Endocrine Abstracts

The tumor-homing property of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has led to their use as delivery vehicles for therapeutic genes such as the sodium iodide symporter (NIS), which has convincingly been demonstrated by our recent studies of systemic NIS gene delivery using MSCs as delivery vehicles in both subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft mouse models. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) represents a promising tool in the application of engineered MSC (eMSCs)-based gene therapy ...

Introduction: The effects of mild subclinical hypothyroidism (SH; TSH <10 mU/l) on metabolic outcomes are unclear. This may relate to differences in aetiology, including thyroid autoimmunity or genetic factors such as TSH-receptor mutations (TSHR-M) and FOXE1 polyalanine tract length (FOXE1–PTL) polymorphisms, which are associated with altered thyroid function. We hypothesised that the metabolic manifestations of SH may depend upon its aetiology.<p class="abstext"...

Introduction: Testosterone production in male testicular cells is mainly stimulated by LH, secreted by the pituitary. Recent findings have shown significant clinical associations of vitamin D seasonal rhythms and androgens in men (Wehr et al. 2010, Nimptsch et al. 2012). We aimed to elucidate associations of vitamin D and androgen synthesis on a cellular level.Methods: Human primary testicular cells, isolated from testes of braindead donors, and a cell l...

Background: SUB:Pituitary – Clinical (Generously supported by IPSEN)Craniopharyngioma (CP), Rathke’s cyst (RC) and xanthogranuloma (XG) are closely related rare sellar masses, which share common embryogenic origin. Treatment strategies in children lack consensus, especially in terms of surgical and radiooncological treatment options.Objective: To study clinical manifestations and treatment-related outco-me in RC, XG, and CP patients.</...

We have earlier shown a reciprocal feed-forward amplification link between expression of transcription factor GATA-4 and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) during adrenocortical tumorigenesis, and also that chronically elevated LH levels may induce LHR in mice, but not GATA-4. Hereby, our goal was to analyze the consequences of ectopically expressed GATA-4 on murine adrenal cortex in the presence and absence of gonadectomy (GDX) induced elevated LH levels. For this purpose, we...

The LH receptor (LHR) is a 7-transmembrane domain G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) mainly expressed in the gonads with a major role in the development and maintenance of gonadal steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. Its ligand LH, secreted by the pituitary gland, binds to the extracellular domain of LHR triggering a conformational change in the transmembrane domain and leading to activation of intracellular signalling cascades.As a member of the GPCR famil...

While bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment strategy to maintain long-term weight-loss and to improve survival, it has not been shown, that bariatric surgery is as effective in craniopharyngeoma patients with hypothalamic obesity. We retrospectively analyzed weight loss and metabolic parameters in 7 craniopharyngeoma patients and 14 controls who underwent gastric banding surgery in five centers in Germany and Austria. The last before and the first patient after the...

A high incidence of serum anti thyro-peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) has been found in breast cancer (BC). Aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of TPOAb in BC. The study group included 47 women submitted to mastectomy for high malignancy degree BC (tumor size >5 cm and/or n° lymph-nodes >3), followed for 5 years. No patient had distant metastases. All were evaluated for thyroid disorders after breast surgery and before any anti-tumoral adjuvant the...

Background: Humans and other mammals need to maintain a stable core body temperature. Energy expenditure increases in response to a mild cold stimulus, this is called cold induced thermogenesis (CIT). Recently, thermogenic brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been found to play an important role for CIT in human adults. It is known that energy expenditure and CIT are acutely influenced by ambient temperature. In the present study, we investigated the effect of seasonal temperature v...

Background: Hypothalamic obesity (HO) is defined as abnormal weight gain resulting in severe persistent obesity due to physical, tumor- and/or treatment related damage of the hypothalamus. The HO epidemiology is poorly understood. We developed a database algorithm supporting the standardized identification of tumor/treatment-related HO (TTR-HO) patients.Methods: The algorithm is used to estimate incidence rates of TTR-HO patients in the German healthcare...