Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) frequently suffer from obesity, insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance. There is evidence showing an association of hypovitaminosis D with metabolic disturbances in PCOS women. We aimed to investigate the influence of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic and endocrine parameters in PCOS women.Design: Forty-eight women with PCOS were included in the study. Cholecalciferol was admi...

Aim: Increased cardiovascular incidents and a high risk for microvascular complications are associated with type 2 diabetes. Worldwide, metformin is the most commonly prescribed antidiabetic drug. Polymorphisms in the Oct1 gene can alter the function or activity of organic cation transporter 1 (Oct1), thus changing metformin efficacy (Oct1 acting as its main transporter) as well as influencing the actions of Oct1 physiological substrates. In the past, polymorphisms in...

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary androgen measurements via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry as a non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the assessment of metabolic health.Methods: Saliva and serum samples of 274 patients with PCOS fulfilling Rotterdam criteria and 51 BMI-matched, premenopausal, healthy controls were analysed for steroid hormones using liquid chromatography/mass spectro...

Introduction: Contradictory associations between sleep disturbances and changes in cortisol levels or unfavourable metabolic conditions like obesity and diabetes mellitus have been observed.The aim of the present study was to examine salivary cortisol in persons with reduced sleep quality and to evaluate the relationship between sleep quality and metabolic parameters.Methods: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PQ8I) was used in 15...

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting about 5-10% of women. PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory disturbances, and polycystic ovaries. Many women with PCOS present with insulin resistance and central obesity and are at an increased risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. Vitamin D deficiency is an important pathogenetic factor in the development of type II diabetes. The aim of the study was to...

Sarcopenia is a degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass, quality, and strength. It increases the risk of falls and fractures, is associated with cardiac and respiratory disease and cognitive impairment and leads to mobility disorders. It decreases quality of life, leads to loss of independence, placement in long-term care and finally death. A variety of indices and parameters can be used to define sarcopenia. According to literature, matrix-GLA-protein (MGP) is associated wi...

The proline rich and Gla domain genes PRRG1-4 encode for short transmembrane proteins. PRRG proteins contain a Gla domain with glutamic acid residues which are gamma-carboxylated in a vitamin-K-depend manner. In a previous study, we were able to show a decrease in PRRG1 gene expression during intima thickening in atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the vitamin-K-dependent protein PRRG1 with cardiovascular...

Pathophysiological calcification in the vasculature favours cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. In patients with chronic kidney disease vitamin K metabolites are associated with decreased vascular calcification.We investigated the expression of the vitamin K dependent proteins PRRG1-4 in vessels and bone to identify differences in expression pattern during atherosclerosis (AS) stages and compare the two tissue profiles.Gene expre...

Introduction: In metformin-associated lactic acidosis with renal dysfunction inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis by drug accumulation may aggravate fasting induced-ketoacidosis. We report the occurrence of metformin-associated lactic acidosis with concurrent euglycemic ketoacidosis in three patients with renal failure.Cases: The first patient was a 79-year-old woman who suffered from chronic kidney disease stage IIIa after traumatic uninephrectomy, and...

Introduction: Testosterone production in male testicular cells is mainly stimulated by LH, secreted by the pituitary. Recent findings have shown significant clinical associations of vitamin D seasonal rhythms and androgens in men (Wehr et al. 2010, Nimptsch et al. 2012). We aimed to elucidate associations of vitamin D and androgen synthesis on a cellular level.Methods: Human primary testicular cells, isolated from testes of braindead donors, and a cell l...