Endocrine Abstracts

Thyroid dysfunction affects a considerable number of elderly subjects. However the role of screening and treatment of thyroid disorders in geriatric population is still debated. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and its impact on comorbidity and comedication.Two independent populations were evaluated: 2001 residents in 21 federated nursing homes in the province of Pavia (Northern Italy), age >60 y, and ...

The ovarian reserve naturally declines with age, however, 1–2% of women before 40 years experiences a premature exhaustion of the ovarian function and suffers from a fertility defect named Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). The genetic origin of POI is well established and strongly supported by multiple reports of familial cases. To date, thanks to the candidate gene-discovery approach, few X-linked and autosomal genes have been associated to POI onset, but most of 46,X...

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a highly heterogeneous condition defined by the occurrence of amenorrhoea, hypoestrogenism and hypergonadotropinism in women under 40. POI onset can be triggered by multiple factors, such as iatrogenic events, environmental conditions, autoimmunity or genetic alterations. When the ovarian insufficiency occurs as a consequence of either chromosomal or genetic alterations, it can be associated with other congenital abnormalities and classif...

Objective: The treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPI; omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole) used for gastritis, gastric ulcer, etc. could lead to L-thyroxine (L-T4) malabsorption issues, that is induced by the increased gastric pH. Many factors like age, way of assumption (during breakfast or with food), other drugs interferences, drug-kinetics, adherence to therapy, could impair the L-T4 absorption.Methods: The study involved 27 hypothyroid patie...

Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipoatrophy type 1 (BSCL1) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the AGPAT2 gene. This syndrome is characterized by near total absence of adipose tissue since birth, associated with the progressive development of metabolic complications. The AGPAT2 gene encodes for 1-acylglycerol-3phosphate-O-acyltransferase highly expressed in white adipocytes that catalyzes the acylation of lysophosphatidic acid to form phosphatidic acid, a...

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) may occur as a single disease or associated with further endocrine and non endocrine autoimmune diseases (NEAD). Chronic autoimmune gastritis (CAG) is the more frequently associated NEAD. A prevalent Th1-representative pattern of cytokines and chemokines has been described in isolated autoimmune thyroiditis. However, the behaviour of chemokines when AT is associated with CAG is not known. Aim of the study has been to measure serum levels of CXCL10 i...

Introduction: No study has evaluated the effect of cytokines on the prototype beta chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL)2 in Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO), nor of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)alpha activation on this chemokine secretion in fibroblasts or preadipocytes in GO.Design and methods: We have tested the interferon (IFN)gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha effect on CCL2, and for comparison on the prototype alpha chemoki...

Introduction: Maternal hypothyroidism is the most common disorder of thyroid function in pregnancy and may influence the outcome of mother and fetus at all stages.Aim: To evaluate screening and management of all high risk pregnant women for thyroid dysfunction.Method: A retrospective audit as carried out between January 2005 and December 2006. Our local standards were TSH<3 mIU/l for screening and TSH<2 mIU/l for treatment....

In elderly subjects the mortality rate after hip fractures ranges from 18 to 33% within one year; among survivors, 40% did not return to the previous level of functional ability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal changes of some markers of bone metabolism in relation to functional and nutritional status.Thirthy-seven subjects aged more 70y with a new vertebral or hip fracture were admitted to the study. Thirthy age-matched and not fr...

Sweet syndrome is a febrile dermatosis characterized by painful light red patches of quite different size involving various skin zones associated with flu like symptoms, arthralgias and rarely frank arthritis. Originally considered rare, over 500 cases in the past 10 years have been described. The etiology of Sweet’s syndrome is unknown, but a type of hypersensitivity reaction leading to stimulation of a cascade of cytokines has been strongly suggested. In very few cases ...