Endocrine Abstracts

Glucose metabolism was investigated in 65 patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS), 19 with cortisol-secreting adrenal adenoma (mean age 47.2±4.9), 40 with ACTH secreting pituitary adenoma (mean age 41.4±12.48), 4 with cortisol secreting adrenal cancer (mean age 63.0±8.4) and 2 patients with ectopic ACTH secretion (38.7±11.9).Eleven patients (17%) were diagnosed as diabetic after abnormal fasting glucose levels (>126 mg/dl). Whi...

It is known that adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is associated with oxidative stress (OS): both GH and IGF-1 exert antioxidant functions. OS is in turn related to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular/oncological risk. Discordant data concerning GH effects on antioxidants are reported. Moreover, no data are available in partial GHD, which can induce cardiovascular alterations. To evaluate oxidative damage on macromolecules and systemic inflammation, 80 patients, studi...

Background: Aberrations in the timing of puberty may result in significant adverse health outcomes, including cancers, cardiovascular and neurological pathologies. Self-limited delayed puberty (DP) (i.e. constitutional delay of puberty) runs in families with either autosomal dominant or complex inheritance patterns in >70% of families, indicating a strong genetic basis of the trait. However, only a few genes have been identified underlying DP so far....

It is known that functional hypothalamic amenorrhea is associated with low bone turnover due to low gonadal homone levels. Estrogens are critical for activation of bone remodelling units, suppression of bone reabsorption, increase of 1-25(OH)Vitamin D receptors expression. Other mechanisms could be operative, including improper diet and unbalanced exercise; however the physiopathology of such a condition is not entirely known. In order to evaluate the correlation between pitui...

Hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis are common in patients with Down’ syndrome (DS), leading to common prescription of thyroid replacement therapy. On the other hand, thyroid function is involved in oxidative stress (OS) mechanisms. DS is a well-known high OS condition because several genes involved in OS mechanisms map on chromosome 21 and coenzyme Q10, lipophilic antioxidant, could be more correlated with hypothyroidism than TSH in DS people. To investigate relati...

Male idiopathic osteoporosis is an underestimated disease, despite its clinical and social importance. The biochemical mechanisms are still poorly understood even if the interaction between genetic factors and hormone environment (especially gonadal steroids and GH) plays a undoubtful role. In previous studies we demonstrated low plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in hypogonadal patients. The aim of this study was to investigate oxidative stress as risk factor for bone fr...

Introduction: Previous studies concerning ultrasound evaluation of the seminal vesicles (SV) have been performed on a limited series of subjects, taking into consideration few parameters, often only before ejaculation and without assessing sexual abstinence of the patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the volume and the emptying characteristics of the SV and their possible correlations with scrotal and transrectal ultrasound features.Methods: Th...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients could have altered endocrine function as different endocrine organs (gonads, pituitary, thyroid and pancreas) can be affected depending on the phenotype of the disease and the degree of systemic inflammation. Anabolic hormones can be involved as COPD patients can show weight loss and muscle wasting and both these conditions can modify natural history of the disease. Moreover COPD patients can frequently have acute exacerbat...

Background: The recently discovered myokin Irisin, a peptide originated by a proteolytic cleavage of the transmembrane protein fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) whose expression is induced by exercise and/or by increasing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ co-activator 1α (PGC-1α), has been considered a prognostic factor in Chronic Ischemic Cardiomyopathy and Acute Heart Failure. Nevertheless, no data are available on Irisin level...

Background: In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), catabolic mechanisms have a strong negative impact on morbidity and mortality. The relationship between anabolic hormonal deficit, thyroid function and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has still been poorly investigated. For this reason, we tried to define the prevalence of multi-hormonal deficiencies in HFpEF patients and the relationships between hormonal deficits and echocardiographic...