Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Octreotide LAR is a long-acting somatostatin analogue used in the management of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), with antiproliferative and symptom control effects. It requires intramuscular (IM) injection. Missed IM injections can cause subcutaneous nodules (SCNs) on radiologic images. We reviewed the rates of SCNs in a real-world cohort of NETs receiving octreotide LAR and explored treatment outcomes.Methods: Patients with gastroint...

Background: Metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) constitute a heterogeneous group of uncurable cancers with limited treatment options. Lenvatinib is an oral multiple kinase inhibitor that showed activity in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in the phase II Talent Trial at a starting dose of 24 mg per day. Although a confirmatory phase III study was never conducted, the drug is available for use off-label.Methods: We retrospectively revie...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinopathy affecting 5–10% of women. The PCOS symptomatology spectrum includes compromised fertility, dermatological conditions and metabolic dysregulation, the predominant cause of which is excess androgen production. PCOS is associated with increased risk of developing features of the metabolic syndrome which is exacerbated by the fact between 40 and 80% of PCOS diagnosed women are estimated to be obese. Achieving modest weight...

Athletes with type 1 diabetes need to be advised on the most appropriate diet to maximise their performance.I will review the recommendations stated in the 2010 Position Statement on Physical Activity and Exercise in Diabetes and to look at sports supplementation.Sports supplements can assist athletes to achieve improved performance. However, poor regulation of the supplements industry allows athletes to be bombarded with products ...

A 36 M seen in endocrinology clinic October 2022 with 9/12 history of reduced testicular size and hypo gonadal symptoms. He has a past medical history of suicidal ideation and urinary incontinence. On review of previous GP records from 2003 he was seen for delayed puberty, although the patient denied this in clinic. There was no history of testicular trauma or infection and he denied any history of exogenous steroid or recreational drug use. There was no significant family his...

Background: HDL is a plasma lipid-protein complex of lipids and alphalipoproteins (apolipoproteins A-I and A-II). It is involved in reverse transport of cholesterol from peripheral tissue to liver, allowing cholesterol degradation. HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular risk. HDL-C levels can be elevated due to genetic causes or drugs. We present a case where significantly raised HDL levels caused some concern at the outset.<p class="ab...

Background: The prevalence of incidental pituitary adenoma is estimated between 10 and 20% in autopsy and radiological data. Such pituitary incidentalomas are increasingly detected, as access to sensitive imaging modalities improves. We present a review of the recent pituitary incidentaloma referrals at a tertiary centre during 2 years from January 2013.Methods: All patients with pituitary incidentalomas on brain imaging between 2013 and 2015 were review...

A 1 month old baby boy presented at a local district general hospital with failure to thrive. He was born to non-consanguineous Eastern European parents, with an 18 month old healthy sister. The term birth was unremarkable, with nil of note from the antenatal history. Initial clinical examination revealed a slightly low but stable blood pressure for age, but was otherwise normal.Investigations: Biochemistry results showed low plasma sodium (125 mmol/l) a...

Objectives: To audit the endocrine referrals from a High Secure Hospital (HSH) to a department of endocrinology.Methods: During the study, the HSH had approximately 400 beds, 75% male, 75% mental illness (mostly schizophrenia), 25% psychopathic personality disorders. The average length of stay in the HSH was 8 years, the majority of patients receive antipsychotic drugs (APD) and obesity and cigarette smoking is common.Results: Over...

Background: Cortisol is an essential steroid hormone released from the adrenal gland. Plasma cortisol levels follow a circadian rhythm under the control of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal axis, reaching peak levels in the morning. Cortisol has long been known to exert immunosuppressive effects and accordingly, glucocorticoids are central in treating inflammatory disease. Cortisol’s propensity to downregulate certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulate o...