Minerva endocrinology最新文献

{"title":"Predicting clinical outcomes of patients with serum thyroglobulin antibodies after thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer: a retrospective study from a UK regional center.","authors":"Hannah Anderson, Kah H Lim, Sadaf Gull, Raluca Oprean, Kirsty Spence, Titus Cvasciuc","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.23.03939-8","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.23.03939-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Twenty-twenty-five percent of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) can have elevated thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb). The study aimed to find any prognostic significance of elevated TgAb during follow-up.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ten-year retrospective study from a tertiary center including 79 patients with raised TgAb after total/staged thyroidectomy for DTC. We identified patients with stable (7.6%), increasing (15%) and decreasing levels of TgAb (77.2%); groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. During follow-up we analyzed TgAb in subcategories by TgAb trend (>50% rise, <50% rise, >50% decline, <50% decline, positive to negative/normalization, negative to positive and stable levels), gender, age, surgery, autoimmune disease, histology, RAI uptake, distant metastases, and recurrence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The incidence of raised TgAb levels was 33.2%, with female predominance. No connection was identified regarding other parameters. 11.4% had distant metastases. The highest mean maximum levels of TgAb was in group 2 (1918.75 IU/mL) and the lowest in group 3 (412.70 IU/mL). The recurrence rate changed significantly between the 3 groups: 50% in group 1, 75% in group 2, and 25% in group 3 (P=0.002). Recurrence rates decreased to 15% in the subcategory where TgAb became negative/normal from positive (P=0.0001). In patients with a negative to positive TgAb level trend or >50% rise, recurrence rates were 100% (P=0.041) and 70% (P=0.012) respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Patients with increasing TgAb levels during follow-up have a higher rate of recurrence, distinctly for those with negative to positive trend and >50% rise in TgAb. These patients need closer follow-up, and TgAb may be used as a dynamic follow-up marker.</p>","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"60-68"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10123093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nucleobindin-2 derived nesfatin-1 in polycystic ovary syndrome: a PRISMA and GRADE-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis with diagnostic test accuracy.","authors":"Konda Venkata Nagaraju, Mona Lisa, Seshadri Reddy Varikasuvu, Subodh Kumar, Harminder Singh, Faustino R Pérez-López, Pratima Gupta, Saurabh Varshney","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.23.04003-4","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.23.04003-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Nesfatin-1 is a satiety peptide secreted by central, peripheral nervous system and some peripheral tissues. This meta-analysis was conducted to explore the associations with diagnostic accuracy of circulatory nesfatin-1 in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).</p><p><strong>Evidence acquisition: </strong>Relevant studies were retrieved by online database and manual searching. The standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained by a random-effects meta-analysis. The subgroup analysis based on the Body Mass Index (BMI), fasting insulin (F-INS), and the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was conducted. Meta-analysis of correlations and meta-regression were performed for the associations of nesfatin-1 with metabolic and hormonal covariates. The diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) meta-analysis was conducted for the utility of nesfatin-1 in PCOS. The publication bias was tested with Egger's and Begg's regression tests.</p><p><strong>Evidence synthesis: </strong>The combined effect size including a total of 14 studies showed a significantly higher nesfatin-1 level in PCOS as compared to controls (SMD=0.93, Z=2.17, P=0.03). The nesfatin-1 was found to be significantly higher in a subgroup of studies with mean BMI>25 kg/m² (SMD=1.35, Z=2.06, P=0.04), F-INS <13 mIU/mL (SMD=2.74, Z=3.59, P=0.0003), and HOMA-IR >2.7 (SMD=1.58, Z=2.65, P=0.008). The DTA meta-analysis produced a pooled diagnostic odds ratio of 19.58 and area under curve were of 0.888 for nesfatin-1 in PCOS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results indicate a multifactorial involvement such as endocrine and metabolic alterations in the form of BMI, insulin and HOMA-IR status with the higher nesfatin-1 levels in PCOS. The promising results of DTA meta-analysis warrants further research into the clinical and prognostic utility of nesfatin-1 in PCOS.