Endocrine Abstracts

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumour arising from the adrenal cortex, with an estimated annual incidence of one to two patients per million. Ectopic ACCs are extremely rare. They are believed to arise from cortical fragments arrested during embryologic migration and have been found close to the adrenal gland or along the path of gonadal descent. The majority of ACCs are sporadic, however, ACC has been linked with genetic disease processes, including multip...

Introduction: The involvement of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway is apparent different epithelial human cancers. Wnt stabilizes ß-catenin (free ß-catenin) by preventing its phosphorylation which targets ß-catenin for degradation. Free ß-catenin is translocated to the nucleus where it stimulates a number of genes that modulate proliferation and differentiation upon binding to TCF/LEF-1. We have previously shown that Wnt/ß-catenin pathway is dysregulated ...

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...

Introduction: In neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), the urinary concentration of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) is used to monitor disease progression or treatment response. The sensitivity and specificity in the presence of the carcinoid syndrome are approximately 70 and 90%, respectively. Collecting a 24 hour urine specimen is difficult and inconvenient for patients and increases analytical variability. In addition, serotonin-containing foods may i...

Case history: A 67 year-old male was referred from GP to Endocrine clinic due to incidental high Calcium level in a routine bone profile. Adjusted Serum Calcium was 2.69 mmol/l. In Endocrine clinic, a detailed history was taken. The patient denied all symptoms of hypercalcemia.Past medical history: Alcohol-related cirrhosis (complicated with Varices banded by OGD), Diverticular disease, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia.<p class=...

Rapid correction of chronic hyponatremia can cause osmotic demyelination syndrome(ODS). Recent days, vasopressin receptor antagonists(VAs) are clinically used for the treatment of congestive heart failure or hyponatremia including SIADH. To date, few cases of ODS caused by VAs have reported; however, it is presumed that the treatment with VAs for severe hyponatremia may be associated with an increased risk of ODS. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether rapid correct...

Annexin-1 (Anx-1), a 37 kDa protein, is a member of the super-family of Ca2+and phospholipid-binding annexin proteins and acts as a mediator of glucocorticoid (GC) action in the host defence and neuroendocrine systems. In the anterior pituitary Anx-1 is expressed mainly by folliculostellate (FS) cells and mediates the early-delayed feedback inhibition exerted by GCs on the release of ACTH and other pituitary hormones.The stress responsiveness ...

Medical treatment of acromegaly is based on either suppressing pituitary GH secretion or inhibiting GH action by preventing interaction with its receptor in order to suppress the elevated levels of IGF1. AZP-3813 is a 16-amino acid, bicyclic peptide antagonist of the GH receptor (GHR) derived from peptide sequences discovered using a unique, cell-free in vitro transcription-translation system screened against the human GHR, and that was optimized by rational design to increase...

Hypothalamic neuropeptide PACAP is a potent endogenous stimulator of adenylate cyclase synthesis in gonadotrope cells. Previously we found that, in contrast to GnRH, also Cu–GnRH complex is able to induce cAMP/PKA pathway activity.The aim of the study was to determine whether Cu–GnRH can act via GnRH-R and/or PAC-1 receptors to stimulate cAMP/PKA intracellular signaling. Moreover, we compared PACAP and Cu–GnRH ability to activate cGMP/PKG ...

The efficacy of human islet transplantation is reduced by loss of islets directly after transplantation. Ischemia is likely to be an important contributing factor to the observed islet loss. Diazoxide inhibits insulin secretion by beta cells and has been shown to exhibit anti-apoptotic and anti-ischemic effects. We hypothesized that preincubation of human islets with diazoxide leads to improved islet survival and graft function.Methods: Isolated human pa...