Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Capecitabine-Temozolomide (CapTem) is an effective oral chemotherapy regimen for NETs. Both drugs are radiosensitizers. A feasibility study of integrated CapTem and Y90 transarterial radioembolization (TARE) in patients with grade 2 neuroendocrine tumor (NET) liver metastases reported encouraging objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). This study expands that report to a larger cohort with long-term oncologic follow-up.<p class="abste...

Background: Capecitabine and temozolomide (CapTem) are classic radiosensitizers used in combination with radiation therapy for many cancers. A feasibility study of integrated CapTem and Y90 transarterial radioembolization (TARE) for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) suggests synergy with PFS of 31 months exceeding historical controls. The impact of duration of chemotherapy after TARE on PFS is not known.Methods: 36 subjects with liver-domianant grade 2 metast...

Introduction: Charles Bonnet syndrome is almost unknown by the endocrinologists. It is composed by visual hallucinations that do not react with the patient contrary to psychiatric hallucinations. The abnormal visions (generally hidden by patients) appear in subjects with an impaired vision of one of both eyes as in the following case:Case report: A man aged 27, was referred for acromegaly secondary to a huge invasive somatolactotrope pituitary adenomas d...

EGFR ligands, a family of seven related peptide growth factors, are emerging as key factors regulating different aspects of female reproduction including oocyte maturation and ovulation, and implantation. Betacellulin (BTC) is a rather neglected EGFR ligand whose biological activities have been mostly associated with the endocrine pancreas. During the routine breeding of recently established BTC transgenic mouse lines (Schneider et al., Endocrinology 146, 5237–5246, 2005)...

Betacellulin, one of several peptides activating the EGFR (ErbB1) and related receptors, is a multipotent growth factor known to posses the unique ability to promote growth and differentiation of pancreatic β-cells.We investigated the effects of betacellulin overexpression in a recently established transgenic mouse model (Schneider et al., Endocrinology 146, 5237–5246, 2005). In transgenic animals, overall glucose metabolism was improved...

Thyroid malignancies are the most common type of endocrine tumors. Of the various histological sub-types, anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) represents 2% of all cases but is responsible for most of the thyroid cancer related death.Indeed, ATC is regarded as one of the more aggressive and hard to treat forms of human cancer. Moreover, to date, there is a paucity of relevant models to study how the signature genetic abnormalities detected in ATC contribut...

Metabolic alterations have long been known to occur in the transition to prostate cancer, from alterations in central metabolism to lipid metabolism and local steroid biosynthesis. However the upstream events that lead to these alterations have not been comprehensively assessed. In this presentation I will draw together genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic analysis, together with metabolic profiling. Overlaying the effects of androgen signaling on these pathways and metaboli...

Background: The prevalence of diabetes has reached epidemic proportions and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) more than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes. The main complication in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients is hypoglycaemia, with approximately 90% of all IDDM patients having experienced a hypoglycaemic episode. Hypoglycaemia has a substantial clinical impact in terms of mortality, morbidity and quality of life.<p class="abst...

Case: A 38-year-old HIV positive lady presented with a neck swelling and neutropenic sepsis. Examination of the neck revealed a firm diffuse non-tender goitre with cervical lymphadenopathy. She also had generalised lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and miliary opacities in the lungs on the chest radiograph. Disseminated cryptococcal infection was diagnosed following isolation of the organism in blood and bone marrow. A radioisotope scan of the thyroid showed no uptake in the right...

Introduction: A new Regional Paediatric Endocrine Service was established in 1993 which implemented a protocol for Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) management. Its aim is to confirm the diagnosis, establish aetiology and start treatment within 48 hours after the result of the screening test.Objective: To audit the results of this protocol.Methods: Case note and laboratory data review for all Neonates referred since 1993 after a posit...