Endocrine Abstracts

Calcitonin and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are members of a family of neuropeptides that exert effects by activating secretin-type G-protein coupled receptors. Calcitonin lowers blood calcium levels and acts to protect against calcium loss from the skeleton during periods of calcium mobilisation. CRH is a key player in the stress response mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Analysis of the phylogenetic distribution of calcitonin-type and CRH-type pep...

Introduction: Neonatal screening is an effective method for early detection of congenital hypothyroidism, a disorder that requires the prompt initiation of the treatment, in order to prevent the subsequent neuropsychiatric impairments. Neonatal screening for hypothyroidism in Romania was initiated as a pilot project in 1979, has been expanded since 2002, and is currently conducted through the National Health Program funded by the Ministry of Health.Objec...

Introduction: DHEA is a well-known neurosteroid. Its plasmatic level is reduced with ageing in most individuals. A non-negligible portion of DHEA is hydroxylated at C7 and C16 to 7α-, 7β- and 16α- and 16β-hydroxyderivatives. A part of the antiglucocorticoid function of DHEA has been described to its 7-oxygenated metabolites, namely to 7α-hydroxy-DHEA. Due its anti-glucocoticoid action it is also considered a factor in fat deposition processes. Thus, we...

Introduction: Whereas the daily profiles of the main steroid hormones are well known, minor differences in the course of their levels related to defined and standardised food intake were studied rarely.Methods: Eight women (mean age 29.48±2.99 years, mean BMI 21.3±1.3 kg/m2) in follicular phase of menstrual cycle were examined. The levels of C-peptide, glucose, LH, FSH, SHBG, cortisol, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, progesterone,...

This work aimed to evaluate pituitary–adrenal axis and tissue metabolism of cortisol in patients with long standing type one diabetes.Fifty patients with diabetes type 1 were investigated; age 38±10 years (mean±S.D.), age at diagnosis 25.5±10 years, disease duration 15±8 years, BMI 24.5±2.7 kg/cm2, HbA1c 7.2±1.2%. Control group consisted of 40 healthy volunteers.The study...

Introduction: Obesity epidemic has a considerable effect on the health of the population. Obesity is connected with infertility and hypogonadism. It is known that obese men have a low testosterone and higher estradiol level. The assumed mechanism would be increased testosterone aromatization in adipose tissue and a lower SHBG level, which means a decrease of overall testosterone. The aim of this study was to describe the changes of steroidogenesis with obese men.<p class="...

Introduction: Obese men and women still show their sex-specific fat accumulation. Not only does fat distribution differ between the sexes after puberty, but the dynamics of fat cell size and fat metabolism differ as well. While there is reliable evidence that pubertal sex steroids induce a sex-specific fat distribution with preferential abdominal/visceral fat accumulation in males and preferential gluteofemoral fat accumulation in females, later in life a number of paradoxes o...

Tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins is one of the main processes associated with the development of some specific functions of ejaculated human spermatozoa. Although this process, as well as the identity of the phosphorylated targets, has been well characterized, only few tyrosine kinases (TKs) have been identified so far. Moreover, their roles in regulating sperm functions are still unknown.In the present work, we report the presence and localization o...

Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of balding in men. AGA is the risk factor of cardiovascular diseases, glucose metabolism disorders and also the risk of benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate carcinoma.Methods: A group of 26 men (mean age: 31 years, mean BMI 25.58), in which premature hair loss begun before 30 years of age was involved in the present study. In all individuals, their hormonal profile involving total tes...

Introduction: Diabetes is a chronic condition causing morbidity and mortality globally, with a growing economic burden on healthcare systems. In the UK, 1 in 14 people have diabetes, with type 2 accounting for 90% of cases (1). Complications from poorly controlled diabetes are associated with increased socioeconomic costs and a reduced quality of life. Research has shown education and self-management are crucial in helping diabetic patients achieve metabolic control (1). Smart...