Endocrine Abstracts

While the association between maternal nutrition and female reproductive fitness and offspring health is well recognised, the role that paternal diet plays in shaping male reproductive health is relatively poorly understood. It is, however, well established that poor diet has adverse effects on sperm quality, which in turn have a negative impact on embryo development and offspring health. It is conceivable that behind any alterations to sperm quality, there are certain underly...

Introduction/Aim: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a cause of severe hypoglycaemia in infancy. Treatment of diazoxide unresponsive patients includes the use of somatostatin analogues (octreotide given either as four s.c. injections daily or via a pump). We aimed to evaluate the use of a long acting somatostatin analogue (Lanreotide) in children with CHI, switching them from daily oral diazoxide or s.c. Octreotide injections to 4 weekly Lanreotide injections.<p class="ab...

Glucocorticoids (GC), such as prednisolone, are widely prescribed for their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. However, they have significant side-effects including insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) converts 11-dehydrocorticosterone (11DHC) to active corticosterone (CORT) and thus amplifies local GC action. We hypothesise that enhanced local GC regeneration of exogenously administered GCs by ...

Background: CHI is a cause of severe hypoglycaemia in children. Diazoxide (KATP channel agonist) is used as first-line treatment but is known to cause severe hypertrichosis and reduced appetite in children. Diazoxide unresponsive CHI us treated with daily octreotide subcutaneous injections (3–4 times/day).Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of long acting Somatostatin analogue (Lanreotide) thera...

In September 2021 the pathology department announced it would be going paperless, a change that resulted in endocrine monitoring being added to the trust risk register. To manage this risk several options were considered including the DAWN system used by rheumatology and systems used by other local hospitals. Unfortunately, none of these were viable options. Discussions were started with the IT systems development team about building a database for management of thyroid patien...

Background: Pituitary apoplexy is a neuroendocrine emergency, commonest cause is pituitary adenoma. It can occur with or without precipitating factors. Commonest precipitating factor is hypertension. Post traumatic pituitary apoplexy due to tumour infarction is not common.Case report: 58 year old Nigerian painter presented with loss of consciousness, sudden headache, weakness in upper and lower limbs following fall from 3 meters high ladder while paintin...

This case study presentation formed the summative assessment aspect of “The principles of care for the child and young person in Endocrinology” module at London Southbank University. Hyperinsulinaemic Hypoglycaemia (HH), is characterised by the inappropriate secretion of insulin from the pancreatic β-cells in relation to the blood glucose concentration, and is the most common cause of severe and persistent hypoglycaemia in infancy and childhood. Approximately on...

Introduction: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a major risk factor for the development of postoperative hypocalcaemia. Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for SHPT receive alfacalcidol 4 mg once daily for three preoperative days as prophylaxis against postoperative hypocalcaemia.Objectives: The aims of the study were to establish whether the current protocol for prophylaxis of hypocalcaemia was effective and secondly to assess whether the introd...

Introduction: Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy routinely stay in hospital overnight if they have primary hyperparathyroidism or longer if they have secondary hyperparathyroidism due to the risk of postoperative hypocalcaemia. There is no reliable way of predicting whether the often observed transient mild hypocalcaemia will progress, necessitating treatment. Frequent serum calcium checks remain the only way to ensure that hypocalcaemia does not go untreated. Prescribing c...

Introduction: Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy may stay in hospital for several days postoperatively because of the risk of hypocalcaemia, which necessitates frequent serum calcium level checks. A reliable test for predicting postoperative hypocalcaemia may enable many patients to have day case surgery. Recent studies suggest that perioperative PTH levels may be useful in identifying those at risk of hypocalcaemia.Objectives: The aim of the study ...