Section 1 Clinical aspects of hypothalamic function<br>Development<br>1. Genetic aspects of hypothalamic and pituitary gland development <br>2. Neuroendocrinology of pregnancy and parturition<br>Vasopressin, oxytocin, CRH<br>3. Disorders of water metabolism: diabetes insipidus and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion <br>4. Oxytocin and vasopressin’s role in emotional and social behaviors <br>5. Corticotrophin-releasing hormone and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in psychiatric disease<br>Metabolism<br>6. Genetic aspects of human obesity <br>7. Sleep characteristics and insulin sensitivity in humans <br>8. Hypothalamic neuropeptides in critical illness <br>9. Central regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis – focus on clinical aspects<br> <br>Section 2 Disorders of the pituitary gland<br>Diagnostic approach <br>10. Evaluation of pituitary function <br>11. Imaging of pituitary pathology<br>Pituitary pathologies<br>12. Non-functioning pituitary tumors <br>13. Hyperprolactinemia and prolactinoma <br>14. Acromegaly <br>15. Cushing's disease <br>16. Craniopharyngioma <br>17. Rathke’s cleft <br>18. Alternative causes of hypopituitarism: traumatic brain injury, cranial irradiation and infections<br>Therapeutic approach to pituitary tumors<br>19. Surgical approach to pituitary tumors <br>20. Medical approach to pituitary tumors <br>21. Radiation therapy in the management of pituitary adenomas<br> <br>Section 3 Controversial issues and hot topics<br>22. Nelson Syndrome, definition and management<br>23. Familial pituitary tumours <br>24. Long-term effects of treatment of pituitary adenomas <br>25. Neuroendocrine mechanisms in athletes <br>26. Uncertainties in endocrine substitution therapy for central hypocortisolism <br>27. Uncertanties in endocrine substitution therapy for central endocrine insufficiencies: Hypothyroidism <br>28. Uncertanties in endocrine substitution therapy for central endocrine insufficiencies: growth hormone deficiency <br>29. Autoimmune hypophysitis: new developments<br>