Environmental Endocrinology and Endocrine Disruptors

This book describes how exposure to various classes of endocrine disruptors, as well as other environmental chemicals targeting the endocrine system by alternative non-endocrine mechanisms, impact on endocrinological and endocrinological-related diseases. It includes comprehensive reviews of all aspects of environmental endocrinology, ranging from sources and patterns of exposure and identification of endocrine targets to direct endocrine disruptive mechanisms and indirect actions on the endocrine system, the latter including endocrine cell-directed cytotoxicity, oxidative damage, and genetic and epigenetic aberrations resulting in endocrine damage. It also examines the causal pathways and offers an extensive overview of downstream endocrinological and endocrinological-related disorders. In addition, several chapters focus on transgenerational actions, which are a topic of particular interest. Lastly, evidence from preclinical and clinical studies provides the basis for an in-depth, critical discussion of each topic.

Prof. Rosario Pivonello is Associate Professor of Endocrinology at Università Federico II di Napoli, Italy. In 2003, Prof. Pivonello received a PhD in Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology at Università Federico II di Napoli, and, in 2005, a PhD in Internal Medicine (Basic and Clinical Endocrinology) at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on the role of the dopaminergic system in pituitary and adrenal tumors. Prof. Pivonello major clinical interests and scientific research include pituitary and adrenal diseases, with a focus on Cushing’s syndrome, of which he is recognized as an expert by the scientific community. Prof. Pivonello is principal investigator of international multicenter studies on Cushing’s syndrome, Acromegaly and adrenal diseases, and of national research projects in endocrinology funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR) and the Italian Ministry of Health. In the last decade, Prof. Pivonello clinical and research interestsincluded the study of andrology and reproductive and sexual medicine. In 2011, Prof. Pivonello pursued a Master in Andrology and Sexual Medicine at the University of Florence, Italy and, in 2016, a Master in Andrology and Seminology at the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Italy. Prof. Pivonello is Director of the Unit of Andrology and Medicine of Male and Female Reproduction and Sexuality ‘FERTISEXCARES’ (Excellence Centre of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine [SIAMS]) of University Hospital Federico II. Prof. Pivonello is a staff member of the UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development at Università Federico II di Napoli (Chair coordinator Professor Annamaria Colao), with direction of the andrology program. Prof. Pivonello has several national and international committee memberships and editorships. Currently, he is a Board Member of The Pituitary Society (since 2021), coordinator of the club Endocrinology and Metabolism of Sport and Physical Exercise of the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE; since 2018), coordinator of the Clinical Trials Committee of SIAMS, coordinator of the Relationships with Other Scientific Societies and Institutions Committee of the Italian Society of Gender, Identity and Health (SIGIS; since 2022) and treasurer for the Foundation for Research in Endocrinology, Metabolic Diseases and Andrology Onlus (Fo.Ri.SIE; since 2022). In the past, Prof. Pivonello has been a member of the Executive Committee of the European Neuroendocrine Association (ENEA; 2016–2020). Prof. Pivonello was coordinator (2018–2021) and member (2010–2012) of the Scientific Committee, coordinator of the Drugs Committee (2017–2019), and member of the Executive Committee (2012–2016) of SIAMS. Prof. Pivonello was also a member of the Drugs Committee and of the Scientific Committee (2011–2013 and 2017–2019) of the SIE, and has established relations with the Italian Medicines Agency for drug monitoring in endocrinology (2015–2017) and theInnovative Proposals Commission (2013–2015). Prof. Pivonello is Associate Editor of Frontiers in Endocrinology (Pituitary Endocrinology section; since 2017), Editorial Advisory Board Member of the Journal of Neuroendocrinology (since 2020), and Editorial Board Member of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (since 2022). Furthermore, Prof. Pivonello has been an expert peer reviewer for the German Research Foundation in the evaluation of funding proposals (2017–2021), and is a member of the Register of Expert Peer Reviewers for Italian Scientific Evaluation (MIUR-REPRISE; since 2015). In terms of academic achievements, Prof. Pivonello is coordinator of the second-level University Master course in Andrology and Medicine of Reproduction and Sexuality at Università Federico II di Napoli, faculty member for PhD courses, and member of the Committee of Lecturers for the PhD at the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’. Prof. Pivonello authored more than400 scientific publications (h­index: 73; citations: 17063 [Scopus]) and is ranked in the Italian Top Scientist List.

Dr. Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis is emeritus professor of Internal Medicine & Endocrinology and Chairman of the Department of Εndocrinology & Diabetes Hygeia Hospital Athens. She received her MD from Medical School of Athens and her PhD in experimental Endocrinology on the effects of androgens in hypophysectomised rats, from the same University. Her training in Internal Medicine took place in England (1974-1980), and in Endocrinology- Diabetes, Metabolism & Obesity in USA (1980-1986). Her research interests have focused for the last 25 years on clinical, molecular and environmental aspects of metabolic & hormonal abnormalities in obesity Diabetes and Polycystic ovarian syndrome. Recently her scientific interest has included the environmental Endocrinology and specifically on the effects of Endocrine Disruptors in endocrinopathies. This work, has generated 190 publications with approx. 24000 citations, classifying her among the 27 worldwide best Greek scientists and the first Greek woman endocrinologist among them. In 2016, 2017 & 2018 she has received the 1st award of the best teacher in endocrinology in Greece, after undisclosed vote among young trainees endocrinologists in Greece. On 22nd of May 2017 at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Lisbon, the European Society of Endocrinology, has awarded her with the for her outstanding contribution in the field of Endocrinology and Metabolism, among 49 candidates from all European endocrinological societies. She is the inspirator and organizer of the monothematic and interactive training COMBO ENDO, international course which takes place yearly in Athens Greece. She is the author of several chapters and editor of 20 books of endocrinology. She currently is the editor of the following books under publication: The applied endocrinology 2020, Environmental endocrinology by Elsevier 2020 and Polycystic ovarian syndrome by Elsevier 2020, which are in the publication process. Dr. Diamanti-Kandarakis has been invited by the international academic community as a speaker and Tutor and has given more than 250 lectures, literally around the globe (Europe, Asia, Africa, North & South America).