Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: 7α-Hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) is the common intermediary of the primary bile acids (BAs). Its concentration in serum correlates with the rate of activity of hepatic CYP7A1 and therefore with the rate of hepatic BA production. Previous work has smggested a role for BA pool dysregulation in the metabolic syndrome and gut dysbiosis seen in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the mechanism of this is still to be elucidated. Here we report a novel LC-M...

Background: Development of multi-steroid profiling allows comprehensive investigation into the different branches of steroid metabolism. Immunoassays only allow analysis of a single steroid per assay and suffer from problems with specificity due to cross reactivity of similar steroids. Liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry has the specificity to analyse multiple steroids in a single experiment and the dynamic range to quantify steroids at high concentrations such as those ob...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogenous condition that affects approximately 12% of females. The diagnosis can be complex and biochemistry tests are routinely relied upon to help identify hyperandrogenaemia and to exclude other conditions. However, although national and international guidelines advocate the use biochemistry tests, little information is provided as to which tests should be used and which other endocrinopathies should be excluded.<p cl...

Background: The 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ONDST) is recommended for the differential diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome and the investigation of adrenal incidentalomas. However, diagnostic performance of the test relies on accurate methods to quantitate cortisol in serum. Although the variable performance of serum cortisol immunoassays has been well-documented, little has been published on their performance following the ONDST.Aims...

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the normal reference values for thyroid uptake using Technetium-99 m (Tc-99 m) pertechnetate.Methods: Sixty-seven euthyroid patients with primary hyperparathydism who underwent parathyroid imaging with Tc-99 m pertechnetate between January 2012 to April 2014 at the Nuclear Medicine department, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals was studied. Electronic medical records and biochemical thyroid functi...

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the normal reference values for thyroid uptake using Technetium-99 m (Tc-99 m) pertechnetate.Methods: Sixty-seven euthyroid patients with primary hyperparathydism who underwent parathyroid imaging with Tc-99 m pertechnetate between January 2012 to April 2014 at the Nuclear Medicine department, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals was studied. Electronic medical records and biochemical thyroid functi...

For several years, steroid hormones including testosterone (T), androstenedione (A4) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) have been utilised in the diagnosis of a range of conditions with clinical features of hyperandrogenaemia including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In recent years a potential role for the 11-oxygenated androgens has emerged in the diagnosis and characterisation of androgenic disorders. Specifically, the 11-oxygenated and...

Background: Excess testosterone in PCOS is accompanied by increased levels of other ovarian and adrenal androgens and precursors. Recently, 11-oxygenated adrenal androgens have been postulated as major components of the circulating androgen pool in PCOS. Obesity is strictly connected with androgen excess and with the derangement of hormone circadian rhythmicity. To date, it has not been clarified whether hyperandrogenism in PCOS, either complicated by obesity or not, is accomp...

It is generally accepted that hepatic responses to α-adrenergic agonists are dependent on the redistribution of intracellular and also extracellular Ca2+. Besides, phenylephrine induces significant K+ flux changes and plasma membrane hyperpolarisation. Earlier it was shown that K+ channel blockers as well as chelating of extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA could inhibit phenylephrine-induced metabolic responses and activation of mitoch...

Comprehensive multi-steroid profiling offers a powerful tool for the investigation, diagnosis and management of steroidogenic disorders by simultaneously quantifying multiple steroids from several pathways of steroid biosynthesis and metabolism. Difficulties can arise when optimising chromatography and mass spectrometry conditions for many analytes in a single method. Low concentrations of ammonium fluoride have previously been shown to enhance the sensitivity of select analyt...