Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: It has been demonstrated that mTOR inhibitors have potent anti-proliferative effects in a human Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) cell lines. We here explore the possible role of mTOR inhibitors, Everolimus and BEZ235 (which also inhibits the PI3K pathway) on the effects of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) in human MTC primary cultures.Aims: To this purpose, 20 MTCs primary cultures, were treated without or with 1 uM Everolimus, 10 nM B...

Different hormonal disorders can influence bone metabolism and cause secondary osteoporosis. In childhood, pituitary disorders hamper gaining of proper peak bone mass and skeletal size, later on in the adult life they can increase bone loss. The consequence of diminished bone strength is significant increase of fracture risk. Among pituitary disorders such effects are possible in patients with GH, prolactin, gonadotropins secretion disturbances, and GH and ACTH excess, while h...

This year marks the 100th anniversary of vitamin D. Since its discovery in 1922 - as a factor that protects against the bone disease rickets - our understanding of vitamin D has evolved dramatically. Vitamin D has morphed from environmental/nutritional factor to steroid hormone endocrine regulator to intracrine modulator of transcription. Despite this, vitamin D-deficiency continues to be prevalent in the UK and nutritional rickets remains a significant clinical problem, notab...

Background: Small functional pituitary adenomas can cause severely disabling symptoms and early death, however, surgical planning is often complicated due to inconclusive diagnostic MRI in up to 40% of patients and therefore hamper cure rates. We here introduce a novel method for the detection of small functional pituitary adenoma by O-(2-[18F]-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine ([18F]FET) PET-MRI.Methods: Patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) or acromegaly wit...

Purpose: Skeletal muscle has been recognized as a thyroid hormones (THs) target for contractile function, regeneration, metabolism and glucose disposal. Despite a role in regulating muscle development has been described, little is known about the role of THs in regulating muscle homeostasis in a pathological state such as food deprivation induced atrophy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether thyroid hormones may hamper the fasting induced skeletal muscle atrophy an...

Introduction: Calcitonin secreting neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are rare and not well recognized. Due to many similarities, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate them from medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), which can hamper choice of proper therapy. We investigated our group of patients with this type of NET in terms of diagnosis and biology.Patients and Methods: We analyzed 38 patients with calcitonin secreting NET (5% of all our patients with NET)....

Diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis are important comorbidities commonly seen in postmenopausal women. Diabetes can cause bone alterations that increases the risk of fractures. However, in patients with type 2 diabetes, bone mineral density (BMD) often appears not to be decreased, due to diabetes-induced increased weight and body fat mass, which can hamper densitometric assessment of osteoporosis and of fracture risks. The aim of the present study was to compare bone mineral de...

Introduction: Cyclic Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is a rare disorder, characterised by alternating periods of normo – and hypercortisolism.Case report: An 18-year-old young man was followed at the Department of Growth and Reproduction due to Klinefelter and received androgen replacement since the age of 12. As he was shifted to i.m. injections his liver enzymes increased and liver damage due to androgen replacement was suspected. A liver biopsy show...

Mutations in the mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) subunits A, B, C, and D have been shown to hamper oxidative phosphorylation and predispose to pheochromocytomas (PHEOs) and paragangliomas (PGLs). These tumors are characterized by a glycolytic and pseudohypoxic phenotype, which is also seen in most PHEOs/PGLs occurring as part of von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) syndrome, due to VHL gene mutations. The rate of extra-adrenal tumor origin and malignancy however is particu...

Exercise induces an increase in cardiac output, respiration and fuel mobilisation. Whilst the cardio-respiratory response to exercise is similar in type 1 diabetes to that seen in non-diabetic individuals, the response to mobilisation of fuel source to support exercise is impaired.Normally when exercising changes in insulin and counterregulatory hormones secretion are made which are dependent on the type of exercise being performed. These changes facilit...