Identification d'une famille porteuse d'une nouvelle mutation bêta-LH accompagnée d'hypogonadisme

in 23ème Congrès de la Société Française d'Endocrinologie - Abstract book (2006)

Comment j'explore... Une valeur élevée de calcitonine?

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2006), 61(3), 195-200

This article describes a case of lung cancer with associated hypercalcitoninemia in a man with a goitre. The case raises the problem of the differential diagnosis between medullary thyroid carcinoma and a ... [more ▼]

This article describes a case of lung cancer with associated hypercalcitoninemia in a man with a goitre. The case raises the problem of the differential diagnosis between medullary thyroid carcinoma and a neuroendocrine neoplasm with ectopic calcitonin secretion. The article first reviews the physiology of calcitonin, then outlines the diagnostic tests that are required to investigate hypercalcitoninemia and finally discusses the interpretation of test results. [less ▲]

Treatment of pituitary tumors: somatostatin.

in Endocrine (2005), 28(1), 93-99

Somatostatin is an important physiological regulator of neuroendocrine function across multiple biological systems, including the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. In the pituitary gland, somatostatin ... [more ▼]

Somatostatin is an important physiological regulator of neuroendocrine function across multiple biological systems, including the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. In the pituitary gland, somatostatin regulates the secretion of hormones such as growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone in healthy and pathological states. The short half-life of somatostatin makes it unsuitable for clinical use in chronic diseases, which led to the development of long-acting somatostatin analogs for the treatment of acromegaly and thyroid-stimulating hormone-secreting adenomas, which were administered by intermittent injection twice or three times a day. More recently, depot versions have been developed that permit dosing once every month. This review assesses the efficacy of somatostatin analogs in the treatment of pituitary adenomas, including acromegaly, thyroid-stimulating hormone-secreting tumors, non-functioning adenomas, and Cushing's disease. [less ▲]

Acromegaly - Pathology, diagnosis and treatment

Book published by Taylor and Francis Group (2005)

This book reviews the pathophysiology and physical manifestations of acromegaly and discusses the multiple treatment options now available for the management of the patient with acromegaly. The book ... [more ▼]

This book reviews the pathophysiology and physical manifestations of acromegaly and discusses the multiple treatment options now available for the management of the patient with acromegaly. The book contains an ample number of illustrations that help to emphasize points of particular interest, including radiological, histopathological, and physical diagnosis images. Sections are devoted to detailing important topics including determinants of pathological effects of disease activity in acromegaly, individual therapeutic choices and criteria for diagnosis, and disease control. [less ▲]

The Epidemiology of Prolactinomas

in Pituitary (2005), 8(1), 3-6

Prolactin-secreting tumors (prolactinomas), the most frequently occurring pituitary tumor, have a frequency that varies with age and sex. They occur most frequently in females aged 20 to 50 years old, at ... [more ▼]

Prolactin-secreting tumors (prolactinomas), the most frequently occurring pituitary tumor, have a frequency that varies with age and sex. They occur most frequently in females aged 20 to 50 years old, at which time the female-to-male ratio is approximately 10:1. In the pediatric-adolescent age group, prolactinomas have a prevalence of 100/million population, and account for less than 2% of all intracranial tumors. Prolactinomas occur in approximately 30% of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and in this setting, they may be more aggressive than their sporadic counterparts. Patients with Carney complex or McCune-Albright syndrome may exhibit hyperprolactinemia due to a pituitary tumor derived from somatomammotropic cells that secrete both growth hormone and prolactin. Few familial cases of prolactinoma unrelated to MEN-1 are reported in literature. [less ▲]

Cytokine dysregulation, inflammation and well-being

in Neuroimmunomodulation (2005), 12(5), 255-269

Cytokines mediate and control immune and inflammatory responses. Complex interactions exist between cytokines, inflammation and the adaptive responses in maintaining homeostasis, health, and well-being ... [more ▼]

