Endocrine Abstracts

Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (SCS) is a status of altered hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis secretion in the absence of the classical signs or symptoms of overt cortisol excess. Among the various tests used for the diagnosis of SCS, the 1-mg dexamethasone test (DST) is the most used. Alprazolam (ALP), a benzodiazepine activating GABAergic receptors, possesses clear centrally-mediated inhibitory effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion in normal subjects, while it d...

HPA is negatively regulated by glucocorticoid feed-back at hypothalamic, pituitary and hippocampal level by glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralcorticoid (MR) receptors. MR antagonists impair HPA rhythm after acute administration. The aim of this study was to verify HPA activity and glico-insulinemic profile both basally and after acute administration of potassium canrenoate (CAN), before and after chronic treatment. We evaluated ACTH, cortisol (F) and dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA) ...

Clinically silent adrenal masses discovered by abdominal imaging procedures performed for non-adrenal disorders, i.e. adrenal incidentalomas, have become a common finding in clinical practice and they represent a clinical concern because of the risk not only of malignancy but also of subclinical hormonal hypersecretion (SCS) that represents a new risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and/or osteoporosis. We studied 73 patients (39F, 34M; mean±S.E.M.: 61.6...

Object: In Addison’s disease hydrocortisone or cortisone have so far been used at doses of 30–37.5 mg/day, respectively, though several studies showed that cortisol normal production is about 5.7 mg/m2 (20–25 mg/day of hydrocortisone or cortisone, respectively). Differently from secondary hypoadrenalism, scanty data exist in patients with Addison’s disease on role of conventional glucocorticoid replacement and metabolic and cardiovascular outcome...

HPA response to glucocorticoids (GCs) feedback is usually tested by dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic GC; it poorly crosses BBB and preferentially activates pituitaric glucocorticoid receptor (GR), with a binding potency to GR 7 fold higher and an anti-inflammatory potency about 35 fold higher than cortisol. Cortisol, which easily penetrates into CNS, could better evaluate the GC feedback by acting also at supra-pituitary level. We studied the effects of 150 min infusion of hyd...

Hepatocytes are both insulin sensitive and the primary site for synthesis of SHBG. Thus, it is possible that a condition of hepatic insulin resistance may impair hepatic synthesis of SHBG. In this study, we assessed SHBG circulating levels after 30 days of a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) based on high-biological value protein preparations diet (ISOMED) and natural food in a cohort of insulin-resistant obese male subjects. Moreover, we investigated the effects of expo...

Introduction: Neuroendocrine neoplasms are rare and multiform requiring a multidisciplinary approach. We report the experience of a Neuroendocrine tumor board (TB) established at our University Hospital.Aims: The aim is to share clinical and diagnostic data for best decision-making according to the existing ENETS guidelines.Materials and methods: According to the indications for ENETS Centers of Excellence, meetings with experts in...

Impaired GH secretion occurs in Cushing’s syndrome (CS), reflecting hypothalamic and pituitary alterations, without IGF-I impairment. Obesity is known to blunt GH release, leading to BMI-related tests for GHD. Evaluation of GH in CS after remission is difficult, due to chronic previous hypercortisolism and persistent overweight. Aim of this study was to evaluate in 22 patients with Cushing’s syndrome (16 Cushing disease, CD, 6 adrenal adenomas, CS) GH response to GHR...

Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma (ATC) is the most aggressive thyroid gland malignancy characterized by undifferentiated morphology. It has been suggested that cancer stem cells (CSCs) might play a central role in ATC. Previously on the basis of CD133 positivity, our group suggested that CD133+ cancer stem cells (CSCs) might play a central role in ATC. Here we analyzed a panel of different stem cell markers in order to identify a peculiar CSC pattern in ATC....

GH secretion is usually impaired in active Cushing’s syndrome (CS), due to concomitant mechanisms, including diminished GHRH and/or increased somatostatin release and impaired pituitary somatotrope responsiveness. Differently, IGF1 levels not parallel GH insufficiency in CS, being reported reduced, normal or increased. Both ghrelin and GHRH+arginine (ARG) are powerful GH secretagogues, influenced by age and/or BMI. In 27 CS (42.7±2.9 years, 28.8±0.9 kg/m2</...