Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Malnutrition in neonates and children has been associated with adult-onset diseases such as obesity and atherosclerosis. Infants breastfeeding exhibit a different pattern of orexin-α secretion compared to formula-fed or infants on parenteral feeding. Given the protective role of maternal milk in the onset of metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in later life, we hypothesized that orexin-α may be involved in this process. We studied in vitro t...

Background: To identify a serum prolactin (PRL) cut-off value indicative of a PRL-producing adenoma in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and hyperprolactinaemia and characterize such patients. Materials and methods: In the present retrospective case–control study, the medical records of 528 PCOS women were reviewed. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in PCOS patients with PRL levels ≥94.0 ng/ml and/or symptoms suspicious of a pituit...

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are associated with significant comorbidities and commonly coexist. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between OSA and quality of life (QoL) in women with PCOS.Study design: Observational cross-sectional study.Methods: Women with PCOS were recruited from a single secondary care centre in the UK. PCOS was diagnosed according to...

Introduction: Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a rare disorder characterised by clonal proliferation of abnormal mast cells in several tissues, most often skin and bone marrow. Indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) is the commonest disease variant in adults, characterised by very low rate of mast cell proliferation. SM has been recognised as a cause of secondary osteoporosis.Objective: To evaluate bone mineral density and fragility fractures in ISM patients....

Introduction: Critical illness, and sepsis in particular, drives adipose tissue lipolysis up (with triglycerides (TG) being split to free fatty acids (FFA) and glycerol (GLYC)) to meet increased energy demands. Few studies have addressed lipolysis with tissue microdialysis (MD).Aim: To assess indexes of lipolysis in septic patients with and without shock.Subjects and methods: The study included 110 men and 73 women (mean age+<small...

Background: Increased prevalence of abnormal aminotransferase levels and/or ultrasonographic evidence of hepatic steatosis have been found in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), being more pronounced in overweight and obese patients. However, few data exist concerning the prevalence of PCOS in premenopausal women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Objective: To investigate the presence of PCOS in overweight and obese premenopausal wom...

Introduction: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation is accelerated in various pathological conditions characterized by insulin resistance (IR) and/or increased oxidative stress (OS). Hypothyroidism – overt (OH) or subclinical (SUH) – is associated with a variety of metabolic disorders leading to IR and increased OS.Aim: To estimate the εN-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) levels, in subjects with OH and SUH and seek f...

Background: Growing evidence suggests that hypothalamic lipid sensing plays a key role in controlling food intake, fat deposition and energy balance and that its dysregulation could lead to obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Recent investigations reported that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is involved in the hypothalamic control of energy homeostasis. Intra-cerebroventricular administration of S1P decreased food intake and increased energy expenditure in rodents.<p class="...

Vitamin D (vit-D) deficiency is common in patients with gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NET) and has been linked to reduced survival in these patients. Vit-D status was assessed in 183 patients with GEP-NET, at the time of their first presentation in the ARDEN-NET-Centre; and following simple advice at routine 6-monthly follow-up appointments to increase vit-D intake using over-the-counter vit-D preparations (Colecalciferol (Vit-D3), 1000–2000 units/d...

Chemerin, a chemoattractant protein, acts via a G-protein coupled chemokine receptor, i.e. Chemokine like Receptor 1/ChemR23; levels of which are elevated in pro-inflammatory states such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Obesity and T2DM patients are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis. We have reported that chemerin induces human endothelial cell angiogenesis and since dy...