The expression of monocarboxylate transporters in thyroid carcinoma can be associated with the morphological features of BRAF mutation.

BRAF mutation, usually performed by DNA techniques, is one of the most common diagnostic markers in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Few papers have demonstrated that plump cells (eosinophilic cytoplasms and papillary thyroid carcinoma nuclei) and peculiar sickle-shaped nuclei represent morphological features of BRAF on papillary thyroid carcinomas. These features seem to be linked to glycolytic phenotype whereby monocarboxylate transporters 1-4 are hypothesized to have a dominant role as lactate transporters.

Recommendations for treatment of hypothyroidism with levothyroxine and levotriiodothyronine: a 2016 position statement of the Italian Society of Endocrinology and the Italian Thyroid Association.

Levothyroxine (L-T4) is recommended as lifelong replacement therapy for hypothyroidism. Recent clinical and experimental data support the addition of levotriiodothyronine (L-T3) treatment in some selected hypothyroid patients when their symptoms persist and their quality of life remains impaired despite adequate L-T4 monotherapy. An increase in L-T3 prescriptions has been recently observed in Italy due to availability of different L-T3 formulations, making it possible to clinicians to prescribe L-T3 alone or in combination with L-T4.

Factors predicting the duration of adrenal insufficiency in patients successfully treated for Cushing disease and nonmalignant primary adrenal Cushing syndrome.

Successful treatment of Cushing syndrome causes transient or permanent adrenal insufficiency deriving from endogenous hypercortisolism-induced hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis suppression. We analyzed pre-treatment factors potentially affecting the duration of adrenal insufficiency. We conducted a retrospective analysis on patients successfully treated for Cushing disease (15 patients) who underwent transsphenoidal surgery, and nonmalignant primary adrenal Cushing syndrome (31 patients) who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy, divided into patients with overt primary adrenal Cushing syndrome (14 patients) and subclinical primary adrenal Cushing syndrome (17 patients).

Diagnostic, therapeutic and health-care management protocol in thyroid surgery: a position statement of the Italian Association of Endocrine Surgery Units (U.E.C. CLUB).

Purpose: The diagnostic, therapeutic and health-care management protocol (Protocollo Gestionale Diagnostico-Terapeutico-Assistenziale, PDTA) by the Association of the Italian Endocrine Surgery Units (U.E.C.

Vitamin D and pancreas: The role of sunshine vitamin in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and pancreatic cancer.

Increasing evidence suggests that vitamin D exerts multiple effects beyond bone and calcium metabolism. Vitamin D seems to play a role in pancreatic disease, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as pancreatic cancer. Vitamin D's immune-modulatory action suggests that it could help prevent type 1 diabetes.

The role of fine-needle aspiration in the thyroid nodules of elderly patients.

We assess the role of thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) in our series of elderly patients. The growing subset of people aged older than 70 years has shown an increased incidence of thyroid diseases which need to be studied in order to reduce the percentage of surgical treatments in patients with higher likelihood of co-morbidities and associated life risk. We compared Follicular/Indeterminate Neoplasms(FN) and suspicious of malignancy(SM) with pediatric and adult cohorts.

β-Cell Glucose Sensitivity Is Linked to Insulin/Glucagon Bihormonal Cells in Nondiabetic Humans.

Context: Insulin resistance impacts virtually all tissues, including pancreatic β cells. Individuals with insulin resistance, but without diabetes, exhibit an increased islet size because of an elevated number of both β and α cells. Neogenesis from duct cells and transdifferentiation of α cells have been postulated to contribute to the β-cell compensatory response to insulin resistance.

Adrenocortical tumors and insulin resistance: What is the first step?

The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the onset of adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) are still largely unknown. Recently, more attention has been paid to the role of insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system on general tumor development and progression. Increased levels of insulin, IGF-1 and IGF-2 are associated with tumor cell growth and increased risk of cancer promotion and progression in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Factors predicting pasireotide responsiveness in somatotroph pituitary adenomas resistant to first-generation somatostatin analogues: an immunohistochemical study.

Aim: To gather data regarding factors predicting responsiveness to pasireotide in acromegaly.

Patients And Methods: SSTR2a, SSTR3, SSTR5, AIP, Ki-67 and the adenoma subtype were evaluated in somatotroph adenomas from 39 patients treated post-operatively with somatostatin analogues (SSAs). A standardized SSTR scoring system was applied (scores 0-3).

Anacardic acid and thyroid hormone enhance cardiomyocytes production from undifferentiated mouse ES cells along functionally distinct pathways.

The epigenetics of early commitment to embryonal cardiomyocyte is poorly understood. In this work, we compared the effect of thyroid hormone and that of anacardic acid, a naturally occurring histone acetylase inhibitor, or both in combination, on mouse embryonic stem cells (mES) differentiating into embryonal cardiomyocyte by embryoid bodies (EBs) formation. Although the results indicated that anacardic acid (AA) and thyroid hormone were both efficient in promoting cardiomyocyte differentiation, we noticed that a transient exposure of mES to AA alone was sufficient to enlarge the beating areas of EBs compared to those of untreated controls.

A meta-analysis-derived proposal for a clinical, ultrasonographic, and cytological scoring system to evaluate thyroid nodules: the "CUT" score.

The purpose of this study is to develop a new cancer risk score for preoperative assessment of thyroid nodules (TN) trying to reduce unnecessary thyroidectomies. On the basis of a recent meta-analysis of published literature, we assigned a matching value to the clinical (C) and ultrasonographic (U) features of TN with increased malignancy risk (MR). The created "CUT" score derived from "C+U" score, (CU[1-10] ), along with the five-tiered "T" (T[1-5] ), represents the cytologic result of the fine-needle aspiration.

