Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Large prolactinomas are uncommon and there is limited information on their presentation and progression. In this study we reviewed the presenting features, associated endocrinopathy and the response to treatment.Methods: 16 patients (aged 20–80 years, 75% male) were identified from our endocrine database as presenting with prolactin >20,000 mU/l between 1985 and 2005.Results: 75% of patients presented with ma...

Primary aldosteronism (PA) accounts for the largest proportion of cases of secondary hypertension worldwide. The majority of PA cases are a result of a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). The pathogenesis of APAs, the most curable form of hypertension, has been the focus of worldwide clinical interest, and is associated with mutations in four genes: KCNJ5, ATP1A1, ATP2B3, and CACNA1D. Investigation into these mutations may lead t...

We have recently observed that the peroxisome proliferator receptor α was expressed by normal and tumoural pituitary tissues, in particular by somatotrophs. To elucidate its function, we have studied the effects of fenofibrate on cell proliferation and GH secretion in GH3 cells.Material and methods: GH3 cells were grown in Ham’s F10 and treated for 24, 48 and 72 h by different concentrations of fenofibrate (12.5–50 &#...

Germline AIP mutations (AIPmut) predispose to young onset somatotroph pituitary adenomas (GHPA) and gigantism. AIPmut GHPA are often aggressive and resistant to pharmacological treatment, which may be especially challenging in the paediatric setting. We report our experience with two young Italian AIPmut male patients with incipient gigantism due to childhood pituitary macroadenomas, who both experienced recurrent ...

Introduction: The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signalling pathway, playing an essential role during embryonic development. Murine studies have shown the importance of Shh in the growth of the adrenocortical primordium. Shh expression has previously been described in relatively undifferentiated sub-capsular cells in the developing rodent adrenal, however the organisation of the human foetal adrenal (HFA) is unique. This novel study aimed to descri...

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein gene has been mainly involved in the pathogenesis of GH/PRL-secreting pituitary adenomas (PA). We wished to study the significance of AIP expression in clinically non-functioning PA (NFPA).Material and methods: 48 NFPA -27 gonadotroph (GnPA), 21 null cell (ncPA) – were studied for AIP, βFSH and cyclin D1 expression by real-time RT-PCR (qRT), compared with four normal post-mortem pituitaries (NP)...

Radioiodine is the treatment of choice for relapsed hyperthyroidism although the optimum protocol is uncertain. We assessed the outcome of therapy with 131I in relapsed hyperthyroidism using a fixed dose regimen.We retrospectively studied 449 patients (M: F 82: 367; age range 13–89 y, median 42 y) treated between 2003 and 2007 with a fixed dose of 550 MBq 131I for relapsed hyperthyroidism. Patients were classified as either Gra...

Bronchopulmonary endocrine tumors represent 25–30% of lung neoplasms. Surgery provides good survival for differentiated tumors (typical and atypical carcinoids), but is not useful for aggressive poorly differentiated forms. Somatostatin (SRIF) analogs can be used as medical therapy, prolonging patient survival. However, the compounds employed so far did not display antiproliferative effects. Recently, a new stable SRIF analog, pasireotide (SOM230), which activates SSTR1, ...

Background: Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is able to determine the biochemical remission of acromegaly in 45%–80% of the patients, thereby inducing an improvement of cardiovascular function and glucose metabolism. Only 3–5% of acromegalics are diagnosed over 65-years-old, so few data are available about post-operative cardiovascular and metabolic changes in this group.Patients and Methods: Fifteen acromegalic patients ≥65 years-old who un...

IntroductionLangherans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease due to a neoplastic proliferation of Langerhans-type cells. Hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) involvement may occur in 20–40% of the patients, presenting with diabetes insipidus (DI) and/or anterior pituitary dysfunction. Typically, such abnormalities are permanent and unresponsive to systemic treatment of LCH. We report the case of a young woman with pulmonary and HP localizations, and sig...