Niyutchai Chaithongdi, Jose S. Subauste, Christian A. Koch, Stephen A. Geraci
This article is aimed at providing a practical up-to-date review of the precipitating factors, diagnosis, management and secondary prevention of hyperglycemic emergencies (diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) to assist critical care physicians and hospitalists caring for these patients …
Ilpo Huhtaniemi
It is well established in various experimental models that luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulated testosterone (T) production of Leydig cells is the key endocrine stimulus of spermatogenesis. The role of the other gonadotrophin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), is as yet somewhat unclear given that several clinical conditions …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Gregory A. Kaltsas, Zoe Stefanidou, Dimitris Papadogias, Ashley B. Grossman
Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) have a particular tendency to express functional receptors and/or uptake mechanisms. Radionuclides, such as 111In-pentetreotide, a somatostatin analogue, which bind to somatostatin receptors, present an imaging modality that has been used for both the diagnosis and staging of NET…
Jeffrey R. Garber
Retha R. Newbold
Environmental chemicals with hormone-like activity can disrupt programming of endocrine signaling pathways during development and result in adverse effects, some of which may not be apparent until much later in life. Recent reports link exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals during development with adverse health consequences …
George N. Zografos, Iraklis Perysinakis, Evangeline Vassilatou
Clinically inapparent adrenal masses which are incidentally detected have become a common problem in everyday practice. Approximately 5-20% of adrenal incidentalomas present subclinical cortisol hypersecretion which is characterized by subtle alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal …
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 …
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…
Natalia Sirimi, Dimitrios G. Goulis
Obesity, the most common metabolic disorder, concerns, among others, women of reproductive age and, when it occurs before or during pregnancy, constitutes a major risk factor for both maternal and fetal complications. The complications of obesity in a prospective mother include subfertility, miscarriage, thrombo-embolism, hypertensive disorders …
Maria P. Yavropoulou, Christos Xygonakis, Maria Lolou, Fotini Karadimou, John G. Yovos
Sclerosteosis and Van Buchem disease are two rare bone sclerosing disorders characterized by increased bone mineral density, tall stature and entrapment of cranial nerves due to overgrowth of a highly dense bone. Recent advances in human genetics have revealed the genetic background of these disorders …
Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis, Christina Piperi, Georgia Argyrakopoulou, Jiovanna Spina, Lambrini Papanastasiou, Angeliki Bergiele, Dimitrios Panidis
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex and heterogeneous disorder characterized by hyperandrogenemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and chronic anovulation. It is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age with an enigmatic pathophysiologic and molecular basis. The high prevalence of affected …