Endocrine Abstracts

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Both type 1 and 2 diabetes are associated with an increased fracture risk. Whereas in type 1 bone fragility is mostly explained by a lower peak bone mass and low bone turnover state, which is a common feature of several chronic and/or inflammatory diseases starting during growth, in type 2 diabetes there is not necessarily low bone mass, rather a higher aBMD related to overweight/obesity in these subjects. To explain the increased propensity to fractures in this case, a higher...

The RANK/RANK ligand (RANKL) pathway is key to promote osteoclast formation and activation, and prolong osteoclast survival. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) acts as a decoy receptor for RANKL and prevents its interaction with RANK thereby inhibiting osteoclast formation, function and survival. In turn RANKL inhibitors, and more specifically a human monoclonal antibody against RANKL, Denosumab, have been developed to treat a variety of bone disorders, including osteoporosis and skeletal ...

In the pituitary, estrogens regulate several cell functions via the activation of membrane-associated estrogen receptors (mERs). We have previously reported that both 17β-estradiol (E2) and membrane-impermeable E2-BSA induce rapid apoptotic actions in anterior pituitary (AP) cells, lactotropes and somatotropes through the activation of mERs.In the present study, we investigated the involvement of mERα in the apoptotic action of E2 in...

Our previous results demonstrate that estrogens increase the expression of death receptors TNFRI and Fas in the anterior pituitary and sensitize anterior pituitary cells to pro-apoptotic factors. c-FLIP is a protein that interacts with procaspases 8 and 10 modulating death receptor activity. In normal tissues, two isoforms of c-FLIP have been identified, the short isoform (c-FLIPs) and the long one (c-FLIPL). c-FLIPs has an anti-apoptotic action whereas c-FLIPL has either anti...

An adequate intestinal uptake of calcium is critical for the maintenance of calcium homeostasis during pregnancy and lactation. We previously found in rat models of end-stage renal disease that dietary fructose reduces intestinal calcium absorption and perturbs kidney morphology. Despite the dramatic rise in fructose consumption and the evidence of its deleterious effects for adult health, there is no information about fructose effects on maternal health and pregnancy outcomes...

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Background: So far, guidelines for bariatric surgery do no recommend the universal screening for thyroid diseases, except the TSH measurement in selected patients. However, a possible interplay between obesity (possibly complicated by obesity-related comorbidities) and thyroid diseases has been postulated.Objective: Aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of thyroid diseases in a cohort of obese patients, evaluated for bariatric surgery. Metho...

Introduction: Follow up of differentiated thyroid cancer requires periodic measurements of thyroglobulin (Tg) and Tg autoantibodies (TgAb) and neck ultrasound. Recurrence is suspected in presence of rising levels of Tg and/or TgAb. Positive cytology or detectable Tg in washout of fine needle aspiration (FNA) of neck lymph nodes or 131-I neck uptake confirm the diagnosis of metastatic lymph node.Case report: We report on a 25 year-old Caucasian man, affec...

Background: Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a common disease in acromegaly and it can persist during remission in up to 58% of the patients. Data regarding long term outcome of SAS in acromegalic patients are lacking. Moreover it is still unknown which component, either craniofacial deformation or soft tissue hypertrophy of the palate and upper airways, may play the major role in the pathogenesis of this complication.Aim: To assess the presence of SAS in a...