The clinical significance of anti-Müllerian hormone evaluation in gynecological endocrinology

Artemis Karkanaki, Christos Vosnakis, Dimitrios Panidis

Download PDF

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a homodimeric glycoprotein, a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. Over the last decade, a large number of studies examining the multiple roles of AMH have been published. AMH levels accurately reflect the ovarian follicular reserve and could, therefore …

Adiponectin: Regulation of its production and its role in human diseases

Adeeb Shehzad, Waqas Iqbal, Omer Shehzad, Young Sup Lee

Download PDF

Adiponectin is a white and brown adipose tissue hormone, also known as gelatin-binding protein-28 (GBP28), AdipoQ, adipocyte complement-related protein (ACRP30), or apM1. Adiponectin circulates in the bloodstream in trimeric, hexameric, and high-molecular-mass species, while different forms of adiponectin …

Chronic stress, visceral obesity and gonadal dysfunction

Ioannis Kyrou, Constantine Tsigos

Download PDF

Chronic stress represents a prolonged state of dyshomeostasis caused by intense and frequently imposed stressors. Obesity constitutes a chronic dysmetabolic state, leading progressively to a spectrum of metabolic complications, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Α growing body of evidence supports the existence of significant interactions between stress and obesity …

Psychological and metabolic stress: A recipe for accelerated cellular aging?

Elissa S. Epel

Download PDF

Chronic stress can affect human health through a myriad of behavioral and biochemical pathways. Τhis review focuses on some key hormonal and metabolic pathways that appear important today. In modern society, we are faced with excessive psychological stress, as well as an epidemic of overeating, and the two together appear to have synergistic effects …

Serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase, metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and tumor growth

Florian Lang, Christos Stournaras

Download PDF

Serum-and-glucocorticoid-inducible-kinase-1 (SGK1) is under regulation of several hormones, mediators and cell stressors. More specifically, SGK1 expression is particularly sensitive to glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and TGFβ. Moreover, SGK1 expression is exquisitely sensitive to hypertonicity, hyperglycemia, and ischemia …

A review of the metabolic effects of controlled-release Phentermine/Topiramate

Dimitrios N. Kiortsis

Download PDF

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 …

The role of ghrelin in weight-regulation disorders: Implications in clinical practice

Solomis Solomou, Márta Korbonits

Download PDF

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 …

Beyond gut microbiota: understanding obesity and type 2 diabetes

Eva Lau, Davide Carvalho, Cidália Pina-Vaz, José-Adelino Barbosa, Paula Freitas

Download PDF

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 …

Obesity in pregnancy

Natalia Sirimi, Dimitrios G. Goulis

Download PDF

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 …

Obesity and renal disease: A possible role of leptin

Dafni-Kalliopi Papafragkaki, George Tolis

Download PDF

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 …

The efficacy and safety of the naltrexone/bupropion combination for the treatment of obesity: an update

Georgios A. Christou, Dimitrios N. Kiortsis

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: The combination of 32 mg naltrexone and 360 mg bupropion prolonged release (NB32) was recently approved by both the food and drug administration (FDA) and the European medicines agency (EMA) as an adjunct to a comprehensive lifestyle intervention to achieve weight loss …

Steroid hormones interrelationships in the metabolic syndrome: An introduction to the ponderostat hypothesis

Marià Alemany

Download PDF

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 …

Effect of weight loss with or without orlistat treatment on adipocytokines, inflammation, and oxidative markers in obese women

Maria Bougoulia, Athanassios Triantos, George Koliakos

Download PDF

OBJECT IVE: T he aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of adipose tissue related hormones, cytokines, and antioxidative substances in obese women before and after intervention with diet alone or with diet plus an inhibitor of gastrointestinental lipase-orlistat…

Ghrelin and leptin levels in obese adolescents. Relationship with body fat and insulin resistance

Charilaos Stylianou, Assimina Galli-Tsinopoulou, Dimitrios Farmakiotis, Israel Rousso, Michael Karamouzis, George Koliakos, Sanda Nousia-Arvanitakis

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: Ghrelin and leptin levels are influenced by body fat (BF%), pubertal stage and possibly insulin resistance (IR). The aim of our study was: 1) To compare fasting ghrelin and leptin levels between obese and non-obese, adolescents, 2) to investigate possible correlations of these hormones with BF %, as well as IR…

Ten-Year obesity and overweight prevalence in Greek children: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 2001-2010 data

Eleni P. Kotanidou, Maria G. Grammatikopoulou, Bessie E. Spiliotis, Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein, Maria Tsigga, Assimina Galli-Tsinopoulou

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: While the US today has the highest rates worldwide of obesity, Europe, and particularly Southern Europe, is catching up fast. The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of obesity in Greek children, aged 1-12 years. DESIGN: A systematic review—including all studies published in English and Greek …

A 50-year follow-up of the Seven Countries Study: Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, food and nutrient intakes among Cretans

Christos M. Hatzis, Christopher Papandreou, Evridiki Patelarou, Constantine I. Vardavas, Eleni Kimioni, Dimitra Sifaki-Pistolla, Anna Vergetaki, Anthony G. Kafatos

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: To identify the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-factor status and dietary habits of the surviving elderly participants of the initial Seven Countries Study (SCS) cohort and newly recruited middle-aged men from the same villages …

Early onset adiposity: A pathway to polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescents?

Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis, Charikleia D. Christakou, Eleni Kandaraki, Krystallenia I. Alexandraki

Download PDF

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a heterogenous syndrome of unknown causation commonly associated with obesity. Τhe particular timing of the onset of obesity may be important, since the earlier the onset of obesity the greater the severity of the metabolic and hormonal aberrations …

Insulin resistance and risk of renal cell cancer: a case-control study

Themistoklis N. Spyridopoulos, Nick Dessypris, Antonis G. Antoniadis, Spyros Gialamas, Constantine N. Antonopoulos, Konstantina Katsifoti, Hans-Olov Adami, George P. Chrousos, Eleni Th. Petridou, and the Obesity and Cancer Oncology Group

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and diabetes are considered risk factors for Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). We aimed to explore whether insulin resistance (IR) plays an independent role in the development of RCC. DESIGN: In a hospital-based case-control study, we analyzed serum glucose …

Inverse association of leptin levels with renal cell carcinoma: Results from a case-control study

Themistoklis N. Spyridopoulos, Eleni Th. Petridou, Nick Dessypris, Agapios Terzidis, Alkistis Skalkidou, Charalambos Deliveliotis, George P. Chrousos and the Obesity and Cancer Oncology Group*

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: Leptin is primarily produced in adipose tissue and appears to play a modulatory role between metabolism and immunity. Given that obesity, a state of chronic inflammation, is an established risk factor for Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), we investigated the association between plasma leptin levels and RCC risk …

Decreased circulating 25-(OH) Vitamin D concentrations in obese female children and adolescents: Positive associations with Retinol Binding Protein-4 and Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin

Dimitra Metheniti, Sophia Sakka, Maria Dracopoulou, Alexandra Margeli, Ioannis Papassotiriou, Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein, George P. Chrousos, Panagiota Pervanidou

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: Hypovitaminosis D has been associated with adult as well as childhood obesity. Retinol-binding-protein-4 (RBP-4) and Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin (NGAL) are altered in obese individuals. The aim of this study was to examine circulating 25-(OH) Vitamin D (25-(OH) D) concentrations …

Increased placental growth factor (PlGF) concentrations in children and adolescents with obesity and the metabolic syndrome

Panagiota Pervanidou, Giorgos Chouliaras, Athanassios Akalestos, Despoina Bastaki, Filia Apostolakou, Ioannis Papassotiriou, George P. Chrousos

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: Childhood obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) are associated with an increased risk for early onset endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Placental growth factor (PlGF), a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family, plays an important role in atherosclerosis by stimulating angiogenesis …

Prevalence and cardiometabolic associations of the glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms N363S and BclI in obese and non-obese black and white Mississippians

Eugen Melcescu, Michael Griswold, Lianbin Xiang, Sheila Belk, Denise Montgomery, Marilyn Bray, Kevin S. Del Ben, Gabriel I. Uwaifo, Gailen D. Marshall, Christian A. Koch

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: Polymorphisms (SNP) in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene can alter sensitivity to glucocorticoids. Previous studies of the N363S and BclI SNP in the GR gene have shown a metabolic syndrome phenotype in mostly non-African populations. The obesity phenotype of African Americans …

A 12-week treatment with the long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist liraglutide leads to significant weight loss in a subset of obese women with newly diagnosed polycystic ovary syndrome

Mojca Jensterle, Nika Aleksandra Kravos, Marija Pfeifer, Tomaz Kocjan, Andrej Janez

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: The long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist liraglutide is linked to progressive and sustained weight loss in obese people with diabetes. However, its efficacy and safety in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has not yet been addressed …

Obesity, but not polycystic ovary syndrome, affects circulating markers of low-grade inflammation in young women without major cardiovascular risk factors

Cristiano Roberto Grimaldi Barcellos, Michelle Patrocínio Rocha,  Sylvia Asaka Yamashita Hayashida, Wagner Silva Dantas,  Viviane dos Reis Vieira Yance, José Antonio Miguel Marcondes

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity on circulating markers of low-grade inflammation—tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP)—in young women without major cardiovascular (CV) risk factors …

Self-reported prevalence of obesity among 20,329 adults from large territories of Greece, Serbia and Turkey

Gerasimos E Krassas, Fahrettin Kelestimur, Dragan Micic,Themistoklis Tzotzas, Theodoros Konstandinidis, MariaBougoulia, Christos Tsametis, Ramiz Colak, Jagoda Jorga, Zivka Kostic, Mirjana Pavlovic. The Balkan Group for the Study of Obesity

Download PDF

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of overweight, obesity and body mass index (BMI) distribution in people living in large territories of Greece, Serbia and Turkey. A cross-sectional multi-national epidemiological survey was designed on the basis of self-reported information on height and weight …