Endocrine Abstracts

Adrenal carcinoma is a very rare malignancy accounting for 0.05–0.2% of all cancers, with an incidence 0.5–2/106.We present the case of a 60 year old woman with impaired fasting glucose and hypertension, who was incidentally diagnosed, after a non-enhanced abdominal CT, with a right adrenal tumor of 4.5/6 cm. The mass was described as having smooth borders, and a heterogeneous aspect including solid parts, necrotic areas and 1 microc...

Introduction: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) contributes to fetal tolerance by regulating innate and adaptive immune responses during pregnancy. Our previous results suggested a pregnancy protective effect of hCG through enhancement of regulatory T (Treg) cells and inhibition of dendritic cell (DC) maturation. Here, we aimed to investigate whether hCG contributes to Treg generation by modulating DC phenotype in vitro and in vivo in a murine model.<p c...

Introduction: Pheochromocytomas are tumors derived from the adrenal-medullary chromaffin cells that normally produce catecholamines. Rarely these tumors are non-secreting. In the assessment of a suspected pheochromocytoma, guidelines recommend dosing urinary or plasma metanephrines.Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of pheochromocytomas biochemically non-secreting and their differences.Methods: We searched all patients with meas...

Introduction: After progression on conventional treatment options, some patients with advanced ACC are offered experimental Phase I therapies. The outcomes of these patients have not yet been formally evaluated. This study aims to describe the experience of refractory ACC patients treated on Phase I clinical trials at the RMH.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of metastatic ACC patients consecutively treated in our Drug Development Unit bet...

Introduction: Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare disorder. It can be sporadic or familiar and is divided into anosmic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (Kallmann syndrome - KS) and congenital normosmic isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism &hyphen; IHH). A growing number of genes are involved in its etiology, suggesting the heterogeneity and complexity of this condition.Cases Reports: Six cases...

Background: Thyroid AUS/FLUS lesions continue to be a grey area regarding the surgery to be carried out. Our aim was to create a predictive malignancy score to help in surgical decision.Methods: Retrospective study of 2981 patients and 3557 thyroid Fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) between January 2012 to December 2014. Ultrasound and cytological findings considered suspicious by the ATA guidelines were analyzed. Malignant group was compared with a control ...

Chronic wounds contribute significantly to patient morbidity, mortality and associated healthcare costs. Glucocorticoid (GC) excess and hypoxia are both associated with impaired wound healing (WH) outcomes. The cyclooxygerase 2 (COX2) pathway is an integral component of inflammation and WH. Locally, GC availability is regulated by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) which generates cortisol from inactive cortisone. Although we recently demon...

Introduction: Congenital pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is a rare condition, characterized by the triad (not always complete): absence/hypoplasia of the pituitary stalk, hypoplasia/aplasia of the anterior pituitary and absence or ectopy of the posterior pituitary high signal intensity, on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PSIS implies a permanent GH deficiency, in 77% associated with other pituitary hormones deficiencies. The aetiology remains uncertain, but some...

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is characterised by acute, transient left ventricular apical ballooning precipitated by emotional or physiologically stressful stimuli and has been previously associated with Graves’ disease based on few clinical reports. More recently, the association with exogenous thyrotoxicosis and radioiodine-induced thyroiditis has also been described. Iatrogenic hyperthyroidism on patients under levothyroxine replacement therapy for hypothy...

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Their association, first described in a study in Sardinia, left questions about their clustering, clarified by the Familial Autoimmune and Diabetes Study, which showed for the first time an highly increased prevalence of MS in adults with T1DM, reinforced by further epidemiological studies that also revealed increased risk of T1DM in MS patients.<p class="abste...