Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Thyroid eye disease affects an estimated 400,000 people in the UK and for a sizeable minority this is an extremely unpleasant condition. Radioactive iodine treatment with I131 for thyrotoxicosis can cause sight-threatening flare-up of dysthyroid eye disease. Patients with dysthyroid eye signs should undergo specialist ophthalmology assessment prior to administration of I131.Case history: A 56 year old gentleman presented with symptoms of th...

Background: Before synthetic cortisone was introduced, patients with Addison’s disease prolonged their lives by maintaining a high salt intake and taking plant based containing preparations affecting steroid metabolism. We report the case of someone who discovered this regime for herself.Case report: A 42 year old lady presented with a four week history of decreased energy, malaise, and postural dizziness. She was hyponatraemic (plasma sodium 126 mm...

Introduction: Dysregulation of the insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) system and particularly IGF-I and IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes mellitus and its complications such as cardiovascular disease and nephropathy, but relatively little is known about the genomics of the IGF system in health and disease.Methods: Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in the IGFBP-1 gene, in a r...

Introduction: Propensity to centripetal adiposity is an ethnic characteristic amongst South Asians, which may underlie the excess risk for both coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes in this population. Circulating levels of adipocytokines (hormones which include leptin, adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha)) and C-reactive protein (CRP) reflect the adipose tissues endocrine and metabolic activity, and are implicated in CHD.Methods: We compa...

Introduction: Dysregulation of the Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) system and particularly IGF-I and IGF-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) has been implicated in the aetiopathogenesis of obesity, diabetes mellitus and such complications such as cardiovascular disease and nephropathy. However, relatively little is known about the genomics of the IGF system in health and disease.Methods: Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in the IGFBP1...

Introduction: Compared to ethnically European men, Pakistani origin men living in the UK have a lower circulating total and free testosterone level, corresponding with greater central adiposity and higher insulin resistance. Within a South Asian group we have now examined the effect of migration to the UK on male testosterone level.Methods: Circulating testosterone concentration was measured by automated immunoassay in 97 Gujarati males resident in India...