Endocrine Abstracts

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) causes synthesis of 90% of pro-hormone tetraiodothyronine (T4) and 10% of active triiodothyronine (T3) from thyroid gland. T3 regulates energy metabolism, thermogenesis, body temperature and normal brain development. T3 is produced from deiodination of T4 and circulating levels of T3 are regulated by deiodinases in response to body’s needs. The peripheral conversion of T<su...

Introduction: There is currently high interest in the non-glycemic effects of incretin-based therapies, specifically glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogues, such as those on cardiovascular system. Liraglutide has been approved in Italy since one year to be prescribed in combination with oral hypoglycemic agents; it has several non-glycemic properties, but its effect on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a recognized marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, is still unknown...

The hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis undergoes adaptive changes in response to increased energy expenditure at puberty, a process called thyroidarche. Furthermore, the secretion of thyroid hormones (THs) is influenced by various kinds of acute and chronic stresses. Amongst others, persistent and severe physical stress may affect the secretion of THs. The present study investigates changes in the secretion of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TSH), trioiodothyronine (T3) and tet...

Standard Autonomic Function tests AFT may not detect subclinical CAN. Modalities exist (Frequency Domain) using PSA of HRV, which may detect subclinical CAN.We performed standard AFTs (HR response to deep breathing, Valsalva, Tilt at 1 min and 6 min) and PSA of HRV on these tests in 46 subjects (29 DM and 17 Controls) matched for age and sex. We sought to establish if those DM subjects considered normal by AFT would exhibit abnormalities in PSA of HRV. W...

Section 1: Case history: We present the case of a 21-year-old lady known to harbour a homozygous inactivating mutation of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) which led to uncontrolled hypercalcaemia in infancy, necessitating emergency total parathyroidectomy. The CaSR plays an important role in calcium homeostasis. Inactivating mutations result in a higher calcium “set-point” and various degrees of hypercalcaemia based on the severity of functional impairment. In the...

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a neurohormone, which regulates blood and extracellular fluid volume and hence blood pressure (BP). AVP has its chief action in kidneys where it reduces flow of urine, increases permeability of convoluted tubules of kidneys to water and its reabsorption. It binds to receptors on sweat glands and decreases water loss by perspiration from the skin. Also, AVP binds to peripheral arteriolar receptors, causing vasoconstriction and increase in BP. The s...

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an endocrine system within the body that is essential for regulation of blood pressure (BP) and fluid balance. The system is mainly comprised of three hormones renin, angiotensin II (Ang II) and aldosterone. The RAAS pathway is initiated in the kidney with the proteolytic conversion of liver derived angiotensinogen to angiotensin I (Ang I) by renin secreted by juxtaglomerular apparatus of the nephron. Ang I is cleaved by angio...

Introduction: Liraglutide exerts cardio-protective effects beyond of those on glucose metabolism, affecting several cardio-metabolic parameters, such as subclinical atherosclerosis. However, it is not known if those effects differ in the long-term between pre-elderly and elderly subjects with type-2 diabetes (T2DM).Methods: We included 135 subjects with T2DM divided in 2 groups: i) 71 pre-elderly subjects (46 men and 25 women, 55±7 years), and ii) 6...

Leptin is regarded as an essential adipokine for controlling energy homeostasis, caloric intake reduction and increase of caloric expenditure by negative feedback mechanisms via receptors in the hypothalamus. Puberty is said to be triggered by leptin, which signals the hypothalamus that adequate fat reserves are available for initiation of energetically costly process of reproduction. Leptin activates gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) system, which stimulates luteinizing h...

During the time of puberty, thyroid hormones (THs), thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), influence growth and developmental processes by working in association with growth hormone (GH), insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-1), glucocorticoids, insulin and gonadal steroids. THs have a direct effect on GH secretion, which stimulates IGF system. It has been suggested that THs control increase in bone length through synergy with GH. This investigation determ...