Endocrine Abstracts

Reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton could coincide with the activation of several seven transmembrane receptors (7TM receptors) (1). Stimulation of Rho family members leads to rapid remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and subsequent stress fiber formation and certain 7TM receptors were shown to induce Rho-dependent responses via heterotrimeric G-proteins. Gα12, Gα13 as well as Gαq/11 can link 7TM receptors to RhoA activatio...

Aim: To assess the association of the endothelial dysfunction (ED) parameters and the lipid-lowering response to atorvastatin therapy in patients with T2D with genetic markers of inflammation.Methods: We include 97 T2D patients with first prescribed atorvastatin 10–20 mg: M/F 26/71; mean age 57 years. After 12 month of statin therapy, patients had fasting lipid profiles and ED parameters repeated. For ED evaluation, we performed pulse wave analysis ...

Context: Following the recent evolution in therapeutic strategies for GH-secreting pituitary adenomas, determining optimal individualized patient management is now crucial.Objective: To determine whether pre-surgical medical treatment (PSMT) in patients with acromegaly improves surgical outcome and to specify thresholds for such a strategy.Methods and design: This retrospective study included 110 newly diagnosed acromegalic patient...

Objective: To analyze characteristics of patients who had surgery for a GH-secreting adenoma in the past decade in our centre, to evaluate their initial outcome and long-term recurrence rate using stringent criteria and identify potential predictive factors of surgical remission.Methods: This retrospective study included 115 consecutive patients with acromegaly operated at the neurosurgical department of the Timone Hospital Marseille between 1997 and 200...

Background: Acromegaly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. Several studies indicate that reduction of growth hormone (GH) to <1 μg/l or normalization of serum IGF-I reduces mortality to expected levels. Inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or haemostatic markers, such as fibrinogen have emerged as important cardiovascular risk markers in the general population.Objective and design: ...

A 21-year-old woman with homozygous sickle cell disease, presented to A&E with vomiting and diarrhoea, and was noted to be hypercalcaemic (corrected calcium 3.00 mmol/l [ref. 2.2–2.6]; phosphate 0.48 mmol/l [ref. 0.8–1.5]). She reported polyuria and polydipsia, but no other symptoms of hypercalcaemia. There was no history of renal stones, renal impairment, or fragility fracture. A maternal aunt required parathyroidectomy in middle age. Bloods revealed PTH 138.4 pmo...

Accepted dogma once stated that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) function as monomers, however, over the last decade in vitro experiments have shown GPCRs to function as dimers and higher order oligomers. We have recently reported the first in vivo evidence for the physiological importance of Class A GPCR homodimerisation using the LHCGR as a model receptor. Transgenic co-expression of binding deficient LHCGR (LHCGR-LH) and signalling deficient ...

Introduction: In sporadic acromegaly, downregulation of AIP protein of the adenomas associates with invasive tumour features and reduced response to somatostatin analogue treatment. AIP is a regulator of Gαi signaling, but it is not known how the biological function of the Gαi pathway is controlled.Aim: To study somatic GNAS and AIP mutation status, AIP and Gαi-2 protein expressions, Ki67 proliferation indices, and clinical parameters in p...

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by hypercalcaemia and inappropriately low renal calcium excretion. FHH can be classified into three types: FHH1, caused by calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) loss-of-function mutations, accounting for >65% of cases; FHH2, due to loss-of-function mutations of the G-protein α11 subunit (Gα11); and FHH3, resulting from loss-of-function mutations in the adap...

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) mediate the effects of multiple hormones, and consequently are fundamental for endocrine functions including glucose homeostasis, thyroid function, fertility, control of urine output, and bone remodelling. Mutations in genes encoding GPCRs result in endocrine disorders, and studies of these mutations has improved understanding of GPCR signalling and trafficking pathways, and could facilitate novel therapies. The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR...