Endocrine Abstracts

Our goal is to better understand the molecular and cellular nature of paediatric combined pituitary hormone deficiency diseases in order to facilitate improved diagnosis, treatment, and family counselling. LIM-homeodomain transcription factors regulate many aspects of development and mutations in the genes that encode these regulatory proteins are associated with several diseases. The LHX3 LIM-homeodomain protein is critical for pituitary gland organogenesis and some nervous s...

The incidence of the metabolic syndrome has reached epidemic levels in the western world. With respect to the energy balance most attention has been given to reducing energy (food) intake. Increasing energy expenditure is an important alternative strategy. Adaptive thermogenesis, which is the increase in energy expenditure in response to cold or diet, may be an effective way to affect the energy balance.Several studies have confirmed that humans show sig...

Pre-autonomic neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) project to sympathetic and parasympathetic motor nuclei in the brain stem, from where the liver and white adipose tissue (WAT) are innervated by both branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Studies by our group and by others have shown that these neural pathways modulate glucose and lipid metabolism in liver and WAT. Given the abundant thyroid hormone receptor (TR) expression in the PVN we hypothes...

Sexual difference of behavior is primarily attributed by structural sexual dimorphism in the nervous system. Recently, we found two sexually dimorphic systems in the central nervous system: 1) newly identified hypothalamic nucleus expressing estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and 2) gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) system in the spinal cord.Sagittalis nucleus of the hypothalamus (SGN), situated between the arcuate nucleus and ventromedial nucleus, is larger in ...

Systemic insulin is considered to serve as a major negative feedback signal in the central nervous regulation of food intake. Accordingly, euglycemic infusion of regular human insulin (RI) has been shown to reduce hunger in a dose dependent fashion. Due to its increased lipophility, the long-acting insulin analogue insulin detemir (DI) might cross the blood–brain barrier faster and in higher quantities than RI and exceed stronger anorexigenic effects. To test this hypothe...

Objectives: Experimental and clinical data point to an involvement of the central nervous system in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) independent of thyroid dysfunction. The neuropsychological function of patients with HT has not been systematically evaluated yet.Design: In the present prospective study, neuropsychological testing was performed in 26 euthyroid patients with HT compared to 25 euthyroid patients with hormonal treatment for goitre or after ...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem multifactorial autoimmune disorder. The survival of SLE patients has been improved by the administration of immunomodulatory therapy. Patients, however, are affected by late onset complications of the disease such as atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein Lp(a) is a known risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis.The aim was to study Lp(a) levels and their relationship with disease activity in SLE patien...

Introduction: Only several cases of co-existing meningiomas and pituitary tumours secreting growth hormone (GH) have been described so far in patients not treated previously with irradiation.Aim: The aim of the study was to describe two cases of co-occurrence of acromegaly and meningioma and to discuss their relationship.Case reports: Case 1. 52-year old female complained of visual disturbances. She was diagnosed with pituitary mic...

The suppression of serum TSH is a marker for increased risk of vascular mortality or death due to other causes are unknown. Nevertheless, patients who was operated on account of differentiated carcinoma of thyroid, had to take high doses of thyroxine for a long time to achieve suppression of TSH<0.1 mU/l. Heart rate variability (HRV), a method of mathematical analysis of heart rhythm (computer analysis of 24 h Holter monitoring), was used to assess function of the autonomi...

Low-grade gliomas are the most common brain tumor in children, accounting for 30–50% of central nervous system tumors in the pediatric age group. They can occur anywhere within the central nervous system (CNS) including the optic pathway (5%). When optic gliomas involve the hypothalamus, patients will often present endocrinopathy. Signs of such involvement can include growth failure and precocious puberty. In this report, we present the case of 8 years three months girls ...