Endocrine Abstracts

It is well established that the kisspeptins are the main activators of GnRH neurons and therefore essential for the onset of puberty and reproduction. Previous studies have suggested that kisspeptin neurons are possibly major targets of pro-inflammatory cytokines to regulate reproduction. SOCS (suppressor of cytokine signaling) are proteins that regulate, as it says, cytokines. They inhibit the transduction of intracellular effects caused by those molecules, once that cytokine...

Introduction: Adrenal insufficiency requires life-long glucocorticoid replacement. Conventional therapies fail to mimic endogenous cortisol circadian rhythm. Clock genes are essential components of the molecular machinery controlling organ’s circadian function and are influenced by glucocorticoids. However, clock genes expression has never been investigated in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI).Aim: To evaluate the effect of the timing of gluc...

Background: Pituitary apoplexy is a relatively rare but important clinical syndrome which may be associated with acute headache, visual compromise and hypopituitarism. It can be the initial presentation of a previously unsuspected pituitary macroadenoma. Recognised risk factors include hypertension and the use of antiplatelet agents and/or anticoagulant therapy. It may be life-threatening, requiring emergency endocrine (e.g hydrocortisone) replacement therapy[1] and...

The brain plays a crucial role in maintaining the body’s energy needs, a process involving the activity of a group of hypothalamic neurons that express the neuropeptidergic marker pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). POMC neuronal dysfunction can cause obesity and its associated metabolic sequelae. However, this population of neurons is highly diverse at a molecular and functional level, and whether or not such heterogeneity is implicated in disease establishment or progression h...

Background/Introduction: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a severe complication of diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM) with potentially life-threatening course. Data on patient knowledge about DKA in German-speaking countries is rare. Thus, we aimed to gather data about T1DM patients’ knowledge in terms of DKA.Methods: Together with two T1DM patients and an experienced diabetes counselor, we developed an anonymous questionnaire covering general knowledge ...

Most differential diagnoses of unilateral adrenal lesions include non-functional adenoma, adrenocortical carcinoma or pheochromocytoma. Primary adrenal lymphoma(PAL) is an extremely uncommon type of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma(<1%). Most cases are bilateral (~75%), being unilateral PAL scarcely reported. The apparent unilateral involvement of this entity at presentation, in the CT scan/MRI may difficult the diagnosis, delaying the start of chemotherapy. ...

We present the case of a 36-year-old female with a focal neonatal hyperinsulinism diagnosed at birth in a context of hypoglycemia that was resistant to Diazoxide treatment. A subtotal pancreatectomy was performed and histology showed a focal hyperinsulinism. The mutation of ABCC8 was not searched at this point. The patient developed an insulin dependent diabetes at the age of 9 and required an insulin pump. In 2017 the patient was planning a pregnancy so she consulted a geneti...

Introduction: subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is an inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland causing transient thyrotoxicosis, characterized by neck pain and symptoms of thyroid hormones excess. Viral infections are considered the main trigger of SAT. SAT has also been described after vaccination against H1 N1 vaccine, seasonal influenza virus vaccine, Human Papillomavirus vaccine, and hepatitis B vaccination; more recently, a rising number of cases of SAT following SARS-CoV-2 vac...

Objectives: Mutations in the DICER1 gene represent driver events in development of pediatric thyroid nodules, malignant as well as benign. The occurrence of these mutations has been reported in differentiated thyroid carcinomas, poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas, non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasms with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTPs), multinodular goiters and follicular adenomas. The aim of this study was to detect mutations in DICER1 g...

COVID-19 pandemic obliged physicians to find out alternative options to classical pathways, to lower viral spread and related dangers as well as to cope with redeployment of personnel and resources. We describe here two cases in whom surgery for adrenal Cushing’s syndrome (CS) and pheochromocytoma (PHEO) was deferred due to the unavailability of surgical facilities.Case no 1: A 69-yo woman was evaluated for CS. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed...