Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The management of craniopharyngioma (CR) remains a challenge. The introduction of endoscopic technique in the surgical approach to the sellar/suprasellar region would have profound implications for treatment. The aim of the study was to analyze results, advantages and limits of endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA).Design/methods: From 1998 to 2012, 95 patients underwent surgery for CR. Trancranial approach was chosen for 33 patients (35%) on...

Background: SUB:Pituitary – Clinical (Generously supported by IPSEN)GH response to GHRH+Arg is impaired in HIV-infected men and women, compared to gender matched controls. Moreover, reduced GH secretion seems to occur more frequently in HIV-infected males than females.Methods: To determine gender effects on GH secretion in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, we compared GH/IGF1 status and body composition in 103 males and 97 females. ...

Introduction: Among various comorbidities of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, male hypogonadism is very frequent with a prevalence of 19% in patients treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy. However, literature data are still lacking and achieved by studies with <300 subjects each.Aim of the study: Prevalence and clinical characterization of hypogonadism among a large number of men with HIV-1.Methods...

Introduction: HIV-infected patients often display a moderate to severe GH deficiency (GHD). To investigate the effects of r-hGH on hormonal parameters and body composition in patients with HIV-related lipodystrophy (HIV-r-L) and concomitant GHD, we studied 60 patients with HIV-r-L, 28 male and 32 females aged 18–65 years. According to their response to GHRH+Arginine (GH peak assumed to be normal when >7.5 ng/ml) patients were assigned to the following 3 groups: Group ...

Introduction and aim: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine neoplasia affecting 0.2–1.5% of the individuals worldwide and its incidence is increasing [1]. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the main histotype (80–90%). PTC susceptibility is the result of genetic predisposition, environmental factors and lifestyle. We hypothesized that genetic predisposition to PTC is poligenic and characterized by a genetic signature involving combinations of genes previously...

Background and aim: Several ultrasound (US) classifications for thyroid nodules have been proposed. Since most of them are hardly applicable in clinical practice, we set up the Modena US Thyroid Classification (MUT) that stratifies the risk of malignancy considering both knowledge derived from scientific literature and clinician subjective impression. The aim of the present study was to test the diagnostic accuracy of different thyroid US classification systems, AACE/ACE-AME, ...

Background: HIV-infection is associated to an increased prevalence of age-related comorbidities, such as erectile dysfunction (ED) and testosterone (T)-deficiency.Aim: Definition of ED and T-deficiency in HIV-infected men using validated sexual questionnaires and the gold standard assay for T measurement: isotopic dilution–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (ID–LC–MS/MS)Methodology: Prospective, cros...

Introduction: The use of multigene panels in thyroid nodule diagnosis is still limited, due to high costs and need for ad hoc sampling. Since BRAF-V600E is the commonest genetic alteration in differentiated thyroid cancer, this is the mostly tested genetic parameter in clinical practice.Aim: To evaluate the use of BRAF mutation analysis in wash-out liquid from fine needle aspiration (FNA) in clinical practice, characterizing th...

Background: GH–IGF1 status is important for bone health. Acromegaly affects bone status, but less is known on the role of treatments for acromegaly on bone mineral density (BMD). Pegvisomant (Peg) is effective in treating acromegaly by reducing IGF1. As serum GH is not influenced by Peg, it is not known if residual, direct GH effects on bone (not IGF1 mediated) are preserved during treatment.Methods: To evaluate the effects of Peg on BMD, we compare...

Introduction: Thyroid volume (TV) depends on age, gender, anthropometry, smoking and iodine status. IGF1 plays a role on thyroid growth, as demonstrated in acromegaly and GH-deficiency. Finally, TSH is a well recognised permissive factor for thyroid tissue growth. The aim of the study is to evaluate the long-term effect of TSH-deficiency on TV in hypopituitaric patients compared with healthy volunteers.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional, controlled ...