Christos C. Zouboulis
Hormones influence the development and function of human skin which also produces and releases hormones. Recently attention has been focused on identifying and understanding the complex endocrine properties of human skin, such as expression and function of specific hormone receptors, synthesis of hormones from major classes of compounds used by the body for general purposes …
Chrysanthi Aggeli, Alexander M. Nixon,Ioannis Karoumpalis, Gregory Kaltsas, George N. Zografos
Insulinomas are the most common functioning neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas, occurring in almost 1-4 per 1 million persons each year. In contrast to other pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, they are usually benign and solitary at the time of diagnosis. Due to their benign nature, surgical excision is the treatment of choice, with excellent long-term results. The introduction of minimally invasive techniques in the surgical treatment of insulinoma has been gaining popularity …
Menelaos L. Batrinos
Clusters of poorly demarcated neurons, called nuclei, situated in the hypothalamic area are the source of hormones which through the succession of their actions on the pituitary and the peripheral endocrine glands, regulate and control major functions …
Eva N. Kassi, George P. Chrousos
Optimal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is critical for a successful response to any stressor as well as in non-stressful situations. At the hypothalamic-pituitary level, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is released into the hypophyseal portal system …
Romanos Sklavenitis-Pistofidis, Ourania Papaioannou, Kalliopi Kotsa
Although surgery is unambiguously recommended for symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) patients, management options for asymptomatic patients have varied between surgery, medications and follow-up. To deal with this issue, four International Workshops have taken place, in 1990, 2002, 2008 and 2014 …
Christos Pappas, Eleni A. Kandaraki, Sofia Tsirona, Dimitrios Kountouras, Georgia Kassi, Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis
Postprandial dysmetabolism is a postprandial state characterized by abnormal metabolism of glucose and lipids and, more specifically, of elevated levels of glucose and triglyceride (TG) containing lipoproteins. Since there is evidence that postprandial dysmetabolism is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, due to macro- and microvascular complications …
Leonidas Duntas, Stefanos Geroulanos, Peter Laurberg
The 2012 Educational Course of the European Thyroid Association (ETA) was a truly unique event. Held 24th-26th May on the island of Kos, in the healing environment of ‘the island of Hippocrates and Asclepius’, it combined an educational level of excellence with the commemoration of the centennial of the description of Hashimoto thyroiditis …
Giorgio Treglia, Luca Giovanella, Vittoria Rufini
Positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) with different tracers are imaging methods increasingly used in patients with thyroid and adrenal diseases. The aim of this article is to provide an overview based on literature data about the usefulness of PET imaging in this setting …
Stefano Stagi, Chiara Iurato, Elisabetta Lapi, Loredana Cavalli, Maria Luisa Brandi, Maurizio de Martino
More and more data seem to indicate the presence of an increasing number of syndromes and genetic diseases characterized by impaired bone mass and quality. Meanwhile, the improvement of etiopathogenetic knowledge and the employment of more adequate treatments have generated a significant increase …
Leonidas H. Duntas, Gabriela Brenta
L-thyroxine (LT4) treatment of hypothyroidism, particularly in patients with thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH) >10mU/L, results in improved lipid profile, as LT4 stimulates low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) degradation and the conversion of cholesterol in bile acids by inducing LDL-receptor and 7 alpha hydroxylase expression …
Nicola Pluchino, Panagiotis Drakopoulos, Jean Marie Wenger, Patrick Petignat, Isabelle Streuli, Andrea Riccardo Genazzani
Endocrine disorders play a major role in approximately 8% to 12% of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Indeed, the local hormonal milieu is crucial in both embryo attachment and early pregnancy. Endocrine abnormalities, including thyroid disorders, luteal phase defects, polycystic ovary syndrome …
Fotios Dimitriadis, Chara Tsiampali, Nikolaos Chaliasos, Panagiota Tsounapi, Atsushi Takenaka, Nikolaos Sofikitis
Spermatogenesis is contingent upon hormones and growth factors acting through endocrine and paracrine pathways either in vivo or in vitro. Sertoli cells (SCs) furnish essential factors for the successful advancement of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis. Moreover, receptors for follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone …
Maria P. Yavropoulou, John G. Yovos
