Endocrine Abstracts

Kalach 360 SL (KL), glyphosate (G) surfactant-based herbicides, is a systemic herbicide effective against weeds. It was applied in agriculture in Tunisia and throughout the world, which can represent a risk to non-target organisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological and biochemical aspects of ovary injury after exposure to KL. Female Wistar rats were divided into three groups: group 1 was used as a control; group 2 orally received 0.07 ml of KL, (126 mg...

Radioimmunoassays are used to measure hormones and the technique is based on recognition of an antigen by antibodies largely derived from animal sources. Heterophilic antibodies have been reported to cause interference in 0.05–0.5% of immunoassays. We present a case in which the presence of heterophilic antibodies led to unnecessary interventions.A 32 year old gentleman was referred to our centre to localise neuroendocrine tumour. He presented with ...

BackgroundStress responsiveness is mediated through sympathetic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation. The gold standard investigation is the plasma catecholamine and cortisol response to the insulin tolerance test (ITT). This is invasive, and the use of salivary surrogates for stress responses would be a great advance.ObjectiveDemonstrate whether salivary alpha-amylase is a potential surrogate m...

Aim: To determine if the endogenous estrogen 17beta-estradiol protected against oxidative stress-induced endothelial cell damage and the mechanism of this potential effect.Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were isolated and cultured in phenol red free media with 2% charcoal-stripped serum. The following were undertaken (1) Cells were exposed to 0.1 to 1 nM 17beta-estradiol immediately prior to 100 μM hydrogen peroxide added for 24 hour...

IntroductionThe Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a validated simple method of measuring subjective daytime sleepiness in a variety of situations whereby patients are asked to score the probability of dozing as no chance, slight, moderate or high chance. An ESS>10 is regarded as excessive daytime sleepiness which may be a result of sleep apnoea or sleep disorders. The British Thoracic Society advise that patients who have ESS>10 or sleepiness in ...

Objectives: To analyse the outcome of 100 consecutive patients treated for thyrotoxicosis by total thyroidectomy, and compare the efficacy of this treatment modality to I131 therapy and thionamide therapy.Design: Data collected prospectively from a tertiary referral multidisciplinary thyroid clinic on 100 consecutive patients operated on for thyrotoxicosis by one thyroid surgeon. Patient demographics, reasons for selection of surgical treatmen...

BackgroundChronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition with high morbidity and associated reduced quality of life. There are data suggesting neuro-endocrine axis involvement in CFS including disturbance in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, growth hormone axis, opioidergic system and interactions with 5-Hydroxy Tryptamine (5-HT) system. Studies with selective 5-HT-releasing agents, using prolactin or cortisol responses to stimulation, fou...

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to compare the effect of metformin, orlistat and pioglitazone on insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.Methods30 overweight PCOS women were recruited using the Rotterdam criteria (mean age (±S.E.M.) 26(±1.5)yrs and body mass index 35.9(±1.3) kg/m2). Fasting blood was collected at the same time each day on 10 c...

Background: Turner syndrome has well recognised cardiovascular complications that appear in up to 40% of the patients and are more common in monosomy X. Left sided obstructive lesions are relatively more frequent and predispose to aortic root dilatation and life threatening aortic dissection. Patients with bicuspid aortic valve, hypertension, coarctation and aortic stenosis are at high risk of aortic dilatation and dissection. Various follow up strategies are in use but there ...

Orlistat and Metformin have both been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), however, because Orlistat works by decreasing the absorption of dietary lipids, there is the potential to decrease absorption of lipophilic antioxidant substances with consequent decreased protection from oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of treatment with orlistat vs. metformin on oxidative stress in pat...