Demetrios A. Koutras
Endocrinologists not infrequently confront the problem of inconsistent blood values of thyroxine among patients receiving L-thyroxine preparations. The question is how universal this problem is …
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Thyroglossal duct cyst carcinomas: is there a need for thyroidectomy?
Alexandra Chrisoulidou, Paschalia K. Iliadou, Eleni Doumala, Lemonia Mathiopoulou, Maria Boudina, Maria Alevizaki, Frideriki Patakiouta, Ekaterini Xinou, Kalliopi Pazaitou-Panayiotou
OBJECTIVE: Thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) carcinoma is a rare entity and its management is controversial. The aim of this retrospective study was to: (a) identify patients with TGDC carcinoma followed up in our clinic and (b) study specific characteristics of the disease and their association with thyroid carcinoma …
Steroid hormones interrelationships in the metabolic syndrome: An introduction to the ponderostat hypothesis
Marià Alemany
The clairvoyant early implication of sex hormones in the characterization of the metabolic syndrome (MS) was detected early, and in accordance with the well-known sex-related main patterns of fat deposition in obesity: gynoid and android …
Leydig cell clustering and Reinke crystal distribution in relation to hormonal function in adult patients with testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) including cryptorchidism
Rikke R. Soerensen, Trine H. Johannsen, Niels E. Skakkebaek, Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts
OBJECTIVE: Testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) comprises testicular germ cell cancer, cryptorchidism and some cases of male infertility and hypospadias, which can be linked to impairment of intrauterine gonadal development. Among histological signs of TDS, large Leydig cell (LC) clusters (micronodules) are frequently present. This study aimed to investigate possible associations …
The “depressive” face of osteoporosis and the “osteoporotic” face of depression
Kyriakos Aloumanis, Kostantinos Mavroudis
Osteoporosis and depression are two chronic diseases that affect large population groups with great impact on morbidity, mortality and quality of life. An association between osteoporosis and depression has been described in the literature …
Acute transient thyroid swelling following needle biopsy: An update
Stergios A. Polyzos, Athanasios D. Anastasilakis, Georgios Arsos
Fine needle biopsy (FNB) is regarded as the method of choice in the management of thyroid nodules because of its simplicity, reliability, accuracy and cost-effectiveness. Indeed, the use of FNB has halved the number of patients undergoing thyroidectomy …
Serum interleukin-22 (IL-22) is increased in the early stage of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis compared to non-autoimmune thyroid disease and healthy controls
Rosaria Maddalena Ruggeri, Paola Minciullo, Salvatore Saitta, Salvatore Giovinazzo, Rosaria Certo, Alfredo Campennì, Francesco Trimarchi, Sebastiano Gangemi, Salvatore Benvenga
OBJECTIVE: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is considered to be a Th1-related autoimmune disease (AID). Recent studies revealed that Th17 lymphocytes (producing mostly IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22) play a major role in numerous AIDs commonly thought to be Th1 diseases. More recently, another subset of Th cells …
The benefit-to-risk ratio of common treatments in PCOS: effect of oral contraceptives versus metformin on atherogenic markers
Charikleia Christakou, Anastasios Kollias, Christina Piperi, Ilias Katsikis, Dimitrios Panidis, Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of oral contraceptives (OCPs) and metformin on atherogenic markers, including serum levels of advanced glycated end products (AGEs) and C-reactive protein (CRP), in lean women (Body Mass Index below 25 kg/m2) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), defined by NIH criteria …
Quick parathyroid hormone assays: a comprehensive review of their utility in clinical practice
Michael S. Shawky
Continuous development of quick parathyroid hormone assays has resulted in a corresponding expansion of their applications in the practical landscape. In-theatre measurement of the parathyroid hormone has long been recognized as a valuable adjunct in parathyroid surgery, with other applications being incorporated in thyroid surgery and out-of-theatre uses …
An overview of the pathogenesis of thyroid autoimmunity
Giulia Cogni, Luca Chiovato
Autoimmune diseases are a group of heterogeneous disorders characterized by abnormal lymphocytic activation directed against self-tissues. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD) are two of the most common clinical expressions of organ-specific autoimmunity …
Study of common variants of the apolipoprotein E and lipoprotein lipase genes in patients with coronary heart disease and variable body mass index
Genovefa D. Kolovou, Vana Kolovou, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Ioannis Vasiliadis, Vassiliki Giannakopoulou, Peggy M. Kostakou, Vassiliki Vartela, Sophie Mavrogeni
OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we evaluated the influence of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphisms on lipid concentrations of 178 Greek men of similar age with coronary heart disease (CHD), but varying body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: Patients were divided according to their BMI …
Testicular Descent
Charalampos Mamoulakis, Spyridon Antypas, Frank Sofras, Atsushi Takenaka, Nikolaos Sofikitis
Normal testicular descent (TD) is known to be a complex, multistage process involving the interplay of different anatomical structures, hormones, environmental and genetic factors, but its purpose and the exact etiology of TD impairment remain largely unknown …
Syndromes of impaired ion handling in the distal nephron: pseudohypoaldosteronism and familial hyperkalemic hypertension
Ioannis D. Kostakis, Kyriaki G. Cholidou, Despina Perrea
The distal nephron, which is the site of the micro-regulation of water absorption and ion handling in the kidneys, is under the control of aldosterone. Impairment of the mineralocorticoid signal transduction pathway results in resistance to the action of aldosterone and of mineralocorticoids in general …
