Endocrine Abstracts

Obesity and adipokines are associated with a state of chronic low grade inflammation (Trayhurn & Wood 2004).In view of our findings that the adipokines resistin and fiaf (fasting-induced adipose factor) are also expressed in mouse brain and pituitary gland (Wiesner et al 2004), we tested the hypothesis that these factors would be induced in brain tissue following cerebral hypoxia/ischemia (H/I). Neonatal H/I (postnatal day 8; unilateral common c...

Adipokines such as resistin and FIAF (fasting-induced adipose factor) are predominantly, but not exclusively, expressed in adipose tissue and may modulate insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. We reported that resistin and fiaf mRNA, and resistin protein, are detectable in the mouse hypothalamus and pituitary gland (see eg. Wiesner et al. 2004). We are investigating the regulation of these genes in a novel hypothalamic neuronal cell line (n-1; Belsham ...

The diagnosis of subclinical hypercortisolemia in patients with incidental adrenal tumors remains a challenge, as there are no unambiguous criteria for diagnosis. The discovery of a substance whose secretion increases under the influence of cortisol would make it easier to make therapeutic decisions. Hypercortisolism causes a change in the distribution of adipose tissue, so it can be assumed that it also affects secretion of proteins secreted by adipocytes (adipokines). The ai...

Introduction: Acromegaly is a slowly progressing systemic disease that leads to numerous changes in metabolism and organ function. A large cross-sectional study showed signs of subclinical airway obstruction in female patients. We performed a longitudinal study of lung function testing to compare parameters of airway obstruction in male and female patients with acromegaly over time.Methods: 40 patients with acromegaly (24 male, 16 female) underwent repea...

Background: In men inhibin B is correlated with sperm count, concentration and testicular volume. Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) is significantly positively correlated with inhibin B and significantly negatively correlated with FSH. Raised FSH is a traditional marker of infertility. Young male cancer patients treated with gonadotoxic agents are at high risk of hypogonadism (HG). The relationship between inhibin B and AMH with serum total testosterone is unclear.<p class...

The physiological state of pregnancy is characterised by the tolerance of the maternal immune system towards the paternal alloantigens expressed by the foetus. Recently, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) were described to play an essential role for the generation and maintenance of the tolerance state. Several research groups showed that normal pregnancy in humans and mice is associated with an augmentation in the number of Treg in different organs wher...

Background and AimIt is known that the variability of testosterone concentrations is predictive of both truncal and peripheral obesity in healthy men. The aim of this study was to establish the nature of the relationship between testosterone and fat mass in young male cancer survivors compared with healthy controls.Subjects176 male cancer survivors (mean age 37.3 years SD 5.8) who previously received gonadoto...

Objective: In humans insulin-induced hypoglycaemia activates the autonomic nervous system and provokes counterregulatory hormonal responses, the magnitude of which is lower in healthy non-diabetic females and in women with type 1 diabetes compared to male counterparts, although the glycaemic thresholds at which these responses are triggered are similar in both sexes. The Edinburgh Hypoglycaemia Score (a validated method of symptom assessment) was used to examine symptoms to as...

Background: Men who receive gonadotoxic treatment for cancer may be at risk of hypogonadism. The extent of this risk is unknown. Severe hypogonadism is associated with fatigue, sexual dysfunction, reduced muscle mass and obesity. Diagnosing mild or moderate hypogonadism is difficult and requires evaluation.Aim: The aim of this study was to identify hypogonadism in young male survivors of cancer.Subjects and Methods: The study was a...

Background: Recent studies reported high soluble α-klotho concentrations (α-klotho) in active acromegaly, with normalization after successful therapy. We showed that α-klotho correlates to GH and even better to IGF-I. So far, most studies employed an immunoassay from Immuno-Biological Laboratories (IBL) for measurement of α-klotho, but other assays are available. Agreement between assays remains questionable since α-klotho exists in several isoforms: K...