Endocrine Abstracts

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread among all age and ethnic groups. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is the most reliable marker of vitamin D status. Adequate levels of serum 25(OH)D are necessary to sustain the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D, either skeletal (classical) or extra-skeletal (non-classical). Concentration levels ≧50 nmol/L (20 ng/ml) are required for optimal musculoskeletal health. However, levels above 75 nmol/L (30 ng/ml) may be necessary to maximiz...

Spermatozoa generate small amounts of O2°- and NO°. Under physiological condition these compounds exist at very low concentration and the formation of peroxynitrite (ONOO−) appears likely. Peroxynitrite reacts rapidly with proteins, lipids and DNA. Moreover, tyrosine nitration is a widely used marker of peroxynitrite. The nitration of protein residues gives rise to 3-nitrotyrosine which represents a protein modification specific for ONOO− formation in ...

Patients with active Cushing’s syndrome (CS) have an increased coagulability and thrombotic tendency. High glucocorticoids concentrations increase plasma clotting factors, especially von Willebrand factor (vWf) and reduced fibrinolytic capacity. Thromboemobolic complications, mainly in the postsurgical phase, have been reported.Aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate haemostatic and fibrinolytic markers in patients with active Cushing’s ...

The Nelson’s syndrome (NS) is characterized by hyperpigmentation, sellar growing mass, and increased plasma ACTH concentrations The management of NS remains difficult: neurosurgery represent the first choice therapy. Many drugs have been used with variable results: cyproeptadine, GABA-agonists, somatostatin analogues, chemiotherapy, PPAR-γ-agonists, and dopamin-agonists.Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cabergoline administratio...

The aim of the present study was to measure free thiols content, Na+/K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase activities in human spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic patients and normospermic donors, and evaluate any influence on kinetic sperm features, as well as correlation with peroxynitrite. In fact, membrane integrity and its composition are the basic characteristics of the sperm membrane, thus, it is evident that its composition is an important factor for mem...

Pituitary GH secretion is regulated by the interplay of at least two hypothalamic hormones, GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin, through their interaction with specific cell surface receptors on the anterior pituitary somatotrophs. A third type of receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, called GHS receptor type 1a (GHSR1a), was identified in the pituitary and the hypothalamus. Ghrelin is an acylated peptide produced predominantly by stomach and a natural l...

Background: Cushing’s syndrome (CS) in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is rare with less than 60 cases reported. Less than 1% of MTC develop ectopic ACTH-dependent CS and this correlated with metastasis at diagnosis and poor prognosis.Case presentation: A 32-year-old male was referred to our department for suspected CS. Initial evaluation showed hypokalemia(2.4 mmol/l) and severe ACTH-dependent CS (Cortisol h8:678ng/ml; ACTH:249pg/ml; urinary free co...

Inflammation activates a variety of inflammatory cells, which induce and activate several oxidant-generating enzymes which are able to produce high concentrations of free radicals and oxidants which react with each other to generate other more potent reactive oxygen and nitrogen species such as peroxynitrite (ONOO−) that can damage DNA, RNA, lipids, and proteins by nitration, oxidation, etc., leading to increased mutations and altered functions of enzymes and ...

Introduction: Metoclopramide is known to exert stimulatory effects on catecholamine secretion, having been used in the past as provocative test in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. We describe a patient with an incidentally discovered pheochromocytoma after metoclopramide administration.Case report: A 64 years-old woman underwent total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter with ‘follicular proliferation Thy 3’ at FNAB of the target nodule. The...

Introduction: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and C cell hyperplasia (CCH) have a variable clinical presentation and prognosis and few data are available on the correlation between immunohistochemical characterization (IIC) and clinical behavior.Aim: We studied the clinical and morphological characterization of CCH and MTC and we evaluated IIC expression of PTTG-1, SSTR2A, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 in 23 cases of CCH and/or MTC, correlating it with ...