Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is considered the most common autoimmune disease and the predominant cause of hypothyroidism in iodine sufficient countries. HT may appear clinically in approximately 0.1–2% of the population.Aim: The study in hand aimed at assessing the role of thyroid ultrasonography in the diagnosis of HT patients discriminating them from other causes of hypothyroidism. A scoring system of sonographic findings was a...

In the normal adrenal gland, serotonin (5-HT) stimulates cortisol secretion through activation of 5-HT4 receptors whereas, in some macronodular adrenal hyperplasia tissues, the corticotropic effect of 5-HT is mediated by ectopic 5-HT7 receptors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of 5-HT in the control of cortisol secretion in PPNAD tissues from 12 patients by using molecular, immunohistochemical and pharmacological approaches. RT-PCR studies revealed ove...

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...

Background: The adrenolytic agent mitotane is widely used in the adjuvant treatment of adrenocortical cancer, but its mechanism of action including potential effects on mRNA expression is poorly elucidated.Objective: To examine mitotane-induced mRNA expression changes in the H295R adrenocortical cancer cell line.Methods: Various concentrations of mitotane in different treatment periods (24–120 h) have been tested in cell viabi...

During the evaluation of hypercortisolism, distinction between Cushing’s disease (CD) and ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS) may be problematic. Detailed medical history, diagnostic procedures and pitfalls associated with EAS of four cases are presented. All the four patients had ectopic Cushing’s syndrome due to typical bronchial carcinoids. Their mean age was 39 years, and the mean time from the presentation of Cushing’s symptomes until diagnosis and definitive cure ...

Aim: To study the effectiveness of metformin in treatment of polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS) in women of birthing age.Materials and methods: We followed 31 women with PCOS. Mean age of patients was 29.8 years old. All patients were evaluated for hormones levels (LH, FSH, TSH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, prolactin, coritsole, free thyroxine, dehydroepiahndrostendione etc.), glucose tolerance test, lipids profile, uterus and ovaries ultrasono...

Objectives: To compare obesity treatment with intragastric balloon (BIB – Bioenterics intragastric balloon) and behavioral-cognitive approach in order to determine the effectivness of these two methods in inducing weight loss, their impact on different features of metabolic syndrome and liver enzymes profile, and finally to evaluate patients attitudes and expectations regarding weight loss together with motivation and readiness to change their behaviour in order to lose w...

Background: Thyroid carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst is very rare and surgical management is based on the individual experience.Patients and methods: Twelve cases of primary TDC thyroid carcinoma operated in one Institution during last 25 years. Sistrunk`s procedure was done in all cases followed by dissection of submental and prehyoid lymph nodes and bilateral biopsy of level 3. In the same act 11 of 12 patients underwent total thyroidectomy. In ca...

Introduction: The effects of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), histamine (HA) adrenaline (ADR), noradrenaline (NADR) and K+ administration on vasopressin (VP) secretion were studied in 13–14 days cultures of rat neurohypophyseal (NH) cells, and it was examined whether orexin (ORX) can modify the VP release enhancement induced by these monoaminergic compounds.Methods: An enzymatic dissociation technique was used to prepare the rat NH cell c...

Objective: Sex steroids play an important role in the maintenance of bone health. However, there is limited information on the association between sex hormones and age-related bone loss in men. Our objective was to study the relationship between sex steroid levels and the changes accompanying aging process, including bone mineral density (BMD), muscle strength and body composition in elderly Egyptian men.Methods: Free testosterone (FT), estradiol (E...