During the last decade a considerable amount of data have been accumulated regarding the role of intracellular signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of human diseases. One of these, Notch signaling, well known for its significance in cellular development and tissue morphogenesis, has been increasingly recognized as a crucial participant …
Solomis Solomou, Márta Korbonits
Ghrelin, an orexigenic protein with a unique lipid chain modification, is considered to be an important gut-brain signal for appetite control and energy balance. The ghrelin receptor, growth-hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a, is able to bind acylated ghrelin. The first recognised effect of ghrelin was the induction of growth hormone …
Dimitrios N. Kiortsis
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Very few drugs are approved for obesity treatment by regulatory agencies. Very recently phentermine/topiramate controlled-release [PHEN/TPM CR; (Qsymia®)] obtained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise …
Eva Lau, Davide Carvalho, Cidália Pina-Vaz, José-Adelino Barbosa, Paula Freitas
Obesity and type 2 diabetes are metabolic diseases that have reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Although their etiology is complex, both result from interplay between behaviour, environment and genetic factors. Within ambient determinants, human overall gut bacteria have been identified as a crucial mediator …
Marinella Tzanela, Marieta Christoforaki, Lida Papastathopoulou, Dimitra Vassiliadi, Effie Botoula, Panagiotis Trivizas, Nikos C. Thalassinos
Objective: Post-treatment monitoring of acromegalic patients is a matter of controversy, as discrepancies between GH and IGF-I levels have been reported. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of acid-labile subunit (ALS), a component of the 150 kD IGF-I/IGFBP-3/ALS complex, and the growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) in the follow-up of patients with acromegaly after therapeutic intervention…
Petya Kamenova
BACKGROUND: Amelioration of insulin resistance could improve both glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to improve insulin action after parenteral administration. OBJECTIVE: the aim of the study was to assess the effect of oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid on insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes…
Dafni-Kalliopi Papafragkaki, George Tolis
Obesity is one of the most frequently encountered medical problems of our time. Among the complications of this pathologic entity, renal disease is an important issue and its pathophysiologic mechanisms are a challenge for the physician, since a variety of etiologic factors are implicated in its genesis. For example, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance …
Nikolaos Pontikides, Spyros Karras, Athina Kaprara, Angeliki Cheva, Argyrios Doumas, Dimitrios Botsios, Aris Moschidis, Elias Efthimiou, John Wass, Gerasimos E. Krassas
BACKGROUND: Parathyroid cysts (PC) are uncommon entities in routine clinical practice. The vast majority are nonfunctioning and are commonly present as asymptomatic nodular cervical lesions. PC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an asymptomatic neck mass …
Maria P. Yavropoulou, John G. Yovos
Wnts are a large family of proteins that participate in an array of cellular biological processes such as embryogenesis, organogenesis and tumor formation. These proteins bind to membrane receptor complexes comprised of a frizzled (Fz) G-protein-coupled receptor and other membrane co-receptors forming molecular groups that initiate, at least …
Maria I. Argyropoulou, Dimitrios Nikiforos Kiortsis
Magnetization transfer (MT) techniques provide tissue contrast which depends mainly on the concentration of macromolecules. The magnetization transfer phenomenon is determined by the restricted macromolecular protons and is quantified by the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). Since many macromolecular structures are implicated in the secretory activity of the pituitary gland …
Evagelos N Liberopoulos, Moses S Elisaf
Thyroid disorders are known to influence lipid metabolism and are common in dyslipidemic patients. Overt and subclinical hypothyroidism have an adverse effect on the serum lipid profile that may predispose to the development of atherosclerotic disease. Although thyroid substitution therapy is beneficial for patients with overt hypothyroidism …
Hesham Fahmy, Katerina Spyridaki, Bhimanna Kuppast, George Liapakis
The maintenance of homeostasis is a basic prerequisite for life, ensuring the stability of our body in response to external or internal stimuli (stressful stimuli). The maintenance of homeostasis requires alterations in the function of the endocrine system …
Christopher Reiners
There is no evidence that natural radiation (cosmic radiation or from natural radioiosotopes) increases the risk for thyroid diseases. Moreover, while it has been proven that exposure to external medical radiation or to external and internal radiation by atomic bomb explosions leads to an increased risk for thyroid cancer …