Endocrine Abstracts

In population studies, premature cardiovascular disease is associated with cortisol dysregulation. Recently, recurrent hypoglycaemia in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) was reported to be associated with increase carotid intima–media thickness. Hypoglycaemia is a potent activator of the hypothalamo-pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA axis) with eventual release of cortisol. We hypothesized that individuals with T1D who experience recurrent hypoglycaemia might demonstra...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) is a glucocorticoid-regulated, calcium and phospholipid-binding protein well recognized as an important signalling intermediate in both peripheral systems and the brain. Online adult mouse brain gene libraries have reported ANXA1 mRNA expression in the subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral ventricles. The SVZ is one of the two largest neurogenic areas of the brain and as ANXA1 plays a known role in cell differentiation and proliferation, we have invest...

Introduction: Calcium and vitamin D (CaD3) supplementation is routinely offered to care home residents in the UK to treat prevalent vitamin D insufficiency. However, blanket prescribing may be ineffective where secondary hyperparathyroidism is due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dangerous if undiagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism is present. In this base-line audit, we aimed to estimate the frequency and appropriateness of CaD3 prescription, and the prevalence of primary ...

Serum IGF-I is increasingly used, and IGFBP-3 has been proposed, as a marker of treatment efficacy in patients with acromegaly. IGF-I bioactivity and half-life are dependent on the degree of IGF-I incorporation into 150kDa ternary complexes with IGFBP-3 and ALS. When serum GH is lowered in patients with acromegaly all three ternary complex components decline, but effects on ternary complex formation have not been described. We investigated GH action on ternary complex formatio...

We investigated ACTH-induced hypertension in mice by studying renal function in vivo and by analysing renal gene expression by microarray and RT PCR methods. During two weeks sc infusion with Synacthen, mean blood pressure in adult male mice increased (89±5 vs 110±2 mmHg), and plasma corticosterone, adrenal weights and drinking rate increased by 5, 2 and 2.5-fold respectively (P<0.01); renal mass was unaffected. Greater mineralocorticoid activity wa...

The predominant positive and negative regulators of skeletal muscle mass are IGF1 and myostatin respectively. The regulation of skeletal muscle mass, IGF1 and myostatin by the gonadal steroids testosterone and 17β-oestradiol (E2) remains controversial. Male and female C57BL/6 mice underwent bilateral gonadectomy or sham surgery at 4 weeks of age, with insertion of s.c. silastic implants containing testosterone, E2, or cholesterol (placebo) (n</em...

GH regulates IGF1 predominantly through the intracellular signallers Stat5a and Stat5b. Inactivating mutations of Stat5b in humans result in severe growth retardation and low circulating IGF1 concentrations in males and females. In mice, however, there is only a loss of sexually dimorphic growth in males when Stat5b is deleted. No study has observed Stat5b−/− mice beyond 12 weeks or investigated any subsequent changes in skeletal muscle mass or IGF1 expr...

Introduction: SGLT2 inhibitors offer a novel approach to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes through inhibition of renal glucose reabsorption. Phase 3 clinical trials demonstrated consistent glucose lowering effects and weight loss. The objective of our audit was to assess the early effects of treatment with dapagliflozin 10 mg in our clinic population.Methods: We performed a retrospective audit of clinical parameters in patients (...

Hyponatraemia is associated with adverse outcomes including increased mortality and risk of falls. It is not previously known whether hyponatraemia, on discharge from hospital, is associated with an increased risk of readmission.We conducted a retrospective cohort study identifying all patients admitted to a UK teaching hospital as emergency general medical admissions over a 2-month period. We identified all readmissions within 28 days of discharge and c...

The in utero environment is crucial for both the prenatal and long-term health of the offspring. The placenta is able to modify its structure/function in response to maternal growth and nutritional signals to actively regulate maternal-to-fetus nutrient transfer and consequently optimum fetal development. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in placental sensing of maternal nutrients. However, we postulate that nutrient flux through the hexosamine biosynthet...