Endocrine Abstracts

Our previous results demonstrate that estrogens increase the expression of death receptors TNFRI and Fas in the anterior pituitary and sensitize anterior pituitary cells to pro-apoptotic factors. c-FLIP is a protein that interacts with procaspases 8 and 10 modulating death receptor activity. In normal tissues, two isoforms of c-FLIP have been identified, the short isoform (c-FLIPs) and the long one (c-FLIPL). c-FLIPs has an anti-apoptotic action whereas c-FLIPL has either anti...

Previous studies in our laboratories suggest that Hypoxis hemerocallidea corm (African Potato) extract has a potential in the management of diabetes mellitus. Accordingly, we investigated the short-term effect of Hypoxis hemerocallidea corm ethanolic crude extract (APE) on blood glucose levels of Wistar rats (250–300 g b.wt). Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were conducted in five separate groups (n=6 in each group) of male Wistar rats (250–300 g b...

Central obesity is strongly associated with insulin resistance and chronic sub-clinical inflammation, which is implicated in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, the mechanisms underlying this link remain unclear. Recently JNK, a mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), has been implicated in obesity and insulin resistance by interfering with insulin action. Studies in rodent models show that phosphorylated JNK-1 is elevated in obesity, whilst the absence of JNK...

PTTG is tumourigenic in vivo and transactivates fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). We have previously identified expression of PTTG and FGF-2 as potential prognostic indicators for differentiated thyroid cancer. Critical to PTTG function is a double PXXP motif, forming a putative SH3-interacting domain. We employed cDNA array approaches to identify further genes regulated via this region. MCF12A cells were transiently transfected with vector-only (VO) control, wild-type (WT)-...

Objective: Fetal hyperinsulinemia correlated with large birth weight and impaired glucose tolerance test and obesity in second decades of life. In study we compared the correlation between Fetal Insulin production (as estimated by amniotic fluid (AF) C-peptide concentration) and AF Insulin with macrosomia (as estimated by neonatal birth weight >4000 gr).Methods: Thirty eight neonates was studied: Ten infants were macrosomia and twenty eight was norma...

Background: In the UK, NICE guidelines for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) recommend a greater than 50% reduction in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) as the therapeutic target. However, despite the availability of a range of lipid lowering medication, this target is often difficult to achieve and, more importantly, maintain life-long. Understanding factors that affect LDL-C target achievement is key to reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Currently, there...

Introduction: It is believed that key pathogenic mechanism of PCOS is hyperinsulinemia. Insulin synthesis is linked to C-peptide release, but the role of C-peptide in PCOS remains unknown.Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate of C-peptide serum levels in obese women with PCOS with concomitant assessment of possible link between C-peptide concentrations and metabolic disturbances and androgens levels in those individuals.Si...

Introduction: Recent experience of C-peptide testing in adults with longstanding diabetes has revealed misdiagnosis of monogenic diabetes as either type 1 or type 2 with important implications for quality of life and healthcare costs. Correct diagnosis earlier in life may be possible with the use of routine antibody testing at diagnosis and c-peptide measurement 3 years after initial diagnosis. Negative or low titres for all 3 antibodies suggest non-type 1 diabetes. Persistenc...

Introduction: LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. The Friedewald formula (FF) is limited by hypertriglyceridaemia. We aimed to correlate serum LDL-C measured by direct assay with serum LDL-C estimated by several formulas: Friedewald (FF): LDL-C=CT-HDL−TG/5; Tsai (TsaiF): LDL-C=TC-HDL−TG/8 (TG/8 represents very-LDL-C); DeLong (DeLongF): LDL-C=TC-HDL−TG×0.16 and Chen (ChenF): LDL-C=non-HDL-cholesterol×0.9−TG×...

Background: C-peptide therapy ameliorates sensory nerve function in T1DM neuropathy. Prolonged GLUT-4 translocation and delayed counter regulation can induce hypoglycemia. GLUT-2 protein is the primary hepatic liver transporter related to hepatic glucose regulation it also plays a role on glucose sensing by pancreatic beta cells, via hepatoportal sensors controlling the autonomic nervous system and stimulates glucagon secretion.Objective: To discuss the ...