Endocrine Abstracts

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a novel treatment for osteoporosis, that stimulates bone formation and turnover, unlike current treatments that are antiresorptive in their actions. Both the entire molecule (1-84hPTH) and the amino-terminus of the molecule (1-34hPTH) are being studied in clinical trials. In 8 recent clinical trials (two involving males with osteoporosis) PTH has been shown to produce larger increments in vertebral bone mass than any currently available agent. In s...

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The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3), is vital for calcium/phosphate homeostasis, bone cell differentiation and modification of immune responses. Synthesis of 1,25D3 is catalysed by the mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1α-hydroxylase (1α-OHase; CYP27B1). Although 1α-OHase has been detected at several extra-renal sites, circulating levels of 1,25D3 appear...

Introduction: Acromegaly is characterized by high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality possibly due to increased prevalence of main traditional cardiovascular risk factors. It is not clear though whether the incidence of atherosclerosis is truly enhanced. Moreover recent in vitro studies show a protective role of (GH) and IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) on the endothelium. As expression of endothelial regenerative reserve, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) could...

Aim: The aim of our study was to assess the presence of endothelial dysfunction and of increased carotid intimae-media thickness (IMT), two precocious markers of atherosclerosis in PCOS subjects. Simultaneously, their relationship with some metabolic, hormonal and anthropometric parameters was analyzed.Methods: The study group consisted of 45 women with PCOS (age=23.1±4.1 years, body mass index (BMI) =28.4±5.9 kg/m2). Thirty-two heal...

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown aetiology, characterized by non-caseified granulomatous reaction that can involve multiple organs. The disease typically presents with pulmonary infiltrates, bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy and uveitis, but may also less frequently affect other organs, including the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Malignancy rates in sarcoidosis patients have been reported as 1 to 2%1,2, chronic inflammation bei...

Cabergoline (CAB), a potent dopamine agonist, is one of the most effective neuromodulatory drug in the second line treatment of patients with Cushing’s disease (CD). The aim of the current study was to estimate the predictive value of the acute CAB administration on short and long term responsiveness to CAB treatment. Twenty CD patients (6 males, 14 females, 12–60 years) entered the study. The acute CAB test was performed evaluating serum cortisol every hour for 6 h ...

Wnt developmental pathways, have been implicated in a number of cancers. Wnt signaling proteins activate the B-catenin transcription factor which induces transcription of the oncogenes Cyclin D1 and Myc (Luo et al. 2007). Elston et al. (2008) found that Wnt inhibitors were down-regulated in pituitary tumours. Overexpression of Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis,correlates with poor prognosis and drug resistance (Altieri 2003, Ghosh et al. 20...

Background: Dopamine agonist (DA) withdrawal is common in the management of microprolactinoma. Guidelines in 19971 and 20062 suggest that DA should be withdrawn after normoprolactinaemia for 3 years.Aims: To assess DA withdrawal and adherence to guidelines.Methods: We retrospectively examined casenotes from 1997 to 2008. Patients were included with clinical and biochemical evidence of hyperprolactinaemia, and ...