Endocrine Abstracts

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with features of the insulin resistance syndrome and altered glucose homeostasis. Factors that play an important role in these processes are still emerging. Pro-inflammatory cytokines may be involved in development of insulin resistance in PCOS. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), hepatocyte growth fa...

Objective: Androgen may be detrimental for vascular health in women. Sensitivity to androgen is influenced by the CAG repeat length of the androgen receptor (AR) gene. We investigated possible associations between the CAG repeat polymorphism with the severity of CAD in women undergoing coronary angiography.Methods: We examined 131 postmenopausal women (45–88 years). CAD severity was assessed by the number of coronary vessels with >50% stenosis. ...

Insulin hypersecretion during oral or intravenous glucose tolerance test (OGTT, ivGTT) was described previously in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Little attention was given to the regulation of insulin secretion in these subjects. We aimed to study the secretion of incretins (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, GIP, glucagon-like peptide 1, GLP-1), during OGTT in normoglucose-tolerant PCOS women.After signing written informed cons...

Introduction: Melatonin plays a key role in the circadian timing system. The question remains whether changes in endogenous melatonin may be associated with food intake. Orexin and ghrelin are involved in the regulation of energetic homeostasis. Therefore, we decided to obtain more detailed data on the circadian changes of orexin, ghrelin and melatonin for identification of the changes in these hormones to food intake and day-time, together with glycemic and C-peptide levels.<...

Introduction: Aim: it is known that environmental factors are involved in the development of goiter. A high number of goitrous patients was identified among patients attending the general medicine outpatients’ in a mountainous region in Albania. We examined possible associations of thyroid enlargement with nutritional factors.Methods: One hundred and twelve consecutive patients (mean age 52.8±12.1, 104 female) attending the outpatients of the G...

Objective: Androgen may be detrimental in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. We investigated possible associations between the (TAAAA)n polymorphism of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) gene promoter, which influences transcriptional efficiency of the SHBG gene and the severity of CAD in women.Methods: One hundred and twenty women (37–82 yrs), undergoing coronary angiography. CAD severity, history of angina, myocardial infa...

Objective: The association of SHBG levels with obesity, hyperinsulinemia and metabolic abnormalities is well recognized in both men and women. Recent data suggest that SHBG levels are an important predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Several methods have been used for the measurement of adiposity including ultrasonography (U/S) which is a reliable and low-cost method. We used U/S to assess regional adiposity and investigated possible associations with SHBG levels.</...

Detailed information on adrenal function in autoimmune Type 1 diabetes with onset in adults is still lacking. This work aimed at gathering own data on adrenal response to low-dose (1 μg) ACTH in blood and saliva.Twenty-three diabetics were investigated; age 44±10 yrs (mean ± S.D.), age at diagnosis 28.5±10 yr, disease duration 15±8 yr, BMI 24.5±2.7 kg/cm2, HbA1c 7.2±1.2%....

Aim: To examine the secretion of insulin and glucagon in PCOS in the context of insulin sensitivity.Patients and methods: 13 healthy women (BMI 21.8(2.2) kg/m2), 21 PCOS without family history of DM2 (FH-); BMI 24.3 (4.4) kg/m2 and 16 PCOS with the 1st degree relative affected by DM2 (FH+); BMI 26.7 (4.2) kg/m2. Euglyceamic hyperinsulinaemic clamp (1mIU kg−1.min−1; with the determination ...

Aim and background: Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP 4) is an adipocyte-secreted molecule causing insulin resistance in transgenic animals. RBP was increased in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes type 2. The levels of RBP-4 in PCOS were not investigated till now.Subjects and methods16 lean PCOS (BMI 21.4 (1.75) kg/m2, age 24.1 (4.1) years), 25 obese PCOS (BMI 30.3 (4.8) kg/m2, age 26.3 (5.0) years) and 13 healthy wo...