Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted disease characterized by metabolic and reproductive disorders associated with hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance. Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline derivative alkaloid extracted from chinese medicinal herbs that has been used as an insulin sensitizer.BBR could represent a potential therapeutic tool for PCOS.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of BBR on the clinical, metabol...

Objective: The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the risk of persistent glucose impairment after gestational diabetes (GDM) is increased in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Research design and methods: The prospective case–control study included 42 pregnant patients with PCOS and GDM and 84 pregnant control patients with GDM but without clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries and oligo-anovu...

Patients with hyperprolactinemia have impaired bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD) partially represents bone’s health.To evaluate vitamin D levels, PTH, Ca and P, BMD and bone morphometry in patients with prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas.Forty-four patients (30 W, 40±11 years, BMI 27.6±5 kg/m2) underwent to lumbar and femoral DEXA, to vertebral morphometry by X-ray and was calculated the S...

Introduction: Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation (RTA) is a new promising therapeutic approach to manage compressive thyroid nodules (TNs).Aim: To investigate effectiveness and safety of RTA in the treatment of compressive TNs in patients not receiving surgery or radioiodine.Study design: Forty patients (31–86 years) with compressive TNs were enrolled. Twenty-two patients had non-toxic TNs and 18 had toxic TNs and we...

Deficiency of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17βHSD3), an enzyme converting androstenedione (A) to testosterone (T) in the Leydig cells of the testis, is a rare cause of autosomal recessive 46,XY disorders of sexual development (DSD). A 18-year-old phenotypically female patient presented with primary amenorrhea. She had deep voice, macrocephaly, broad forehead, enlarged nasal tip, macrostomia, facial acne, gynecomastia, left-convex dorsal scoliosis, hypopla...

Besides their well-known anti-diabetic effects, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) thiazolidinedione ligands (TZD) have been suggested to also display anti-inflammatory properties. The receptor role in mediating such effects is far from being elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that PPARγ is necessary for TZD to interfere with TNFα and IFNγ inflammatory activity in human endothelial cells. Different PPARγ ligands similarly inhib...

Background: Cabergoline, a dopamine receptor-2 agonist, used to treat prolactinomas was associated with increased risk of cardiac valve disease.Objective: To evaluate prevalence of cardiac valve regurgitation in patients with prolactinomas treated with cabergoline.Design: Open, case–control, prospective.Patients: Fifty patients (44 women, 6 men) and 50 sex- and age-matched control subjects.<p class="...

GH and IGF-I excess causes a specific cardiomyopathy, often complicated by diastolic and systolic dysfunction until heart failure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of long-term treatment with pegvisomant on cardiac performance in acromegalic patients. Twelve patients (4 men and 8 women, age 29–58 years) entered the study. A radionuclide angiography at rest and during exercise was performed at baseline and after 18 months of treatment with pegvisomant with ...

Background: Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is an inherited condition of reduced tissue responsiveness to thyroid hormone (TH), biochemically characterized by elevated serum TH concentrations, with inappropriate, non-suppressed thyrotropin levels (TSH). It is caused by point mutations in the ligand binding domain of the TH receptor (TR) β gene, and the mutant TR interferes with the function of the normal TRs (dominant negative effect). The clinical manifestations of R...

The pseudo-Cushing states (PCS) include several clinical conditions such as obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, depression and alcoholism, characterized by physical features and abnormalities of hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis similar to Cushing’s syndrome (CS). The differential diagnosis between CS and PCS is often complicated and requires several hormonal tests. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the cortisol response to the or...