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Adrenal cancer is a rare disease which is often diagnosed at a late stage and usually has a poor prognosis. This review article gives a current knowledge on the etiopathogenesis, which could lead to the improvement of therapeutic strategies and possibly outcomes of therapy. Further, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach and current treatment options in patients with adrenal cancer are summarized. The multidisciplinary approach as well as centralized care is necessary for successful management of patients with adrenal cancer and for improvement of their poor prognosis.

Visceral obesity, insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are strongly related. Development of visceral obesity and regulation of body fat distribution in general are influenced by many factors. This article is a summary of current knowledge about pathogenesis of insulin resistance in different endocrinopathies, particularly in the Cushing's syndrome and acromegaly, as they are both connected with the pathological conditions mentioned above.

Adrenal incidentalomas are called as a disease of modern technology because increased availability and accuracy of imaging techniques lead to increased incidence of incidentally discovered adrenal masses. Adrenal incidentalomas are found in about 0.35-4.36% of abdominal CT scans performed for purpose other than suspicion of adrenal diseases. However, in autoptic studies the percentage of incidentally discovered adrenal tumours in much higher, in some of then being even more than 20%. Important component of differential diagnosis is endocrinological examination aimed to reveal potential autonomous hormonal overproduction. Approximately more than 10% of adrenal incidentalomas is characterized by autonomous cortisol production, 5-10% is phaeochromocytomas and 5-7% is aldosteron producing adenomas. Vast majority of adrenal incidentalomas are nonfunctioning tumours, mainly adenomas. Rational ways and recommendations for screening of hormonal activity of adrenal incidentalomas is discussed. Very important issue is to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions and between adenomas and non-adenomas. The accuracy of CT, MR, and fine needle aspiration cytology in distinguishing between adenomas from non-adenomas is comparable, in general not exceeding 90%. Particular characteristics of particular adrenal tumours are discussed. From the relationship between the tumour size and probability of malignancy, current recommendations are derived, that non-functioning tumours smaller than 4 cm are indicated for further follow-up, size over 6 cm is indication for adrenalectomy and in tumours between 4-6 cm decision process is complex.

Computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) quite often detect unexpected cases of enlargement in the hypothalamus-hypophysial region, without the above methods being indicated for clinical manifested symptomatology provoked by the tumour. This is not surprising if we consider that autopsies show the presence of hypophysial adenomas of 10-15% of population on an average. X ray, CT or MRI are indicated in the case of head traumas, lateral nasal cavity inflammations, headaches, strokes, neurological diseases and other disorders. A number of tumours of diverse etiology occur in the hypothalamus-hypophysial region, but hypophysial adenomas are by far the most frequent among all (above 90 %). Among other primary enlargements, the most frequent are craniopharyngeomas and meningeomas, while other enlargements are by fare less common. Such randomly detected tumours are mostly asymptomatic, but targeted anamnesis may show some of the symptoms quite clearly. The symptomatology can be linked with possible slight hormonal overproduction of hypophysial adenomas, a deficit of hypophysial hormones or local manifestations of expansion. Exact assessment of MRI results, of hormonal activity of the enlargement, of the relation to surrounding structures, especially the optic nerves, and the assessment of hypophysial functions are important for the therapeutic decision. Depending on the type and extension of the tumour the options considered are pharmacotherapy (the treatment of choice in the case of prolactinomas), surgery, radiotherapy (today prevailingly using the gamma knife), and if no intervention is necessary, follow up with regular MRI examinations. Tumorous growth is more often observed in "macroadenomas" than in "microadenomas" (up to 10 mm).

The hormones with a strong influence on the lipid spectrum and the development of atherosclerosis include cortisol, growth hormone and oestrogens. Cortisol accelerates atherosclerosis both through dyslipidemia and through an increase in visceral fat, hypertension, increased insulin resistance and the development of reduced glucose tolerance which may result in diabetes mellitus. Even when a cortisol excess disappears, as is the case of patients cured of Cushing syndrome, arterial walls remain permanently vulnerable to the atherosclerotic process. In conditions involving a lack of growth hormone, dyslipidemia develops and increases the burden on the cardiovascular system if not treated in a timely manner by the substitution of growth hormone. Oestrogens have a double effect: they have an anti-atherogenic effect on artery walls that are not yet damaged by an atherosclerotic process, but where atherosclerosis has already developed they have a prothrombotic effect and destabilise the atheromatous plaques. If oestrogen is to be used as protection against the onset of atherogenesis, it is necessary to start in a period when the atherosclerotic process has not yet begun to damage the woman's arterial walls and it is best to use natural hormones (estradiol) and to prevent endometriosis it should be combined with crystalline progesterone applied locally--inravaginally. Oestrogens should be given in small doses, preferably parenterally. Even this will not prevent genetic oestrogen effects though.

