Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy and skin changes) syndrome is a rare multisystemic disease. Diagnosis requires two major criteria and at least one minor criterion. Major criteria include polineuropathy and a monoclonal plasma proliferative disorder (almost always lambda). Minor criteria include osteosclerotic bone lesions, Castleman disease, organomegaly (including lymphadenopathy), oedema, pleural effusion or ascites, e...

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a chronic diabetic complication occurring in most diabetic patients after 20 years of disease. Progression of DR to its sight threatening stages is usually associated with worsening of underlying retinal vascular dysfunction and disease. The plasma kallikrein kinin system is activated during vascular injury, mediating important functions in inflammation, blood flow, and coagulation. Bradykinin B1 receptor (B1R) is expressed in human ret...

Introduction: LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. The Friedewald formula (FF) is limited by hypertriglyceridaemia. We aimed to correlate serum LDL-C measured by direct assay with serum LDL-C estimated by several formulas: Friedewald (FF): LDL-C=CT-HDL−TG/5; Tsai (TsaiF): LDL-C=TC-HDL−TG/8 (TG/8 represents very-LDL-C); DeLong (DeLongF): LDL-C=TC-HDL−TG×0.16 and Chen (ChenF): LDL-C=non-HDL-cholesterol×0.9−TG×...

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is characterised by acute, transient left ventricular apical ballooning precipitated by emotional or physiologically stressful stimuli and has been previously associated with Graves’ disease based on few clinical reports. More recently, the association with exogenous thyrotoxicosis and radioiodine-induced thyroiditis has also been described. Iatrogenic hyperthyroidism on patients under levothyroxine replacement therapy for hypothy...

Introduction: Neonatal diabetes is a rare condition diagnosed within the first months of life. Activating mutation of KCNJ11, the gene encoding the Ki6.2 subunit of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel, is the most common cause of permanent neonatal diabetes, and ~20% of patients have neurological features.Patients with the severe neurological phenotype exhibit developmental delay, motor weakness, and epilepsy in addition to diabetes (DEND syndrome). Inte...

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) metabolic fingerprints differ according to the individual’s BMI and glycemic status. GLP-1 and Glucagon are two hormones that participate in energy homeostasis and glycemic control. Dual GLP-1/Glucagon agonists are a drug class under development for obesity and diabetes treatment. Although the pancreas and the liver are considered major GLP-1 and glucagon targets, these hormones act in other tissues, which could contribute for its effects on ...

Introduction: Vitamin D is a hormone that acts through the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) not only on the skeletal system but on a great number of target tissues, including thyroid gland. In recent years the association of vitamin D with autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), has been suggested.VDR gene polymorphisms had been associated with an increased risk of AITD. In addition a recent meta-analysis showed that AITD patients had lower level of 25-hydroxyvitami...

Introduction: In most cases, adrenal masses are non-functioning adrenocortical adenomas. On ‘Management of adrenal incidentalomas: European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline’ published in 2016, the experts ‘suggest against repeated hormonal work-up in patients with a normal hormonal work-up at initial evaluation unless new clinical signs of endocrine activity appear or there is worsening of comorbidities’.C...

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that results from the destruction of insulin producing β cells, in genetic susceptible individuals. Vitamin D (Vit D) is mostly known for its role in bone and calcium metabolism, however it is also involved in the modulation of the immune response. Serum levels of vitamin D partly depend on diet and sunlight exposure. However, genetic factors are also involved. Patients with T1D have been reported to have a higher pr...

Introduction: The assessment of pituitary function is often achieved by means of sequential determinations (pool) of hormone levels such as prolactin and gonadotrophins. For the determination of prolactin levels the guidelines of the Endocrine Society are clear in recommending a single sample determination.Objective: To evaluate differences between single sample and pool (0′, 20′ and 60′) determinations for assessing prolactin, FSH and ...