Endocrine Abstracts

Background: We previously showed that in first 6 months of the UK Covid-19(C19) pandemic >6.6million HbA1c tests were missed, including 1.4million in people with diabetes(DM). Furthermore, C19 more significantly impacts people with DM / socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals.Aim: To examine variability in recovery rate of HbA1c testing, and links to demographics, including deprivation status.Methods: We examined HbA1c test...

Introduction: It has been suggested that sexual dysfunction affects as many as 43% of women in the population. In relation to this, symptoms of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) can be alleviated with testosterone replacement.Aim: To determine what is the pre- and 24-hour post dose circulating level of testosterone in women applying Testogel 16.2 mg/g.Methods: In a group of 10 menopausal women applying Testogel 16.2 mg/g at ...

Introduction: Lithium is a common pharmacological intervention for the treatment of bipolar affective disorder and is advocated by clinical practice guidelines (NICE 2021). Blood test monitoring is essential for management of lithium treatment and UK NICE guidance recommends 6-monthly serum testing of thyroid function. We here examine conformity to guidance and the consequences of monitoring outside these intervals.Methods: We extracted serum lithium/thy...

Background: Diagnosis and treatment guidelines of men with adult-onset testosterone deficiency (TD) were published by the British Society for Sexual Medicine (2017). Laboratory practice has a major role in supporting these with accurate and precise total testosterone (TT) methods and standardised pre- and post-analytical protocols.Objective: Our study investigated whether laboratory practice supported management guidelines of adult-onset TD.<p class=...

Introduction: CACNA1C gene encodes the L-type voltage dependent calcium channels and its variants are associated with susceptibility to psychiatric disorders. We recently provided evidence of a genotype-by-environment interaction of the CACNA1C rs1006737 polymorphism, suggesting that the cortisol awakening response (CAR), an indicator of HPA-axis function, might be increased in non-risk allele carriers (GG) who have experienced childhood trauma (CT). In these...

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. PCOS is associated with future type 2 diabetes/cardiovascular disease. Accurate diagnosis is important for early preventative interventions. However, it can take >2 years and contact with 3 or more health professionals before PCOS is diagnosed. We aimed to determine patterns of biochemical investigations performed for PCOS following initial consultation and assess their ...

High IGF2 has been associated with longitudinal weight loss. We wished to study associations of genes coding for IGF2 and for binding proteins that have preferential IGF2 affinity (IGFBP2, IGFBP5 and IGFBP6) in 991 Caucasian subjects from Salford with type 2 diabetes.Fifteen IGF2, four IGFBP2, eight IGFBP5 and one IGFBP6 SNPs were successfully genotyped. Longitudinal BMI data for the years 2002 to 2009 was obtained fro...

Background: Vitamin D3 is generated in the skin of humans from 7-dehydrocholesterol by ultraviolet light. Vitamin D3 is hydroxylated to its metabolically active form in the liver and kidneys. The hydroxylated form of Vitamin D3, is required for both phosphate and calcium absorption in the gut and reabsorption from the kidneys. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a low circulating calcium and phosphate.Case report: A 5...

Background: Recent studies have indicated that macroprolactinaemia accounts for up to 26% of biochemical hyperprolactinaemia depending on the assay in use. Delayed metabolic clearance of macroprolactin together with detection by most automated prolactin immunoassay systems leads to pseudo-hyperprolactinemia in patients harbouring this form of complexed prolactin.We here describe the use of serial macroprolactin measurement to assist in the management of ...

Background: Virilising congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is the most common cause of genital ambiguity, and 90–95% of CAH cases are caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Associated inefficient cortisol synthesis results in increased CRH and ACTH levels, leading to production of excess sex hormone precursors. These are further metabolized to active androgens and to a lesser extent oestrogens. We recently reported that one of these androgens, DHEA-S or its metabolites sig...