Endocrine Abstracts

A 30 year-old man was assessed for gynaecomastia. He had been treated for GH deficiency from the age of 3 to 16. His non-consanguineous parents were of short stature (maternal height 1.22 m, paternal height 1.58 m), as was a half-sister (1.55 m). The patient’s height was 1.55 m with an arm span of 1.48 m and his BMI was 31. Testicular volume was 18 mL and secondary sexual characteristics were normally developed. Lipomastia was diagnosed and subsequently treated surgically...

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor foratherosclerosis (1,2). Elevated plasma total homocysteine(t-Hcy) levels havebeen described in primary hypothyroidism (3,4). Subclinical hypothyroidismhas also been found to be associated with atherosclerosis (5).Hypothyroidism decreases hepatic levels of enzymes involved in theremethylation pathway of homocysteine and renal excretion of t-Hcy (6,7).The present study evaluates t-Hcy in sub...

Background: Mitotane (o,p’DDD) is the reference therapy for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and should undergo metabolization in o,p’DDE and o,p’DDA to exert its anti-proliferative activity. We have previously shown that there is a link between RRM1 gene expression and o,p’DDD activity in an adjuvant setting. Aim of this study was to assess whether RRM1 gene expression is correlated to the bioavailability and cytotoxic activity of o,p’DDD and its metabo...

Introduction: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (papillary and follicular) being the most common type of thyroid malignancy (80%), originates from the thyroglobuline secreting follicular cells. Medullary thyroid cancer derived from parafollicular C-cells producing calcitonin is relatively rare (5–10%). In this report we aimed to present a case with simultaneous papillary and medullary carcinoma in the same thyroid nodule.Case report: Sixty nine year ...

Systematic studies on the association of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), as pivotal disease and nonendocrine autoimmune diseases (NEAD) are scarce and mostly based only on the presence of circulating autoantibodies. In a large cohort of consecutive outpatients, AIT was diagnosed in 1541 (28.2%) and whenever additional autoimmune disorders were suspected, they underwent further screening. Diagnostic criteria were according with the Consensus Conferences for each suspected autoimm...

The complex etiology of hyperprolactinemia was represented, in our study group (426 cases hospitalized during the period 2000 – 2010; F/M ratio=372/54; age (years)=40.29±15.57), by the following entities: prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors (11.50%), growth hormone and prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors (1.64%), pituitary stalk compression (7.98%), primary myxedema (41.08%), polycystic ovary syndrome – PCOS (24.65%), iatrogenesis (8.69%) and chronic renal ins...

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for ~5–10% of thyroid cancers. Intense efforts are currently directed toward the identification of new druggable targets for the treatment of MTC. The aim of this study was to investigate whether drugs acting at voltage-gated T-type calcium channels could affect hormone release and/or cell proliferation in a MTC cell line, the TT cells. The expression of the three isoforms of T-type calcium channels (CaV3.1, CaV3.2 and CaV3.3) wa...

Background: Type 2 diabetes is often associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patients with NAFLD may be at greater risk for CVD than those without. The relationship between NAFLD and metabolic syndrome (MS) is very well recognized. The aim is to determine the association of NAFLD and the CVD between type 2 diabetic patients with and without MS.Materials and methods: One hundred and thirty type 2 diabetic patients (M: 71, F: 59, mean ag...

Introduction: Fenton reaction (Fe2++H2O2 →Fe3++ ′OH+OH−) is of special significance in the thyroid gland, as both its substrates, i.e. H2O2 and Fe2+, are required for thyroid hormone synthesis. Also iodine, an essential element supplied by the diet, is indispensable for thyroid hormone synthesis. It is well known that iodine affects red-ox balance. One of the most frequent...

Physical examination in thyroid diseases, should it be relied on?M Sadri, C Y Yiangou, A. DhandaDepartment of thyroid surgery Queen Alexandra Hospital, PortsmouthObjective: Assessment of the accuracy of physical examination performed by thyroid surgery team doctors at thyroid clinic.Method: Random review of 120 new referrals to thyroid clinic, with review of clinical findings on physica...