The cytological diagnosis of a 'benign thyroid lesion': is it a real safe diagnosis for the patient?

Objective: In fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), the category of benign thyroid lesions (BTL), which constitutes 65-70% of all thyroid FNAC, and can be correctly diagnosed by morphology alone, is an important entity. A diagnosis of BTL denotes a lesion managed with follow-up unless found in conjunction with compressive symptoms. Although this diagnosis can be quite simple, there are cases in which the scant cellular or colloid component may pose diagnostic issues.

Soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor as a putative marker of male accessory gland inflammation.

Unlabelled: The association between male accessory gland infection/inflammation (MAGI) and infertility is well-known in clinical practice. Standard semen analysis, leukocytospermia, and microbiological tests are often not enough accurate for a diagnosis. A large amount of biochemical parameters in seminal plasma have been suggested as inflammation markers, however, there is not yet a sensitive and specific biomarker that accurately identifies MAGI.

Targeting the MDM2/MDM4 interaction interface as a promising approach for p53 reactivation therapy.

Restoration of wild-type p53 tumor suppressor function has emerged as an attractive anticancer strategy. Therapeutics targeting the two p53-negative regulators, MDM2 and MDM4, have been developed, but most agents selectively target the ability of only one of these molecules to interact with p53, leaving the other free to operate. Therefore, we developed a method that targets the activity of MDM2 and MDM4 simultaneously based on recent studies indicating that formation of MDM2/MDM4 heterodimer complexes are required for efficient inactivation of p53 function.

A cost analysis of thyroid core needle biopsy vs. diagnostic surgery.

Background: Twenty percent of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) is indeterminate. Because 3 in 4 of these are actually benign, a method of clarifying the pathology could help patients to avoid diagnostic thyroidectomy. Recently, core needle biopsy (CNB) has been proven to be highly reliable for this purpose.

Hyperprolactinemia: pathophysiology and therapeutic approach.

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone, mainly secreted by lactotroph cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Recent studies have shown it may also be produced by many extrapituitary cells. Its well-recognized PRL plays an important role in lactation during pregnancy, but it is involved in other biological functions such as angiogenesis, immunoregulation and osmoregulation.

Uncommon BRAF mutations in the follicular variant of thyroid papillary carcinoma: New insights.

Background: Mutational analysis is reshaping the practice of fine-needle aspiration cytology for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. The v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) valine (V) to glutamic acid (E) substitution at codon 600 (BRAF(V600E)) is the most effective diagnostic/prognostic marker and is used mainly for papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). Although BRAF(V600E) represents 95% of all BRAF mutations, uncommon BRAF mutations have been identified in thyroid carcinomas.

The Role of CD56 in Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology: A Pilot Study Performed on Liquid Based Cytology.

Background: Fine needle aspiration Cytology (FNAC) fulfills a reliable role in the evaluation of thyroid lesions. Although the majority of nodules are quite easily diagnosed as benign or malignant, 30% of them represent an indeterminate category whereby the application of ancillary techniques (i.e.

A non-invasive prevention program model for the assessment of osteoporosis in the early postmenopausal period: a pilot study on FRAX(®) and QUS tools advantages.

Objective: The study analyses the performances of FRAX algorithm and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) tool in relationship to the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) categorization to identify patients at risk of osteoporosis during menopause and to reach new thresholds for recommending the first DXA examination.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Patients And Measurements: Two hundred eighty-two postmenopausal patients filled out a questionnaire which determined their FRAX index and performed a bone evaluation by QUS of the calcaneus to determine their stiffness index (SI).

A rare case of juvenile hypertension: coexistence of type 2 multiple endocrine neoplasia -related bilateral pheochromocytoma and reninoma in a young patient with ACE gene polymorphism.

Background: Pheochromocytoma and reninoma represent two rare diseases causing hypertension. We here reported a rare case of association between type 2 multiple endocrine neoplasia related bilateral pheochromocytoma and reninoma. Moreover, polymorphism of ACE gene, which is known to be related to an increase of cardiovascular risk, has been found in the same patient.

Metabolic consequences of the occlusion of the main pancreatic duct with acrylic glue after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: Pancreaticoduodenectomy represents the major treatment for pancreatic and periampullary neoplasms. Complications related to pancreaticojejunostomy are still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. A solution proposed by some surgeons is the occlusion of main pancreatic duct by acrylic glue, avoiding pancreaticojejunostomy.

MDM4/HIPK2/p53 cytoplasmic assembly uncovers coordinated repression of molecules with anti-apoptotic activity during early DNA damage response.

The p53 inhibitor, MDM4 (MDMX) is a cytoplasmic protein with p53-activating function under DNA damage conditions. Particularly, MDM4 promotes phosphorylation of p53 at Ser46, a modification that precedes different p53 activities. We investigated the mechanism by which MDM4 promotes this p53 modification and its consequences in untransformed mammary epithelial cells and tissues.

Severe growth hormone deficiency and empty sella in obesity: a cross-sectional study.

Obesity is associated with blunted growth hormone (GH) secretion. In some individuals, hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) structural lesions may contribute to GH deficiency (GHD). We explored pituitary morphology in obese patients with suspected GHD and its association with cardiovascular risk factors, body composition, and cardiac morphology.

Parathyroid gland involvement by thyroid cancer: results from a large series of thyroidectomies performed in two italian university hospitals and review of the literature.

Objectives.Parathyroid involvement by thyroid cancer (TC) has not been frequently investigated in thyroidectomy-based studies. We aimed to detect cases of parathyroid invasion by TC in a large series of thyroidectomies and to review the literature on this topic.