Endocrine Abstracts

Until recently it was usual to discharge teenagers with TS to primary care once final height had been attained in the paediatric setting. It is now clear that adults with TS benefit from dedicated TS clinics in order to optimise health care for this commonly neglected group. In adult life there is a great deal of preventable morbidity in TS which lies within the endocrine remit: osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension. Other disorders ...

Renal functions in a mouse model of Cushing’s Syndrome have been characterised by analysing RNA expression complemented by immunohistochemistry studies. A microarray of kidneys from mice infused with ACTH for two weeks identified gene transcripts that were up-regulated (70) and down-regulated (49) more than two-fold. Four separate clusters of closely correlated genes (r> 0.97; P< 0.001) were investigated in more detail. One down-regulated cluster included histocom...

There is increasing recognition that Thyroid Cancer represents a group of diseases with a broad spectrum of malignant behavior, ranging from the indolent papillary microcarcinoma carrying essentially no risk to the patients’ health of life; to Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, the most aggressive human malignancy. The majority of our patients lie between these two extremes and their clinical management must increasingly be predicated on the threat that the disease represents to ...

There is increasing recognition that Thyroid Cancer represents a group of diseases with a broad spectrum of malignant behavior, ranging from the indolent papillary microcarcinoma carrying essentially no risk to the patients’ health of life; to Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, the most aggressive human malignancy. The majority of our patients lie between these two extremes and their clinical management must increasingly be predicated on the threat that the disease represents to ...

Background: There are a variety of growth hormone delivery devices (GHDD) available to children requiring growth hormone (GH) therapy. Many paediatric endocrine nurses can offer patients and their families a choice of the products that are available, which can sometimes be overwhelming. However, factors such a licenced clinical indications have to be considered, as well as cost. This study explored nurses viewpoints on GHDD.Aim: The purpose of this proje...

Background and aims: Non-adherence to daily subcutaneous GH (r-HGH) administration may account for discrepancies between dose prescription, growth response and serum IGF1 levels but is difficult to determine. The electronic r-HGH auto-injector Easypod device has the only inbuilt retrievable dosing record, with which we aimed to assess adherence.Method: Over a 4 month period, we retrospectively retrieved dose history data in 25 clinic patients aged 10&#15...

Reproductive endocrinology spans the interface between ‘mainstream’ endocrinology, paediatric endocrinology and gynaecology, with excursions into genetics and psychology. This subspecialty is a fertile ground for clinical research. The field of Turner syndrome – ‘Turnerology’ – is a perfect example of where an endocrinologist has a lot to contribute with knowledge of oestrogen physiology, diabetes, osteoporosis as well as cardiovascular disease, g...

The action of insulin acting as a co-gonadotrophin in women with PCOS has long been a focus of research. In western populations, a key environmental effect on PCOS is through the obesity epidemic. The resulting insulin resistance has direct effects on the clinical manifestation of PCOS with serum insulin showing positive associations with BMI, serum testosterone, AMH and variably with ovarian volume. AMH is a particularly interesting marker of PCOS with respect to insulin as d...

Once induction of puberty has been completed the options for sex steroid hormone replacement change to take in to account long term health outcomes and the issues of transition from pediatric to adult care. With regard to the late stages of development, some thought has to be given to the fact that bone mass continues to increase to reach a peak at about the age of 25. It may not be until the age of 18 that meaningful bone density results can be obtained. For those who are slo...

Women with a 46XY karyotype comprise a heterogeneous group who differ not only in their diagnostic category and anatomy but also in their journey from paediatric to adult services. Transition care should be an individualised process covering past experiences, current medical and surgical needs and future prospects is required for optimal wellbeing. A multidisciplinary team is helpful in providing this care and liaison with supports groups (for instance the AISSG) is essential ...