Endocrine Abstracts

Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) is associated with a severe myopathy mainly affecting type 2 muscle fibres, with a higher prevalence in male subjects. The excess of glucocorticoids (GC) levels represents the most common cause of myopathy due to an alteration of protein metabolism. The non-coding post-transcriptional gene regulators muscle-specific microRNAs (miRNA) control muscle development and differentiation but when dysregulated lead to skeletal muscle (SM) disorder. The aim ...

Background: Octreotide s.c. depot is a novel, ready-to-use formulation administered via a thin needle, which may allow self-administration. In a phase 1 study in healthy volunteers, octreotide s.c. depot provided greater bioavailability with faster onset and greater IGF1 suppression than long-acting octreotide. Here, we present data from a phase 2 study evaluating pharmacokinetics (PK), efficacy, safety, and tolerability of octreotide s.c. depot in patients with acromegaly and...

Hyperprolactinemia is associated with abnormalities in glucose and lipid profile with development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome (MetS), which have been found to be improved by treatment with cabergoline (CAB). The current study aimed at investigating hormonal and metabolic effects of long-term CAB withdrawal in patients with prolactinomas. In 46 patients (37 F, 9 M, aged 34.5±11.5 yrs, 36 microadenomas and 10 macroadenomas) anthropometric (weight, BMI, wais...

Background: Pasireotide is a multireceptor-targeted somatostatin analogue that predominantly binds to somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SSTR5) and provides sustained control of urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels in some patients with Cushing’s disease (CD). Cabergoline is a dopamine D2 receptor agonist with efficacy in some patients with CD. Most corticotropinomas co-express SSTR5 and D2, providing rationale for combination treatment with pasireotide and cabergoline. Resul...

HCC is a difficult-to-treat- cancer with poor prognosis. Despite EVOLVE-1 trial demonstrated that EVE did not improve overall survival in molecularly and clinically unselected patients with advanced sorafenib resistant HCC, in selected patients, the established antitumor effect of EVE could make this drug a potential adjuvant therapy. Unfortunately, the acquired EVE resistance due to the tumour adaptation to chronic drug use is a current challenge. VitD has been deemed as pote...

Chronic cortisol excess as a consequence of ACTH overproduction from a pituitary tumour is responsible for the development of Cushing’s disease (CD). The first-line treatment for CD is pituitary surgery, but medical treatment is an alternative second-line approach to control cortisol excess. Among pharmacological agents, the adrenal-blocking drug ketoconazole (KT), is able to control cortisol excess in the majority of patients with CD. During KT treatment, the adrenal blo...

: Patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) have increased cardiovascular risk due to metabolic alterations caused by glucocorticoids excess. Pasireotide, a multireceptor-targeted somatostatin analogue, is a therapeutic option in CD patients in whom surgery is not curative or not feasible. Pasireotide has been shown to be effective in controlling hypercortisolism and to improve metabolic features. Recently, the visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been proposed as a marker of vi...

: Inflammation and several oxidative processes are modulated by Selenium (Se) trough the selenoproteins. Se deficiency has been associated with thyroid autoimmune diseases and hypothyroidism, while Se-supplementation reduces antibodies titles and ameliorates ultrasound pattern of the gland.Aim of the current study, is to study the molecular effects of Se-supplementation in thyroid follicular cells (FRTL5).FRTL5 cells have been star...

Conventional glucocorticoids (GCs) are unable to mimic physiological cortisol rhythm in adrenal insufficiency (AI), with a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Possible explanations are supra-physiological doses and impaired cortisol profile. In particular, elevated evening cortisol levels were related to glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity alterations and visceral obesity. Once-daily-dual-release-hydrocortisone (OD-DR-HC), better reproducing the physiological ...

Introduction: Environmental toxins, including those deriving from illegal and hazardous disposal of urban and chemical waste, are known to act as endocrine disruptors and to increase the risk of malignancy and cancer mortality. The present study aimed at investigating prevalence and characteristics of thyroid diseases in the area of Acerra, a town in the perimeter of the so called ‘Land of Fires’.Methods: The screening included subjects aged &#...