Endocrine Abstracts

: Inflammation and several oxidative processes are modulated by Selenium (Se) trough the selenoproteins. Se deficiency has been associated with thyroid autoimmune diseases and hypothyroidism, while Se-supplementation reduces antibodies titles and ameliorates ultrasound pattern of the gland.Aim of the current study, is to study the molecular effects of Se-supplementation in thyroid follicular cells (FRTL5).FRTL5 cells have been star...

Conventional glucocorticoids (GCs) are unable to mimic physiological cortisol rhythm in adrenal insufficiency (AI), with a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Possible explanations are supra-physiological doses and impaired cortisol profile. In particular, elevated evening cortisol levels were related to glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity alterations and visceral obesity. Once-daily-dual-release-hydrocortisone (OD-DR-HC), better reproducing the physiological ...

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological cancer. Debulking surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy are the cornerstone of OC management; however, after a partial initial response, tumors invariably relapse. Therapeutic approaches should account for interindividual heterogeneity since OC histiotypes show distinct genetic profile. A2780 cell line has been annotated as high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC); nevertheless, recent research underlined that the genetic ...

HCC is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Local approaches are generally preferred for patients whose disease is restricted to the liver. In patients with extrahepatic disease systemic therapy can be considered. Chemotherapy did not demonstrate convincing survival advantages in several trails for HCC patients. Presently, the kinase inhibitor sorafenib is the only approved systemic target therapy for the treatment of advanced HCC. Mitotane (dichlorodiphenildichloroe...

HCC is a difficult-to-treat- cancer with poor prognosis. The recent EVOLVE-1 trial demonstrated that EVE did not improve overall survival in molecularly and clinically unselected patients with advanced HCC resistant to sorafenib treatment. In selected patients, the well-established antitumor effect of EVE could make this drug a potential adjuvant therapy. Unfortunately, the acquired resistance to this molecule due to the tumor adaptation to chronic drug use is a current challe...

Dopamine has been found in both semen and oviductal fluid and dopamine receptors (DRs) have been detected in male genital tract and spermatozoa, suggesting that dopamine system may control important reproductive functions in humans. Dopamine improves sperm motility and viability in animal models, although the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aims of this study were to investigate DRs expression in human spermatozoa and to evaluate the in ...

Somatostatin analogues (SA) are known to revert acromegalic cardiomyopathy mainly in young patients with short disease duration, whereas pegvisomant (PEG) reportedly improves cardiac structure and performance in patients resistant to SA. To date, no data are available on the effects of long-term SA+PEG on cardiovascular complications. The current study aimed at investigating the effects of long-term SA+PEG on cardiac structure and performance in acromegaly. Thirty-six acromega...

In patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, life-long glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is often required to replace cortisol deficiency and to avoid the ACTH-dependent androgen levels increase. However, in these patients, the multiple daily doses required with conventional GCs can cause cortisol overexposure, leading to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MS), an impaired quality of life (QoL), and poor treatment compliance (TC). T...

The mTOR and IGF/insulin pathways are frequently dysregulated in HCC. Antitumoral activity of mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) has been demonstrated in experimental models but in early clinical studies mTORi alone have shown modest antitumoral activity. IGF/insulin-dependent Akt activation, via IGF1R and IR, has been suggested as potential mechanism for mTORi resistance. This study aimed at evaluating the expression of mTOR and IGF/insulin pathway components and the effects of mTORi al...

Background: Several evidences suggested that conventional glucocorticoids (CGCs) used as replacement treatment in adrenal insufficiency (AI) are inadequate to mimic physiological cortisol circadian rhythm (CCR), and that CCR disruption, represented by non-physiological pattern of peaks and troughs and elevated evening GC levels, might be responsible for the increased metabolic and, consequently, cardiovascular risk. It has been demonstrated that once daily dual-release-hydroco...