Endocrine Abstracts

Type 1B pseudohypoparathyroidism is characterised by renal resistance to parathyroid hormone in the absence of other endocrine or physical abnormalities. We present a 36-year-old lady with pseudohypoparathyroidism diagnosed aged seven following seizures with hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) at 700 pg/mL (<120) and no cyclic AMP response to bovine PTH. There was no family history or diagnostic phenotypic fe...

Background: Vitamin-D deficiency and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are common in South Asians (SA). The diagnosis of a vitamin-D deficiency in the setting of a chronic disease depends on a high index of suspicion and adequate investigation. This involves bone profile, occasionally in conjunction with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D. The ability of routine investigations to identify vitamin-D deficient patients have not been widely studied.Aims: To assess the ability o...

In pregnant women with thyroid diseases an increased amount of LT4 may be required for the correction of hypothyroidism or treatment of nodular goiter. Aim of this study was to assess the amount of the variations of LT4 requirement in pregnant women with thyroid diseases. To address this issue, we retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 107 women treated with LT4 divided in two groups: 42 euthyroid (E) (affected by nodular goiter (NG) treated with LT4 suppressive therapy) and 65...

The association of low body weight due to excessive exercise and/or eating disorders, and hypothalamic amenorrhoea is well documented. Delayed or arrest of puberty may occur if low body weight occurs before or during puberty. Normal menstruation is restored once a healthy body weight is regained. In this case, body weight normalised but ovarian function did not.A 34-year-old woman attended our thyroid clinic for subclinical hypothyroidism following an ep...

Background: Mitotane antitumor efficacy is related to plasma levels. Objective responses have been associated with mitotane plasma levels >14 mg/l. However, high plasma levels >20 or >30 mg/l are at higher risk of toxicity, especially neurotoxicity. National-based survey is lacking to evaluate the frequency and severity of high mitotane plasma levels. Our aim was to retrospectively describe serious adverse events (SAE).Methods: Mitotane plasm...

CDGP is a common growth disorder, often dominantly inherited. Genetic association is thus very likely. There are many possible candidates but none are yet linked to CDGP. We assessed the possible contribution of L, LR genes (mutations in each cause very delayed or absent puberty), CART (mediates the effect of L on GnRH pulse generation), and GPR54 (a hypothalamic G-protein coupled receptor, which is mutated in familial hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism) genes.<p class="abstex...

High protein diets suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss, but are difficult to adhere to. Understanding the mechanisms by which protein suppresses appetite may establish targets for more acceptable interventions to treat or prevent obesity. Of particular interest is the concept of functional foods or novel products, which aim to potentiate satiety.Receptor systems that respond to amino acids have been identified. However, the specific mechanisms r...

Background: Insulin resistance and obesity are characteristic features of PCOS. Oxidative stress leads to the formation of lipid peroxidation products in the skeletal muscles and has the potential to interfere with insulin signaling and thereby contribute to insulin resistance. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a lipid peroxidation end product and is widely used as a marker of oxidative stress.Rimonabant has been shown to reduce weight and insulin resistance in o...

Case History: A 70-year-old man of Chinese origin presents with a two-month history of worsening visual acuity and double vision. He denied systemic symptoms apart from marginal weight loss. Other medical history includes stable asthma, treated with inhalers. He has a niece and nephew with thyroid disease. He is an ex-smoker, retired accountant, and drinks occasional alcohol. On examination, he was normotensive with a body mass index of 22 kg/m2 however was found to...

The importance of the sRANK-L / RANK / Osteoprotegerin (OPG) system in osteoclast function has clearly been demonstrated in the rat. Activating and inactivating mutations lead to severe disturbances of bone remodelling.Since this early animal work, there have been several studies designed to assess the importance of sRANK-L / RANK / OPG in diseases of the human skeleton. sRANK-L and OPG are measurable in blood.This cross-sectional ...