Endocrine Abstracts

We have previously (Allehabadia et al., JCEM, 2001) reported better cure rates for patients treated with a single fixed dose of 370 MBq 131I compared with 185 MBq. We have since increased the standard dose of administered radioiodine to 600 MBq and re-audited our data in 1240 consecutive thyrotoxic patients. We aimed to compare the efficacy of the new dose regimen and to explore factors that might predict outcome. Patients were categorised in 3 diagnostic gro...

Cortisol is metabolised by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes (11βHSD1 and 11βHSD2). In immature rat Leydig cells, 11βHSD1 acts as an oxo-reductase whereas, after puberty, the dehydrogenase activity of 11βHSD1 predominates. In adult rats, 11βHSD1 is also highly expressed in caput epididymis, vas deferens and vesicular glands. Recently, 11βHSD1 mRNA and activities have been reported in post-pubertal pig testis. The objective of this stud...

In the ovary, glucocorticoids are metabolised by 11βHSD enzymes. The bi-directional 11βHSD1 enzyme usually acts as an NADPH-dependent 11-ketoreductase to regenerate cortisol (F) from circulating cortisone (E), while 11βHSD 2 inactivates F using NAD+ as cofactor. Having isolated endogenous inhibitors of 11βHSD1 from porcine follicular fluid (pFF) and ovarian cysts, the aims of this study were to establish whether 11βHSD enzymes interconvert F...

Clinical CaseA 19-year old ethnic Pakistani presented with severe, longstanding hirsutes without virilisation. Menarche had occurred at age 14, following which she had experienced 4-6 periods a year. She had always been “underweight” by UK/WHO criteria and, given a BMI of 16.5 kg.m−2, there were concerns about hypothalamic oligomenorrhoea.InvestigationsFasting glucose 5.5 mmol/L &#...

The enzymatic inactivation of cortisol is catalysed by isoforms of 11βHSD. 11βHSD1 is a bi-directional, NADP(H)-dependent enzyme whereas11βHSD2 is an NAD+-dependent dehydrogenase that inactivates cortisol. In the male rat, 11βHSD1 is highly expressed in the testis, epididymis, vas deferens and vesicular glands. Although 11βHSD activities have recently been reported in boar testicular tissue, cortisol metabolism in the boar reproductive tract...

In human granulosa-lutein (hGL) cells, cortisol (F) is inter-converted with cortisone (E) by 11BHSD. To date two isoforms of 11BHSD have been cloned. Human granulosa cells have been shown to express 11BHSD2 mRNA during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle, switching to 11BHSD1 mRNA expression as luteinization occurs. However, it is not known whether (1) the protein expression, and (2) the 11BHSD enzyme activities reflect this pattern of mRNA expression. Hence, the aims of...

Background: Therapeutic activation of thermogenic brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a potential strategy to prevent obesity and metabolic disease in humans. However, it is now recognised that rodent studies examining BAT physiology are carried out at sub-thermoneutral temperatures (e.g. ~20°C), and are not translationally relevant to humans as BAT is ‘hyperactive’. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of common regulators of BAT metabolism wh...

Introduction: Discontinuation of denosumab may rarely lead to rebound fractures, although the evidence is low, since available data have derived from case reports and post-hoc analyses.Case presentation: A 45-year old Caucasian male was presented at the outpatient clinic in February 2016 for evaluation and management of severe osteoporosis, which had been complicated with multiple vertebral low energy fractures at the 10 th to 12th ...

PGE2 stimulates progesterone synthesis in the primate corpus luteum, apparently via cAMP. Human GL cells express functional EP1 and EP2 receptors via which PGE2 elevates the intracellular calcium and cAMP concentrations respectively (Harris et al, 2001, BBRC 285:1089). In the present study, we have determined the involvement of EP1 and EP2 receptors in the stimulation of cAMP accumulation and progesterone synthesis in these human ovarian cel...

Background: Carbohydrate-restricted diets in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are highly controversial. A commonly held concern is that a low carbohydrate diet may more readily result in conversion to diabetic ketoacidosis – one of the most severe complications of poorly managed T1DM. Of note, there is no clear evidence for this phenomenon. We evaluated metabolic profiles in patients with T1DM who had self-selected carbohydrate-restricted diets.<p clas...