Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disorder. Currently, various biologic agents are administered in PsA patients, improving significantly disease manifestations as well as quality of life. Biologic treatment may have an effect on lipid profile and the cardiovascular risk in the disease.Aim: The aim was to follow-up a group of PsA patients and to evaluate comorbidities, lipid profile and cardiovascular risk and the ef...

Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone known for its skeletal effects. Recently, the extraskeletal effects of vitamin D are under investigation. Vitamin D is thought to exert an immunomodulatory effect, having multiple effects on the immune system. It is known to induce immune tolerance and also to enhance the immune response to bacteria.The aim was to study the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on interferon I secretion by human mononuclear cells ...

Tocilizumab is an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is known to induce remission and inhibit radiographic progression in RA. Tocilizumab may be administered either intravenously or subcutaneously. Its effect on lipid levels and the cardiovascular risk has not been fully investigated. The aim was to study the effect of tocilizumab i.v. on disease activity, lipid levels and cardiovascular risk in RA patients.<p class="ab...

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a chronic and dangerous disease, as it may be silent and may express itself with a sudden catastrophic event, such as a fracture. Treatment of osteoporosis demands the use of potent pharmaceutical agents with long lasting effects. In particular, bisphosphonates, such as ibandronate, may be used. It has become evident that chronic treatment with anti-osteoporotic agents may reverse the course of the disease, patients having normal bone mineral dens...

Introduction: Barrett’s esophagus is metaplasia in the cells of the lower end of the esophagus. It is characterized by the replacement of the normal stratified squamous epithelium lining of the esophagus by simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells. The disease is often related to gastroesophageal reflux and patients have pain necessitating chronic usage of proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors have been associated with the development of low bone mineral dens...

Introduction: Vitamin D is currently known for its effects on the bone and muscle systems as well as for its pleiotropic and antiproliferative effects. The relationship between vitamin D and diabetes mellitus is in the focus of scientific research. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be associated with the development of diabetes mellitus type 1 as well as with poor glycemic control in diabetes mellitus type 2.Aim: The aim was to study the effect of v...

Introduction: Melatonin is a hormone mainly synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland. It is involved in the orchestration of circadian rhythms its levels being elevated during the hours of darkness in the human. Melatonin may have other pleiotropic functions in the human organism. In particular, it may be involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism and the pathogenesis of diabetes.Aim: The aim was to study the effect of melatonin on rat islet ce...

Introduction: Adrenal myelolipoma is an extremely rare benign adrenal tumor. Adrenal myelolipoma is characterized by the presence within the adrenal gland of mature adipose tissue and active bone marrow elements. Owing to their non-functional nature most cases are incidental, either at autopsy or through computer tomography scan. Occasionally the lesions attain a large size to become clinically apparent. Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder affecting approximately 1...

Introduction: Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by the formation of tumors and cysts in diverse organ systems. Tumors may be malignant or benign and they tend to appear during young adulthood. Hemangioblastomas are characteristic of VHL syndrome.Aim: The aim was to describe the case of a patient with VHL syndrome presenting with musculoskeletal manifestations and multiple tumors.Case report: A ...

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been reported to be widely found within the population. Vitamin D deficiency was also found to be prevalent in patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Vitamin D deficiency was reported in almost all patients with acute myocardial infarction in a US multicenter study. Low concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are reported to be an independent risk factor for ca...