Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Magmas encodes for an integral constituent of the TIM23 translocase complex located in the mitochondrial inner membrane that drives proteins from the intermembrane space into the mitochondrial matrix by functionally interacting with Tim14. We previously demonstrated that Magmas silencing is able to sensitize ACTH-secreting mouse pituitary adenoma cells to pro-apoptotic stimuli, reduce DNA synthesis, accumulate cells in G0/G1 phase with concomitant decrease in S p...

Tolvaptan, an oral antagonist of the vasopressin V2 receptor, has been found to improve hyponatremia in patients with SIAD. We report the case of a 65-years-old male, who developed recurrent episodes of hyponatremia after severe traumatic brain injury, TBI, with polytrauma (CGS=8, decompressive craniectomy, spontaneous breathing by percutaneous tracheotomy). During hospitalization in intensive care unit he resumed alertness and received i.v. hypertonic saline infusion and oral...

The currently curative therapy for pancreatic endocrine tumours (PET), accounting for <3% of pancreatic tumors, is complete surgical resection, which is achieved in the minority of cases. Most tumors are diagnosed in a late stage, especially in endocrine-inactive forms, indicating the need for further medical therapy. The serine–threonine protein kinase C (PKC) family plays central regulatory roles in several cellular processes, including cell proliferation. PKC signa...

Glucose metabolism alterations are frequently observed in acromegalic patients. Somatostatin analogues (SSTA) are the most widely used drugs to treat acromegaly, since they inhibit GH and IGF-1 levels, reduce pituitary mass, but can affect glucose metabolism. Aim of our study was to evaluate glucose metabolism alterations in acromegalic patients cured after surgery and in patients with active disease during treatment with SSTA. We studied 10 patients (group A, 5F, 55.66±1...

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, ...

Overt hypercortisolism causes reduction in bone mass and density. The effects of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (SCS) on bone markers and structure are still debated. We therefore studied 56 patients with adrenal incidentaloma: group A=35 (20 F 15 M, age 43–79, mean 64.6±1.5; BMI 29.9±0.9 kg/m2) without evidence of hypercortisolism, and group B=21 (10 F 11 M, age 51–76, mean 63.4±1.9, BMI 28.0±1.2 kg/m2) with SCS (i.e. w...

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a malignant tumour deriving from parafollicular C cells, with a highly chemoresistant phenotype. Failure of medical therapy has been ascribed, at least in part, to multi drug resistance (MDR1) gene over-expression. MDR1 encodes for a transmembrane glycoprotein, P-gp, which hampers intracellular accumulation of cytotoxic drugs. It has been demonstrated that P-gp expression and function depend on cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression, which is...

The effectiveness of glucocorticoid replacement therapy is based on clinical criteria, since objectives parameters are not standardized. The purpose of our study was to assess the adequacy of replacement therapy with cortisone acetate, trying to identify parameters indicating proper replacement. We studied 22 patients with adrenal insufficiency (7 primary and 15 secondary) treated with cortisone acetate (mean daily dose 36.5+/−2.1 mg at 0800 a.m. and 0300 p.m.), and six ...

Introduction: Acromegaly patients (ACRO) show increased morbidity that affects health and quality of life (QoL). Elderly ACRO are going to increase in the next few years, but evidence regarding their management is lacking.Aim: To evaluate physical, functional and cognitive performances of elderly ACRO and the relationship with QoL.Methods: Multicenter case-control study conducted on 42 older ACRO (≥ 65 years) compared to an a...

Introduction: Accurately discern malignant from benign nodules sometimes represents a real challenge. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, ultrasound and The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BSRTC) allow for accurate diagnosis in 60–80% of all nodules. However, 10–20% of thyroid FNAs yield an indeterminate cytology (BSRTC III and IV categories). The real malignancy rate of BSRTC III category is difficult to ascertain because histopathological anal...