Endocrine Abstracts

Patients with Cushing's syndrome develop florid, but reversible central obesity. However, circulating cortisol levels are not elevated in simple obesity. Within human adipose tissue, the enzyme 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) is highly expressed and converts inactive glucocorticoid, cortisone to active cortisol. Rodents over-expressing 11beta-HSD1 in adipocytes develop central obesity exclusively as a result of increased adipocyte size. Whilst it has ...

Subtle irregularity in maternal thyroid status during the 1st trimester of pregnancy is associated with abnormalities of neurodevelopment in childhood. Both iodothyronine deiodinase and TR expression in the fetoplacental unit are fundamental in controlling active TH delivery to the fetus. Using real time RT-PCR and gene specific Taqman probes and primers, we quantified mRNA expression of the deiodinase enzymes D2 and D3, and TRalpha1, TRalpha2 and TRbeta1 in the absence and pr...

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (P-NETs) are a rare cancer with increasing incidences worldwide. Low-grade P-NETs are unique in that they express high levels of Somatostatin Receptor Type 2 (SSTR2), which represents a target for both tumor imaging and therapeutics. P-NET grade inversely correlates with SSTR2 tumor staining, and higher tumor grade is associated with poor patient prognosis. Unfortunately, application of SSTR2-targeted treatment options is currently ...

Introduction: Incidence of Digestive NETs (DNETs) has increased in the last 40 years. Visceral obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance (IR) have been associated with several types of cancer.Aim: To evaluate possible associations of obesity, hyperinsulinemia and IR with well-differentiated (WD) DNETs through a case control study.Materials and methods: Ninety-six patients with gastrointestinal (75.0%) and pNET (22.9...

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) not only functions as a central glycolytic enzyme but also is implicated in the process of apoptosis and gene transcription moving between the cytosol and nucleus. Oxidative stress modifies the activity of GAPDH.The aim of the study was to determine whether oxidative stress (OS) in diabetics is associated with induction of the apoptotic process and higher GAPDH translocation to the nucleus in PBMCs.<p ...

Introduction. Adiponectin is a novel circulating adipocyte derived protein, whose plasma concentrations paradoxically decrease with increasing fat mass. Adiponectin has been shown to improve both glucose and lipid metabolism, and circulating concentrations are inversely correlated with insulin resistance. The factors regulating adiponectin expression and secretion are poorly understood. No study has previously examined the acute post-prandial regulation of adiponectin s...

Background: Hypercalciuria is frequent in patients with acromegaly, but it is unclear how GH/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) regulate renal calcium handling. Elevated fasting plasma calcium levels despite increased glomerular filtration suggest enhanced renal calcium reabsorption.Objective: To investigate the impact of acromegaly on phosphocalcium metabolism.Design: Prospective sequential study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: N...

Introduction: All stages of diabetic nephropathy are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. Intensive intervention to achieve target glycaemic control, blood pressure and cholesterol can minimise cardiovascular risk, mainly by reducing proteinuria.Aims: To compare two cohorts of patients, group A, attending a nurse-led clinic in addition to the traditional diabetes renal clinic and group B attending the latter only...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effect of treatment with orlistat versus metformin on the hormonal and biochemical features of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)METHODS: 21 Caucasian women with PCOS (mean plus/minus SEM, age 27 plus/minus 0.9 years, and body mass index 36.7 plus/minus 3.3) participated in this prospective, randomised, open labelled, study. All subjects had an eight week run in period of dietary modification and then ...

Introduction: Reduced sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is seen in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and is considered a surrogate marker of hyperinsulinaemia in these patients. Little data currently exists on the biological variability of SHBG for an individual with PCOS and this information is crucial to establish its clinical utility. Method: 12 PCOS patients (median age 28 yrs, range 18-31) and 11 weight matched, control women having regular menses and wit...