Endocrine Abstracts

Context: Obesity is accompanied by blunted GH secretion but relatively normal serum IGF-I levels, which suggests increased GH sensitivity. This, however, remains to be tested at the level of GH signaling in human subjects.Objective: To compare the effects of an acute intravenous GH bolus in obese vs normal weight subjects on GH signaling pathways in adipose and muscle tissue, substrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity.Subjects an...

Aim: To evaluate the effect of PPARG2 Pro12Ala, TNFα G(308)A and G(238)A, LIPC C(-514)T, ACE I/D, SLCO1B1 Val174Ala polymorphism on the response to statins therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: We consecutively recruited patients with type 2 DM requiring lipid-lowering therapy according to current guidelines. Patients were started on either atorvastatin 10 or 20 mg. After 12 month of st...

Context and objective: During fasting growth hormone (GH) promotes lipolysis, attenuates glucose oxidation and preserves protein. Previous studies have primarily been conducted in GH deficient patients or during somatostatin-suppression of GH secretion. We aimed to study the impact of the fasting associated increase in GH without concomitant changes in other hormones, by the means of GH receptor (GHR) blockade.Design: Ten healthy young men participated i...

It is well known that hypophyseotrophic dopamine (DA) exhibits a tonic inhibitory effect on pituitary lactotrops in vivo. We have previously observed that prolactin (PRL) cells obtained from lactating rats become partially resistant to DA following a brief suckling period compared to non-suckled control female rats. This, so-called “desensitization” (and a parallel appearance of “tolerance”) to DA is mediated through by a selective change of protein phospha...

Context: Thiazolidiones (TZD) improves insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes via effects on fat metabolism, whereas growth hormone (GH) stimulates lipolysis and induces insulin resistance.Objective: To evaluate the effects of TZD on fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity in GH-treated GH deficient (GHD) patients.Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel-group study including 20 GHD patients on continued GH repl...

Insulinomas are predominantly benign pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors presenting with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. Surgical resection is currently the standard treatment for pancreatic insulinoma, but other treatment options, such as oral medication with diazoxide may be necessary for symptomatic patients who are not candidates for surgical resolution or for those who need bridging therapy till the surgical intervention. We present the case of a 54-year-old man who was admit...

Acromegaly is a rare disorder caused by growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) overproduction, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It has different complications, among which insulin resistance, prediabetes and diabetes mellitus are substantial. GH affects glucose metabolism through different mechanisms. The therapy of GH overproduction (for example surgical or radiotherapy) improves glucose metabolism, while different types of medical ther...