Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The gut hormone peptide YY 3-36 (PYY3-36) is secreted postprandially from intestinal L-cells to signal satiety. Peripheral administration of PYY3-36 suppresses food intake in rodents and humans. PYY3-36-based drugs are therefore promising anti-obesity treatments. It has been proposed that circulating PYY3-36 supresses appetite via the Y2 receptor (Y2R) in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). The vagus nerve, the majo...

Introduction: Recent randomised controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of very low calorie diets (VLCD) in carefully selected patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there is paucity of evidence regarding the efficacy of VLCD in the real-world setting. We evaluated outcomes in obese T2DM patients who underwent VLCD at our institution.Methods: This retrospective observational study included all patients who had undergone VLCD fro...

High dietary protein intake can suppress appetite, drive weight loss and improve glucose homeostasis. Understanding the mechanisms by which ingested protein is sensed may reveal new therapeutic targets for metabolic disease. G-protein coupled receptor 35 (GPR35) is activated by compounds including Kynurenic acid (Kyna), a product of amino acid metabolism. GPR35 is expressed in the intestines, most highly in the colon, and has recently been identified in the afferent vagus nerv...

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) describes a group of autosomal recessive disorders where the cortisol biosynthesis is impaired. There are two forms of CAH: the classic form, which includes the salt-wasting and the simple virilizing forms, and the nonclassic form. CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency accounts for 95% of cases. Treatment of the classic form of CAH is targeted at replacing cortisol and aldosterone and effectively controlling excess androgen symptoms by using...

Cushing’s syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms due to prolonged exposure to cortisol. It can be difficult to diagnose, particularly endogenous Cushing’s syndrome, because other conditions share the same signs and symptoms. Diagnosing Cushing’s syndrome can be a long and extensive process, it’s treatment may be also an important challenge. We present the case of a 49-year-old man, with a history of asthma and pulmonary cribriform adenocarcinoma (ra...

The prolactin receptor (PRLR) is a type-I cytokine receptor that plays critical roles in mammary gland development, lactation and glucose metabolism, and PRLR mutations have been associated with breast cancer and familial hyperprolactinaemia. The PRLR signals via Janus kinase-2-signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 (JAK2-STAT5) or phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt (PI3K-Akt) pathways to mediate changes in transcription, differentiation and proliferation, and we hypoth...

Complementary therapies are becoming a recognised adjunctin cancer care as they address the psychological burden of coping with cancer. When provided in addition to standard treatments they can help provide patient centred holistic care. Patients with pituitary conditions may develop debilitating symptoms that are not easily addressed despite appropriate medical treatment.Aim: To determine whether Complementary therapies lead to improvements in Quality o...

Introduction: 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is a common inherited disorder accounting for 90–95% of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) cases. Some cases may be diagnosed in adulthood after the incidental discovery of adrenal masses on computerized tomography (CT).Case report: A 59-year-old male was investigated for incidentally discovered bilateral adrenal masses in an abdomen CT scan, measuring 5 cm on the right and 8 cm on the left adrenal....

Background: 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) vitamin levels are positively associated with bone mineral density and season, time of day and sun exposure duration influence its synthesis. Variations in daylight throughout the year and zenith angle, depending on the latitude of residence, influence u.v. solar radiation which is closely related to serum 25(OH)D levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of seasonal variation of 25(OH)D serum levels in a population-...

Background and objectives: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) originates from thyroid C-cells and is a calcitonin (CT) secreting tumour with aggressive behaviour. Surgery is recommended in all patients with basal or calcium-stimulated CT values of 100 pg/ml or higher due to the high probability of MTC. The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of calcium stimulation test for CT in order to distinguish MTC from C-cell Hyperplasia (CCH) preoperatively and to exam...