</p>","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"111-121"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71522099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antioxidants for male infertility: therapeutic scheme and indications. A retrospective single-center real-life study.","authors":"Rossella Cannarella, Andrea Crafa, Raneen Sawaid Kaiyal, Shinnosuke Kuroda, Federica Barbagallo, Angela Alamo, Laura M Mongioì, Sabrina Sapienza, Rosita A Condorelli, Sandro LA Vignera, Aldo E Calogero","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.23.04080-0","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.23.04080-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This single-center real-life study was conducted to evaluate the most effective combination of nutraceuticals and the most appropriate indications for the treatment of male infertile patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Infertile patients aged 20-55 years were treated with a combination of antioxidants (Androlen^®; Enfarma, Misterbianco, Catania, Italy) (group A), with Androlen^® (Enfarma) and a mixture of fibrinolytic molecules (Lenidase^®, Enfarma) (group B), or Androlen^® (Enfarma) and other molecules different from those used for the patients of the group B (group C). Patients were also subdivided according to the presence of varicocele, mild testicular hypotrophy, idiopathic infertility, and chronic male accessory gland infection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty-three patients were enrolled. In the overall analysis, only progressive motility significantly improved after therapy. Subgroup analysis showed a significant increase in progressive motility, total motile sperm count (TMSC), and in the percentage of alive spermatozoa after treatment in the group A. Progressive motility improved significantly in patients with varicocele, while the TMSC in patients with varicocele and those with idiopathic infertility. The percentage of alive spermatozoa increased in patients with testicular hypotrophy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Treatment with antioxidants increased progressive sperm motility, especially in patients with varicocele or idiopathic infertility.</p>","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"13-24"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139491625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Papillary thyroid carcinoma: the impact of histologic vascular invasion.","authors":"Liliana Fonseca, Diana Borges Duarte, José R Brandão, Catarina Alves Pereira, Ana Amado, Patrícia Gouveia, André Couto Carvalho, Fátima Borges, Cláudia Freitas","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.22.03749-6","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.22.03749-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recurrence risk prediction system considers vascular invasion (VI) as a relative indicator for adjuvant radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, nevertheless VI final role in PTC management is yet to be defined. This study aims to assess the impact of histologic VI in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective study with PTC patients admitted in our Thyroid Cancer Unit, between January 1960 and December 2016 was performed. We reviewed 905 patient records with 275 having full information about VI on their pathological reports. Demographic and clinical variables were obtained, and univariate/multivariate analysis was performed in order to obtain potential predictive prognostic factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty-one out 275 patients presented VI (18.5%; 95% CI 14.4-23.6%), these individuals had larger tumors (median 19 mm vs. 12 mm, P<0.001) with more frequent extraglandular invasion (54.0% vs. 17.1%, P<0.001), regional lymph nodes involvement (29.8% vs. 12.6%, P=0.003)and distant metastasis (10.9% vs. 1.9%, P=0.003) at diagnosis. VI was an independent predictor for regional lymph node and/or distant metastasis at diagnosis (OR 2.93 [IC 95% 1.16-7.41, P=0.008]). After a median follow-up time was 68.5 months patients with VI presented higher rates of local recurrence and lymph node metastasis recurrence.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this study, the presence of VI in PTC is associated to higher rate of lymph node and distant metastasis at diagnosis. Its presence should be probably considered an adverse prognostic factor in PTC, perhaps justifying more aggressive therapeutic and follow-up approaches in such cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"69-75"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33545854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlations of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy with urinary albumin excretion rate and cardiac function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.","authors":"Yunjiang Chen, Yanchun Gong, Kaiyu Cai","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.21.03358-7","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.21.03358-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The associations of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) with diabetic nephropathy and heart disease remain elusive. The aim of this study was to explore the correlations of CAN with urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and cardiac function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 225 T2DM patients were assigned into CAN and non-CAN groups using cardiovascular reflex tests (CARTs). They were divided into macroalbuminuria, microalbuminuria and normoalbuminuria groups according to urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), or left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and normal groups based on left ventricular peak E/A velocity ratio (E/A). The correlations of CAN with albuminuria and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and the predictive values of UACR and E/A were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with non-CAN group, CAN group had older age, longer T2DM duration, higher serum urine acid (SUA) level, UACR, systolic and diastolic pressure differences between supine and standing positions, and lower other CARTs parameters and E/A (P<0.001). Macroalbuminuria group had largest positional systolic and diastolic pressure differences, and lowest other CARTs parameters (P<0.001). Compared with normal group, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction group had larger positional systolic and diastolic pressure differences, and lower other CARTs parameters (P<0.001). CAN in T2DM patients was positively correlated with albuminuria and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (P<0.001). Age, SUA, UACR and E/A were independent predictive factors (P=0.031, P=0.005, P<0.001, P<0.001). UACR and E/A had high predictive values.