Endocrine Abstracts

Renalase is a recently discovered flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent oxidase, predominantly secreted into the circulation from the kidney and regulates catecholamine degradation and metabolism. Renalase gene is also present in heart muscle, skeletal muscle and liver cells in humans, and in mouse testicles. Four isoforms of renalase gene has been identified in humans (hRenalase1 to hRenalase4), however only hRenalase1 is detected in human blood suggesting that hRenalas...

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...

Background: Sleep loss in the early morning has been shown to reduce secretory activity of the pituitary–gonadal axis in men, but the determinants of this effect are unknown.Objective: To assess the effects of sleep restriction on serum concentrations of LH, testosterone , and prolactin (PRL).Methods: Fifteen young, healthy men were examined in a condition of sleep time restriction to 0245–0700 h for two consecutive night...

Cushing’s disease is caused by ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Gold standard therapy is the resection of the adenoma by transsphenoidal surgery with high cure rates even in cases of negative MR imaging. Surgical failure despite clear endocrinological test results is possible and mostly explained by hidden minute adenomas within the gland.We report on a 50-year-old woman suffering from ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. Endocrinological work-...

Introduction: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance, visceral obesity -metabolic syndrome (MS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Fetuin-A, human protein: α2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein is an abundant serum protein exclusively expressed in the liver and has been suggested to act as a link between obesity, insulin resistance (IR), and MS.Aims: A) To determine levels of Fetuin-A in PCOS women. B) To invest...

Apart from its role in energy storage, adipose tissue produces several hormones and cytokines termed ‘adipokines’ that have wide-ranging effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; and thereby, play an important role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. Visfatin is a novel adipokine, levels of which increase in obesity and is adipogenic; properties common to that of leptin. Thus, leptin may modulate visfatin production in adipose tissue. We investigated t...

Aims: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular complications. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a novel anti-angiogenic adipokine highly expressed in obese, insulin-resistant subjects. We sought to assess TSP-1 levels in adipose (AT) from PCOS women and matched controls. The effects of metformin treatment on circulating TSP-1 levels in PCOS subjects; effects of serum from normal and PCOS women on in vitro migration and...

Background: Central nervous insulin is critically involved in the regulation of body weight and memory processing. Long-term administration of intranasal insulin reduces body weight in men but not in women while improving hippocampus-dependent memory processing in both genders. Here, acute effects of intranasal insulin on food intake and memory functions were studied in men and women.Methods: Thirty-two healthy, normal-weight subjects (14 men, 18 women) ...

Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and its related peptides, urocortins (UCN), are now emerging as critical regulators of energy balance and homeostasis. These peptides exert their effects through activation of two types of CRH receptors (CRH-R1 and CRH-R2). The role of these peptides as regulators of mammalian thermogenesis and their effects on brown adipose tissue (BAT) have been primarily attributed to modulation of brain centres controlling sympathetic outflow. However,...

Background: Low testosterone levels in men occur with increasing age and are associated with increased morbidity, particularly metabolic syndrome, and mortality. As the prevalence of hypogonadal testosterone levels has not been assessed in the primary care setting in Europe, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of low testosterone levels in this setting, and the patient characteristics and comorbidities associated with it.Methods: We measured testoster...