Background and hypothesis: The pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (HPAF) cells have a multipotent stem cell potential. It was hypothesised that all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) can induce transdifferentiation of these cells into cells with an endocrine phenotype. Material and methods: To explore this hypothesis, an in vitro system of cells was established. Some cells were treated with atRA at concentrations of 100 nmol/l (non-apoptosis-inducing) and 5 mmol/l (apoptosis-inducing) and harvested. Cells were examined for cell cycle kinetics, apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assay and p53 protein expression) and immunomorphological features of redifferentiation (MUC1 and DUPAN-2) and endocrine transdifferentiation (insulin, somatostatin, glucagon, neurone-specific enolase) by using immunoperoxidase staining methods. Levels of insulin, transforming growth factor (TGF) b2, TGFa and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The vehicle-treated cells served as a control group. Results: When compared with untreated cells, cells treated with 100 nmol/l and 5 mmol/l atRA were observed to show (1) decreased proliferative activity (cpm) as indicated by decreased incorporation of thymidine labelled with hydrogen-3; (2) cell cycle arrest; (3) increased apoptotic activity associated with p53 protein overexpression; (4) upregulated expression of the transdifferentiation and redifferentiation markers; (5) morphological changes indicative of transdifferentiation (increased cell size and appearance of dendrites); (6) decreased production of EGFR; (7) upregulation of TGFa and TGFb 2 ; and (8) increase in basal and glucose-induced insulin secretion. Conclusions: Functional endocrine transdifferentiation can be induced in HPAF lines by atRA. Further investigations are mandated to explore the underlying mechanisms of this transdifferentiation and to explore its in vivo extrapolation.

Female patients with prolactinoma have lower vitamin D levels and have higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among prolactinoma patients when compared with normal subjects. Also vitamin D deficiency in prolactinoma patients associated with larger adenoma size and higher prolactin level. Finally, 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was a statistically significant predictor of prolactinoma size but not prolactin levels.

INTRODUCTIONDiabetes mellitus (DM) affects an estimated 285 million people worldwide. This number is expected to reach 438 million by the year 2030.1 On the other hand, Male hypogonadism (MHG) is a clinical syndrome that results from failure to produce physiological concentrations of testosterone. 2MHG is significantly associated with various comorbidities reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, increased adiposity, low energy and fatigue.3 Muscle weakness and low bone mass, Depression, anxiety loss of libido, and erectile dysfunction and decreased quality, abnormal lipid profile, CVS pathophysiologic change. [4][5][6][7] The association between low serum testosterone (LST) and diabetes (DM) has recently received substantial attention; studies have reported that male patients with ABSTRACT Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects an estimated 285 million people worldwide. This number is expected to reach 438 million by the year 2030. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of male hypogonadism among Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes and to identify the risk factors may be associated with low serum testosterone concentrations in men with type 2 diabetes. Methods: 140 male patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited in this cross-sectional study. This study WAS conducted from January 2012 to January 2016 in the endocrinology and metabolism unit, Mansoura University, Egypt. Results: We found 48 (34.2%) patients with hypogonadism (defined as TT ≤300 ng/dl) among 140 male patients with type 2 diabetes. 7 out of 48 (14.5%) patients with TT ≤300 ng/dl had high abnormal gondotrophins hormones levels while 41 patients out of 48 (85.5%) had normal gondotrophins hormones levels. We found BMI, WC, Hba1c, UACR, retinopathy ratio, nephropathy ratio, smoker ratio and patient on insulin therapy ratio were increased in the low TT group with statistically significance, but non statistically significant difference in age, diabetic duration, FSH, LH, Prolactin and lipid profile. In this study by using Pearson correlation, we found a statistically significant correlation between TT levels with BMI, WC, FSH, LH, Hba1c, and UACR (P value<0.05). Also by using stepwise multiple regression analysis, we found BMI, WC, LH, Hba1c, and UACR were statistically significant predictors of TT levels. In logistic regression analysis, we found Hba1c, UACR, and WC were statistically significant risk factors for MHG. Conclusions: Visceral obesity, higher Hba1c, and degree of albuminuria are independent risk factors for hypogonadism in Egyptian male patients with type 2 diabetes.

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