Dr. Massimo Scacchi

Dr. Massimo Scacchi is currently the head of the General Medicine Unit specialising in Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases and the Medical Director of the Metabolic Research Experimental Laboratory of the San Giuseppe Hospital Institute for Treatment and Research (IRCCS), Istituto Auxologico Italiano of Oggebbio-Piancavallo (VCO). Furthermore, he is the Adjunct Professor of Endocrinology at the Clinical Science and Community Health Department of the University of Milan.

ASSISTANCE AND UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM:

Dr. Scacchi's assistance work was performed in the “Fondazione Istituto Auxologico Italiano” facilities. In particular, from March 1990 to December 1991 Dr. Scacchi was the level I Medical Director at the Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Unit of the San Giuseppe Hospital, Institute for Treatment and Research (IRCCS) of Oggebbio-Piancavallo (VCO), whereas, he held this position from December 1991 to January 2013 at the Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Unit (currently the General Medicine Unit, specialising in Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases) of the San Luca Hospital Institute for Treatment and Research (IRCCS) of Milan. From February 2013 he heads the General Medicine Unit specialising in Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of the San Giuseppe Hospital, Institute for Treatment and Research (IRCCS) of Oggebbio-Piancavallo (VCO). Furthermore, Dr. Scacchi is a researcher at the University of Milan effective from November 2001 (confirmed from November 2004).
Teaching Activities. From the 2001-2002 academic year Dr. Scacchi gives lectures and organises exercises in the integrated course of Semeiotics and Systematics 2 (now Semeiotics and Pathology of the Organ Systems 2) of line B of the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Milan (now the single cycle 2-year specialisation course in Medicine and Surgery San Paolo centre). During the same period Dr. Scacchi gave lectures and held seminars at various specialisation schools at the University of Milan (Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Oncology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy) and at the specialisation schools in Endocrinology at the Universities of Brescia and Insubria. Dr. Scacchi was the Professor of Endocrinology from the 2001-2002 academic year to the 2008-2009 academic year, in a paid assignment regime, in the integrated course of Semeiotics and Systematics 2 of the Degree Course in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Milan-Bicocca. Furthermore, Dr. Scacchi teaches Endocrinology in the integrated course of Nursing, teaches Specialist Assistance in the three-year Degree Course in Nursing at the University of Milan (Don Gnocchi and San Paolo sections). Remaining in the sphere of this University, Dr. Scacchi is currently the secretary of the Specialisation School in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases and a member of the teaching staff of the Graduate School of Endocrine and Metabolic Science.

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES:

The scientific activities are essentially structured in four lines of research:

  1. Clinical consequences of growth hormone deficiency and excess. Targeted studies were performed to outline specific aspects of the GH deficiency in adults (diagnostic difficulties associated with concurrent obesity, morpho-functional cardiac abnormalities, increased plasma lipid peroxidation potential) and the favourable role played by therapeutic replacement with biosynthetic GH. Remaining in the cardiological sphere, a pathological prolongation of the QT interval in a significant proportion of acromegalic patients was described for the first time, correctable by treatment with somatostatin analogues. In addition data was published on the activity of the sympathetic nervous system in acromegalic patients.
  2. Physiopathology of the GH - IGF-I axis in conditions of nutritional deficiency and excess. Knowledge has been acquired regarding the GH secretion in anorexia nervosa (spontaneous secretory profile, response to the acute administration of glucocorticoids, suppressibility by the exogenous IGF-I) and in obesity (no response to stimuli, effects of administering biosynthetic GH in association with diet therapy): the experiences gained have resulted in invitations from prestigious journals to prepare reviews on this topic.
  3. Endocrine complications of thalassemia. Studies were performed on children and on adults, with special knowledge acquired regarding the pituitary-gonadal axis (inducing ovulation in thalassemic hypogonadal women), GH – IGF-I (thalassemic children with somatotropin deficiency treated with biosynthetic GH, evaluation of the prevalence of GH deficiency in the thalassemic adult and the role played by this deficiency in the pathogenesis of bone complications) and the pituitary-adrenal system (prevalence of subclinical adrenocortical insufficiency in adults). In this field of research, Dr. Scacchi participated in the 2009 Applied Research project entitled “Endocrine evaluation of adult patients with beta-thalassemia with particular focus on GH secretion. Effects of recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) treatment in thalassemic patients with GH deficiency”, financed by the Ministry of Health.
  4. Clinical diagnostic aspects of hypercortisolism. With reference to the clinical aspect, data have been collected regarding the changes in the pressure profile in patients suffering from Cushing's disease and the persistence of somatotropin deficiency after surgical recovery from Cushing's disease. Studies were performed on the specificity of first-line tests and the significance of the tests with desmopressin and with Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) preceded by dexamethasone with reference to the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome.


Remaining in the sphere of scientific activities, Dr. Scacchi is enrolled in the register of auditors to evaluate the ministerial research programmes and products and is a reviewer for the following journals: Endocrine, Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, European Journal of Internal Medicine and Hormone and Metabolic Research. In addition, from 2007 to 2011 Dr. Scacchi was a member of the Lombard Regional Coordination Committee of the Italian Society of Endocrinology and held the office as Chairman from 2009 to 2011.
 

Over 60 years of research and care
Over 60 years of
research and care

Since 1958, Auxologico has been working in the fields of biomedical research and highly specialised health care to ensure patients receive the most up-to-date and effective treatment.

20 Locations in Lombardy, Piedmont, Lazio and Romania
20 Locations in
Lombardy, Piedmont, Lazio and Romania

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1.300.000
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