Effect of growth hormone (GH) on the growth and development of children is generally known. Effects of GH in adults are favorable, though. The aim of the work was to verify effects of GH administration on body composition in adult patients with GH deficit (GHD). The authors examined 15 adult patients with GHD originated in 13 of them in adulthood and in two of them in childhood. Their mean age was 43.9 +/- 11.3 years, the mean body mass was 80.0 +/- 15.2 kg. The GH deficit was verified by the stimulation insulin tolerance test. For the period of 12 months, they were subcutaneously administered recombinant human GH in a substitution dose of 0.5 to 1.5 IU/m2 body surface/day. A stable substitution of the hormone was applied for the period of at least six months in all these patients provided any deficit of other hormones had not been demonstrated. The examination by whole-body dosimeter Lunar DPX-L was made in the patients before the GH treatment began and after 12 months of therapy. It enabled to determine the amount of lean body mass (LBM) and fatty mass. After 12 months of GH treatment the mean level of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) was increased (P = 0.002). A statistically significant increase of total LBM (48.6 +/- 9.8 vs. 50.8 +/- 9.9 kg, P = 0.004) developed, the fatty mass did not change. Nine of these 15 patients were further followed and the administration of GH proceeded for six months. The densitometric examination was repeated, but no change of LBM was observed. The administration of GH was halted and after the period of 12 months the whole-body densitometric examination was done. The increase of LBM lasted. The amount of fat mass did not change, a decrease of fatty mass was observed after the GH administration ended. After 12 months of GH treatment there was also an increase of maximal output reached on bicycle ergometer (157.3 +/- 34.2 vs. 197.5 +/- 68.1 W, P = 0.006). A positive correlation between LBM and maximal output reached on bicycle ergometer before GH administration (r = 0.58, P = 0.02) was observed. A favorable effect of the substitution dose of GS administered to adult patients with GHD on the increase of LBM and physical output was confirmed.

Unlabelled: Hypercortisolism is associated with a high risk of sickness rate and death rate particularly in view of facilitated arteriosclerotic processes. It is most frequently induced by drug therapy, but endogenous hypercortisolism (Cushing's syndrome) may serve as a suitable model of the effect of hypercortisolism on vascular wall. Our cohort included the following groups of patients and control individuals: 1. a group of patients with florid so far untreated Cushing's syndrome--14 patients, 2. a control group to these patients--16 individuals, 3. a group recently operated on and healed-up patients with Cushing's syndrome--8 patients, 4. a group of previous of previous cured-up patients with Cushing's syndrome--27 subjects, 5. a control group to those patients of group 4--17 persons. The following differences were found between the respective groups: 1. the ultrasonographic examination of carotid arteries demonstrated sclerotic plates or carotid stenosis in 21.3% of patients with florid Cushing's syndrome and 41.4% in patients with corticolism having been cured-up against 11.7% in the relevant control group; 2. the examination of skin microcirculation by the laser-doppler method revealed a lower velocity of perfusion increase during examination of postocclusion hyperemia in patients with florid Cushing's syndrome and hypercortisolism having been cured-up against a control group (CUSH., P < 0.04; previous cured-up, P < 0.02) as well as thermally-induced hyperemia (CUSH., P < 0.03; formerly cured-up, P < 0.04); 3. the laboratory examination of patients with florid Cushing's syndrome revealed higher values of LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05) and total cholesterol (P < 0.001), malonyldialdehyde as an indicator of increased formation of oxygen radicals (P < 0.05) and oromucoid, the protein of acute phase, signaling a chronic inflammation (P < 0.05); 4. in patients who previously suffered from hypercortisolism increased levels of fibrinogen (P < 0.03) and the cytoadhesive molecule ICAM-1 (P < 0.05) were accompanied by decreased levels of the growth factor of vascular endothelia (VEGF) (P < 0.05) against patients with florid Cushing's syndrome., Conclusion: The findings of the examinations performed indicate that increased incidence of arteriosclerotic processes is present in patients with the florid Cushing's syndrome as well as in those who have suffered from Cushing's syndrome before.

