Endocrine Abstracts

Glyphosate is a broad spectrum herbicide that is effective against weeds, especially in association with transgenic glyphosate resistant crop systems, and represents approximately 30% of all herbicides used in agriculture. It was demonstrated that glyphosate has an activity of endocrine-chemical disruptor (ECD) in the reproductive axis, altering the production of testosterone and causing disturbances on the reproductive development of male offspring from dams treated during th...

Background: Testicular germ cell tumours are the most frequent cancer of young men. While pathogenesis and reasons of an increasing incidence all over the world remain unknown, epidemiological and clinical data have suggested that fetal exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs), especially with estrogenic effects, could participate to testicular germ cell carcinogenesis. However, EEDs (like bisphenol A) are often weak ligands for classical nuclear estrogen receptor...

Introduction: EPODE is a coordinated, capacity-building approach for communities to implement effective and sustainable strategies to prevent childhood obesity.Methods: At central level, a coordination team using social marketing and organizational techniques trains and coaches a local project manager nominated in each EPODE town by the local authorities. The local project manager is also provided with tools to mobilize local stakeholders through a local...

There are considerable variations in diagnosis and therapeutical practices in hyperthyroidism (HT) between countries. Few of these differences rely on a scientific basis. we present the results of a study conducted among a representative sample of 263 French endocrinologists. All consecutive patients seen for HT during the study period were included. Symptoms, biological data and treatment were recorded. 1214 patients with hyperthyroidism were included, 1144 had an identified ...

Introduction: The biological activity of thyroid hormone (TH) is largely mediated by binding of T3 to nuclear T3 receptors (TRs). Before TH can mediate its effects, it needs to be transported across the plasma membrane. Several TH transporters, such as MCT8, facilitate this transport. Inactivating mutations in MCT8 lead to a severe phenotype of psychomotor retardation. In addition to transport into the cell, MCT8 is also able to transport TH out of the ce...

Clinical trials of multiple dose insulin (MDI) or pump therapy (CSII) suggest a short term effect with a waning of effect over time – the ‘Hawthorn Effect’. This may relate to interest in the patient during the trial or to lack of reinforcement of the education and training programme. We reviewed our experience in this area where we have used a structured education programme for CSII and MDI over the last 6–8 years and used Quality Control Theory to explore...

Background: Osteoporosis leads to significant morbidity and disability through an increased susceptibility to fracture. Post-menopausal females are a high-risk group. A fracture liaison service model has been proposed as a method to maximise initiation of treatment for secondary prevention following a fragility fracture.Aim: To compare practice in two fracture units to guidelines contained in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technolo...

Hyperinsulinemia leading to insulin resistance is the major factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. And also defect in glucose uptake is among the primary defects associated with peripheral insulin resistance. Interestingly, the result from our previous study indicated that the ethanolic extract of Combretum decandrum Roxb. (CD) had a hypoglycemic effect in type 1 diabetic rat model. Therefore this study examined the effect of CD extract on the glucose t...

The transcription factor, Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1/NR5A1) is the only specific marker of the VMH, to date. Total SF-1 deficiency results in defective VMH neuronal differentiation and architecture, and mice heterozygous for SF-1 (SF-1+/−), or conditionally depleted of SF-1 in the VMH show reduced levels of the neurotrophin Bdnf and an increased propensity for weight gain. Recent studies have suggested several putative SF-1 target genes in the VMH tha...

Prostanoids have been elucidated as potent adipogenic hormones. Cyclooxygenase (PTGS) is the rate-limiting enzyme of prostanoid biosynthesis and its product, prostaglandin (PG) H2 is a precursor of PGE2, PGF2, PGD2 and PGI2. PGH2 is also metabolised by prostaglandin D-synthase (PTGDS) to PGD2 which spontaneously converts to PGJ2 or can be enzymatically converted to PGF2alpha by AKR1C3. These two metabolites have opposite effect on adipogenesis; PGF2alpha is a PPARgamma antagon...