Endocrine Abstracts

Background. The endothelial dysfunction prevalent in hypertension and diabetes is associated with an imbalance in the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (SO). NAD(P)H oxidase is the predominant source of SO in the vasculature. Objectives. To manipulate levels of SO using the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors, apocynin, phenyl arsine oxide (PAO) and 4(2aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride (AEBSF) and relate this to NO bioavailability. Methods. NO bioavailability was compared in...

Introduction: Classification of diabetes is challenging in some cases, especially in the presence of inaugural ketosis with a negative autoimmune laboratory test. The aim of our study is to determine the role of age, body mass index (BMI), and fasting plasma C-peptide (FCP) in the classification of diabetes.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 51 patients aged between 20 and 65 years hospitalized at the Endocrinology Departm...

Background: Obesity contributes to the occurrence of many metabolic and cardiovascular complications including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension etc. Body adiposity is not just an energy store, but also an endocrine organ with elaboration of hormones and cytokines. Some of these cytokines have been implicated in the initiation and propagation of inflammation, and hence atherosclerosis.Aim: This study examined the relationship between high-sensitivity C-react...

Aims and objective: Pegylated interferon is widely used in the treatment of hepatitis C. Thyroid dysfunction (TD) is a well recognised side effect of interferon treatment. As the use of interferon therapy in hepatitis C is on the rise, we conducted an audit to determine its prevalence and to formulate local guidelines for the monitoring and management of thyroid dysfunction in these patients.Methods: A case note based retrospective audit of all patients ...

Aims: We aimed to investigate IGF1 and IGFBP3 gene polymorphisms in patients with acromegaly.Methods: We included 34 patients with acromegaly and 37 healthy subjects to study. At baseline examinations, antropometric measurements were done. Genomic DNA from the patients and controls were prepared. Serum, glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, GH, IGF1 and IGFBP3 levels of subjects were analyzed.<p class="a...

Introduction: Several haemostatic disturbances have been described in obese patients. Nevertheless, the state of coagulation inhibitors has been scarcely studied in these patients. Activated protein C (APC) is the anticoagulant enzyme formed upon activation of the protein C (PC) by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex on the surface of endothelial cells. Morbid obesity is associated to endothelial dysfunction, which could cause a reduction in APC generation.<p class="abstex...

IntroductionDirect antiviral agents (DAAs) are a real revolution in the treatment of chronic hepatitis c (CHC). It is a short-term treatment with few side effects. Insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome, causes the onset of steatosis, contributes to the progression to cirrhosis and decreases the chances of a response to treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the response to DAAs in patients with metablic syndrome.<p class="ab...

Introduction: Patients with craniopharyngeoma often have disturbances of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis and serious comorbidities as obesity. We hypothesized, that the pattern of hormones regulating the nutritional status is worsened in adult patients with craniopharyngioma (CP) compared to adult patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA).Methods: We included 33 patients with CP (m=16, f=17, median age: 48 years (26–7...

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) represents a key paracrine member of the natriuretic peptide family that play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone and local blood flow. CNP is found abundantly in vascular endothelial cells and it is now clear that CNP can be released from the endothelium to act on adjacent cells, both in the vessel wall and the circulation. Thus, it has been shown that CNP hyperpolarises and dilates vascular smooth muscle in the mammalian resi...

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs) may occur as part of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome, or as a non-familial isolated endocrinopathy. Current medical treatments for PNETs are largely ineffective in preventing tumour progression, so there is a need for better therapies, which will develop from an improved understanding of the mechanisms driving PNET tumorigenesis. Cytokine-driven inflammation has been implicated in the development and progression...