Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Many premature infants experience significant early growth failure in the weeks following delivery. Subsequent catch-up growth has traditionally been assumed to have occurred by early childhood. Most studies have focused on cohorts defined by birth weight, for example, <1500 g resulting in disproportionate numbers of small for gestational age (SGA) infants as opposed to those small solely as a consequence of prematurity. Few studies have examined growth compare...

Background: Empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 that improves cardiovascular risk and weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with obesity and increased cardiovascular risk; therefore, empagliflozin may be of benefit in PCOS.Methods: A randomised, open-label study in 40 overweight and obese women with PCOS treated with either empagliflozin 25 mg or metformin 1500mg daily for 12 weeks....

Isoflavones are a subgroup of phytoestrogens and have a chemical structure similar to oestrogen, leading to concerns regarding possible adverse effects of isoflavones in men. Testosterone levels in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are lower.Materials and methods: A randomised double-blind, parallel study was undertaken with 200 men with T2DM, of median age of 50 years (25th/75th centiles; 50, 55) years with a total testosterone level ≤12 nm...

: In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, soy protein and isoflavone combination has been shown to increase the risk of developing overt hypothyroidism; however, it is unclear if soy affects thyroid function in those without existing thyroid compromise.Materials and methods: Two double blind randomised trials were undertaken in which thyroid function was performed routinely at the beginning and end as a secondary end point. In both trials soy protei...

Context: Soy phytoestrogens are suggested to have an adverse effect on thyroid function but the contribution to this by soy protein alone when free from isoflavones is unknown.Objective: The primary aim was to determine the effect of isoflavone free soy protein supplementation on thyroid function, with a secondary aim of assessing the effects on cardiovascular risk indices in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.Design and sett...

Background: Limited evidence exists regarding the effect of antenatal prednisolone (ANP) on neonatal adrenal function. Our regional neonatal unit screens these babies by measuring three random serum cortisol levels 8 h apart on day 3 of life. Adrenal function is considered adequate if two cortisol levels are >100 nmol/l. Those with inadequate random cortisol levels undergo a low-dose Synacthen test (LDST). Our survey of UK tertiary Paediatric Endocrinology centres revealed...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterised by a high prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance, leading to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, it is unclear whether cardiovascular risk (CVR) is increased in PCOS independently of these metabolic disturbances.Aims: To establish whether PCOS is associated with arterial stiffness, carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and myocardial dysfunction, and explore the relationships ...

Background: Accurate early risk prediction for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) would target intervention and prevention in women at the highest risk. We evaluated maternal risk factors and parameters of body composition to develop a prediction model for GDM in early gestation.Methods: A prospective observational study was undertaken. Pregnant women aged between 18–50 y of age with gestational age between 10–16 weeks were included in ...

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an increasing problem worldwide. Post-natal-hypoglycaemia and excess-foetal-growth are known important metabolic complications of neonates born to women with diabetes. This retrospective-cohort-study aims to determine the influence of obesity and glucose-intolerance on neonatal-hypoglycaemia and birth-weight over the 90th percentile (LGA).Methods: Data were abstracted from 303 patient medical records f...

Background: Globally, birth-weights are increasing progressively. Birth-weights large for gestational age (LGA) defined as ≥90th centile are linked to increased delivery complications, and adiposity in the neonate. This has been linked to glucose intolerance and CVD later in life. Oversupply of nutrients in utero contribute to excess foetal growth, and maternal obesity may contribute to this rise. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between para...