Endocrine Abstracts

Osteocytes differentiate from osteoblasts, are embedded in mineralised matrix and are critical regulators of bone remodelling. In vitro osteocyte models are currently limited to cell lines in monolayer, but these do not represent their 3D environment in vivo. We have recently shown that osteoblasts in 3D gels differentiate along the osteocytic pathway. Since retinoic acid (RA) has been shown to stimulate monolayer osteoblast/osteocyte differentiation, we have inv...

Serum CT is the most specific marker of Medullary Thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Although Pg test is the most frequently used to induce CT secretion, the poor availability of Pg makes it necessary to look for different agents. Aim of this work was to compare the induction of CT secretion following 2 different stimuli in the same patient. We studied 25 patients (14 females, 11 males; mean age 50±15 yrs; range 12–77 yrs). All patients were subjected to both tests by injectio...

Osteocytes make up >90% of bone cells, are embedded in mineralised matrix where they form a communication network. Osteocytes differentiate from osteoblasts, and are thought to be mechano-sensitive. They are very difficult to isolate leading to a dependence on cell lines for in vitro studies of osteocyte biology. There is thus a need to develop new methods to study these cells. Recent publications indicate that osteoblasts maintained in in vitro 3D collagen g...

Several studies have identified a relationship between oncogene activation and dedifferentiation of PTC. Mutations of RAS, RET/PTC and BRAF modulate the expression of thyroid genes. An impaired NIS expression has been demonstrated in PTCs harboring the BRAFV600E mutation.Aim of this study was to analyze BRAF and RET/PTC1-3 alterations and their influence on the expression of thyroid differentiation genes. Seventy-one PTC samples were studied. Quantitative analysis o...

Germline point mutations of the RET proto-oncogene are causative of hereditary MTC. Somatic mutations are described in 40% of sporadic MTCs. Although a relationship between somatic mutations and bad prognosis has been described, data are controversial.No date on the prognostic value of RET polymorphisms are available.Aim of the work was to verify if the presence of a somatic RET mutation and or a polymorphisms can influence the prognosis of MTC. This stu...

BackgroundHypercalcaemia is commonly encountered during clinical practice. SCCOHT is a rare ovarian malignancy typically found in young women. In two thirds of patients, it causes a paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia which is usually asymptomatic.Case ReportA thirty-seven-year-old lady, presented to casualty with a one -week history of worsening nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, polydipsia, and polyuria....

Introduction: Vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT) after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 with the adenoviral vector-based vaccines ChAdOx1 and Ad26.COV2.S has been associated with adrenal pathology, such as bilateral adrenal vein thrombosis, adrenal cortex haemorrhage and adrenal insufficiency in six percent of patients1.Case report: We report the case of a 23-year-old healthy woman who presented at eight days after ChAdOx1 va...