Endocrine Abstracts

Neuroimmunoendocrine changes of the pineal and thymic function, are now believed to pay an important role in the mechanisms of age-associated diseases development. Here we studied the morphofunctional and signal molecules unity of pineal gland and thymus during ageing. Autopsic pineal gland and thymus material sampled from people was divided into groups 1 – middle-aged people (60–74 years) and 2 – old people (75–89 years). Ultra-thin slices were used for el...

Introduction: The ability to diagnose thyroid cancers pre-op or intra operatively by Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or frozen section (FS) leads to the delivery of appropriate one stage surgical management. We aim to study the concordance and discordance of FNAC and FS with final histology in thyroid pathologies.Methods: All thyroid procedures from 2007 to 2011 (n=423), involving FNAC and or Frozen Section (FS) in their management pathwa...

International best practice guidelines provide well-defined recommendations for the management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) measuring ≤1 cm, >4 cm and for those with defined risk factors. However, the extent of surgery and requirement for radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA) are less clearly defined for tumours 1–4 cm in size. Guidelines recommend a ‘personalised decision making’ approach for this cohort, with therapeutic decisions based on pat...

Introduction: The anticancer action of vitamin D is currently considered one of its main properties. The main actions of vitamin D are related to the regulation of calcium levels and the normal function of the musculoskeletal system. However, its anticancer action is currently in the focus of research interests.Aim: The aim was to study the effect of vitamin D on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro.Methods: The effect...

Introduction: It has been reported that blind women with disturbed melatonin secretion have a lower incidence of breast cancer. A higher incidence of breast cancer has been reported in women in shift work, in which lower nocturnal melatonin secretion is observed. The anticancer action of melatonin is currently the focus of research interest.Aim: The aim was to study the effect of melatonin on MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro.<p class="abst...

Introduction: Melatonin is an indole being produced by the pineal gland and secreted mainly during the night. Melatonin is involved in the regulation of biological rhythms. The hormone possesses antioxidant action and is thought to be involved in the protection of the organism from the development of malignant tumors. Melatonin has been found to have anticancer action in vitro as is has been observed to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro.<...

A 83-year-old lady presented to hospital with a one week history of malaise, dyspnoea and chest pain. Her admission bloods revealed a markedly elevated calcium of 4.16 mmol/l. Further investigations revealed a PTH of >5000 ng/l. Clinically the patient had poor dentition which had developed over the past 3 years and a history of episodic abdominal pain and constipation. For investigation of primary hyperparathyroidism, she had an ultrasound neck, which revealed an enlarged ...

A 22-year-old woman presented with weight gain (class I obesity), oligomenorrhea, impaired vision, and altered concentration. With suspected craniopharyngeoma she was treated with transcranial surgery; in fact for a suprasellar haemangioma. Post-operatively, she still presented an alteration in appetite with hyperphagia and excessive weight gain up to class III obesity. This syndrome is described as ‘hypothalamic obesity’ and results from any damage to the ventromedi...

Background: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the most frequent genetic cause of male infertility. Individuals share the endocrine hallmark of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, displaying high gonadotropin levels due to deficient testicular function. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located within the FSHB promoter region (−211G>T, rs10835638) was recently shown to be associated with reduced serum FSH levels and other reproductive parameters in men. The objec...

Background: Acromegaly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, however currect medical treatment controls the disease in <60% of patients. Pegvisomant, a pegylated GH antagonist, controls the disease in over 95% of cases, but is not cost effective as it requires high dose daily injections and has side-effects. We have developed a technology for generating a long acting potent GH antagonist.Hypothesis: That a GH antagonist fused to GH bi...