Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are defined as adrenal masses measuring 10 mm or more in diameter, incidentally discovered on imaging exams performed for a non-adrenal disorder. The aim of this study is to provide a clinical and imagiological characterization of patients diagnosed with AIs followed in our institution.Methods: We conducted an observational and retrospective study that included patients with AIs evaluated at our institution betw...

Introduction: A simple linear anthropometric linear equation for total body fat quantification in adults was recently selected as the best of 365 anthropometric indexes in the American population. The authors intend to evaluate the correlation between the relative fat mass (RFM) equation and body fat determination by electric bioimpedance (EB) and compare it with BMI.Material/methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study that selected all ...

Introduction: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is one of the pregnancy diseases with the highest rate of complications, influenced by several factors. Its prevalence has increased, with a prevalence of 7.2% in Portugal.Objective: Characterize pregnant women with GDM and evaluate the perinatal outcomes according to the country of origin and previous GDM.Material and methods: Cross-sectional and retrospective study. We collected c...

Background: IL-37, member of the IL-1 family, is a natural suppressor of immune and inflammatory responses. Increased serum IL-37 levels were observed in several autoimmune diseases, including Graves’ disease. No data on TH are available from the literature.Materials and methods: We enrolled 45 euthyroid HT patients (5 M e 40 F, mean age 38.5±12.6) and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. None was on LT-4 therapy. Smokers, subjects with ki...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most frequently encountered endocrine pathologies in women of reproductive age, being regarded as a chronic systemic disease instead of the simple local one. It is frequently associated with insulin resistance, hyperandrogenemia and chronic inflammation. PCOS reunites multiple and diversified pathological combinations like: ovulatory functional disorders directly impacting on the reproductive system, carbohydrate and lipid metabol...

The work-up of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (DTC) patients includes thyroid surgery, thyroid remnant ablation (TRA) with 131-radioiodine and long life follow-up. 131I-post therapy whole body scan (pT-WBS) and thyroglobulin (Tg) are used in identifying metastatic patients. Some authors suggested to use post-surgical Tg (ps-Tg) values in deciding for or against TRA. The aim of our study was to verify the sensitivity and PPV of 131I-pT-WBS compared to serum Tg levels in detectin...

Human luteinizing hormone (LH) and human choriogonadotropin (hCG) were considered biologically equivalent for decades due to structural similarities and binding to the same receptor (LHCGR). However, LHCGR triggers differential, LH- and hCG-specific, cAMP production, steroidogenesis, ERK and AKT activation and gene expression in granulosa cells. Besides the Gs/cAMP/PKA pathway, hCG and LH bioactivity on β-arrestin- and Gq/PLC-dependent pathways are yet to be determined. W...

Background: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and choriogonadotropin (hCG) are glycoprotein hormones regulating ovarian function and pregnancy. They were routinely used in assisted reproduction techniques (ART) assuming they are equivalent, due to their binding to a common receptor (LHCGR). However, differences between LH and hCG were demonstrated at molecular and physiological level.Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate how follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)...

Background: Endothelial dysfunction leads to cardiovascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), through a reduction of nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) have hemodynamic effects, improving NO levels.Aim: To investigate if long term, chronic treatment with the PDE5i Vardenafil improves systemic endothelial function in men with T2DM.Methods: A longitudinal, prospective, invest...

Background: HIV-infection is associated to an increased prevalence of age-related comorbidities, such as erectile dysfunction (ED) and testosterone (T)-deficiency.Aim: Definition of ED and T-deficiency in HIV-infected men using validated sexual questionnaires and the gold standard assay for T measurement: isotopic dilution–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (ID–LC–MS/MS)Methodology: Prospective, cros...