Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: Osteoporosis is common in postmenopausal women and in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). PHPT is more prevalent in postmenopausal women. Aim of the present study was to investigate possible predictors of bone mineral density (BMD) in women with PHPT.Methods: 166 consecutive women with PHPT [age: 59.5±13.5 years; Asymptomatic/Symptomatic: 84/82; premenopausal/postmenopausal: 31/135; BMI: 25.6±4.8 kg/m2; PTH: 234.2±287.3 pg/...

In acromegalic patients not suitable for first-line surgical treatment, pharmacotherapy is a valuable choice. Depot somatostatin analogs (SSA) represent efficacious and well-tolerated drugs; however, they normalize hormonal parameters in no more than 65–75%. Pegvisomant (PEGA), a GH receptor antagonist, has been shown to normalize IGF-I levels in more than 90% of patients. We report our experience in 13 acromegalic patients (7 M, 6 F; age: 50.2±3.9 yrs; 7 macroadenom...

Introduction: Experimental studies suggest that a circulating protein called TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) has the potential to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We have recently demonstrated that TRAIL delivery ameliorates T2DM in the high-fat diet-fed mouse. This study aimed at evaluating whether TRAIL had the potential to treat not only T2DM but also diabetic nephropathy.Methods/design: Based on this background, 15 male db/H mice ...

Introduction and aim: A prompt diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) in high-risk populations is mandatory: 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (1-mg DST); late night salivary cortisol (LNSC) and urinary free cortisol (UFC) are recommend, despite thresholds calculated in retrospective studies. Our aim was to study the diagnostic accuracy of LNSC measured with chemiluminescence assay in a prospective study, confirming discrepancies with mass spectrometry (MS).<p class="...

Background: ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas represent two-thirds of Cushing’s syndrome (CS), the so-called Cushing’s disease (CD). These tumors are sometimes >10 mm in maximal diameter (macro-CD), but the majority of them are <10 mm (micro-CD). The aim of this study was to compare baseline characteristics of patients with micro-CD and macro-CD.Materials and methods: Clinical, hormonal and radiological data of 226 patients with CD were...

Patients with adrenal insufficiency show higher mortality than in the general population, mainly due to non-physiological daily glucocorticoid overexposure and to inadequate cortisol exposure during stress-related events and illness. The aim of the current study is to compare the impact of 10 years of conventional glucocorticoid (GC) replacement treatment and dual-release hydrocortisone (DR-HC), on anthropometric, metabolic, cardiovascular and bone outcomes in treatment-na&#23...

Objective: In Cushing’s Syndrome, chronic glucocorticoid excess and their disrupted circadian rhythm lead to insulin-resistance, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular comorbidities. As undifferentiated, self-renewing progenitors of adipocytes, mesenchymal stem cells may display the detrimental effects of glucocorticoid excess, thus revealing a promising model to study molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic complications of Cushing’s Syndrome.<p cl...

Objective: Osteoporosis and vertebral fractures (VFs) are frequently observed in HIV-infected men. Whereas bisphosphonates seem effective on bone mineral density (BMD) maintenance in HIV-men, data on VFs are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of bisphosphonates on VFs in HIV-infected men.Design: Real-life longitudinal retrospective study on 118 consecutive HIV-infected males (median age at inclusion 53 years). Median time between first ...

Background: Dysnatremia is common in hospitalized patients, often worsening the prognosis in pneumopathies and critical illnesses, such as COVID-19. Here, hyponatremia is an indicator of pulmonary involvement, while hypernatremia is associated with worse assistance outcomes, particularly when resulting from an overcorrected hyponatremia. Longer hospitalizations, readmissions after discharge and higher short- and long-term mortality rates have been observed in acute patients ex...

Background: Thyroid dysfunctions are among the most common immune-related adverse events (irAEs) following the administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for malignancies. The pathogenesis of thyroid irAEs remains unclear and the clinical course can be multifaceted.Aim: Aims of this study were a) to describe the incidence and the clinical course of thyroid irAEs b) to determine the association between thyroid irAEs and overall survival (OS).</...