Cytokines mediate and control immune and inflammatory responses. Complex interactions exist between cytokines, inflammation and the adaptive responses in maintaining homeostasis, health, and well-being. Like the stress response, the inflammatory reaction is crucial for survival and is meant to be tailored to the stimulus and time. A full-fledged systemic inflammatory reaction results in stimulation of four major programs: the acute-phase reaction, the sickness syndrome, the pain program, and the stress response, mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Common human diseases such as atopy/allergy, autoimmunity, chronic infections and sepsis are characterized by a dysregulation of the pro-versus anti-inflammatory and T helper (Th)1 versus Th2 cytokine balance. Recent evidence also indicates the involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and major depression, and conditions such as visceral-type obesity, metabolic syndrome and sleep disturbances. During inflammation, the activation of the stress system, through induction of a Th2 shift, protects the organism from systemic 'overshooting' with Th1/pro-inflammatory cytokines. Under certain conditions, however, stress hormones may actually facilitate inflammation through induction of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and C-reactive protein production and through activation of the corticotropin-releasing hormone/substance P-histamine axis. Thus, a dysfunctional neuroendocrine-immune interface associated with abnormalities of the 'systemic anti-inflammatory feedback' and/or 'hyperactivity' of the local pro-inflammatory factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of atopic/allergic and autoimmune diseases, obesity, depression, and atherosclerosis. These abnormalities and the failure of the adaptive systems to resolve inflammation affect the well-being of the individual, including behavioral parameters, quality of life and sleep, as well as indices of metabolic and cardiovascular health. These hypotheses require further investigation, but the answers should provide critical insights into mechanisms underlying a variety of common human immune-related diseases. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel. [less ▲]

Control of tumor size and hormonal hypersecretion in acromegaly : a large single-center experience

in European Congress of Endocrinology - Abstract book (2005)

Diagnosis of active acromegaly : is it time to amend the consensus of opinions?

in International Novartis Workshop - somatostatin and its natural and synthetic analogues - Update from basic to clinical aspects - Abstract book (2005)

Clinical and genetic features of familial pituitary adenomas.

in Hormone & Metabolic Research (2005), 37(6), 347-54

Inherited or familial pituitary tumor syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and Carney complex provide an important insight into the genetics and molecular pathology of endocrine cancers ... [more ▼]

Inherited or familial pituitary tumor syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and Carney complex provide an important insight into the genetics and molecular pathology of endocrine cancers. Our understanding of these conditions is expanding rapidly due to the identification of the genes and proteins affected and the availability of murine knockout models. The successes achieved to date in understanding multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and Carney complex have helped in the identification and study of new inherited pituitary tumor syndromes such as isolated familial somatotropinomas. This review assesses the current status of research into the clinical features, genetics and molecular pathologies of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, Carney complex, and isolated familial somatotropinomas, and details ongoing work to delineate familial isolated pituitary adenomas, a potentially new clinical entity. [less ▲]

Hormonal and biochemical normalization and tumor shrinkage induced by anti-parathyroid hormone immunotherapy in a patient with metastatic parathyroid carcinoma.

in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (2004), 89(7), 3413-20

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism, and the efficacy of medical therapy and chemo- and radiotherapy is poor in recurrent or metastatic disease. We report the first case ... [more ▼]

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism, and the efficacy of medical therapy and chemo- and radiotherapy is poor in recurrent or metastatic disease. We report the first case of PTH immunization in which tumor shrinkage accompanied hormonal, biochemical, and clinical improvements in a patient with metastatic parathyroid carcinoma.A 50-yr-old woman with refractory parathyroid carcinoma and pulmonary metastases was immunized eight times between February 2001 and December 2003 with bovine and modified human PTH fragments and intact human PTH, mixed with Freund's adjuvant. Total and ionized calcium and PTH levels were assayed weekly for 6 months and regularly thereafter. Thoracic computed tomography scans were performed regularly.Antibodies to all PTH fragments were detected after two immunizations. Baseline PTH and total calcium were 213.0 ng/liter and 13.96 mg/dl, respectively, and remained elevated during the first three immunizations. From the fourth immunization onward, PTH and calcium decreased, and the patient's clinical condition improved markedly. PTH and calcium levels have remained controlled for more than 24 months, and the sizes (surface area) of pulmonary metastases decreased from baseline by 39-71%.This is the first evidence that PTH immunization not only can improve clinical, hormonal, and biochemical measures in parathyroid carcinoma but also has an antitumor effect. [less ▲]