Endocrine Abstracts

Endotoxemia induces behavioral changes, including a decrease of food intake. Several studies have demonstrated that ADX modifies central nervous system responsiveness to different paradigms. Control of energy homeostasis is regulated by interplay of peripheral signaling conveyed to the hypothalamus and brainstem that control appetite and meal size. We investigated the activity of oxytocin (OT) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and tyrosine hydrox...

The endocannabinoid system is involved in several homeostatic and neuroendocrine functions. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of type 1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor antagonist, rimonabant (10 mg/kg, p.o.), on hormone secretion, neuronal activation and mRNA expression in the hypothalamus following isotonic (I−) or hypertonic (H−) blood volume expansion (BVE). Our results showed that the secretion of both oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) were increased ...

Introduction: Pituicytoma is a low-grade glioma of the suprasellar and sellar regions that is rarely described (about 60 cases described in the literature). The clinical, laboratory and neuroradiological findings are not pathognomonic, and therefore definitive diagnosis is only possible after surgery and histopathological study. Total resection is the treatment of choice, since subtotal removal can often lead to recurrence or progression.Case report: We ...

Triple A syndrome (AAAS), a rare and debilitating autosomal recessive disorder. It is characterised by adrenal failure, alacrima and achalasia; ~70% patients develop a neurodegeneration. The AAAS gene encodes ALADIN, a nuclear pore complex (NPC) protein necessary for the selective nuclear import of DNA protective molecules and is important for cellular redox homeostasis. ALADIN’s role is not fully characterised: its discovery at the centrosome and the endoplasmic...

Introduction: Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) is a rare disease. Mutations in various genes have been implicated in its pathophysiology, the most frequent being ANOS1, FGFR1 and GNRHR genes. FGFR1 is essential for cell proliferation, differentiation and migration during embryonic development and is involved in GnRH neuron development and maintenance. Klotho-beta protein (KLB) is expressed in the postnatal hypothalamus and is t...

Introduction: Angiosarcomas account for < 1% of all sarcomas, and are highly agressive neoplasms whose clinical course is striking: local recurrence, metastasis, and a high mortality rate. Primary angiosarcoma of the adrenal gland was first described in 1988 by Kareti et al. and is very rare with, so far, only 51 reported cases. Case report: A 49-year-old male, without prior malignancy, presented with a 4.9x5.9 cm right adrenal nodule and a 2.4 cm le...

Introduction: Parathyroidectomy is the only curative treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and has been traditionally performed through bilateral neck exploration (BNE). However, with the use of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) assay along with preoperative localization exams, minimally invasive surgery can be performed with good surgical success rate.Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of IOPTH assay in guiding adequate parathyroidectom...

Introduction: Hypoparathyroidism (hypoPTH) is one of the most feared iatrogenic complications of the surgical treatment for thyroid cancer (TC). Despite supplementation with calcium salts and calcitriol, hypoPTH seems to be associated with a negative impact on quality of life (QoL), which has not been evaluated in the Portuguese patients.Objectives: To evaluate the impact of hypoPTH on the QoL of Portuguese patients with TC and its correlation with serum...

Introduction: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor (1-2% of all thyroid carcinomas), which arises from calcitonin-producing C cells. Calcitonin (CT) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are used as tumor markers in the follow-up of patients with MTC. Non-secretory forms of MTC are very rare, accounting for less than 1% of the cases.Case Report: A 53-year-old man underwent left thyroid lobectomy for a 1.1 cm thyroid nodule subjec...

Introduction: Graves’ disease (GD) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocyte activation and synthesis of anti-TSH receptor antibodies (TRABs). Higher values of TRABs are associated with a higher risk of Graves’ ophthalmopathy and dermatopathy. Iodine-131 therapy (RAI) is one of the well-established options in GD, but it can cause a transient increase in TRABs.Objectives: To evaluate the evolution of TRABs after RAI; to identi...