Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Pasireotide is a multireceptor-targeted somatostatin analogue that predominantly binds to somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SSTR5) and provides sustained control of urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels in some patients with Cushing’s disease (CD). Cabergoline is a dopamine D2 receptor agonist with efficacy in some patients with CD. Most corticotropinomas co-express SSTR5 and D2, providing rationale for combination treatment with pasireotide and cabergoline. Resul...

: Patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) have increased cardiovascular risk due to metabolic alterations caused by glucocorticoids excess. Pasireotide, a multireceptor-targeted somatostatin analogue, is a therapeutic option in CD patients in whom surgery is not curative or not feasible. Pasireotide has been shown to be effective in controlling hypercortisolism and to improve metabolic features. Recently, the visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been proposed as a marker of vi...

Introduction: Environmental toxins, including those deriving from illegal and hazardous disposal of urban and chemical waste, are known to act as endocrine disruptors and to increase the risk of malignancy and cancer mortality. The present study aimed at investigating prevalence and characteristics of thyroid diseases in the area of Acerra, a town in the perimeter of the so called ‘Land of Fires’.Methods: The screening included subjects aged &#...

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) requires life-long glucocorticoid (GC) treatment, which is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MS), probably due to cortisol overexposure for multiple drug daily doses, together with an impairment of quality of life (QoL). Moreover treatment compliance (TC) is reported to be suboptimal in AI patients. The current study aimed at investigating the impact of the switch from twice/thrice daily conventional GCs to once daily dual-rele...

Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) is a rare cancer with poor prognosis and scant treatment options. Mitotane alone, or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy, represents the referral current treatment for patients with unresectable ACC. Recent studies have shown that mTOR inhibitors suppress growth of ACC cells. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of mitotane in combination with mTOR inhibitors. In H295 and SW13 cells we tested the effects of a 6 day treatment with increa...

Background: A proof-of-concept study (LINC 1) demonstrated that after 10 weeks, LCI699 normalized UFC in 11/12 patients with Cushing’s disease. This interim analysis of the first eight patients enrolled into a longer-term study (LINC 2) further evaluates LCI699 in Cushing’s disease; the full analysis on all 19 enrolled patients is expected in time for the congress.Methods: There were two study groups. Previous LINC 1 participants (follow-up coh...

Life-long glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is needed in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in order to replace cortisol deficiency and to control ACTH and consequently androgen levels. Therefore, patients with CAH tend to have an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MS), probably due to cortisol overexposure, caused by multiple daily doses of conventional GCs, unable to mimic cortisol circadian rhythm. The current study aimed at i...

Generously supported by IPSEN)-->Hyperprolactinemia is reportedly associated with impaired metabolic profile, particularly in patients with concomitant hypogonadism. The current study aimed at investigating the effects of 12 and 24 month-continuous cabergoline (CAB) treatment on metabolic profile in male hyperprolactinemic patients. Thirty-two men with prolactinomas, including 22 with testosterone < 8 nmol/l (HG, 69%) and 10 with...

Introduction: Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) is the test that offers the highest diagnostic accuracy in the differential diagnosis between pituitary and ectopic Cushng’s syndrome (CS). The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of BIPSS performed in the last six years, after the change in the technical procedure with that performed in the past period in Naples centre.Patients and methods: Seventeen patients with...

Introduction: Anophthalmia/microphthalmia is a rare developmental craniofacial defect often associated to congenital hypopituitarism with GH deficiency and hypogonadism. SOX2 gene plays a key role in embryonic development regulation and heterozygous mutations of this gene, reported only in 14 patients to date, have been associated to anophthalmia/microphthalmia and congenital hypopituitarism in uo to 10% of cases. Therefore, the study of the SOX2 gene can be clinically useful ...