Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Children with TPS and/or ICDI represent a diagnostic and management conundrum. Agreed radiological criteria for TPS are lacking.Aims: To longitudinally characterize the neuroradiological features of children presenting with TPS and/or ICDI due to different aetiologies (oncological, inflammatory, idiopathic).Methods: We searched the terms ‘thickened pituitary stalk’ or ‘idiopathic diabetes insipidus&#146...

Introduction: HIV infection treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) seems to be associated with hypogonadism in men. Less is known in HIV-infected women gonadal status. The aim of this study is to investigate gonadal function, in menopausal HIV-infected women compared sex- and age-matched healthy subjects (HS).Methods: We retrospectively compared 188 HIV-infected women with 192 HS selected reviewing record charts and laboratory database...

Introduction: Multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD) and septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) are well known causes of hypopituitarism, but children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) may also be at risk of hormone and neurocognitive disturbances. Clinical and neuroradiological findings of these three related conditions are characterised in this study, aiming to understand their pathophysiology.Design: Data from 140 patients with hypopituitarism (MPHD, SOD) ...

Introduction: LH and hCG act on the same receptor (LHCGR), have different half-lives and in vivo biopotency. It is not known whether they elicit the same cellular and molecular response. The aim of this study was to compare the kinetics of cAMP response to recombinant LH and hCG.Design: In COS-7 cells permanently expressing the human LHCGR (COS-7/LHCGR) we evaluated LH and hCG dose-response curves, by measuring total cAMP after 3 h of incubation. ...

Objectives: Male pseudohermaphroditism, or Leydig cell hypoplasia (LCH), is an autosomal recessive disorder in individuals with a 46, XY karyotype, characterized by a predominantly female phenotype despite the presence of testicular structures. It is caused by mutations in the luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor gene (LHCGR), which impair either LH/CG binding or signal transduction. However, molecular analysis has revealed that the LHCGR is apparently normal in...

Background: Insulinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours (4 cases/million patients per year), representing an important cause of hyperinsulinemia. Usually are benign and sporadic, but can be part of multiple endocrine neoplasias. To establish the diagnosis it is essential to document inappropriately high levels of insulin during episodes of hypoglycaemia.Aim: Retrospective analysis of the clinical files of the patients followed in our department since Jan...

Introduction: A retrospective study of the year 2003, of 1314 women with GDM, from 24 public health Centres in Portugal, was performed.Patients and methods: Women were divided into two groups according to their pre-pregnancy BMI: group Go – BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and group Gno BMI <30 kg/m2. The mean age of these women was 32.9±5 years (18–45), the A1c was <6% in both groups. The influence of the BMI in different...

Male sexual development and masculinization are triggered by two hormones, CG and LH. While CG, produced by the trophoblasts during pregnancy, is essential for normal development of male secondary sex organs, pituitary LH is indispensable for virilization and initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis. Both hormones exert their action via the LH receptor (LHR) expressed in the Leydig cells by stimulating testosterone biosynthesis. This two hormone/one receptor system is exc...

Introduction: A retrospective study of the year 2003, of 1314 women with GDM, was performed.Patients and methods: Two groups according to pre-pregnancy BMI: Go - BMI&gE;30 Kg/m2; Gno BMI<30 Kg/m2. Mean age 32.9±5 years, A1c<6% in both groups. Influence of BMI in different variables was analysed: family history of DM, weight gain during pregnancy; blood pressure, need of insulin, gestation age at the beginning of insulin...

Iodine deficiency in a geographical area can be quantified not only by urinary iodine excretion, but by the frequency of elevated TSH-levels in newborns, too. We compared the TSH-levels obtained between 2001–2003 with those collected after extension of universal salt-iodization with increased iodine-content (KIO3 34±8.5 mg-/kg) in the whole country (2004–2006). The governmental decision was adopted in 2002, implemented in practice in December 2003, an...