Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: As antipsychotic drugs specifically block the D2 receptors, they induce a certain level of prolactin increase, dependent on the time it takes to dissociate from receptors. A recent review (Besnard et al, 2013) mentions that 18% of men and 47% of women treated with antipsychotics for severe mental illness had an increased prolactin level. Even if the long term effects of hyperprolactinemia can be severe, including low bone density, amenorrhea, breast and ...

Epidemiological studies have shown that plasma SHBG levels correlate with plasma adiponectin levels, both in men and women. To the best of our knowledge there are no reports describing any molecular mechanism by which adiponectin regulates hepatic SHBG production. The aim of the present study is to explore whether adiponectin regulates SHBG production by increasing HNF-4α levels through reducing hepatic lipid content. For this purpose, in vitro studies using huma...

Introduction: Uric acid may increase cardiovascular risk, exerting proinflammatory, pro-oxidant and proliferative actions at the endothelial cell level. Classic and non-classic cardiovascular risk markers cluster in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uric acid being proposed as one of them. The studies available at present regarding serum uric acid levels in PCOS patients are scarce and controversial. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between uric ...

GH deficiency (GHD) in adults is characterized by a tendency towards fat mass gain and may predispose to type 2 diabetes mellitus.GH replacement (GHR) is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity shortly after starting therapy, reflected by increased fasting glucose and insulin levels. Available evidence suggests that concerns regarding glucose intolerance in patients receiving long-term GHR have not been substantiated. However, several environmental and lifestyle-related f...

Introduction: Although for the last 2 decades we have witnessed a rise in the use of second generation antipsychotic treatment in children and adolescents suffering from psychiatric disorders we do not have enough studies in specialty literature to estimate the risks associated with this medication. Recent data and also our clinical experience shows that second generation antipsychotic drugs administration correlates with considerable weight gain and also with altering of gluc...

Growth hormone deficiency leads to profoundly decreased growth velocity and, when untreated, to pituitary dwarfism. We evaluated growth evolution for one to four years under rGH therapy (0.07 IU/kg/day, subcutaneously) at seventeen idiopathic pituitary dwarves with isolated GH deficiency, 13 boys and 4 girls, with a wide span of age at therapy onset (between 4 and 24 years old). Diagnosis was set subsequent to at least two negative GH stimulation tests. All patients were pre-p...

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is an uncommon complication of thyrotoxicosis especially in Caucasian women. It is most frequent in east asian and Japanese males and is characterized by recurrent episodes of motor weekness of variable intensity associated with hyperthyroidism. It is usually associated with low plasma potassium levels and is often precipitated by physical activity. This condition is a self limiting disorder that is cured by the treatment of the underlying hypert...

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an inherited disorder characterized by formation of neurofibromas in the skin, brain and other parts of the body, in association with skin pigment changes. It is well known that this condition may be a risk factor for short stature with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children, due to suprasellar lesions. We present the case report of a 9-year-old boy admitted in our Service for short stature (-2DS). Physical examination revealed ‘caf&...

Introduction: The current revised medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) guidelines don’t specify reference ranges of basal (bCT) or stimulated serum calcitonin (sCT) levels for the diagnosis of MTC. These are important for early diagnosis and correct management.Objective: We aimed to set gender specific thresholds for bCT and sCT for MTC diagnosis.Patients and methods: CT samples during calcium-stimulation test (2...

IntroductionOver time, different substances and protocols have been used and tested for stimulating calcitonin (CT). Some of them proved to be useful in diagnosing medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). However, these are associated with side-effects, with various duration, intensity and severity.ObjectiveTo report the side-effects observed during CT stimulation test with calcium (Ca) gluconate.<p class="abst...