Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
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195th Meeting of the Society for Endocrinology joint with Diabetes UK and the Growth Factor Group

ea0008p81 | Steroids | SFE2004

Discrepancy between random serum cortisol levels and short synacthen test results in a patient with adrenal insufficiency

Varughese GI , Robson GE , Roy-Chowdhury S , Warner DP , Barton DM

Random serum cortisol levels should be carefully interpreted in the clinical setting of hypoadrenalism, when clinicians have a high index of suspicion. We describe an 81year old lady who was admitted with symptoms and signs of hypoadrenalism, though her random cortisol levels were 800nmol/l. She was admitted following a collapse at home. She also gave a history of weight loss of about 5 kgs over the previous 6 months, and complained of breathlessness. On examination she was sl...

ea0008p82 | Steroids | SFE2004

PHYTOESTROGENS INHIBIT mRNA EXPRESSION AND ACTIVITY OF AROMATASE IN HUMAN GRANULOSA-LUTEAL (GL) CELLS

Rice S , Whitehead SA

Phytoestrogens bind weakly to oestrogen receptors and can initiate oestrogen-dependent transcription. They are promoted as natural alternatives to HRT and yet epidemiological evidence suggests that they may protect against breast and prostate cancer. Studies in cell-free preparations have shown that phytoestrogens can inhibit the activity of aromatase and that the inhibition is, at least partly, competitive with androgen substrates. The question as to whether chronic exposure ...

ea0008p83 | Steroids | SFE2004

Familial Glucocorticoid Deficiency type 2 is associated with mutations in a novel gene encoding a small single transmembrane domain protein

Metherell LA , Chapple JP , Cooray S , Becker C , Begeot M , Naville D , Nurnberg P , Huebner A , Cheetham ME , Clark AJL

Familial Glucocorticoid Deficiency (FGD) [OMIM #202200] is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from resistance to the action of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on the adrenal cortex to stimulate glucocorticoid production. It has previously been linked to mutations in the ACTH receptor (ACTHR) [FGD type 1] and a locus on chromosome 8q, but 70% of cases have no known cause. The aim of this study was to identify additional loci and genes for FGD using a linkage mapping strategy....

ea0008p84 | Steroids | SFE2004

Patient self-monitoring of hydrocortisone replacement

Gardner SG , Wood P , Turner HE , Shine B , Wass JAH

Background: A hydrocortisone day curve can be used to assess a patient's steroid replacement. However the need for venous samples requires patients to be admitted to hospital either over-night or as a day case and tablet times may vary compared to the patients' usual practice.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether patients could collect capillary or salivary cortisol at home and whether these collections were reproducible.<p class=...

ea0008p85 | Steroids | SFE2004

Glucocorticoid metabolism in fatty liver induced by a choline-deficient diet in mice

Raubenheimer PJ , Nyirenda MJ , Walker BR

Objective:The activity of hepatic enzymes that metabolise glucocorticoids is altered in the setting of the metabolic syndrome. Westerbacka et al suggested a specific association between fatty liver and increased 5beta-reductase enzyme activity (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003). We hypothesised that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is strongly associated with insulin resistance, may be primarily responsible for these changes.<p cla...

ea0008p86 | Steroids | SFE2004

Functional properties and utility of fusion proteins of type II 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and green fluorescent protein

Mason JI , Binz T , Howie AF , Morley SD , Pang S , Sinclair HM

3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) expression is essential for the synthesis of all classes of steroid hormones, converting delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroids into hormonally active delta4-3-ketosteroids in NAD+-dependent reactions. A variety of 3beta-HSD isoforms have been described in primate, rodent and other mammals, often exhibiting distinct kinetic properties, preferential subcellular localization, as well as alternative substrate s...

ea0008p87 | Steroids | SFE2004

Variability in Hydrocortisone Pharmacokinetics Following Intravenous and Oral Administration in Patients with Adrenal Insufficiency

Devers MC , Thomson AH , Freel M , Grant D , Campbell K , Wallace M , Connell JMC

Hydrocortisone is the standard replacement therapy in patients with primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency (AI) but there is no current consensus on the most appropriate replacement dose and the extent to which this varies between individuals. This study examines inter-individual variability in cortisol metabolism in patients taking hydrocortisone therapy and investigates the relationship between plasma and salivary concentrations.Subjects and Method...