Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction and Objectives: Extended-release metformin (XRM) is recently available in Spain as a fixed combination with sitagliptin, but not in monotherapy. Its tolerance is clearly superior to that of conventional metformin, and since 2005 the NICE guidelines for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) recommend its use in patients with metformin-caused gastrointestinal disturbances. We assessed the efficacy and tolerability of XRM/sitagliptin in patients with T2DM previously labell...

Surgery is the only effective therapy for insulinoma patients, therefore there is a necessity to develop diagnostic strategies in cases of unknown tumour location, possibly through the use of new biomarkers. 99mTc labelled glucagon-like peptide 1 analogue (99mTc-GLP1) scintigraphy has been developed in our centre as an imaging technique of insulinoma. Labelled GLP1 analogue might also be applied in diagnosis of various forms of nesidioblastosis allowing t...

Introduction and Objective: Extended-release metformin has much better gastrointestinal tolerability than conventional (immediate release)metformin and according to the UK NICE guidelines should be offered to patients who have gastrointestinal tolerance issues with conventional metformin. We rechallenged patients with T2DM labelled as metformin-intolerant and treated with a DPP4i with a single-pill combination (SPC) of extended release metformin and sitagliptin (1000/50 mg) in...

Introduction and Objectives: The tolerability of extended-release metformin (XRM) is clearly superior to that of conventional metformin, with the potential to improve patient compliance, effectiveness and outcomes. Since 2005 the NICE guidelines for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) recommend its use in patients with metformin-caused gastrointestinal disturbances. XRM is recently available in Spain as a fixed combination with sitagliptin, but not in monotherapy. We assessed the ...

In humans, the exchange of nutrients and waste between mother and fetus occurs via the outer layer of the placenta (syncytium; ST); this layer is maintained by continuous growth and differentiation of underlying cytotrophoblasts (CT). Pregnancy complications such as intrauterine growth restriction are associated with abnormal CT proliferation and apoptosis; altered levels of maternal insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) have also been reported in these conditions. We have demons...

Introduction: Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored proteins are common on the surfaces of eukaryotic cells. An example is alkaline phosphatase. Fluorescently Labelled Aerolysin (FLAER) is a bacterial toxin produced by the gram-negative bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila that binds naturally to GPI anchored proteins and utilizes them as receptors to cause cytotoxicity. FLAER has been used to discriminate the GPI deficient red blood cells in cases of paroxysmal nocturn...

Introduction: Extended-release (ER) metformin has been available in many countries for the last two decades, and it may have definite advantages vs. conventional (i.e., immediate-release) metformin: Reportedly, it may reduce gastrointestinal adverse effects by about half, thus increasing compliance; moreover, the once-a-day schedule may contribute to increased adherence and persistence, and hopefully improved outcomes. However, ER metformin was unavailable in Spain until 2022:...

Context: Weight loss and metformin therapy are beneficial in improving the hormonal and metabolic consequences of PCOS. Rimonabant has been found to reduce weight and improve the metabolic profile in patients with metabolic syndrome.Objective: To compare the effects of metformin and rimonabant on insulin resistance and biochemical hyperandrogenemia.Subjects: Twenty patients with PCOS and biochemical hyperandrogenemia were recruited...

Introduction and Objective: Metformin is still a mainstay of treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but in 10-25% of them there are persistent gastrointestinal disturbances that worsen their quality of life, lead to poor compliance and treatment withdrawal, and ultimately result in worse health outcomes. Extended-Release Metformin (XRM) is much better tolerated, and since 2005 is recommended in the well-respected British NICE guidelines for the treatment o...

Introduction: The management of patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) has been revolutionised since the introduction of radiolabelled somatostatin analogues targeting overexpressed somatostatin receptors (SSTR). Accurate assessment of SSTR status of primary focus/metastases is crucial to determine the choice of the treatment method. Recently it has been shown that novel molecular probes, SST2-antagonists, recognize more binding sites in comparison to the wide...