Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: To investigate gender differences in spatial orientation and verbal memory we conducted a study in 21 healthy young women and men (eleven women). Participating women were required to be in the mid-luteal phase of the cycle. Hormone profiling for behavioural studies is often performed in saliva samples to avoid venous blood sampling. We have compared simultaneously collected blood and saliva samples to confirm the presence of the luteal phase.M...

In the ovary, 11βHSD enzymes inter-convert cortisol (F) with its inert metabolite, cortisone (E). Porcine follicular fluid from antral follicles and spontaneous ovarian cysts contains hydrophobic compounds that inhibit NADP(H)-dependent cortisol metabolism by 11βHSD1. The aim of this study was to measure intra-follicular F:E ratios in porcine antral follicles and ovarian cysts, and determine whether F:E ratios correlate with the inhibition of 11βHSD1 by porcine ...

Two randomized open-label, phase II studies evaluated an octreotide hydrogel implant to suppress serum GH and IGF1 levels in adult acromegaly patients. Implants were inserted subcutaneously in the upper arm for 6 months. Patients in study 1 received 1 (n=5) or 2 (n=6) 52-mg octreotide (60 mg octreotide acetate) hydrated implants; patients in study 2 received a hydrated (H) or nonhydrated (NH) 84-mg octreotide acetate implant (n=34, 1 excluded from efficacy...

Evidences have suggested that the endocannabinoid system is overactive in obesity, resulting in enhanced endocannabinoid levels in both circulation and visceral adipose tissue. The cannabinoid CB1 receptor is expressed in the adipose tissue besides the brain. Few studies in vitro suggest that CB1 activation increases glucose uptake in adipocytes. The objective of the present study was to investigate the CB1 receptor modulation on glucose transporter GLUT4 expression, which is ...

Gitelman’s syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal recessive renal tubular disorder caused by defects of thiazide sensitive Na-Cl co-transporter due to mutations of the SLC12A3 gene.We report a case of a 23-year-old woman, who presented with excessive tiredness in her second pregnancy. She had a past history of hypokalaemia in a previous pregnancy (attributed to ‘vomiting’), which required multiple admissions for i.v. potassium replacement despi...

Background: Presently it is unknown how much of testosterone decline associated with aging is actually due to ageing per se, and how much is related to weight gain, decreased activity, and other age-related factors. Understanding the modifiable factors associated with low testosterone, such as obesity or cardiorespiratory fitness (fitness) is critical.Methods: The observational, cross-sectional study included 1653 men, ≥50 and <80 year...

Background: Presently, a great deal of attention is being paid to investigation of pleiotropic effects of oral antidiabetic drugs. Several recent animal studies have suggested that vildagliptin and metformin could play some positive role in preventing the evolvement of diabetic nephropathy.Aim: This pilot study, concerned with high-fat fed heminephrectomized streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of metformi...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a clinical triad of anovulation, hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance. Patterns of fat distribution in PCOS may be associated with androgen activation, glucocorticoid metabolism and insulin resistance. Here we analysed the relationship between fat distribution, steroid metabolism and insulin resistance in women with PCOS.We compared results from 100 PCOS patients (Rotterdam criteria) with 80 sex- and BMI-matched con...

Within target cells, cortisol-cortisone inter-conversion is catalysed by both a NADP(H)-dependent, bidirectional type 1 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD1) enzyme and by a NAD+-dependent, unidirectional type 2 11βHSD (11βHSD2) isoenzyme. Since several published studies have reported altered glucocorticoid metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the current study assessed whether prenatal exposure of lambs to testosterone propionate...

Introduction: Data on the impact of TBI on the HPAA are limited. This study investigates the HPAA in BMT-survivors and non-BMT controls using overnight serum cortisol profiles and midnight/9am ACTH levels.Subjects (N=35): N=14, child (7), adult (7) controls, N=21 child (7), adult (14) BMT-survivors (TBI dose 12.0-14.4Gy). None had had treatment with corticosteroids in the last year.Method: Subjects rested for 3...