Endocrine Abstracts

Metformin (1.1-dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride), a widely used antidiabetic drug, has been reported to display potent anticancer properties in various types of cancers, including neuroendocrine tumors. Recently, a potential synergistic activity between metformin and octreotide (SSA) in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (P-NETs) has been proposed. AIP (aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein) acts as tumor suppressor gene in neuroendocrine tumors at pituitary level and it ...

Spermatogenic disruption is normally recognized by low sperm count and FSH levels. However, Leydig cell impairment is also frequent in subjects with primary testicular damage, as evidenced for example by reduced INSL3 and 25(OH)-vitamin D levels. The latter is caused by reduced expression of CYP2R1, a major enzyme involved in 25-hydroxylation of cholecalciferol. Furthermore, testosterone (T) production by the Leydig cells might be also impaired in men with primary spermatogeni...

Introduction: Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) in Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is frequent and it has been traditionally related to low testosterone levels. However, low BMD can be observed also in patients with normal testosterone levels and testosterone replacement therapy does not necessarily increase bone mass in these patients. Nothing is known about vitamin D levels and supplementation in KS. In this study we determine vitamin D status and bone mass in KS subjects and c...

Many conditions may interfere with intestinal absorption of levothyroxine (L-T4). In addition, it has been demonstrated a failure in the normalisation of TSH values in patients consuming L-T4 tablets with coffee or with water followed by coffee taken shortly afterwards. Recent studies showed that oral liquid L-T4 could remove the problem of L-T4 malabsorption by coffee and f...

Introduction: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is characterised by the presence of at least one extra X chromosome and represents the most common chromosomal aberration in men. Apart from infertility, the clinical spectrum of KS is variable and often not directly related to hypogonadism, whose expression is also not unpredictable. Several genetic mechanisms may explain the clinical features and variability of the phenotype in KS. In particular, gene-dosage effects and the parental or...

Introduction: Polymorphisms in the gene for FSH receptor (FSHR) and FSH β subunit (FSHB) might modulate FSH levels and represent genetic markers for a pharmacogenetic approach to male infertility treatment. rs6166 (c.2039 A>G, Asn680Ser) and rs1394205 (c.−29 G>A) in FSHR have been better analysed in women, whereas rs10835638 (−211 G>T) in FSHB seems to have a determinant role especially in men. However, studies considering the combined effect of th...

Levothyroxine (l-T4) is the mainstay of treating hypothyroidism. Despite the ‘classic’ tablet formulation of l-T4, pharmaceutical industries have recently introduced other formulations such as liquid and a soft gel capsule in a few countries. Recent studies have shown a better absorption of these formulations compared with the traditional tablet bypassing the pH-depending dissolution phase and less suffering the binding by sequestrants in the in...

Introduction: Amyloidosis due to Apo A-I Leu75Pro mutation is a rare form of hereditary amyloidosis with systemic involvement mainly of testicle, kidney and liver. This disease finds a wide prevalence in the province of Brescia (Northern Italy), which represents a geographic uniqueness for the spread of this amyloidosis form. Somefeatures of this disease have not yet been described.Purpose: To describe the frequency of organ damages in this amyloidosis f...

Introduction: The adipokine adiponectin promotes insulin sensitivity and its circulating levels are inversely related to adiposity in adults and older children. In small for gestational age (SGA) infants adiponectin levels decline rapidly with age in early life and have been inversely associated with subsequent weight gain. There are few data in early infancy, especially in non-SGA infants.We therefore investigated the association between adiponectin lev...

Introduction: Approximately 3200 children and young people in the UK receive GH therapy. Currently 12 different GH injection devices are available, with NHS guidance (NICE-TA188) recommending that patients/carers should have a choice of product. Whilst there is evidence that offering such choice may improve treatment adherence, little is known about its importance to patients/carers, nor whether device preferences should be reviewed after a period of treatment.<p class="ab...