Endocrine Abstracts

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is produced by the anterior pituitary gland and is a key hormone in the reproductive system. FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein composed with two extensively glycosylated protein subunits (α and β) N-glycosylated in two positions (Asn52 and Asn78in the FSHα subunit and Asn7 and Asn24 in the FSHβ subunit). Due to different glycosylation pattern, several FSH isoforms may different...

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is a disease with an indolent course, excellent overall prognosis and long-term survival. However, some PTCs are associated with an increased risk of recurrent disease and aggressive behaviour. Many exogenous factors, as obesity, could be implicated in the pathogenesis of thyroid cancer but the biological mechanisms that may explain this connection have been only partially described. Potentially factors that combine overweight with th...

Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are rare and usually very aggressive tumors with heterogeneous outcomes. The individual variability in tumor progression and patients’ survival is linked to ACC biology and molecular heterogeneity, reinforcing the need to identify markers with prognosis value, to allow an accurate clinical strategy. Currently, in the absence of specific molecular markers, ACC prognosis is mainly predicted by the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tum...

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a hormone induced in the liver by metabolic stressors including starvation, sugars, and ethanol. Alcohol consumption increases endogenous FGF21 levels in humans while administration of FGF21 has been shown to reduce alcohol consumption in non-human primates. The effect of acute moderate alcohol consumption and long-term alcohol cessation on FGF21 levels in humans is controversial. We hypothesize that even moderate alcohol cons...

Introduction: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human choriogonadotropin (hCG) regulate reproduction through binding the same receptor (LHCGR). They act via activation of G protein- and β-arrestin-dependent signals, resulting in ligand-specific pattern of signaling cascades and LHCGR internalization into endosomal vesicles. Previous studies differentiated the action of these two hormones in LH-related proliferative signals and hCG-related steroidogenic signals.Aim. We compared...

Introduction: Benzo[a]Pyrene (BaP) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical, which may impact reproduction. It is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon generated by the incomplete combustion of organic compounds. BaP may be accumulated in the environment, achieving effective concentrations in the nanomolar range and exerting genotoxic effects in long-term exposed humans.Aim: We evaluated the short-term impact of BaP on luteinizing-hormone (LH)/choriogonadotropin ...

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is produced by the anterior pituitary gland and it is a key hormone in the reproductive system. FSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein composed with two extensively glycosylated protein sobunits (α and β) N-glycosylated in two positions (Asn52 and Asn78 in the FSHα subunit and Asn7 and Asn24 in the FSHβ subunit) giving rise to numerous isoforms of FSH. Glycosylation has been shown t...

Objective: Describe clinical, laboratorial, imaging features, therapeutic management and the outcomes of patients with clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) presenting at our department.Methods: Retrospective review of electronic medical records of all patients with NFPAs evaluated at our department between 2010 and 2019.Results: We evaluated 160 patients, 51.3% female, with a median age of 56.6 years (18–89). ...

Background: Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine secreting tumor originating usually from adrenal medulla and representing approximately 5% of adrenal incidentalomas. Currently 10% of all pheochromocytomas are discovered incidentally during imaging studies for unrelated disorders.Case presentation: A thirty five year old woman with no relevant medical history presented at the emergency department with symptoms of left flank pain and vomiting. Abdomin...

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...