Endocrine Abstracts

Both thyroid dysfunction and psychological morbidity are common in the general population. Association between mood disorders and overt thyroid dysfunction are well established. Hypothyroid patients are more prone to depression and anxiety is a frequently reported symptom in thyrotoxicosis. However, the relationship between thyroid hormones in the normal range and psychological well being has not been established.In this study we analysed the relationshi...

Cabergoline (CB) is a potent, long-acting dopamine agonist licensed for the treatment of hyperprolactinaemia and, although unlicensed, is extensively used to treat acromegaly. There is a dearth of data on the use of CB in the treatment of acromegaly. We have performed a retrospective analysis of CB therapy in 34 [19 male, mean age 46 years (range 14-82)22 macroadenomas] patients with acromegaly treated since 1975. The patients were divided into two groups, those on CB as sole ...

Both humic substances (HS) and iodine may influence the thyroid gland. Tap water is a major source of iodine intake in some areas, where iodine has been shown to be bound in HS.We investigated tap water and old subjects from two areas with and without iodine bound in HS in tap water, to assess their importance for urinary iodine excretion and for the thyroid. Analysis of tap water, measurement of iodine in urine and thyrotropin (TSH), thyroid peroxidase ...

Background: Human toxicity of bisphenol-A (BPA), a weak estrogenic environmental endocrine disruptor widely used in plastics, babybottles, cans and dental sealants, is under investigation. Human pharmacokinetics involves a rapid inactivation by hepatic glucuronyl- or sulfoconjugation and renal clearance. Fetal or perinatal exposure in rodents is associated with programmed adult reproductive diseases. Human epidemiological studies remain scarce especially concerning testicular ...

Introduction: Acromegaly is characterized by high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are underlying mechanisms of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood redox status and endothelial function by means of nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with acromegaly.Description of methods/design: Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase activity and glutathione concentration (GSH), as mea...

A role for local corticosteroid metabolism by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11b-HSD1) has been proposed in bone and adipose tissue physiology. In vivo, 11b-HSD1 predominantly converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol and enzyme activity is critically dependent on substrate concentration. To examine 11b-HSD1 activity in vivo we have analysed the relationship between serum cortisone and markers of bone turnover, BMD and adipose tissue mass in a c...

Energy homeostasis is controlled by neural, endocrine and adipocyte factors and CNS plays a key role in this control. We have previously observed that ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with estradiol have lower body weight gain associated with an increased hypothalamic CRF mRNA expression. We investigated the role of CRF on activation of hypothalamic CART neurons by leptin in estradiol-treated OVX rats. Female Wistar rats (200–250 g) were subjected to both OVX and cannula...

Introduction: Impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance are frequently associated with acromegaly. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of long-acting somatostatin analog treatment on glucose homeostasis in acromegalic patients.Patients and methods: In this prospective study 16 naïve acromegalic patients (eight females, eight males; aged 51.5±10.9 years) were studied before and after 3-month therapy with long-acting somatostat...

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) may lead to deficiency of fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin D; little is known of the extent of this in chronic pancreatitics.In order to assess the extent and severity of vitamin D deficiency in CP we examined the notes of 111 patients with CP. In addition to clinical information and calcium, vitamin D and PTH levels, exocrine function was evaluated using the PABA test to obtain a pancreatic excretion index (PEI: normal &#62...

Exposure to stressful events during development is known to have significant effects on a range of phenotypic traits in later life. Several mammalian studies have linked early post-natal stress to later changes in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, underlying the physiological response to stress. However, the physiological link (lactational hormonal transfer) between mother and offspring during post-natal development limits our ability to determine the direct effec...