Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Despite of conflicting data, reduced levels of endogenous sex hormones and especially sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) seem to be associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). In this study we determined relationship between endogenous sex hormone levels and SHBG and components of metabolic syndrome in both sexes.Methods: In 39 men (median age 70.2) with total testosterone level in the lowest quartile of normal range (median 12.8 nmol/l) and 29 ...

Neonatal diabetes or monogenic diabetes of infancy can manifest as a transient or permanent condition. TNDM is most commonly caused by imprinting disorders on chromosome 6q24 (TNDM1.Uniparental Isodisomy Chromosome 6, Paternal Duplication of 6q24, loss of maternal methylation). Recently it has been identified that over half of those with maternal hypomethylation at 6q24 have relaxed maternal methylation at other imprinted loci and that the majority of these patients have mutat...

Background: Graves’ disease (GD) is an autoimmune disease caused by antibodies directed to the TSH receptor (TRAb), which can be activating (TSAb), neutral, or blocking (TBAb). This balance determines the final clinical result. Typically TSAbs dominate, resulting in hyperthyroidism. Rarely, TBAbs prevail and result in hypothyroidism (1). The TRAb assay routinely used in the clinic does not allow to differentiate between stimulating or blocking characteristics.<p class...

Physiology shows vitamin D has a role in the immune system and glucose metabolism. Experimental and epidemiological studies demonstrate associations between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency appears undesirable in T1DM, although its significance in aetiology and progression is controversial.We reviewed the outcome of implementing vitamin D screening at T1DM diagnosis. Methods were review of diabetes register, hosp...

Background and Objectives: The low vitamin D status in an individual leads to a compensatory increase in serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level giving rise to secondary hyperparathyroidism. The elevated PTH will conserve calcium excretion from the kidneys in the expense of excreting phosphate. Thus, serum calcium levels tend to remain normal until the latter stages of vitamin D deficiency. PTH action on the bone to reabsorb more calcium from the bone lead to elevation of bone a...

Background and Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the presence of hepatic steatosis in the absence of other causes for secondary hepatic fat accumulation. The incidence and the prevalence of the NAFLD has risen exponentially in the recent past especially in the patients with diabetes. We have studied the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with diabetes attending the diabetes clinic based on the biochemical and ultrasonic criteria, the risk factors for diseas...

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes has risen exponentially in the recent past. Though the symptomatic patients frequently undergo testing for the diagnosis of the disease, asymptomatic individuals are not routinely subjected to diagnostic testing. Thus, data on asymptomatic people are still lacking. We have studied the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes in asymptomatic subjects attending the Endocrinology clinic in a tertiary care insti...

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown aetiology, characterized by non-caseified granulomatous reaction that can involve multiple organs. The disease typically presents with pulmonary infiltrates, bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy and uveitis, but may also less frequently affect other organs, including the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Malignancy rates in sarcoidosis patients have been reported as 1 to 2%1,2, chronic inflammation bei...

Aim: To evaluate the use of Denosumab in accordance to the UK National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal guidelines TA204 – Denosumab indicated for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in post-menopausal women.Methods: A retrospective audit involving 129 patients prescribed Denosumab for osteoporosis between October 2011 and March 2015 at Nottingham University Hospitals, UK. Denosumab prescription data was obtai...

Aberrant development of the pituitary gland can result in the clinical manifestation of hypopituitarism. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been shown to be involved in normal organogenesis, terminal differentiation and the aetiology of pituitary tumours. However, the specific developmental roles during hypothalamic–pituitary development of some of the Wnt/β-catenin effectors, such as Tcf3, have been hampered due to the early lethality of null embryos for th...