence that these drugs, especially cabergoline, are associated with an increased risk of new cardiac valve regurgitation in patients treated for Parkinson’s disease.Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac valve regurgitation in patients with prolactinomas and acromegalia tr...

Introduction: Androgen stimulation of prostate cancer (PCa) cells has been the basis for extensive studies evaluating the role of androgen in PCa but the diagnostic measurement of androgen as well as androgen values that potentially influence prognosis are unclear in patients with PCa. The aim of this studies is to analyze the hormone behavior in the prostate cancer (PCa), as well as the relationship between PSA-testosterone and testosterone-aggressiveness tumor and compare th...

Aim: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has important physiologic functions, nonetheless, excessive EAT leads to a proinflammatory state with adverse effects on the myocardium. EAT has also been associated with adverse outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. We think that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and organ-specific ectopic fat plays an important role in cardiorenal dysfunction. The aim of our study is to analyse the relationship between EAT and the risk of develop...