Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Motilin is a proximal small intestinal hormone with roles in gastrointestinal motility, gallbladder emptying and hunger initiation. The molecular mechanisms underlying motilin release in response to fats, bile and duodenal acidification are poorly understood, in part due a lack of suitable cellular and rodent models. We therefore generated a novel human intestinal organoid model with fluorescently labelled motilin-expressing M-cells, which we used to establish the k...

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 majority of the body’s 5-HT (serotonin) is produced from enterochromaffin cells (ECs) of the intestinal epithelium. 5-HT has important roles within the gastrointestinal tract in the modulation of motility, secretion and inflammation, while also signalling satiety and discomfort to the central nervous system. The factors regulating release of 5-HT from human small intestinal ECs have not been clearly elucidated: although circulating 5-HT levels typically increase after...

Section 1: Case history: A 10-year-old girl presented with significant postnatal growth failure. Her birth weight was normal (–0.15SDS) but poor growth was observed from a few months of age. She had no other symptoms. On examination, height was –3.4SDS and head circumference –1.6SDS. She had no dysmorphic features and normal development. Section 2: Investigations: Baseline serum analyses were unremarkable. Karyotype was normal (46XX). Bone age was delayed by 2.5...

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...

Case history: This 32 year old lady developed anterior and posterior pituitary failure following chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplant for acute lymphoblastic leukaeamia in childhood and subsequent CNS recurrence. During her teens, she required GH replacement with which she was poorly compliant. She had a mastectomy and currently takes hormonal treatment for oestrogen receptor positive T2N1M1 breast cancer, which is possibly a consequence of her total body irra...

A 7.7 year old girl born to consanguineous was assessed for poor growth; height −3.2 SDS, weight −2.7 SDS, BMI −0.8 SDS. Examination revealed chubby cheeks, abdominal obesity, relatively thin limbs and a suggestion of mid-face hypoplasia. There was no scoliosis or other dysmorphic features.Investigations found a 46XX karyotype and negative coeliac screen. Pituitary function testing revealed high basal Growth Hormone (GH) of 6.5 ug/l, ri...

Introduction: Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder, which increases the risk of developing both benign and malignant tumours. A Swedish study conducted by Zöller et al in 1997, suggested that up to 25% of these tumours are neuroendocrine in origin, of which phaeochromocytomas were the commonest with a prevalence of 0.1–6%. The association between NF1 and primary hyperparathyroidism is described in the literature but clinically ra...