Endocrine Abstracts

The acylated form of ghrelin (GRLN) was discovered as the natural ligand of the GHS-R1a. GRLN is acylated by a specific octanoyl-transferase (GOAT) and is predominantly produced by the stomach, although expressed by many other endocrine and non-endocrine, peripheral and central tissues. Also GHS-R1is widely expressed by several central and peripheral tissues. Acylated GRLN displays strong GH-releasing activity but is not specific for GH exhibiting other neuroendocrine actions ...

Objectives: To compare the diabetic (DM) (n=124) and non diabetic (nonDM) (n=63) patients on haemodialysis (HD) in terms of renal bone disease (RBD) control.Methods: Retrospective case-note review of 187 HD patients. The National Kidney Foundation guidelines for chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD-5) were used, with target levels for parathormone (PTH) 16.5–33 pmol/l, calcium 2.1–2.35 mmols/l and phosphate 1.78 mmols/l.<p clas...

Objectives: To compare the non diabetic (nonDM; n=124) and diabetic (DM; n=63) patients on haemodialysis (HD) in terms of blood pressure(BP) control.Methods: Retrospective case-note review of 187 HD patients. For statistical analysis the unpaired t-test was employed.Results: Antihypertensive treatment was given to 58.8% of the nonDM and 82.5% of the DM group. In the nonDM and DM groups on antihypertensive treat...

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The glycoprotein hormones are proteins comprising a common alpha subunit and specific beta subunits having substantial sequence similarity. The glycoprotein hormone receptors (GPHr) (FSH, LH/CG and TSH receptors) present a bipartite structure, with a large extracellular domain (ECD) responsible for high affinity hormone binding and a carboxylterminal serpentine region, shared by G-protein-coupled-receptors (GPCRs), implicated in transmission of the activation signal. Mutagenes...

2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the term hormone by Ernest Starling. Although its biological effects were known since antiquity, the name testosterone (T) was coined only in 1935, when Ernest Laqueur isolated it from bull testes. The road to this isolation was long: John Hunter had transplanted testes into capons in 1786 and Adolph Berthold postulated internal secretion from his testicular transplantation experiments in 1849. Following his obs...

Models of estrogen insufficiency have revealed new and unexpected roles for estrogens in both males and females. These models include knockouts of aromatase in mice (the ArKO mouse) as well as of the estrogen receptors (ERKO mice). There are also a number of individuals with natural mutations in the aromatase gene, as well as one man with a mutation in the ERa receptor. Some of these roles of estrogens apply equally to males and females and do not relate to reproduction, for e...

Ghrelin is a peptide predominantly produced by the stomach although expressed by many other tissues. Its secretion undergoes fluctuations, is stimulated by fasting and energy restriction, reduced by food intake, glucose, insulin and somatostatin. Ghrelin secretion is negatively associated to body mass. Ghrelin was discovered as natural ligand of the GHS1a receptor specific for synthetic GH Secretagogues (GHS); however, ghrelin is much more than a natural GHS. GHS-R1a expressio...

Ezio Ghigo, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Molinette Hospital, C.so Dogliotti 14, 10126 Torino, Italy AbstractEzio Ghigo graduated in Medicine from the University of Turin in 1979 and received his postgraduate qualification in Endocrinology and Metabolism in 1982. He became a Full Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism in 1999 and has been Chairman of ...