Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) constitutes a key hormonal system in the physiological and pathological regulation of blood pressure. In effort to understand complex and multifunctional aspects of this system, current biochemical approaches target to characterize and define its various components with angiotensin II being in the mainstream.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate concentrations of angiotensin II in hype...

In secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI), the Synacthen test can give a false negative result. If disease is strongly suspected, an insulin hypoglycaemia test or Metyrapone (Metopirone) test should be carried out. Insulin test could be hazardous for patients with adrenal insufficiency (due to high risk of severe hypoglycaemia), so in our clinic we use overnight single-dose Metyrapone test. Although this test is easy to perform, measurement of 11-deoxycortisol concentration is ...

Introduction: Patients with connective tissue diseases are susceptible to the occurrence of side-effects of long term treatment with low-dose glucocorticoids as these medications often cannot be withdrawn due to exacerbation of the underlying disease. The new-onset of glucose metabolism impairment is not considered common in patients treated with low-dose glucocorticoids and the risk factors are thought to be the same as in general population: increasing age, obesity or family...

With the wide-spread use of abiraterone/enzalutamide for CRPC, there is an urgent need to understand and reverse resistance to these treatments. Studies have implicated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) as activating androgen receptor (AR) signalling and driving resistance. Here we studied progesterone receptor (PR), which is phylogenetically most closely related to the AR. We first used digital droplet PCR in prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and observed >10 times higher level...

Malignant transformation of the thyroid follicular cell in nodular goiter (NG) can lead to development of follicular adenoma (FA) or progression into: papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) or thyroid follicular cancer (FTC). Distinguishing follicular cell-derived thyroid tumors (FCDT) from NG on the molecular level can be especially helpful for underdetermined cytology (Bethesda III–IV) or FNAB with ‘follicular neoplasm’.Aim: Comparison of exp...

LH hyper-secretion, driven by increased GnRH pulsatility, underpins excess testosterone secretion – a key clinical feature of PCOS.The kisspeptin-neurokinin B (NKB)-GnRH pathway has emerged as the pivotal regulator of reproduction. We hypothesised that pharmacologic blockade of NKB may address the central pathophysiology of LH hyper-secretion and hyperandrogenism in PCOS. We undertook a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled multi-centre Phase...

The genetic instability, i.e. loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) are frequent molecular events in thyroid tumour aetiopathogenesis. They were found in several chromosomal critical areas, including 3p12–p21.2, 3p24.2–p25.3, 7q21.1–q31.2, 10q22–24, and 15q11–q13, with loci of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes.Aim of the study: Evaluation of usefulness of LOH/MSI as diagnostic/prognostic biomarker ...

The search for new differentiating biomarkers in follicular-cell derived thyroid tumors (FCDT), especially for the FNAB with underdetermined cytology, is an important scientific task. Disturbed expression of tumor suppressor genes plays important role in thyroid carcinogenesis. In this study we focused on epigenetic mechanism influencing on trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3 (TIMP3) expression.Aim of the study: Evaluatio...

Introduction: There is a substantial unmet clinical need for an accurate and effective blood biomarker for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs). Current monoanalyte biomarkers are ineffective. The NETest, a novel multianalyte signature, provides molecular information relevant to disease biology. We therefore evaluated, under real-world conditions, the clinical utility of the NETest as a liquid biopsy in GEP-NETs.Aim(s): Independently ...

Introduction: Endocrine disorders and kidney diseases can coexist. Some of these have a common pathophysiological background. Strategies for treating endocrinopathy or glomerulonephritis (GN) may affect the function of the endocrine system and kidney.Aim: The study was aimed to assess the correlation of kidney biopsy results performed in people with suspected GN with thyroid function, metabolic syndrome and diabetes occurrence.Mate...