Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new class of oral anti-diabetic medications that improve glycaemia by reducing the amount of glucose being absorbed in the kidneys. SGLT2 inhibitors have been proven to improve blood pressure, cardiovascular health and kidney disease. Despite their beneficial clinical effects, their exact mechanism of action is not fully explored. The aim of this project was to investigate the effect of SGLT2 ...

Testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs) are benign masses causing testicular damage and infertility. Their development is attributed to chronic stimulation of elevated ACTH levels. Several diseases are characterized by an increase of ACTH, however TARTs have been described almost exclusively in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), excluding only rare cases. X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a rare cause of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI). It is a genet...

Introduction: Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare tumour, with an annual incidence of 1 to 2 case per million. Hypercortisolism constitutes the predominant clinical manifestation in patients with hormone excess, presenting in 50% to 80% of all adrenocortical carcinomas. Non-functioning tumors are even rarer, comprising only 20% of adrenal carcinomas in the largest reported series. Conversely, Addison’s disease is also an infrequent disorder, with estimated incidence rates ...

It is known that functional hypothalamic amenorrhea is associated with low bone turnover due to low gonadal homone levels. Estrogens are critical for activation of bone remodelling units, suppression of bone reabsorption, increase of 1-25(OH)Vitamin D receptors expression. Other mechanisms could be operative, including improper diet and unbalanced exercise; however the physiopathology of such a condition is not entirely known. In order to evaluate the correlation between pitui...

Aim: To assess survival rate and prognosis factors in a group of 65 patients with distant metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma.Methods: Patients with metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma (MDTC) were retrospectively identified from the database of a single institution (1975–2008). Disease-specific survival (DSS) was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method.Results: A total of 65 patients with MDTC were identified....

Aim: To analyze clinical features in a group of 65 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and distant metastases.Methods: Retrospective review of 65 patients with Metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (MDTC) identified from the database of a tertiary hospital between 1975 and 2008.Results: Sixty five patients were identified (21 males, 44 females) with a mean age of 58,9 years. The median follow-up after discovery of ...

Prokineticin 1 (Prok1), the product of EGVEGF/PROK 1 gene, acts through two G-coupled receptors (PKR1 and PKR2) and is involved in a wide spectrum of actions, including tumorigenesis. Increased Prok1 expression has been found in prostate hyperplasia and cancer, suggesting a role in prostate cancer and BPH. Aim of this study was to elucidate the role of Prok1 on prostate cell function and growth. We evaluated the effects of Prok1 on epithelial prostate cell (PC) migration and p...

Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) is produced by Leydig cells. In boys, the levels of INSL3 rise at pubertal stage P2 and further increase throughout puberty in close correlation with T and LH concentrations. In men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) INSL3 levels have been found very low and increased after short-term hCG treatment. Whether FSH plays a role in regulating INSL3 secretion is questioned. Aim of this study was to evaluate serum INSL3 levels during long-term hCG a...

Reversible Kallmann syndrome (KS) is a rare variant of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) reported in men, in which gonadotropin, testosterone (T) and fertility recover spontaneously following treatment with gonadotropins or T. In a few cases mutations of FGFR1 and KAL1 genes have been found. In this report we describe a subject with a KS carrying a new homozygous mutation of PROK-R2 gene and displaying an apparent reversal of his reproductive condition. The proband, born from...

Prokineticins (PK1 and PK2) are peptides regulating multiple biological processes through two G-protein coupled receptors, PK-R1 and PK-R2. PK2/PKR2 signalling is critical for neurogenesis of olfactory bulb and GnRH migration. Mutant mice lacking PKR2 have abnormal development of olfactory bulb and reproductive system atrophy, suggesting that these genes may be novel candidate for Kallmann syndrome (KS) in humans. Recently, mutations in PK2 and PKR2 genes have been found in ne...