Endocrine Abstracts

Since the statistical error in the RDA calculation for vitamin D has been revealed, and verified, concerns have been raised, turning the perpetual vitamin D debate groundless. Daily vitamin D up to 1000 IU <6 m, 1500 6 m-1 yr, 2500 1-3 yrs, 3000 4-8 yrs, 4000 >8 yrs are the IOM’s upper tolerable limits not requiring medical supervision according to the Endocrine Society Practice Guideline Committee. The hazard ratio for all-cause mortality plateaus with 25(OH)D &#...

Introduction: In some developed countries, the acceleration of physical development has already reached a plateau.Objective: Aim of our study was to examine whether an improvement of the body height of adult men is still observed in Greece and to correlate the body height with socio-economic and demographic factors.Research methods and procedures: The height of 3068 Greek conscripts, aged 18–26 years, was measured and analyzed...

Background: Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for the establishment of lifelong bone health. While most studies focus on vitamin-D regardless of PTH levels, Normocalcemic Primary Hyperparathyroidism (NPHPT) has been recognized more than 15 years ago as a variant of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), characterized by persistently elevated PTH with normal albumin-adjusted total and ionized calcium, in the absence of secondary causes of hyperparathyroidism. PPHPT is...

Introduction: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a multifactorial disease. The hypothalamo-pituitary–adrenal (HPA)-axis shows extensive changes in AD. It is observed a hyperactivation of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons with age, which is significantly present in men. The aim of this study is to compare serum levels of cortisol in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and normal controls.Material and Methods: Ninety patients with AD and ...

Background: Cases of combined primary aldosteronism and preclinical Cushing’s syndrome are reported extremely rare.Highlight of a report: An unusual case of hyperaldosteronism due to bilateral macronodular adenomas with a left renal mass in a 55-year-old male is presented. MRI scan of the abdomen revealed a 4.5 cm mass of the right adrenal and two nodules in the left adrenal sized 2 and 3 cm, respectively in diameter. Additionally, a large mass on t...

Background: Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), the enzyme responsible for converting arachidonic acid to prostanoids such as PGE2, has been reported to play an anti-apoptotic role in invasive breast cancers. We have now examined whether COX-2 and PGE2 protect against apoptosis in the MIN6 insulin-secreting cell line.Methods: Serum-deprived MIN6 cells were exposed to an inhibitor of COX-2 (NS-398) and/or PGE2 for 48 hours and the ...

Introduction: The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies is associated pathogenically with thrombotic vascular events and resulting pregnancy complications. Studies support that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) impair female fertility by interfering with endometrial decidualization and implantation. This meta-analysis aims to determine the prevalence of aPL in women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART) for in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET)....

Introduction: Endogenous subclinical hypercortisolism occurs in 5-30% of patients with adrenal incidentalomas. Adrenal adenoma is the commonest cause of autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS), while primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) is rare. In both, ACS results from activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway. This may be triggered by ligands, other than ACTH, acting upon aberrant G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), which may also control locally produced ACTH i...

Introduction: IgG4-related thyroiditis (IgG4-RTD) is a rare fibroinflammatory disorder. It is characterized by dense lymphocyte infiltration (mainly IgG4+ plasma cells), enlargement and dysfunction of the thyroid gland. IgG4-RTD includes mostly cases of Hashimoto’s (HT) but also of Riedel’s and Graves’ thyroiditis. Diagnosis is set according to imaging and histopathological criteria. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common form of thyroid cancer (~9...

Introduction: Ephrin receptors (EPHs) compose the largest known subfamily of receptors tyrosine kinases and are bound and interact with EPHs-interacting proteins (Ephrins). They have a role in tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis of several neoplasms. Aim of the study was to investigate the expression of EPH-A4, -A5, -B2 and -B5 in pituitary lesions. Material and Methods: Our study group consisted of 18 patients (9 males with median age 54...