Endocrine Abstracts

Autoimmune encephalitides are being increasingly recognised as important and potentially reversible non-infectious causes of the encephalitic syndrome. Myriad of clinical presentation and lack of symptom specificity leads to a wide differential diagnosis. Failure to diagnose the correct aetiology of an encephalitic syndrome can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. A 57 years old right handed female with no significant medical problems initially presented with left side...

Since the advent of effective combined antiretroviral therapy (ART), mortality due to HIV disease has significantly declined. Changing trends in HIV-associated morbidity is surfacing, firstly due to the effect of HIV on virtually every human organ system and secondly due to improved life expectancy and consequent development of natural co-morbid illnesses. HIV associated endocrinopathies and metabolic diseases pose a significant disease burden in these patients. We discuss thr...

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously known as Wegener’s granulomatosis, is a rare heterogeneous vasculitic disease characterised by necrotising granulomatous inflammation typically affecting lungs and kidneys. GPA affecting pituitary is rare and usually results in posterior pituitary involvement causing diabetes insipidus. We describe a case of GPA, presenting with pituitary involvement causing headaches and anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies.<p cla...

Background: Mullerian agenesis or Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a congenital failure of the Mullerian duct to develop, resulting in complete or partial absence of the cervix, uterus, and vagina. It can be isolated (MRKH type I) or associated with renal, vertebral, and, to a lesser extent, auditory and cardiac defects (MRKH type II). Pituitary disease is not a known association. We report a patient who has isolated MRKH syndrome (MRKH type I) and a pituitary...

GH levels decline with age and weight gain and are enhanced in response to nutrient deprivation. Under these circumstances, GH levels are negatively correlated with IGF1 and insulin levels. Since IGF1 and insulin can directly inhibit GH synthesis and release from primary pituitary cells of different species, it is commonly accepted that changes in circulating IGF1 and insulin serve to directly regulate somatotrope function in response to metabolic extremes. However, teasing ap...

Background and aims: Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic inflammatory condition where the key feature is the alveolar bone loss. Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor in the occurrence of PD and vitamin D has been found to play a role in the development of diseases such as PD for its immunomoduratory and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between PD and vitamin D levels in type 1 diabetic patients.S...

Background: Recent reports suggest that female sex could be an indicator of better response to liraglutide in patients included in clinical trials.Aim: To compare efficacy of liraglutide in women and men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in real clinical practice.Patients and methods: Our study included 116 patients with T2DM and obesity (BMI >30) attending outpatient clinic, which initiated with liraglutide (0.6 mg/daily f...

Hypophagia and increased energy expenditure under inflammatory condition, such as observed after bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration, are associated with activation of JAK2–STAT3 signaling in the CNS. High fat diet (HFD) is known to induce hypothalamic resistance to leptin signaling mediated by JAK2–STAT3 pathway. In this study we investigated the expression of p-STAT3 in the hypothalamus and brainstem of HFD treated animals under LPS (100 μg/kg) s...

Background: Obesity represents a cardiovascular risk factor. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a known regulator of monocyte recruitment to sites of inflammation, and participates at the early phases of atherogenesis. Apolipoproteins, as part of the lipoprotein particles, are classically coupled with cardiovascular risk distinction.Aims: To assess the association of anthropometric parameters, insulin resistance and MCP-1 levels with classic l...

Introduction: Medical therapy of acromegaly is indicated in patients who failed to achieve remission after surgery, with contraindication or refusal for surgical therapy or following radiotherapy in order to bridge the interval until complete remission.Objective: Evaluate the medical therapy – somatostatin analogs (SSA), dopamine agonist (DAs) and GH receptor-antagonist (Pegvisomant) – in acromegalic patients followed from 1988–2011.<p...