Endocrine Abstracts

Background: PPARγ-agonist treatment may decrease bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. The hypothesis that premenopausal women are relatively protected from mineral loss during PPARγ-agonist treatment has not been evaluated in clinical studies.Aim: To investigate the effect of pioglitazone on BMD and bone turnover markers in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods: Thirty premenopausal PCOS pa...

Background: Birth weight has been associated with low bone mass in later life. Previous studies, however, have relied on self-reported data on birth weight, included select populations, or been of a limited size. Moreover, it is unclear if the association between birth weight and bone mass is be mediated by body weight, lean body mass, or fat mass.Aim: We hypothesize that birth weight is associated with peak bone mass in men independent of current lean b...

Beta-cell function of HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), who display lipodystrophy, may be impaired. An early defect in beta-cell function may be characterized by an increased secretion of 32–33 split proinsulin (SP) and intact proinsulin (IP).To address this issue the secretion pattern of SP and IP of 16 HIV-infected men with lipodystrophy (LIPO) and 15 HIV-infected men without lipodystrophy (NONLIPO) were studie...

Objective: High dose growth hormone (rhGH) regimens (2 to 4 mg/day) have been shown to increase circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I to supra-physiological levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on combined antiretroviral therapy (CART). This setting may improve immunologic output. However, a high plasma IGF-I concentration has detrimental effects on glucose metabolism, which hampers the use of high dose rhGH regimens.Me...

Both humic substances (HS) and iodine may influence the thyroid gland. Tap water is a major source of iodine intake in some areas, where iodine has been shown to be bound in HS.We investigated tap water and old subjects from two areas with and without iodine bound in HS in tap water, to assess their importance for urinary iodine excretion and for the thyroid. Analysis of tap water, measurement of iodine in urine and thyrotropin (TSH), thyroid peroxidase ...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with obesity and low grade inflammation, factors linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD).Methods: National Register-based study including women with PCOS and no previous diagnosis of CVD or hypertension. PCOS OUH (n=1165) included premenopausal women with PCOS and clinical and biochemical examination. PCOS Denmark (n=18 112) included women with PCOS in the Danish National Patient...

The luteinising hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) plays an essential role in ovarian follicular function, mediating the action of LH on theca cell steroidogenesis and, in the preovulatory follicle, on granulosa cell (GC) steroid production and the ovulatory cascade. Following ovulation, LH (and CG) are responsible for maintenance and function of the corpus luteum. Arrested antral follicle development in PCOS is characterised by premature responsiveness of GCs to ...

Introduction: Iodine is essential for thyroid funciton and severe deficiency adversely affects the developing brain. A raised and sufficient intake is particularly important during the pregnancy. Iodine sources include sea foods and sea salt, and it is available as a dietary supplement. The former was previously important to the Faroses diet but the intake of traditional Faroses foods is decreasing with at likely parallel influence on the iodine intake. Currently, there is no ...

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine disrupting chemicals, with elimination half-lives ranging from four to eight years. Experimental studies indicate that PFAS may disrupt androgenic and estrogenic pathways, potentially affecting fetal development. During 1st trimester, concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) increase due to higher estrogen levels from the placenta. The increment of SHBG concentration results in a compensatory increase in t...

Background: Maternal cortisol levels increase during pregnancy and prenatal cortisol exposure have been linked to cognitive function in childhood. Higher activity of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) downregulates the amount of maternal cortisol crossing the placenta by inactivation of cortisol to cortisone. In childhood, boys perform significantly poorer in tests of intelligence than girls.Aim: To investigate associ...