Endocrine Abstracts

Fasting produces a rapid reduction of the activity of the central arm of the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis, with a drop in biosynthesis of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) in periventricular and medial parvocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and decreased TRH release into the pituitary portal capillaries. These events contribute to fasting-induced suppression of serum thyroid hormone levels, an adaptive mechanism to conserve energy....

Background: Anaplastic thyroid-carcinomas (ATC) and a subset of papillary (PTC) and follicular (FTC) thyroid carcinomas behave aggressively showing metastatic spread and radio-resistance. Both the PI3K and HIF pathways are associated with aggressiveness and metastasis in thyroid carcinoma.Aims: To assess if the PI3K/HIF pathways contribute to radio-resistance and assess the effect of PI3K/HIF inhibition on radio-sensitivity and metastatic behaviour of th...

We present the case of a woman who first presented at age 18 with hirsutism. Menarche had been normal and she had regular menses. She gave no past medical history except that at age 6 she had been admitted to hospital with tonsillitis that was complicated by diarrhoea and vomiting, drowsiness and hypotension. At that time, Na+ was 130 mmol/l and K+5.8 mmol/l. She was treated with antibiotics and fluids and improved; electrolytes returned to normal.<p ...

Objective: Mutations in the gene encoding the thyroid hormone transport protein, monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8), underlie severe mental retardation. In vitro expression of mutant transporters was performed to understand phenotypical differences.Methods: We established cell lines stably expressing 16 MCT8 variants in JEG1 and MDCK cells. Several of these mutants have never been analysed before. The cell lines were characterized according to M...

Background: Daily injection of progesterone in men is reported to suppress the pituitary LH response to GnRH challenge. We hypothesized that the progesterone nuclear hormone receptor antagonist mifepristone (RU486) would reverse these effects.Study design: Open–label randomised, three period crossover-over study in 12 healthy male subjects. Subjects were treated for 8 days with A/ progesterone 50 mg (IM) alone; B/ progesterone 50 mg + mifepristone 1...

Raised body mass index (BMI) is seen in 95% of PCOS patients, which is characterised by hyperandrogenaemia, both clinically and biochemically. Weight loss, using calorie restricted diets, have previously been successful in improving androgen profiles and also restoring fertility in obese PCOS patients. A CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist, rimonabant is effective in achieving weight loss in subjects with a BMI >27 kg/m.This study aimed to...

Case History: 54 year old man was admitted with 3 week history of dizziness and feeling unsteady on feet. He also had persistent central abdominal pain with no vomiting or diarrhoea. On examination, his lying and standing BP were 117/75 and 73/43 mm Hg respectively. He had tenderness over the right hypochondrium and right lumbar region. His initial investigations showed sodium – 128 mmol/L and potassium – 4.2 mmol/L. Short synacthen test was arranged and the cortisol...

A 24 yr old man complaining of visual disturbances for 7 weeks presented with acute severe headache and bitemporal visual field defects. A high density lesion in the pituitary fossa suggestive of pituitary apoplexy was initially observed on a CT scan but an MRI of the pituitary revealed an irregular structure in the suprasellar cistern and the differential diagnoses of a pituitary adenoma or an aneurysm were proposed. Routine haematological and biochemical investigations were ...

Aims and MethodsBone density (BMD) measurement is essential to assess the skeletal impact of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Coexistent osteoporosis is one of the criteria to consider parathyroidectomy in PHPT. PHPT is associated with predominant bone loss at the wrist. Assessment of BMD at this site is important to identify all patients with osteoporosis. Repeat BMDmeasurements are imperative to assess progression of disease, response to treatment a...

Introduction: Despite its high vascularity, metastases to the thyroid is rare. The frequency of metastasis in routine practice is less than 0.2% of thyroid malignancies.Clinical case: An ambulatory 48-year-old male presented with a two-month history of enlarging anterior neck mass that moves with deglutition, slowly growing in size, associated with hoarseness later in the course of the disease. He had no pertinent past medical history. Fine needle aspira...