Endocrine Abstracts

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...

A 73 years old man came to our observation for severe dysphagia and loss of weight (10 kg in 1 month). About 30 years before he had myocardial infarction and he underwent coronary artery bypass graft. One week before the first medical evaluation, patient suspended all drugs per os because he could not swallow pills and food. Thyroid function test revealed a severe hyperthyroidism (FT3 11.9 pg/ml; FT4 40 pg/ml; TSH <0.01 μU/ml). Anti-TSH ...

Human seminal plasma contains a large array of proteins required for the normal physiology of spermatozoa and fertilization. To provide informations about the physiological mechanisms of male fertility we performed proteomic studies on human seminal plasma by a top-down approach. A semen sample was collected in a fertile normospermic man (sperm concentration 60×106 per ml; progressive motility 58%; normal morphology 45%). Hormonal blood assay was performed: tes...

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...

Cushing’s disease (CD) is the most common cause of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome in children and adolescents and represents a rare cause of short stature. A 14-year-old boy came to our attention for progressive weight gain and short stature. Birth length and weight were normal; clinical history was negative for use of glucocorticoids. At examination, height was 140 cm (3th centile), weight was 37.7 kg (10th centile). Tanner stage was: G2, PH 3, testis 3 ml. Hypothyro...

Subclinical CS, mild hypercortisolism without overt clinical manifestations, is the most frequent (5–8%) hormonal abnormality detected in patients with secreting adrenal incidentalomas.Unclear clinical features and mild hypercortisolism make the diagnosis problematic, although laboratory criteria have recently been reviewed. In these cases, scintiscan is a central tool to define the adrenal functional activity.A 60-year-old ma...

Background: Primary empty sella (ES) can be asymptomatic or associated with endocrine and neurological alterations, such as visual defects. Studies in a large number of patients is still lacking.Objective: To study visual deficit in ES and its relationship with hormonal status.Material and Methods: We recorded visual evoked potentials (VEP) by white/black, red/black, blue/black patterns. Isoluminance between red and blue checks all...

Background: Differentiated Thyroid Carcinomas (DTC) represent more than 90% of thyroid tumors with good prognosis and long survival. Currently, patients with intermediate/high risk nodule as assessed by cytological staging may undergo surgery. According to ATA 2017 guidelines, all patients presenting thyroid nodules with suspicious ultrasound features (hypoechoic pattern, irregular margins, microcalcifications, etc.) and cytopathology TIR3B, TIR4 or TIR5 according to 2014-SIAP...

IntroductionPrimary autoimmune hypophysitis (PAHs) is a rare inflammatory disease of the pituitary gland. Although largely investigated, the pathogenesis of PAH is not completely clarified. We aimed to investigate the immune response in PAHs.Material and methodsSerum anti-pituitary and anti-hypothalamus antibodies (respectively APAs and AHAs) were investigated though an indirect immunofluorescence on monkey h...

Background: Cell membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes can be influenced by glycosylation processes, changes in lipid homeostasis and oxidative stress.Objectives: We have measured red blood cell membrane fluidity looking for differences between healthy people and diabetic subjects and also between diabetic patients affected by macroangiopathy (vascular diabetic foot) and not.Methods: We have enrolled 32...