Background and Aim: System of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its binding proteins (IGFBP) may be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular damage in Type 2 diabetes. Aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between this system and microvascular reactivity in Type 2 diabetes as measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry., Methods and Results: Thirteen Type 2 diabetic patients (8 women and 5 men) with microangiopathy and fifteen healthy subjects (8 women and 7 men) were examined clinically, underwent laser-Doppler flowmetry and intima-media thickness measurements. Fasting serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP and lipids were examined. Percentage perfusion increase in the test with postocclusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH) as well as in that with thermal hyperaemia (TH) were significantly decreased in Type 2 diabetic patients (p < 0.05). Maximal perfusion after heating (THmax) was lower in Type 2 diabetic patients. Reaction of microcirculation after heating (THmax/t) was slower in Type 2 diabetic patients (p < 0.001). The changes in microvascular reactivity didn't significantly correlate with any of measured parameters of IGF-I/IGFBP system., Conclusions: Microvascular reactivity is impaired in Type 2 diabetic patients. The function of microcirculation is not significantly related to the particular parameters of the IGF-I/IGFBP system.

Ghrelin is recently discovered peptide hormone involved in the regulation of growth hormone secretion as well as in the regulation of food intake and energetic homeostasis. The study was aimed to describe the changes in ghrelin serum levels in patients with anorexia nervosa and its relationship to some other studied parameters. Sixteen women patients with anorexia nervosa and thirteen healthy women of comparable age were examined clinically and blood samples were taken for estimation of serum levels of ghrelin, leptin, soluble leptin receptor, IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3. Ghrelin serum levels were significantly increased in the group of patients with anorexia nervosa (p < 0,05). In contrary, serum leptin levels were decreased in the group of patients with anorexia nervosa (p < 0,01). Serum ghrelin levels did not correlate with any other of studied parameters with exception of BMI. We can conclude that serum ghrelin levels are increased in patients with anorexia nervosa and their increase fails to significantly stimulate food intake in this group of patients.

In the last fifteen years the development of imaging techniques, especially the routine use of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lead to increased number of incidentally discovered adrenal masses. Facing the incidentalomas, it is necessary to make decisions about further management of the patient. This paper gives a review of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the adrenal incidentaloma, with available imaging tools and with the stress on the importance of particular imaging techniques.

The IGF-I system and its binding proteins participate in the pathogenesis of vascular affections under various pathological conditions. The mechanism and mode of its action were however not elucidated in details so far and views on its role are controversial. The objective of the study was to assess the relationship of this system and the blood flow in the microcirculation in obese patients. The authors examined 21 obese patients (BMI 39.7 +/- 7.3 kg/m2) and a group of healthy volunteers. They examined: serum concentrations of total IGF-I, free IGF-I, IGFBP-1,-2,-3, and -6, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides as well as the intimomedial thickness of the common carotid arteries and parameters of blood flow in the microcirculation, evaluated by a laser-Doppler examination. In obese patients there were significantly lower serum concentrations of IGF-I and free-IGF I (p < 0.05) as compared with the control group. Comparison of the function of the microcirculation revealed in obese patients, as compared with the control group, a lower percentage increase of perfusion after occlusion (PORH%, p < 0.05) and after heating (TH%, p < 0.05) and a slower onset of thermal hyperaemia (THmax/t, p < 0.05). In the control group serum concentrations of free-IGF-I correlated inversely with the maximum perfusion after heat induced hyperaemia (THmax (r = -0.54, p < 0.02) and the rate of onset of hyperaemia after heating (THmax/t) (r = 0.51, p < 0.02). In the group of obese patients serum concentrations of free-IGF-I correlated inversely with the maximum perfusion after heat induced hyperaemia (THmax) (r = -0.55, p < 0.02), and IGFBP-3 concentrations correlated inversely with maximum hyperaemia after occlusion (PORGmax) (r = -0.57, p < 0.01). The results suggest that the function of the microcirculation in obese subjects is affected. The activity of the IGF-I system and its binding proteins is related to the affected function of the microcirculation and a negative part is played particularly by serum concentrations of free IGF-I. The negative effect of IGFBP-3 on the function of the microcirculation is surprising.