Endokrynologia Polska 2010, tom 61, nr 3

The long-awaited summer holidays are just around the corner and the frantic period of scientific conferences held in the springtime in Poland and abroad is finally over. Before you break for the summer, however, I would like to encourage you to read the latest issue of the Polish Journal of Endocrinology you are holding in your hands...

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) arise from neuroendocrine cells (NECs). NECs are defined as cells 1) with the ability to produce neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, or neuropeptide hormones, 2) containing dense core secretory granules, 3) and lacking axons and synapses [1]. Since NECs form some of the classic endocrine glands, tumours of parathyroids, adrenal medulla, and medullary thyroid cancer are sometimes also classified as NETs...

Chitayat–Hall syndrome (OMIM #208080) is a rare, severe disorder with autosomal recessive inheritance. The clinical traits are very heterogeneous. The most important symptoms include neurological anomalies and intellectual disability, distal joint contractures and characteristic dysmorphic features, as well as respiratory system and skeletal anomalies and endocrine abnormalities concerning the pituitary gland...

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) — secreting pituitary adenoma consisting of corticotropic cells is the most frequent cause of endogenous hypercortisolaemia. Its presence can lead to complications, such as hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes, osteoporosis, increased incidence of infections, or depression...

Insulin regulatory action involves the basic life processes of cells, tissues, and whole organisms. It is multifactorial, perfectly organized, and functionally integrated into successive biochemical steps and biological events governing intracellular regulation. The primary signal resulting from the association of the insulin molecule with the alfa subunit of its specific receptor is transducted by the whole system of mediating molecules and transcriptional factors to over 100 genes [1–3]...

A bilayer lipid cell membrane is impermeable to monosaccharides, and therefore glucose needs a biological transport system consisting of specialized transport proteins. Those proteins provide physiological harmony of glucose cell supply and its further metabolism...

Endemic goiter has been present in most parts of Iran, and for several years iodine deficiency (ID) was considered a contributing factor for endemic goiter in this country [1]. Iran’s National Committee for Control of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) was established in 1989 by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education...

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are able to reduce cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality and morbidity not only in subjects with arterial hypertension or heart failure [1]. Perindopril [2] and ramipril [3] were evidenced to decrease the frequency of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, fatal and non-fatal, in individuals with atherosclerosis free from systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle or heart failure [2, 4]...

Atherosclerotic complications represent the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. According to a multinational study by the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among diabetic patients, accounting for 44% and 52% of deaths in patients with types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus, respectively [1]...

Glucose is a major energetic substrate for human cells with lipid cellular membrane impenetrable to monosaccharides.The cellular glucose transport is possible due to the special transport system created by two groups of proteins: glucotransporters (GLUT) and lesser-known sodium-dependent glucose cotransporters (SGLT). The presence of these transporters has been observed in nearly all human cells...