Endocrine Abstracts

The zonation of the human adrenal cortex has long been established morphologically and histologically as three distinct layers of cells. The outer zona glomerulosa (ZG) comprises densely packed cells arranged in clusters that produce aldosterone; the zona fasciculata (ZF) is composed of cells with large cytoplasm, containing lipid droplets arranged in radial columns that synthetize cortisol; and the zona reticularis is composed of compact and pigmented cells producing androgen...

Background: Rapid improvements in imaging have led to a 10-fold increase in the incidence of adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) over the past two decades. Delays in the diagnostic evaluation of AIs are associated with patient anxiety and significant burden on medical resources. We retrospectively audited the investigation and management of AIs at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT).Methods: Patients wit...

AZP-3601, a long-acting PTH/PTHrP(1-36) analog, is a candidate new treatment option for hypoparathyroidism (HP). As compared to conventional PTH(1-34), AZP-3601 binds with higher affinity to the R0 conformation of the PTH-1 receptor, resulting in prolonged signaling and sustained elevations in blood calcium (Ca++) in vivo, despite a very short circulating half-life. We assessed whether repeated injection of AZP-3601 into TPTX rats at doses aimed to normalize serum C...

Background: Acidosis activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and induces glucocorticoid-mediated atrophy of skeletal muscle. The enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol and modulates glucocorticoid signalling locally within skeletal muscle. Here, we address a gap in knowledge how acidosis affects 11β-HSD1 activity in human skeletal muscle cells.Methods: Quadrice...

Introduction: Amiodarone induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) occurs in 5–10% of patients and may occur at any time throughout the course of treatment including months after discontinuation. Two distinct forms of AIT are distinguished and treated differently. Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism, typically seen in patients with underlying thyroid disease, is referred to as typ1 AIT and treated with high doses of thionamide antithyroid drugs and perchlorate. Type 2 AIT is a destructive ...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) reduces thioredoxin in heart failure patients, whereas adrenomedullin, acting as an antioxidant, protects rat cardiomyocytes from infarction and mouse vascular smooth muscle cells from angiotensin II (AII) oxidative effect. Besides AII, aldosterone (Aldo) is also an activator of ROS. Aim of the study was the investigation of the eventual antioxidant effect of ANP...

Clinical CaseA 19-year old ethnic Pakistani presented with severe, longstanding hirsutes without virilisation. Menarche had occurred at age 14, following which she had experienced 4-6 periods a year. She had always been “underweight” by UK/WHO criteria and, given a BMI of 16.5 kg.m−2, there were concerns about hypothalamic oligomenorrhoea.InvestigationsFasting glucose 5.5 mmol/L &#...

Cushing’s syndrome can be caused by adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting solid tumors. We report a rare case of an ileal endocrine carcinoma that produced ACTH and induced hypercortisolism. A now 47-year-old male patient presented at the age of 41 with perspiration, weight gain, tremor and general fatigue. Diabetes mellitus and hypercortisolism was diagnosed by laboratory testing. Further examinations revealed ectopic Cushing’s syndrome. The search for the location ...

Eneboparatide (AZP-3601) is a novel, synthetic, 36-amino-acid peptide agonist of the parathyroid hormone type 1 receptor (PTHR1), with potent selectivity for the R0 conformation. This results in prolonged calcemic responses, while having a short circulating half-life. Eneboparatide is being developed for the treatment of chronic hypoparathyroidism (cHP). Studies in hypoparathyroid animal models and, most recently, in hypoparathyroid patients, have demonstrated that eneboparati...

Objective: The German KIMS Database is a national surveillance study for evaluation of efficacy and safety of growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy in adults with GH deficiency (GHD) in clinical practice.Patients: The analysis was performed using data of 1425 consecutively documented adult patients (777 men, 648 women) with GHD enrolled in KIMS Germany. The present report examined baseline and long term data (>48 months, range: 48–161 month) f...