Endocrine Abstracts

Kisspeptins, peptide products of the KiSS-1 gene, are pleiotropic hormones best recognized as novel regulators of puberty onset and the reproductive system. Thus, the hypothalamus expresses both KiSS-1 and its receptor, GPR54. Hypothalamic KiSS-1 is attenuated by food restriction (72 h fast),and this provides a plausible link between negative energy balance and the disruption of reproductive function. Hypothalamic KiSS-1 mRNA levels are also reduced...

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...

Prostate cancer have been most cause of cancer death to men in recent, but there are not effective treatments for this cancer. In growth of prostate cancer, steroid hormones such as androgen play a role in their growth and survival. However, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) intend to bind the hormone receptor and induce the abnormal hormone response. EDCs have potency to activate estrogen receptor (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) mediated signaling pathways, and they cause...

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.<...

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...

Cortisol-based therapy is still the most potent anti-inflammatory treatment available for skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of components of the steroidogenic pathway in keratinocytes, though surprisingly none have reported that these cells, which form up to 90% of the epidermis are able to synthesise cortisol1,2. Here, we demonstrate that primary human keratinocytes (PHK) are capable of de no...

Loperamide is a poorly absorbed opioid μ-receptor agonist that is the most commonly used anti-diarrhoeal medication in the UK. Prescription cost analysis from the Department of Health and Social Care Information Centre reported that 1.79 million prescriptions of the drug were issued in 2014 and it is also freely available ‘over the counter’. It is widely believed to be very safe, with constipation as the main side-effect.A 45-year-old man ...

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of a new a bioadhesive buccal testosterone tablet in testosterone deficient men.RJM Ross, A Jabbar, H Jones, B Roberts, K Dunkley, A Long, H Levine, DR CullenObjectives: A phase I single centre, open label study of the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of a buccal testosterone tablet (COL1621). Design: The study was approved by The South Sheffield Ethics Committee. Twelve testosterone deficient males were treated with the buccal tablet...