Endocrine Abstracts

Between March 1998 and October 2002, 62 patients requiring trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery (PS) and 36 patients requiring endoscopic sinus surgery (controls, C) were recruited. Patients were aged 18–65 years and had not had previous surgery or radiotherapy to the brain. The mean ages (p>0.05) and genders (p>0.05) of the two groups were similar 47 years, 41% male (PS) compared with 43 years, 39% male (C). Baseline IQ of the two groups was also similar, 101&#177...

Background: Controversy exists over the prevalence of colonic neoplasia in individuals with acromegaly. Some previous studies have demonstrated an increased prevalence of colorectal neoplasia compared to controls, however others have shown no such association. Furthermore, colonoscopy in acromegalic individuals has an increased rate of complications and even death....

Background: Yttrium-90 (90Y) pituitary implants have previously been used to treat patients with growth hormone (GH) secreting pituitary adenoma. This study reports the long-term effect of 90Y implants on growth hormone levels and pituitary function in a group of acromegalic patients....

BackgroundPrevious studies suggest that patients with acromegaly should have regular colonoscopic examinations due to their increased risk of colorectal neoplasia. However, acromegalic patients have significantly enlarged colon and increased rate of complications due to colonoscopy have been reported.AimTo assess the difficulty of performing colonoscopy in acromegalic patients by comparing large bowel length,...

Annexin-1 (Anx-1), a 37 kDa protein, is a member of the super-family of Ca2+and phospholipid-binding annexin proteins and acts as a mediator of glucocorticoid (GC) action in the host defence and neuroendocrine systems. In the anterior pituitary Anx-1 is expressed mainly by folliculostellate (FS) cells and mediates the early-delayed feedback inhibition exerted by GCs on the release of ACTH and other pituitary hormones.The stress responsiveness ...

The definition of early cure post transphenoidal surgery (TSS) for Cushing’s disease continues to be debated. The low dose dexamethasone suppression test with corticotrophin releasing hormone (LDDST-CRH) is a test for diagnosis of Cushing’s; however it has not been validated in early post TSS to determine remission. The aim of this study was to determine whether the combined LDDST-CRH test could be used in post TSS patients.The combined LDDST-C...

Introduction: Diseases of the hypothalamus/pituitary are complex and can be difficult to diagnose. Diagnostic possibilities are many and include sphenoid ridge meningiomas and aneurysms of the internal carotid artery as well as craniopharyngiomas, gliomas of the optic nerve, inflammatory and granulomatous disease.Case report: We present two cases to illustrate the complex differential diagnosis.The first patient presented with head...

Acknowledgements: This work was generously supported by the Wellcome TrustAnnexin 1 (ANXA1) plays an important role in mediating the negative feedback effects of glucocorticoids on the HPA axis. It is released from non-secretory folliculostellate (FS) cells by glucocorticoids and acts locally to suppress ACTH release from corticotrophs. Previous studies suggest that the steroid-induced translocation of ANXA1 across the FS cell membrane is effected via me...

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) signal transduction requires heterocomplexing between type II receptors and different type I (α or β) receptors resulting in the activation of different signalling pathways. Previously, we have used αT3-1 and Lβt-2 cell lines, which are representative of different stages of gonadotroph development, to demonstrate differential expression of the receptor isoforms during gonadotroph maturation. BMPR-Iα and II mRNA and ...

ObjectiveThere is large inter-individual variation in the growth hormone (GH) response to resistance exercise, but the intra-individual variation is unknown. This study aimed to determine the reproducibility of the GH response to a 30-min resistance exercise session.DesignFollowing local Ethics Committee approval, nine male participants were familiarised before completing three trials in a random order. Durin...

ObjectiveIt has been suggested that ghrelin may play a role in regulating the growth hormone (GH) response to exercise. This study was designed to determine whether very intense exercise alters circulating ghrelin concentrations. Design: Following Local Ethics Committee approval, 7 male volunteers were familiarised before completing two trials in a random order. In one trial participants performed a single 30-s sprint on a cycle ergometer, in the ...