Endocrine Abstracts

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is characterized by development of cardiovascular and metabolic complications. We retrospectively analyzed 78 patients with PA: 29 had aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), and 49 had idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). The study of complications was performed by examining the lipid and glucose profiles (OGTT, HOMA and Quicki indexes) and the echocardiographic parameters. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the aldosterone synthase (minus 344C/...

Aim: Clinical acromegaly is characterized by high GH secretion in the presence of high circulating IGF-I levels. We therefore hypothesized that the physiological IGF-I-GH negative feedback loop may be reset in somatotroph adenomas, and we investigated the role of type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-R) and GH receptor (GHR) by quantifying mRNA expression in somatotroph tumours, and investigated the possible presence of mutations of the GHR gene.Methods: Pituitary t...

Background: ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas represent two-thirds of Cushing’s syndrome (CS), the so-called Cushing’s disease (CD). These tumors are sometimes >10 mm in maximal diameter (macro-CD), but the majority of them are <10 mm (micro-CD). The aim of this study was to compare baseline characteristics of patients with micro-CD and macro-CD.Materials and methods: Clinical, hormonal and radiological data of 226 patients with CD were...

Introduction: Pasireotide is the first pituitary-directed drug approved for Cushing’s disease (CD). We report our 10-years experience with pasireotide in CD reviewing and analysing data about all the patients treated with pasireotide at our referral centre both in randomised trials and in clinical practice.Patients and methods: Twenty active CD patients were treated. Fourteen patients were treated with pasireotide in randomised trials and six patien...

Introduction: New onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is a recognized metabolic complication of kidney transplantation: its rates at 12 months after transplantation is between 20 and 50% for kidney recipients and it is associated with increased risks of graft rejection, infection, cardiovascular disease and death. Transplant-specific risk factors for NODAT,such as corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, play a dominant role in its pathogenesis. Furthermore polymor...

Introduction: The clinical features and complications of Cushing’s syndrome result from chronic excess of circulating cortisol, typically quantified by 24-h urinary free cortisol (UFC). LCI699 is a potent inhibitor of 11β-hydroxylase. Since 11β-hydroxylase catalyzes the final step of cortisol synthesis, LCI699 is a potential new treatment for all forms of Cushing’s syndrome.Methods: Adult patients with mild-to-severe Cushing’s di...

Inflammation activates a variety of inflammatory cells, which induce and activate several oxidant-generating enzymes which are able to produce high concentrations of free radicals and oxidants which react with each other to generate other more potent reactive oxygen and nitrogen species such as peroxynitrite (ONOO−) that can damage DNA, RNA, lipids, and proteins by nitration, oxidation, etc., leading to increased mutations and altered functions of enzymes and ...

Background: Differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism is crucial to indicate a proper treatment and is based on CRH-, high-dose dexamethasone suppression-test (HDDST) and pituitary MRI. However, up to 50% of cases of Cushing’s disease (CD) present a negative MRI or a visible lesion < 6 mm. In these patients, guidelines suggest to perform bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) in order to establish a correct diagnosis. Aim of this study was ...

Background: Extracellular vesicles (exosomes, microvesicles) shed from tumor cells containing microRNAs can be exploited as markers of malignancy. The preoperative diagnosis of adrenocortical malignancy is difficult and microRNAs have proved useful in the diagnosis of many tumors, including adrenocortical cancer (ACC), but there have no studies to date on extracellular vesicle associated microRNAs in ACC.Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of extra...

Ectopic Cushing syndrome (EAS) is a rare condition characterized by ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism resistant to normal physiologic suppression by glucocorticoids. EAS is due to an extra-pituitary tumor producing bioactive molecules generated by post-translational cleavage of the proopiomelanocortin gene (POMC). EAS is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and although surgical resection of the primary ACTH-producing tumor remains the mainstay of therapy, not all...