Endocrine Abstracts

Does Iodide Modulate The Biological Outcome of Activating Thyrotropin Receptor Mutations?Dr. F. Al-Khafaji and Dr. M. LudgateHyperthyroidism is caused by pathogenic activation of the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) either by the thyroid stimulating antibodies of Graves' disease (GD) or activating TSHR mutations. These produce nodular goitre or familial hyperthyroidism. The pathogenic mechanism predominating varies according to the iodide intake, with nodular goitre account...

Since ancient times, physicians have speculated that balneotherapy (therapeutic bathing in medicinal and thermal springs) has a stress-relieving effect, but this has not yet been scientifically established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress-relieving effects of short-term balneotherapy in a controlled trial by measuring salivary cortisol as a sensitive stress marker. Forty-nine healthy probands were randomised into three intervention groups. Group one performed ...

In order to investigate the correlations between immunohistochemical picture with proliferative index (Ki-67), the clinical course and outcome of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas not cured by neurosurgery, we studied 41 consecutive acromegalic patients (M 12, F 29; aged 43±10.8 yr) previously undergone neurosurgical resection of adenoma. Two patients underwent neurosurgical intervention at least twice. Post-surgical follow-up ranged from 6 to 36 months and all patients rec...

Although GH has been implicated in the pathogenesis of retinopathy in diabetic subjects, the frequency of retinopathy in diabetic acromegalic subjects is deemed to be rare. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of retinopathy in hypersomatotropic patients.Subjects and methods: In total, 40 acromegalic diabetic patients (21 M, 19 F, mean age=50 years) underwent funduscopy to search for diabetic retinopathyResults: Among...

Context: 18-Oxocortisol (18-oxoF) is a derivative of cortisol that is produced by aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2). The potential for this steroid, as a biomarker for differentiating patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) from those with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA), has not been examined.Objectives: We measured 18-oxoF, aldosterone (A) and cortisol (F) in plasma from adrenal vein sampling (AVS) patients. We compared 18-oxoF and 18-oxoF/F...

Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rare neoplasms with heterogeneous clinical behavior and potential long-term survival. In the last decade GEP–NET nomenclature has been twice reviewed. However, the 2000 WHO classification had poor prognostic power in well differentiated (WD) neoplasms. This led to the introduction of two new important parameters by the European Neuroendocrine Tumors Society (ENETS), grade and stage; the former became part of t...

Ectopic adrenocorticotropin secretion (EAS) accounts for 10–15% of cases of Cushing’s syndrome and comprises a spectrum of lesions from highly malignant tumours to a variety of less aggressive neuroendocrine tumours. Selective removal of the primary lesion is the optimal management. It is therefore mandatory to localize the source of ectopic ACTH.As no single test is accurate enough to distinguish the ectopic from the pituitary sources of ACTH,...

Objective: to investigate whether periconceptual undernutrition in sheep alters the timing and activation of the fetal HPA axis and thus pregnancy duration. Preterm birth is a major health problem, but its causes are poorly understood.Methods: Twentyeight nulliparous ewes were randomly assigned to an ad libitum (N, n=8) or restricted diet (maternal body weight reduced by 15-20%; UN, N=10) from 61 d before to 30 d after mating. Therea...

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is characterized by an increased frequency of glucose tolerance abnormalities associated with insulin-resistance. Few studies evaluated the relationship between insulin resistance and others cardiovascular risk factors in pHPT.Subjects and methods: In 255 consecutive pHPT patients (M/F=66/189, age (mean±S.D.): 59.9±13.7 years, PTH: 215.6±219.4 pg/ml, calcium: 11.2±1.2 mg/...

Introduction: It has been reported that vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT), and this could affect the clinical expression of the disease. However only few studies addressed this issue and refer to American or North European patients. In these studies, only about one third of the patients showed a vitamin D replete state.Subjects and methods: In 207 consecutive pHPT patients (M/F=45/162, age (mean ±<sma...