Endocrine Abstracts

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of secondary hypertension. Although decline in renal function especially that experienced after adrenalectomy (ADX) has been demonstrated, details of the mechanism remain to be elucidated. Aim of the study was to investigate the factors predicting renal outcome after ADX in PA. Twenty patients with PA and four patients with non-functioning adrenal tumor (NFT) as control were studied. eGFR, serum potassium, plasma aldosterone ...

Background: It has been shown that hypothyroidism is associated with atherosclerosis. The presence of atherosclerosis process could be registered by use of some Doppler Ultrasound parameters (DUP) – intima-media complex thickness (IMCT) and systolic velocity (SV). In this study we present initial DUP on the lower limb artery in treatment-naïve hypothyroid females and the influence of thyroid hormone levels and some metabolic components.Methods ...

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate left atrial mechanical function (LAMF) and to associate these measurements with diastolic function in subclinical (SHT) and overt hypothyroidism (OHT).Methods: Twenty-six newly diagnosed patients with SHT (20F, 6M, mean age 42.2±12.5 years), 21 patients with OHT (17F, mean age 40.2±8.5 years) and 28 healthy volunteers (control group, 21F, 42.4±11.2 years) were enrolled in this st...

Physiological circulating concentrations of estrogens are very low in men and postmenopausal women (<50 pg/ml), which presenting analytical challenges. Immunoassays can detect as low as 30 pg/ml, but cross-reactivity is a concern. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) offers greater specificity than immunoassays, but ionisation of estrogens is inefficient. Derivatisation, which introduces charged moieties, may enhance ionisation. Dansylated de...

Somatostatin (sst) receptors are expressed in many tissues and multiple subtypes are often present in the same cells. Their activation by endogenous sst as well as by sst-analogues leads to inhibition of secretion and growth in some tumor, such as the neuroedocrine ones.Pheochromocytomas (Pheos) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are neural crest-derived tumors which can be sympathetic or parasympathetic in origin and present themselves as sporadic or familial. T...

Organ-specific autoantibodies have been detected in patients with autoimmune diseases. The relationship between pituitary autoantibodies and lymphocitic hypophysitis has not yet been established and it is not clear if they are a specific serological marker of the disease.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of pituitary autoantibodies in patients affected by autoimmune and nodular thyroid disorders.803 patien...

Hypothalamic neuropeptide PACAP is a potent endogenous stimulator of adenylate cyclase synthesis in gonadotrope cells. Previously we found that, in contrast to GnRH, also Cu–GnRH complex is able to induce cAMP/PKA pathway activity.The aim of the study was to determine whether Cu–GnRH can act via GnRH-R and/or PAC-1 receptors to stimulate cAMP/PKA intracellular signaling. Moreover, we compared PACAP and Cu–GnRH ability to activate cGMP/PKG ...

Introduction: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is part of the spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NASH commonly occurs in patients with type 2 DM and is less recognised in type 1 DM. The natural history of NASH in adult patients suggests potential development of progressive fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, secondary glycogenosis, commonly occurs in type 1 DM, is reversible when good glycaemic control is achieved, but may be misidentified as NASH b...

Background: 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSD1&2) interconvert cortisol (F) and cortisone (E). Although 11β-HSD1 reductase activity has been measured in vivo, E production (dehydrogenase activity) has not been quantified using a Gold Standard technique, steady state tracer infusion.Aim: To develop a method to measure E production in vivo using the stable isotope tracer d2-cortisone (d2E).Me...

Introduction: Bone metabolism is impaired in several lipid storage diseases. At now no data are available in Fabry disease (FD), a genetic lipid storage disease characterized by systemic accumulation of glicolipids. The aim of this study was to evaluate bone metabolism and calcium/vitamin-D pathway in patients with FD.Methods/design: Study population included 15 FD patients (8 M and 7 F, age 28–59 years) and 15 sex-, age- and BMI-matched normal subj...