Endocrine Abstracts

Thyroid C-cells, as a second type of endocrine cell population within thyroid, produce and secrete peptide hormone calcitonin (CT). This hypocalcemic hormone acts as an inhibitor of bone resorption. The aging is a complex process that alters various cellular functions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the aging-related changes in the structure and function of CT-producing thyroid C-cells in male Wistar rats, using histomorphometric, ultrastructural and biochemic...

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...

Background and aims: DM2 has been associated with altered levels of trace elements and a prothrombotic state. We investigated the effect of a 28-day Greek mediterranean diet (rich in fiber, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids and complex carbohydrates) on serum concentration of trace ele-ments and blood factors participating in coagulation and fibrinolysis in 58 patients with DM2.Materials and methods: Blood trace elements and blood coagulation fac-tor...

A 75 year old woman was treated for over three years with the somatostatin analogue, octreotide for insulinoma. She had presented in a hypoglycaemic coma. C-peptide and insulin levels were both raised. Cortisol, TSH, a gut hormone screen and urinary sulphonylurea levels were all normal. No adenoma was identified on CT or MRI scanning but angiography showed an area of increased vascularity within the pancreas. At laparotomy no lesion was found and no resection was undertaken. B...

Studies have demonstrated that ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) subunits SUR2A (sulfonylurea receptor) and KIR6.2 are involved in glucose uptake into skeletal muscle. It is known that the glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression is highest in oxidative type I fibers, pointing out the important role of oxidative muscles as glucose uptakes. Considering these aspects the aim of this study was to investigate whether KATP channel can influence glucose uptake in oxidative musc...

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...

Objectives: To investigate how the immune associations (IA) may have significance for diagnosis or therapy in thyroiditis.Material and method: Patients: A. ‘Classical’ Hashimoto thyroiditis (hyper-ATPO-emia, HT) =1092, B. thyroiditis with isolated hyper-ATG-emia, with normal ATPO (T-ATG) =61, C. thyroiditis ‘sero-negative’ (normal ATPO and ATG, pathology diagnosis) =5, D. idiopathic myxedema (hypothyroidism, no A, B,C) =70; E. control...

Introduction: Primary empty sella (PES) is a frequent ‘incidental’ finding reported in 5–25% of general population and is associated with endocrine abnormalities in 8–60% of cases. In this collaborative multicentric study we evaluated cardiovascular risk by assessing clinical characteristics, glucidic profile and lipid parameters.Design: A total of 94 PES patients (39M-55F; mean age 50.3±0.9 years; mean BMI 28.9±0.5 kg/m<sup...

Introduction: Recent data suggest a reciprocal influence between bone and energy metabolism. Mediators have been identified as osteocalcin (OC), which stimulates insulin (IRI) secretion and activity and IRI as bone anabolic factor. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) stimulates bone turnover, induces osteoporosis and is associated with increased IRI resistance. A positive relationship between OC and IRI sensitivity has been found in PHPT, but no data exist on the relationship b...

Introduction: Mechanism underlying glucose-mediated development and progression of diabetic complication are incompletely understood. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a hormone released by atrial myocytes in response to acute and chronic extracellular volume expansion. Moderate hyperglycaemia (>400 mg/dl) in diabetic rats is associated with an elevation in circulating ANP levels and in GFR (glomerular filtration rate), (1) and play a role in the development of microalbu...