Endocrine Abstracts

Patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) treated with oral calcium and active vitamin D metabolites are at risk of renal complications, because of the lack of action of PTH at the renal tubule. In the present study we evaluated 90 patients (68 females and 22 males; age: 51.8±14.1 yrs) with chronic postoperative Hypo (PO-HypoPT) diagnosed since at least 3 years. All patients were treated with calcitriol and 35 (39%) with oral calcium two patients were also treated...

Background: The concept of testosterone (T) supplementation (TS) as a new anti-obesity medication in men with testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is emerging.Aim: To systematically review and meta-analyze available observational and register studies reporting data on body composition in studies on TS in TDS.Methods: An extensive Medline Embase and Cochrane search was performed including the following words: ‘testosterone&#1...

Background: The role of testosterone (T) in regulating body composition is conflicting.Aim: To meta-analyze the effects of T supplementation (TS) on body composition and metabolic outcomes.Methods: All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of TS on different endpoints were considered.Results: Overall, 59 trials were included in the study enrolling 3029 and 2049 patients in TS and control gr...

Introduction: Conventional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors identify only half of subjects with incident major adverse CV events (MACE). Hence new markers are needed in high CV risk subjects, as those with erectile dysfunction (ED). A role for dynamic peak systolic velocity (D-PSV) at penile color Doppler ultrasound (PCDU) has been suggested, but it is operator-dependent and time-consuming. Flaccid penile acceleration (FPA) is a PCDU parameter that reflects PSV, the systolic r...

Introduction: Digito-rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate is provides useful information on the state of prostate growth and on the presence of suspected peripheral nodules. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical and biochemical correlates of finding an enlarged prostate size at DRE in subjects with sexual dysfunction (SD).Methods: A consecutive series of 2379 patients was retrospectively studied. The analysis was focused on a subset of su...

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a diagnostic category which identifies subjects at high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, erectile dysfunction (ED) and male hypogonadism. However, MetS impact on male infertility has been poorly studied. We systematically evaluated possible associations between MetS and clinical characteristics in men with couple infertility.Methods: Out of 367 consecutive subjects, 351 men (36.0±8.0 years) wi...

Introduction: Smoking habit has always been considered to exert a detrimental effect on male reproductive health. However, several studies do not clearly demonstrate a negative effect of smoke on semen parameters. In addition, the effect of smoke on male genital tract has been poorly studied by ultrasound (US). We evaluated the correlations of smoking with seminal and US characteristics in males of infertile couples. Methods. A consecutive series of 426 men was systematically ...

Introduction: Measurement of testis volume (TV) is a reliable clinical procedure that predicts reproductive fitness. However, the role of TV in overall and cardiovascular (CV) fitness has never been studied.Aim: The study aims to analyze the clinical correlates of TV in patients with sexual dysfunction (SD) and to verify the value of this parameter and its determinants (i.e., luteinizing hormone (LH) levels) in predicting major adverse CV events (MACE).<...

Introduction: Sexual dysfunctions (SD) are dictated by predisposing, precipitating, maintaining, and contextual factors, the latter of which can help sexual problems to emerge. Even if the lack of sexual privacy is one of the most common contextual issues, it has not been extensively studied.Aim: Investigation of sexual privacy in a large sample of men consulting for SD.Methods: A consecutive series of 3736 men, attending the Outpa...

Introduction: Growth Hormone deficiency (GHD) is frequent in patients with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy. GHD seems to depend on HIV-related lipodystrophy and to be less frequent in women.Aim of the study: To investigate the association of gender, body composition and GH/IGF1 axis, and to clarify whether GHD in HIV-infected patients is functional or a clinical entity.Methods...