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In T2DM patients, CAN is positively correlated with declined UAER and cardiac function. UACR and E/A have high predictive values.</p>","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"3-12"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25537268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Highlights of the January-March 2024 Issue.","authors":"Giovanni Vitale","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.24.04199-X","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.24.04199-X","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140294052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of a potentially functional circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network in type 2 diabetes mellitus by integrated microarray analysis.","authors":"Zijing Li, Xiaowen Deng, Yuqing Lan","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.21.03370-8","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.21.03370-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Circular RNAs (circRNAs) function as miRNA sponges by adsorbing microRNAs (miRNAs), thereby regulating messenger RNA (mRNA) expression. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has rarely been explored. A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with T2DM was established to help deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanism of and therapeutic targets for T2DM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs), miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarray datasets GSE114248, GSE51674 and GSE95849, respectively. A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with T2DM and its subnetwork were constructed. The hub genes were screened using a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Finally, a hub gene-related network was constructed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network included 9 circRNAs, 24 miRNAs and 320 mRNAs. When four key circRNAs (circMYO9B, circGRAMD1B, circTHAP4 and circTMC7) were chosen, the subnetwork contained 4 circRNAs, 18 miRNAs and 307 mRNAs. Afterwards, 8 hub genes (SIRT1, GNG7, KDR, FOS, SIN3B, STAT1, SP1, and MAPK3) were extracted from the PPI network. GO and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that the network might be involved in oxidative stress responses, regulation of inflammation, neovascularization, endocrine and cancer-related processes, etc.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A circRNA-miRNA-hub gene regulatory network was constructed, and the potential functions of the hub genes were analyzed. Four important circRNAs (circMYO9B, circGRAMD1B, circTHAP4 and circTMC7) might be involved in the occurrence and development of T2DM, and this finding provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of and therapeutic targets for T2DM and its complications. Future studies are needed to validate the sponge effects and mechanisms of these 4 circRNAs.</p>","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"33-46"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25537269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Proof of concept use of progesterone/estradiol ratio to investigate late follicular progesterone in women with low number of preovulatory follicles.","authors":"Johnny S Younis, Shiran Yakovi, Yuri Perlitz, Ido Izhaki","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.21.03328-9","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.21.03328-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate late follicular progesterone (P) serum levels in women with a low number of preovulatory follicles in the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) setting.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifty-five consecutive women having four or fewer preovulatory follicles of >14 mm on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration were prospectively evaluated. Spearman correlation tests were performed between serum estradiol (E<inf>2</inf>) level, serum P level, P/E<inf>2</inf> ratio, number of preovulatory follicles, oocytes and embryos. Women enrolled were further divided into two groups in accordance with the P/E<inf>2</inf> ratio on the day of hCG administration and compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Serum E<inf>2</inf> level correlated positively with P serum level (r<inf>s</inf>=0.36, P<0.01), number of mature follicles (r<inf>s</inf>=0.50, P<0.01) and number of oocytes retrieved (r<inf>s</inf>=0.36, P<0.05), whereas negatively with P/E<inf>2</inf> ratio (r<inf>s</inf>=- 0.68, P<0.01). Likewise, number of preovulatory follicles correlated positively with E<inf>2</inf> level (r<inf>s</inf>=0.50, P<0.01), P level (r<inf>s</inf>=0.27, P<0.05) and number of oocytes retrieved (r<inf>s</inf>=0.33, P<0.05), while it correlated negatively with P/E<inf>2</inf> ratio (r<inf>s</inf>=-0.33, P<0.05). Furthermore, women with P/E<inf>2</inf> ratio >1 on the day of hCG administration received considerably higher total follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) dosage and achieved significantly lower number of oocytes and embryos as compared to controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The reverse relationship between number of preovulatory follicles and P/E<inf>2</inf> ratio implies that P rise is not only the result of increased steroidogenic activity, but other oocyte-follicle disrupted mechanisms seem to be involved. An exaggerated FSH stimulation appears to disrupt further these mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"25-32"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"25537266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Body Mass Index is related to short-term retinal worsening in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with anticancer drugs.","authors":"Agostino Milluzzo, Martina Barchitta, Andrea Maugeri, Antonella Agodi, Laura Sciacca","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.22.03653-3","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.22.03653-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In cancer patients with diabetes, anticancer drugs (ADs) may negatively affect the course of diabetes vascular complications. The short-term effects of ADs on type 2 diabetes (T2DM) retinopathy are poorly known. This study evaluated the short-term effects of different classes of ADs on diabetic retinopathy (DR) and clinical risk factors for retinal worsening (RW) in cancer patients affected by T2DM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective single-center study evaluating 168 patients with T2DM and cancer. The diagnosis of T2DM preceded those of cancer in all patients. We evaluated the retinal short-term effects within the six months after the first-line ADs treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After ADs, 6% of patients had a short-term RW. BMI is positively associated with the risk of RW (OR 1.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.9, P<0.005). Patients treated with alkylating agents and topoisomerase inhibitors have an increased risk of RW (P=0.049 and P=0.057, respectively) and a significantly higher HDL level (P<0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>To our knowledge, this study is the first investigating the short-term impact of ADs on DR of T2DM patients. Moreover, we provide information arose from a real-world setting. As confirmed by other studies, these findings could help to identify patients at risk for short-term RW, who should be promptly referred to the ophthalmologist for the prevention of visual impairment.</p>","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"76-84"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39754373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lifestyle and sexual habits of students in a Southern Italian region.","authors":"Laura Cimino, Andrea Crafa, Rossella Cannarella, Federica Barbagallo, Laura M Mongioì, Antonio Aversa, Sandro LA Vignera, Rosita A Condorelli, Aldo E Calogero","doi":"10.23736/S2724-6507.23.03998-2","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S2724-6507.23.03998-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Incorrect or harmful lifestyle during youth may impact negatively gonadal function later in life. To reduce the development of risky behaviors a series of health prevention and intervention campaigns have been conducted in Italy. The present study is part of a Sicily Region (Italy) health surveillance program that was carried out on a sample of late adolescents.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between March 2022 to December 2022, we enrolled 718 adolescents (15-26 years old) attending the last two years of high school (278 males and 440 females) in the districts of Syracuse, Ragusa, Catania, and Agrigento (Sicily, Italy). All adolescents were invited to complete a questionnaire that explored their lifestyles and the student's knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the main andrological diseases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our analysis revealed that 43% of students smoke cigarettes, with a similar gender distribution; one-third of the students use illicit drugs, with a higher prevalence of males than females. More than two-thirds of youngsters reported drinking alcohol with a statistically significant difference between genders. 68.2% of students do not have sexual difficulties and males have a greater tendency to sexual promiscuity than females and only about half of them use condoms. 92% of students surf the Internet every day; boys tend to visit pornographic sites more often than girls.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This survey revealed statistically significant differences between the two genders in terms of lifestyle and sexual habits. In particular, the survey shows that the prevalence of risky behaviour is still extremely high among late adolescents and young adults and that much still needs to be done in terms of prevention and information. Adequate prevention campaigns, to be proposed in the early years of adolescence, should be initiated in order to provide youngsters with adequate preparation in terms of healthy lifestyle habits.</p>","PeriodicalId":18690,"journal":{"name":"Minerva endocrinology","volume":" ","pages":"47-59"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41143800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}