Endocrine Abstracts

The importance of the Liver X receptors (LXRs) as a critical modulators of metabolic homeostasis and immunity in health and disease has been mainly gleaned from studies evaluating the consequences of their pharmacological or genetic manipulation. We previously showed LXRα is phosphorylated upon cholesterol loading. It is however unknown whether post-translational modifications of the receptor modulate diet-induced responses and affect metabolic diseases with an important ...

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare tumor, with incidence of 1–2 per million population annually, has a bimodal distribution by age, with cases clustering in children under 6, and in adults 30–40 years old. ACC has a dismal prognosis. The only curative treatment is complete surgical excision of the tumor, but late diagnosis prevents surgical cure, since ACC frequently recurs and metastasize. Chemotherapy is frequently ineffective, due to the overexpression of the ...

Excess glucocorticoids (GC) promote visceral obesity, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance. The main regulators of intracellular GC levels are 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), which converts inactive GC into bioactive forms such as cortisol in humans and corticosterone in rodents. Therefore, the inhibition of 11β-HSD1 has considerable therapeutic potential for metabolic diseases including obesity and diabetes. Benzofran is a key structure in ...

Secretion of GH by pituitary somatotropes is primarily stimulated by GHRH and ghrelin and inhibited by SST through the activation of specific receptors (GHRH-R, GHS-R and Sstr1-5, respectively). However, we have previously shown that SST, at low doses, can also stimulate GH release, directly and specifically, in primary pituitary cell cultures from baboons (Papio anubis) and pigs. To determine whether these primary regulators of GH release can also regulate directly the...

Estrogens play a protective role on the peripheral vascular endothelium in both females and males, however, no studies have reported on the effects of estrogens on male coronary arterial reactivity. We investigated the effects of estrogen therapy on coronary and endothelial function in a group of male to female transsexuals (M-to-F).Eight M-to-F transsexuals (group A), receiving oral estrogen therapy for 72 months were studied in comparison with 23 age-m...

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder, characterized by hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are well-documented features of the disease. In obese PCOS patients, family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (FH-DM) is shown to be related with a decrease in insulin sensitivity, however not much is known about lean PCOS cases. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between FH-DM and ...

Cannabinoids and ghrelin are potent appetite stimulators. The ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a), endocannabinoids and the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor are expressed in the hypothalamus. There is evidence that the novel CB1 antagonist, rimonabant, causes weight loss by both central and peripheral effects. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a sensor of cellular energy status and regulates the energy metabolism within the single cell but also at whole body level. We have shown p...

Introduction: The triad of primary hypothyroidism, precocious puberty and delayed bone age in children with cystic ovarian enlargement constitutes the syndrome of van wyk grumbach. Commonly reported as a rare complication of hypothyroidism in children, there are only a few case reports in adult population. Herewith, we are reporting the case of a 22-year-old hypothyroid lady, who presented with bilateral ovarian cysts. Considering hypothyroidism, a high risk for surgery, thyro...

Introduction: Radioiodine (RAI)-therapy for Graves’ disease (GD) is often followed by worsening autoimmunity, and the increase in TRAb may persist for several years. In pregnant women TRAb pass the placenta and may stimulate the fetal TSH receptor with a risk of fetal and neonatal hyperthyroidism.Case report: A 21-year old woman with GD was treated with RAI, and subsequently was euthyroid with L-T4-replacement. Before RAI-therapy, TRAb was 8 U/l (re...

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent predictor of new onset heart failure (HF) and adverse outcomes among patients with already existing HF. However mechanisms leading to impaired cardiac performance due to DM are still unclear.The purpose of investigation was to assess the influence of cardiac dyssynchrony (DYS) on systolic and diastolic function in patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with concomitant stable coronary artery dise...