Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Everolimus is an oral mTOR inhibitor that exerts antineoplastic effects inhibiting cell proliferation, survival and angiogenesis. Its activity in advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) has been demonstrated in controlled trials and everolimus was approved by the FDA for the treatment of progressive, advanced pNETs in May 2011.Materials and methods: We treated with everolimus, at the dosage of 10 mg once daily, 14 patients with advanced, prog...

ICH is a rare and heterogeneous condition due to defects in the onthogenesis, migration and action of GnRH secreting neurons. Recent publications indicate that ICH, though characterized by a strong genetic component, is a disease of multifactorial origin. Indeed, digenic and oligogenic defects have been described as a possible pathogenic explanation for this disease. Among the cohort of 315 ICH patients we identified 3 KS and 7 nICH patients (7 males, 3 females) with a biallel...

Introduction: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor in which somatostatin receptor (sst) expression is higher for sst1 and sst5 than for sst2. This may explain why the available sst2–selective analogues do not work in these patients and why pasireotide (SOM230), a novel, multi-receptor targeted somatostatin analogue with high-binding affinity for sst1,2,3 and sst5 coul...

The pharmacological blockade of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) has been shown to counteract diet induced obesity (DIO). An unsolved question is whether the effects of CB1 blockade on energy balance are due to peripheral or central mechanisms. This is an important clinical issue since the CB1 antagonist drugs have recently been withdrawn from the market due to their psychiatric side effects, and novel drugs selectively acting at peripheral le...

Introduction: Although testosterone has been suggested to play a protective role against the development of atherosclerosis, studies demonstrating an association between low testosterone, and incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) are scanty in the general population and absent in subjects with erectile dysfunction (ED). The aim of this study is to investigate whether low testosterone in subjects with ED predict incident fatal or non fatal MACE.<p class="abste...

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) and, in particular, arteriogenic ED have been proposed as new markers of risk for incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Reduced penile blood flow is more common in obese people than in leaner ED subjects. The aim of this study is to explore the interaction of overweight/obesity and penile blood flow in the prediction of incident MACE.Methods: This is an observational prospective cohort study evaluati...

Introduction: No study has ever assessed the possible association of penile blood flow (PBF) and the relational component of sexual function with incident major cardiovascular events (MACE). The aim of this study is to investigate whether severity of erectile dysfunction (ED), PBF and other factors related to a couple’s relationship predict incident (MACE).Methods: A subset of 1687 patients was longitudinal studied. Different clinical, biochemical a...

Introduction: Concern about a testosterone-induced PSA increase is often perceived as one of the main limitations in treating hypogonadism even when it is symptomatic, such as in subjects with sexual dysfunction (SD). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between testosterone (T) and PSA levels in subjects with SD.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between T and PSA in 2291 subjects seeking medical care at our O...

Introduction: While the association of Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) with infertility is well known, very few investigations have evaluated the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in KS. The aim of the present study is to systematically analyse the prevalence of KS in a consecutive series of adult male patients consulting for sexual problems and to investigate its specific correlates.Methods: Among a consecutive series of 1386 patients (mean age 48.9&#17...

Aims: Recently, the endocannabinoid system emerged as a pivotal regulator of food intake, ingestive behavior and energy metabolism, acting through CB1 and its endogenous ligands, the endocannabinoids. CB1 antagonists may reduce body weight and improve metabolic profiles in animals and humans by a double mechanism: at first, they target mesolimbic and hypothalamic nuclei and, thereafter, peripheral organs involved in energy storage and expenditure. Nevertheless, it is still unk...