Surgical treatment of potentially primary malignant adrenal tumors: an unresolved issue
George N. Zografos, Iraklis Perysinakis, Eustathia Kyrodimou, Eva Kassi, Gregory Kaltsas
Although the great majority of incidentalomas are adrenocortical adenomas, a number of them, depending on the size and radiological characteristics of the lesions, will turn out to be carcinomas. These tumors may present as suspicious on initial evaluation and potentially malignant or malignant on histology …
Iodine and differentiated thyroid cancer: Pathogenetic and therapeutic implications*
Smyth Peter, Cloughley George, Clarke Cathy, Smith Derek, Burbridge Emma
The purpose of this review is to discuss the various means by which iodine ingestion through dietary intake or therapeutic administration can influence the pathogenesis, prevalence, presentation or outcome of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The relationship between iodine nutrition and DTC pathogenesis is complex …
Growth, pubertal development, skeletal maturation and bone mass acquisition in athletes
Neoklis A. Georgopoulos, Kostas B. Markou, Anastasia Theodoropoulou, George A. Vagenakis, Panagiotis Mylonas, Apostolos G. Vagenakis
The genetic potentials for growth can be fully expressed only under favourable environmental conditions. Excessive physical training may negatively affect growth, especially during puberty. Sports that require a strict control of energy input in the presence of a high energy output are of particular concern. In gymnastics, a different pattern in skeletal maturation was observed …
Intramuscular administration of ACTH1-24 vs. 24-hour blood sampling in the assessment of adrenocortical function
Salvatore Alesci, Ioannis Ilias, Emmanuil Souvatzoglou, Alan G. Harris, Philip W. Gold, Alejandro R. Ayala, George P. Chrousos
The standard intravenous short Synacthen® test (SSST) has long been accepted as one of the most reliable diagnostic tests of adrenocortical insufficiency. Intramuscular (i.m.) administration of ACTH obviates the need of venous cannulation and can be used as an alternative to the intravenous test …
Relative Iron “Overload” in Offspring of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A New Component in the Conundrum of Insulin Resistance Syndrome?
Agathoklis Psyrogiannis, Venetsana Kyriazopoulou, Argiris Symeonidis, Michalis Leotsinidis, Apostolos G. Vagenakis
There are a few reports suggesting that subtle disturbances of iron metabolism are frequently found in patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2), but it is not known if these disturbances precede or accompany the diabetic state. We investigated the serum iron indices in 41 offspring of DM2 parents (group I) with normal glucose tolerance …
Adrenal venous sampling as a diagnostic procedure for primary hyperaldosteronism: experience from a tertiary referral centre
Victoria Salem, Thomas G. Hopkins, Heba El-Gayar, Sagen Zac-Varghese, Anthony P. Goldstone, Jeannie F. Todd, Waljit Dhillo, Benjamin C.T. Field, Niamh Martin, Emma Hatfield, Mandy Donaldson, Fausto Palazzo, Karim Meeran, James Jackson, Tricia Tan
CONTEXT: Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is recommended in all patients with hyperaldosteronism to whom surgery would be offered if the results indicated unilateral hypersecretion. OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of AVS against radiological findings …
Effects of GH and IGF-I on the in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes
Erasmia Kiapekou, Dimitris Loutradis, Peter Drakakis, Evangelia Zapanti, George Mastorakos, Aristidis Antsaklis
Objective: A number of hormones and growth factors have been reported to affect the in vitro maturation of oocytes. Their exact effects on follicular growth and oocyte maturation and the mechanisms involved are still unclear. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) …
Thyroid hormonal responses to intensive interval versus steady-state endurance exercise sessions
Anthony C. Hackney, Ashley Kallman, Karen P. Hosick, Daniela A. Rubin, Claudio L. Battaglini
OBJECTIVE: To compare the thyroid hormonal responses to high-intensity interval exercise (IE) and steady-state endurance exercise (SEE) in highly trained males (n=15). DESIGN: The IE session consisted of repeated periods of 90-seconds treadmill running at 100-110% …
The endocrinology of baldness
Menelaos L. Batrinos
Male pattern baldness, scientifically known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), is a very common condition, universally prevalent, which progresses with aging. The loss of scalp hair of any degree both in men and women is a cause of considerable psychological distress …
The “rings of fire” and thyroid cancer*
Leonidas H. Duntas, Christos Doumas
Several studies have revealed an increased incidence of thyroid cancer in volcanic areas around the world. Hawaii and the Philippines on the rim of the Pacific Ocean, where the greatest number of volcanoes are located at convergent plate boundaries, are among the regions with the highest incidence of thyroid carcinoma worldwide. Iceland is another region also rich in volcanoes …
Bilateral versus unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: predictive factors and associated histopathological findings following total thyroidectomy
Theodore Karatzas, Ioannis Vasileiadis, George Charitoudis, Efthimios Karakostas, Sofia Tseleni-Balafouta, Gregory Kouraklis
OBJECTIVE: The extent of thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is debatable. This study investigated the rate and predictive factors of bilateral versus unilateral PTMC with the objective of identifying those patients who may benefit from total thyroidectomy …
Structure-function relationships of glycoprotein hormones; lessons from mutations and polymorphisms of the thyrotrophin and gonadotrophin subunit genes
Maria Alevizaki, Ilpo Huhtaniemi
The pituitary glycoprotein hormones thyrotrophin (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH), lutrophin (luteinising hormone, LH) and follitrophin (follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH), as well as the placental choriongonadotrophin (human chorionic gonadotrophin, hCG) are composed of a common α-subunit and a specific β-subunit, coupled by noncovalent interactions …