Endocrine Abstracts

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) are interesting pharmacological targets for the treatment of liver and metabolic diseases. FXR-deficient mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) exhibit massive hepatic steatosis, necro-inflammation and fibrogenesis. Moreover, pharmacological activation of TGR5 in mice promotes protective mechanisms in biliary epithelial cells and inhibits hepatic and systemic inflammation. Thus, we hypothesized that a FXR/TGR5 du...

Aim: To evaluate calcium and bone metabolism in a monocentric series of acromegaly patients (pts), treated with pegvisomant (PEG) alone or in association to long acting somatostatine analogs.Patients and methods: All pts with at least 24 consecutive months PEG treatment (alone or in combination with SSA) were enrolled. All pts had been tested at least twice/year for biochemical acromegaly-disease evaluation and annually for calcium metabolism and for bon...

Background: Patients on long-term glucocorticoid treatment are at risk of adrenal insufficiency during glucocorticoid treatment. The side effect can occur during glucocorticoid treatment if there is a mismatch between glucocorticoid requirements and production/intake. High-dose glucocorticoid treatment is often sufficient to overcome most stressful situations. A low-dose of 5 mg prednisolone/day is however, equivalent to 20 mg hydrocortisone, a dose often used as basal glucoco...

Objective: We aimed to assess the prevalence of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency in prednisolone treated patients, and its relation to glucocorticoid dose and duration of treatment.Subjects and measures: As part of a larger study 48 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (33 women, aged 34–85 years) treated with a mean prednisolone dose of 7.0 mg (range 5–20 mg) per day, and a mean duration of treatment of 95 months (range: 6–360 m...

A pathogenic link between erectile dysfunction (ED) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is now well established. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the hepatic hallmark of MetS, is regarded as an active player in the pathogenesis of MetS-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study was aimed at evaluating the relationship between MetS-induced NASH and penile dysfunction. We used a non-genomic, high fat diet (HFD)-induced, rabbit model of MetS, and treated HFD rabbits with t...

The IGF1 response to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) showed some individual variability and the responsible factors for this behavior remain unknown. Some studies have emphasized the possible role of isoforms of the GH receptor (GHR), showing conflicting results.Therefore, we investigated the possible influence of the isoforms of the GHR to the diagnosis of GHD and in determining adult hormone replacement therapy responsiveness.<p class="abst...

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, is diagnosed based on three criteria, including a polycystic ovarian morphology. Moreover, women with PCOS have elevated serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels, a hormone known to correlate with follicle number. In addition, AMH production per follicle is suggested to be higher in PCOS. Little is known about AMH gene regulation. Hence, this study aims to inv...

Objective: To investigate comorbidity rate, symptoms, overall morbidity, medication useand use of health care services among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Design: Community-based prospective cohort study.Patients: Womenreporting oligo/amenorrhea and hirsutism at age 31 and/or PCOS diagnosis by age 46 (n = 280) and controls without PCOS related symptoms or diagnosis (n = 1573) in the Northern ...

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors, having in insulin resistance the key element. In males, MetS is also associated to hypogonadism. We recently found that high fat diet (HFD)-induced MetS rabbits also developed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, showing a reduced immunopositivity for gonadotropin relasing hormone (GnRH) in the hypothalamus. In this study, we investigated the pathogenetic link between Mets components and the ...

Liver and visceral ectopic fatty tissue disposition is a major metabolic derangement leading to type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, recapitulated in the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We have demonstrated that the selective FXR agonist obeticholic acid (OCA, INT-747) ameliorates the metabolic profile and reduces visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced rabbit model of MetS. We now report the effects of OCA treatment in HFD (0.5% cholesterol and 4% p...