Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Obesity as a pro-inflammatory state is associated to increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). CPR is considered as a cardiovascular (CV) risk independent marker and is being researched as a predictive atherosclerosis biomarker in obese children. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a three classes approach when aiming at CV risk stratification (low <1.0 mg/l; moderate 1.0–3.0 mg/l; and high >3.0 mg/l). These classes were extrapolated ...

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), the predominant natriuretic peptide in the pituitary, is associated with neuroendocrine development and function. Our previous studies show that genes encoding CNP (nppc2, cnp3, nppc4, and nppcl) are expressed during pituitary development in humans and zebrafish (Danio rerio), however a precise role for CNP in the pituitary has yet to be elucidated. Using the versatile zebrafish, we explored in ...

Introduction: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase reactant that shares structural and functional homology with C-reactive protein (CRP). However, unlike CRP, which is synthesized mainly in the liver, PTX3 is produced at the site of inflammation. It has been suggested that PTX3 plays the same role in the periphery that CRP does in circulation. PTX3 may represent a rapid marker for local inflammation.Methods: Fifty three patients with stable coronary arte...

Introduction: Hypogonadism is associated with metabolic syndrome and all its individual components. This study analysed effects of normalization of serum testosterone in mainly elderly, hypogonadal men.Methods: Prospective registry study of 252 men (mean age 60.6±8.0 years), with testosterone levels between ≤3.5 ng/ml. They received parenteral testosterone undecanoate 1000 mg at day 1, week 6 and every 12 weeks thereafter for up to 66 months.<...

Introduction: Recent studies have elucidated that C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), a member of natriuretic peptide family, is a potent stimulator of endochondral bone growth; CNP and its membranous guanylyl cyclase receptor, GC-B are expressed in growth plate, and mice with targeted overexpression of CNP in growth plate exhibit prominent skeletal overgrowth, whereas CNP or GC-B knockout mice develop severely short stature phenotype owing to their impaired endochondral bone gr...

Background: Conventional management of Interferon-α-Induced Hyperthyroidism (IIH) with radioactive iodine (RAI) may be used when treatment with β blockers or antithyroid drugs (ATD), proves ineffective or is contraindicated.Case presentation: We present a 38-year-old woman who has been treated with combined pegylated interferon alpha (INF-α) and Ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. Destructive thyrotoxicosis appeared after four months of con...

Objective: to assess the frequency and pattern of thyroid dysfunctions (TD) in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) with and without interferon alpha (IFN) therapy.Methods: thyroid function as well as thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO Ab) were assessed in 40 untreated Chronic HCV patients (HCV group), 30 HCV patients under IFN alpha therapy, for more than three months (IFN group) and 50 healthy age and sex matched controls.</...

Background: The presence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality but few data is available on the outcome in subjects with the MS and subclinical atherosclerosis.Aim: We aimed to assess cardio- and cerebro-vascular events in subjects with MS and subclinical atherosclerosis.Methods: We followed-up for 5 years 339 subjects with asymptomatic carotid intima-media thickness >0.9 mm, of whom 13...

Mammalian pituitary gland development is well established on a molecular and morphological level. In developmental biology the use of chick and zebrafish models is common but despite chicken pituitary gland development being characterised in 1952 these models have only recently been regularly employed in pituitary studies. The third member of the natriuretic peptide family, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), has been investigated in rodent embryos but little is known about its ...

Introduction and aims: Recent epidemiological studies have suggested serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) within its normal range might be an early marker of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress appears to be a key component of many reactions associated with chronic inflammation. Obesity is associated with elevated levels of biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Oxidative stress and inflammation are also known to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of vasc...