Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Fetal goiter is a rare condition. The incidence of goitrous hypothyroidism is 1/30 000–50 000 live births. We describe a case of antenatal fetal goiter that vanished upon delivery and was not detected in the newborn. The case report is followed by a discussion wherein we review the literature on thyroid problems in pregnancy and management of fetal goiter.Case report: A 27-year-old known hypothyroid woman with bichorial biamniotic preg...

Introduction: Sarcopenic obesity prevails with ageing, encompassing excess weight gains and muscle mass or strength losses. Free fatty acids and proinflammatory cytokines are elevated in obese adults. Palmitate decreases the anabolic effects of IGF signalling, while EPA elicits anti-inflammatory activities.We aimed to examine the effects of palmitate and EPA on TNF-α/IGF1 interactions in established models of skeletal muscle cell loss.<p class="...

Introduction: The role of TNF-alpha in muscle wasting diseases if a topic of great interest. However, the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in some pathological diseases and in skeletal muscle is controversial. Physical exercise provides protection against several human diseases, e.g. cardiovascular disease, heart failure and claudicatio intermittens. This protection is associated with the muscle specific production of IL-6. In contrast to its protective role during exercise, eleva...

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Studies show conflicting results regarding possible excess risk of atypical fractures associated with bisphosphonate (BSP) use. Since BSP reduces bone remodeling, they freeze the skeleton allowing accumulation of microcracks over time leading to atypical fractures. We present two cases of atypical fracture and discuss on monitoring therapy and drug holiday in chronic BSP users.Methods: Over the period of last 8 months we diagnosed two cases of alendronat...

Introduction: Insulinomas are the commonest hormone-secreting tumor of gastrointestinal tract. Presentation is usually insidious with neuroglycopenia and fasting hypoglycemia. Many patients do not report adrenergic symptoms of hypoglycemia and present with neurological or psychiatric manifestations that often lead to misdiagnosis. The symptoms of insulinoma lack specificity, including various seizure disorders, personality change, bizarre behavior, amnesia, convulsions, and in...

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine well characterised as a mediator of skeletal muscle wasting. However, the role of interlukin-6 (IL-6) in skeletal muscle remains controversial.Objectives: We therefore investigated the potential interactive effects of TNF-α and IL-6 on murine C2 skeletal myoblast survival, differentiation and proliferation.Methods: Real time-PCR, creatine kinase assay, western...

Introduction: Prolonged elevations of proinflammatory cytokines are associated with sarcopenia muscle wasting (ageing) and in cancer cachexia. Increased activation of the IGF/insulin pathway is an attractive target for combating such wasting.Aims: Using rodent skeletal muscle cell lines we have investigated TNF-α/IGF-I interactions, in an attempt to mimic and understand mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle loss.Methods and re...

Introduction: Skeletal muscle cells enable investigation of myogenesis and metabolic function in vitro. Exposure to human serum can provide insight into the impact of endocrine factors upon differentiation and mitochondrial function of skeletal muscle. The aim of these experiments was to optimise the culture conditions using human serum, which it was hypothesised would enhance myogenesis and mitochondrial function of LHCN-M2 human skeletal muscle cells.<p class="a...

Introduction: Anorexia, one of the major problems at high altitude caused by alterations in adipose, gut and pancreatic hormones responsible for appetite regulation and energy balance may be alleviated by understanding the changes during hypoxia. The present study was aimed to elucidate the response of peripheral tissues to hypobaric hypoxic exposure in terms of circulating levels and expression pattern of appetite regulatory hormones, adipose cell morphology and glucose regul...