Endocrine Abstracts

One of the causes of secondary osteoporosis is type 1 DM (1DM), an autoimmune disease where insulin replacement is mandatory for controlling blood sugar levels. Among the mechanisms involved in osteoporosis in 1DM is increased bone resorption, mainly osteoclasts being responsible for this process. However, osteoblasts also seem to have an active contribution by secreting products with resorptive properties, one of these being cysteine protease Cathepsin K, as mentioned by a fe...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) plays an important role in mediating the negative feedback effects of glucocorticoids on the HPA axis. In the anterior pituitary gland ANXA1 is localised mainly to the non-secretory folliculostellate (FS) cells. It is released from these cells by glucocorticoids and acts locally to suppress ACTH release from corticotrophs. Functional and histological studies suggest that the steroid-induced translocation of ANXA1 across the FS cell membrane is effected via me...

Osteoprotogerin (OPG) and the receptor activators of nuclear factor-kβ (RANK) and nuclear factor-kβ ligand (RANKL) play an important role in bone metabolism. RANKL binds to RANK, which is expressed by osteoclasts, whereas OPG acts as its decoy receptor, blocking the RANK–RANKL interaction.The aim of our study was to evaluate bone turnover parameters (serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathormone, osteocalcine, 24-...

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a rare endocrine emergency where early diagnosis of both hypokalaemia and thyrotoxicosis are vital to allow prompt treatment to prevent life-threatening complications and prevent recurrences. We present the first reported case of TPP in which four known stimulants of Na–K–ATPase acted simultaneously to produce profound hypokalaemia. A 32 year-old competitive body-builder took thyroxine supplements & a long-acting β2 ago...

It is generally accepted that hepatic responses to α-adrenergic agonists are dependent on the redistribution of intracellular and also extracellular Ca2+. Besides, phenylephrine induces significant K+ flux changes and plasma membrane hyperpolarisation. Earlier it was shown that K+ channel blockers as well as chelating of extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA could inhibit phenylephrine-induced metabolic responses and activation of mitoch...

Background: Primary aldosteronism is a common cause of arterial hypertension, but its underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. K+ is a key regulator of aldosterone secretion: it interacts with physiological secretagogues of aldosterone as angiotensin II (Ang II) end endothelin-1. In vivo genetic manipulation of a widely distributed class of channels, which generate background or ‘leak’ potassium (K+) currents, the twik-related acid-se...

Objective: This study aimed to compare US features and K-TIRADS categories for diagnosing isthmic and lobar PTCs.Methods: From January 2009 to December 2012, 163 patients who underwent thyroid surgery and were confirmed with a postoperative histopathological diagnosis of isthmic PTC were retrospectively included. Fifty-nine patients were excluded because their tumor size was < 0.5 cm, lack of preoperative thyroid US images, poor US image quality, and...

Thyroid hormones play an important role in bone metabolism. The potential action of prolonged levothyroxine therapy on bone mass reduction is stil a matter of debate.The aim of our one year prospective study was to elucidate whether longterm suppressive thyroid hormone therapy in patient with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) affects bone metabolism, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kβ ligand (sRANK-L) and is ...

Chronic inflammatory disease is often accompanied by angiogenesis and fibrosis. Glucocorticoids (GCs) exert anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects, in which macrophages are a major target. Local endogenous GC action is controlled by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD), with the type 1 isozyme, 11β-HSD1 converting inactive GCs into active forms. Mice deficient in 11β-HSD1 have a phenotype consistent with reduced glucocorticoid action, including...

K Morohashi, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan. AbstractKen Morohashi received a PhD from the Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University in 1986. After studying regulation of steroidogenic genes with Prof. Omura, he was invited as a professor of the Division of Sex Differentiation by the National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes for Natural Sciences in 1996. ...