Endocrine Abstracts

Rationale: Grave’s disease (GD) is the most common subtype of autoimmune hyperthyroidism, which can manifest with a variety of extrathyroidal clinical syndromes such as ophthalmopathy, pretibial myxedema (dermopathy), acropathy, cardiomyopathy, and encephalopathy. In very rare instances, GD can also be diagnosed following severe gastrointestinal symptoms such as dysphagia, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. We hereby describe a rare case of GD with digestive symptoms which w...

Osteocytes make up over 90-95% of bone cells in the adult skeleton making their total cellular mass greater than the mass of the brain. These cells can exist for decades in the bone matrix, much longer than osteoblasts or osteoclasts. In addition to being mechanosensory cells, osteocytes are also secretory cells, releasing sclerostin that inhibits osteoblastic bone formation and producing Rankl, the major activator of osteoclasts. Mechanical loading reduces both sclerostin and...

Introduction: The incidence of thyroid cancers is increasing; they are considered to have a very good prognosis with good survival The frequency of metastases is 5 to 10%. The most common locations are lung and bone. The morbidity of metastatic disease is related to the initial histological type, tumour mass, location of metastases, age, possible loss of iodine uptake and 18F-FDG uptakeMaterials and methods: We collected 25 patients treated for hormone-d...

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) defines a fetus which does not achieve its intrauterine growth potential. FGR is linked to placental dysfunction and hypoxia and is associated with a high risk of stillbirth, neonatal death and long-term complications; there are no treatments. Estrogen related receptor γ (ERRγ) is a nuclear receptor that is regulated by hypoxia in other systems; it is expressed in the placenta, thus we propose that it may be an important regulator of hy...

Objective: To investigate the long term outcomes for patients with endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism (SH).Design: Population record-linkage technology was used retrospectively to identify patients with SH and hospital admissions from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 2009.Patients: All residents over 18 years old with at least two serum TSH measurements below the reference range for at least 4 months apart and normal free T...

Objective: To define the rates of progression to frank hyperthyroidism and to normal thyroid function for subclinical hyperthyroid patients (SH).Design: Record-linkage technology was used retrospectively to identify patients with SH in the general population from 1st January 1993 to 31st December 2009.Patients: All residents over 18 years old with at least two measurements of TSH below the reference range for at least 4 months from...

Objective: To assess the impact of launching SKIN (Surface, Keep moving, Incontinence, Nutrition) bundle on development of pressure foot ulcers among in-patients with diabetes.Methods: SKIN Bundle was launched at Dudley Group of Hospitals Foundation Trust in mid- February 2011. Data on pressure foot ulcers were collected among patients with and without diabetes admitted during February 2010– February 2011 and then from February 2011–March 2012,...

IGF1 plays a central role in placental growth. IGF delivered from maternal circulation binds to the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) in syncytium resulting in the activation of Akt; inhibition of this pathway affects cytotrophoblast turnover. However, the route(s) by which IGF1 enters placenta and how its signal is delivered into the two trophoblast compartments is unknown. We have utilised quantum dots (QDs) to deliver/track IGF1 binding and internalisation in first trimester placenta (...

Introduction: Hypercalcaemia secondary to malignancy is rare in children. PTH-rP secreted by malignant cells increases bone resorption and renal calcium retention causing hypercalcaemia. We report a case of hypercalcaemia refractory to bisphosphonate and corticosteroid therapy, but responsive to treatment with Denosumab.Case report: A 17-year-old boy with epidermolysis bullosa presented with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the left leg and symptomati...

Background: Survivors with Fontan circulation suffer from chronic systemic hypoperfusion resulting in end-organ injury. Little is known about the effects of these hemodynamic perturbations on bone. We hypothesized that chronic Fontan circulation (>5 years after surgery) would be associated with bone deficits.Methods: Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was performed on 10 Fontan patients (seven males, 11.8±1.7 years) and 11 health...