Endocrine Abstracts

The zonation of the human adrenal cortex has long been established morphologically and histologically as three distinct layers of cells. The outer zona glomerulosa (ZG) comprises densely packed cells arranged in clusters that produce aldosterone; the zona fasciculata (ZF) is composed of cells with large cytoplasm, containing lipid droplets arranged in radial columns that synthetize cortisol; and the zona reticularis is composed of compact and pigmented cells producing androgen...

Background: The development of a new syringe for lanreotide Autogel, in conjunction with patients, caregivers and HCPs, identified and integrated several upgrades to the previous design that could improve patient care.Aims: To better understand which attributes are pertinent to users, and how user preferences can be optimally assessed, we conducted a systematic literature review of relevant studies of pre-filled devices.Methods: Pu...

Introduction: With the advent of modern imaging, up to 30% of adrenal pheochromocytomas are discovered incidentally in asymptomatic patients. Smaller tumors may be ‘pre-biochemical’ in their secretory capacity, but truly nonfunctioning tumors over 3 cm are exceedingly rare. We describe a case of a clinically and biochemically silent pheochromocytoma.Case report: A 65-year-old woman was found to have a left adrenal incidentaloma on an abdominal ...

Introduction: Sweet’s syndrome is a rare, acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, associated with a variety of inflammatory and neoplastic conditions, drug reactions and rarely with a spectrum of thyroid dysfunction. A possible link between thyroid autoimmunity and Sweet’s syndrome has been previously suggested by rare reports of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis and classic Graves’ disease. We describe a case of ‘atypical’ hyperthyroid...

Aim: Determination of the 25(OH) vitamin D levels in Greek-born and in Bangladeshi immigrant patients in Greece with diabetes with and without polyneuropathy.Materials and methods: The method for the detection and staging of polyneuropathy proposed by Dyck, 1988 was used.Results: A total of 111 Bangladeshi immigrants and 101 Greek diabetic patients took part in the study. Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in Bangladeshi tha...

Objectives: Diabetes risk for Asians is related to a greater tendency to adiposity, which increases insulin resistance. Various studies have highlighted the fact that people from South Asia have a younger age of onset of diabetes, greater upper-body adiposity and lower body mass index (BMI) and higher risk compared to those from other nations. Greece has experienced a large wave of immigration from Asian countries, especially Bangladesh. The purpose of this study was to explor...

Objectives: Smoking tobacco is a risk factor for several diseases and has been increasing in many developing countries. Smoking cessation counseling should be a routine component of diabetes care. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between smoking status in two different groups of patients with diabetes: Immigrants from Bangladesh who live in Greece and Greek-born subjects.Methods: A total of 166 immigrants with diabetes (122 wit...

Introduction: Prayer marks (PMs) have been reported in the literature among Muslim prayers. PMs are found most often on the forehead, knees, ankles and dorsa of the feet. The most common changes consist of thickening, lichenification and hyperpigmentation of the skin, the causative factors being repeated pressure and friction during pray.Objectives: Immigrant populations are disproportionately affected by diabetes and its complications. Moreover, diabeti...

Introduction: Asplenia has been reported in 10% of patients with type 1 APS (APS-1), but has never been reported in APS-2. We describe a patient with presumed APS-2 and aplenia.Case report: A 69-year-old woman was diagnosed with B12 deficiency with severe anemia at age 21 and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus at age 33, following routine testing. At 59, she was hospitalized with salt wasting and a diagnosis of Addison’s disease was made, which was...

Background: TAO is a rare disease, seriously involving 5% of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. The clinical presentation may be difficult to distinguish from other orbital conditions.Case 1: A 63-year-old woman was admitted to the Neurology Service for worsening diplopia over the previous six months, with a working diagnosis of myasthenia gravis or multiple sclerosis. The Endocrine Service was consulted because of a long history of Hashimoto&#146...