Endocrine Abstracts

The actions of SOCS2 on GH and IGF-1 signalling in growth plate chondrocytes have yet to be reported. During chronic paediatric inflammatory diseases retarded growth is seen in association with increased inflammatory cytokine levels, which is an effect that may involve SOCS2. The primary aim of this study was to investigate STAT signalling in chondrocytes in response to GH, IGF-1 and IL-1β. We also investigated the temporal expression of SOCS2 in response to GH and IGF-1 ...

Hypercalcaemia is a commonly encountered problem. Though primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy account for greater than 90% of cases other rare causes need to be considered. We present an unusual but significant cause of hypercalcaemia.Of 87-year-old gentleman presented with acute abdominal pain and a severe hypercalcaemia with corrected serum calcium of 4.36 mmol/l (2.1–2.6). Significant dehydration was associated with acute renal failure (Tab...

A 54-year-old Afro–Carribean woman developed worsening obesity, hypertension, and proximal muscle weakness. Clinical examination revealed cushingoid facies, truncal obesity (BMI 34.8), abdominal striae and a BP of 150/90, Ferriman–Gallway score 12.Investigations:- FBG 10.7 mmol/l, 24 urine cortisols 147 mmol/l, 207 mmol/l (NR 25–280 nmol/24 h), normal short synacthen test (cortisol 471 rising to 1002 nmol/l). Subsequent testing revealed a ...

Background: Macroprolactinomas account for 10% of prolactin secreting tumours. There are few studies looking at the long-term outcome of these tumours. This study analysed clinical, endocrine and radiological characteristics of macroprolactinomas and evaluated the long-term management of these patients in a tertiary care centre.Methods: Retrospective audit of 21 consecutive cases of macroprolactinomas diagnosed between 1995 and 2007 in Teesside.<p cl...

There is a known correlation between dyslipidaemia and hypogonadism in diabetes. In non-diabetic men, calculated free testosterone correlates better than total testosterone with the elements of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to investigate if this was also true in diabetic men.Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. We analyzed biochemical parameters from 140 sequential male diabetic patients who attended the diabetic erec...

Case: In April 2008, a 68-year-old male was referred to the endocrine clinic with symptoms of hyperthyroidism and was prescribed carbimazole 20 mg daily. A week later, he developed sudden onset dizziness, together with reduced hearing in his left ear and associated tinnitus. Similar symptoms developed in his right ear shortly thereafter. Seven weeks after starting carbimazole, he attended the ENT outpatient clinic with severe vertigo, tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. Otosc...

Thyroid nodules are common in the general population. In 2006, we audited and discovered that primary care direct access to thyroid ultrasound (TUS) has limited value in detecting sinister thyroid pathology. To improve quality of thyroid nodule management, in May 2007, we introduced four changes (1) appointed a thyroid MDT coordinator, (2) produced a thyroid nodule proforma to guide primary care referrals, (3) established the rapid access one-stop thyroid ultrasound FNA clinic...

We present 2 cousin brother and sister, MK and AK (family tree attached in Fig) who presented with a common pattern of hyponatremia with hyperkalemia, hypomagnesaemia, salt wasting, hyperaldosterinism and hyper-reninaemia in their neonatal life with polyuria. A diagnosis of pseudohypoaldosteronism was made and they were commenced on sodium supplements and indomethacin.The shaded boxes are in utero deat...

We present a difficult case of pituitary thyroid hormone resistance (PTHR) in a 6 year old girl. She presented at the age of 22 months with chronic cough, diarrhoea, failure to gain weight and gross motor delay. She was also noted to be hyperactive and clumsy with poor co-ordination. Persistent tachycardia was present on examination. Thyroid function tests revealed increased thyroid hormone concentrations with a free T4 of 63.7 pmol/l (9–25) and a free T3 of 20 pmol/l (3....

Identification of pure neural androgenic effects is difficult due to 1) regional distribution of androgen receptors (AR) in the CNS; 2) cross-talk between molecular pathways of steroid hormone signalling, and 3) chemical nature and biotransformation of androgens in the CNS. Testosterone is transformed in the CNS by 5α-reductase and aromatase to the pure AR-agonist dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the estrogen receptor-agonist estradiol, respectively. Decreased sexual activit...