Endocrine Abstracts

EGFR ligands, a family of seven related peptide growth factors, are emerging as key factors regulating different aspects of female reproduction including oocyte maturation and ovulation, and implantation. Betacellulin (BTC) is a rather neglected EGFR ligand whose biological activities have been mostly associated with the endocrine pancreas. During the routine breeding of recently established BTC transgenic mouse lines (Schneider et al., Endocrinology 146, 5237–5246, 2005)...

Betacellulin, one of several peptides activating the EGFR (ErbB1) and related receptors, is a multipotent growth factor known to posses the unique ability to promote growth and differentiation of pancreatic β-cells.We investigated the effects of betacellulin overexpression in a recently established transgenic mouse model (Schneider et al., Endocrinology 146, 5237–5246, 2005). In transgenic animals, overall glucose metabolism was improved...

Background: Previous studies indicate that PAS-LAR can achieve control of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels and may reduce tumor size, however a subset of acromegaly patients responds poorly. T2-signal intensity, somatostatin receptor (SST) subtype 2 and 5 expression, and the response to first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) are recognized predictors of therapy response. Valid prediction of the response to PAS-LAR can alter treatment stratification.</...

Objective: Generously supported by IPSEN)-->Abscesses in pituitary adenomas are rare. Continuous progression and haematogenous spread of infections are considered the main pathogenic mechanisms. A standard therapeutic regimen does not exist.Methods: We report on the case of a 56-year-old male who had been treated with cabergoline for a macroprolactinoma for 4.5 years. The patient presented to our emergency room...

Objective: MRI T2-signal intensity and somatostatin (SST) receptor expression are recognized predictors of therapy response in acromegaly. We investigate the relationship between these predictors and the hormonal and tumor responses to PAS-LAR therapy, and compare to first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) responsiveness.Methods: We included 45 acromegalics initially receiving SRLs, followed by a combination therapy including pegvisomant (P...

Objective: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is associated with metabolic parameters and involved in glucose metabolism. Low IGF1 has been implicated in the etiology of glucose intolerance. However, epidemiological data are scarce and the role of IGF1 in prospective studies is not clear to date.Research design and methods: We measured IGF1 levels in 7665 subjects free of diabetes from two German prospective cohort studies, the DETECT study and SHIP and...

Immunoassays for testosterone produce sometimes incorrectly high results in female samples. The reasons of this phenomenon are not fully understood, but interference by cross-reacting substances and inaccurate calibration can be critical. One known endogenous interfering substance is dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S). Other substances still have to be identified.An Elecsys® Testosterone II assay using a new high affinity sheep mono...

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Background and aims: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly associated with other components of the metabolic syndrome, in particular obesity and diabetes. However, systematic network medicine approach of the complex phenotypic dependencies and comorbidities has yet to be performed. Our aim now is to identify novel drug targets for NAFLD treatment by a systematic in silico network analysis.Methods: We constructed an interaction network of cu...

Purpose: To investigate the kinetics of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) following oral metyrapone administration and describe differences between ACTH-deficient and non ACTH-deficient subjects.Methods: Patients from a tertiary endocrine center at a University Hospital in Munich, Germany, were tested. Metyrapone (Metopirone, HRA Pharma, France) was administered with a dosage of 40 mg/kg bodyweight at 0800 h. Consecutive levels of ACTH were determined at 0, 60,...