Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) affects up to 30% of adults worldwide. With the prevalence of NAFLD increasing after menopause, women aged >55 years are more likely to progress to advanced fibrosis than men. Moreover, liver decompensation secondary to NAFLD is more frequent in women compared to men. However, the causes of these differential outcomes are not fully understood.Methodology: We performed a retrospective cohort study utilis...

Objective: To describe the changes in out-of-hours emergency advice to families of children with diabetes over the last 15 years, the reasons for change and impact on hospital attendance.The local emergency clinical helpline for children with diabetes (DiabNet) was discontinued in August 2015. We have looked at its service and how it informed the support we deliver today, especially out of hours advice provided currently by paediatric registrars.<p c...

The pituitary is highly sensitive to cell cycle disruptions. Although CDK gene mutations have not readily been identified in human pituitary tumors, overexpression of cyclins and dysregulation of CDK inhibitors are encountered in pituitary adenomas, indicating the importance of CDK activation for potential therapeutic targeting. However, it is difficult to predict which CDK inhibitor(s) may be effective against particular tumor types in vivo. Therefore, animal models fa...

Advances in the understanding of hypophosphatemic disorders have identified a novel group of molecules (FGF23, PHEX, MEPE, DMP1) that have been implicated in osteoblast mineralisation directly.The specific binding of PHEX to MEPE regulates the release of ASARM peptides which have an inhibitory role. Current concepts are speculative and the functional role of MEPE in chondrocyte mineralisation remains largely undefined.Proximal tibiae from 3-week old wild...

The short synacthen test (SST) is the first-line test of adrenal insufficiency. Different centres have varying protocols for cortisol response. At Derriford Hospital cortisol is measured at 0, 30 and 60 min post-synacthen 250 μg (i.m./i.v.). A normal response is judged with a measured cortisol >550 nmol/l.A recent national audit questioned the bias created by the discrepancy between true cortisol (measured by mass spectrometry) and many laborato...

Case History: 16-year-old fit and well lady was referred to endocrinology clinic by GP due to severe hypercalcaemia. She is being investigated for secondary amenorrhea. She is not taking any regular medication. There is a history of hypercalcaemia in the family, her mother has hypercalcaemia and paternal grandfather had hypercalcaemia. She had no signs and symptoms of hypercalcaemia.Investigations: Corrected Calcium: 3.28 mmol/l, Phosphate: 0.60 mmol/l, ...

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a relatively uncommon condition presenting with combinations of focal bone abnormalities, cutaneous hyperpigmentation and endocrinopathy. It is caused by a post-zygotic mutation in a G-protein coupled receptor (GNAS1) leading to constitutive activation of several hormone signaling pathways. Severely affected patients present in childhood with extensive bone lesions+endocrine disorder e.g. premature puberty (McCune–Albright syndrome) but less seve...

Introduction: SOCS2 is an important negative regulator of post-natal growth, as demonstrated by the SOCS2 null overgrowth phenotype. We have used SOCS2−/− mice, alongside chondrocytes overexpressing SOCS2, to investigate the mode of action of SOCS2 at the epiphysis. SOCS2 maybe involved in growth retardation associated with chronic inflammatory disorders, therefore we studied LPS induced growth retardation in wild type (WT) and SOCS2−/−<...

In response to the 2003 Government White Paper entitled ‘Our future, Our inheritance’, we piloted a project to promote the genetic service within tertiary medicine. Three clinical nurse specialists (CNS); renal, cardiac and endocrine, are the catalyst for interaction between disciplines. This abstract relates the endocrine genetic experience.Targeting patients and families with genetic endocrine disease is achieved by three methods; identificat...

Background: Psoriasis is associated with a heightened prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes. However, it is not clear whether diabetes will cause differences on clinical outcomes of psoriatic patients who have already suffered from coronary artery disease.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive psoriatic patients with coronary artery disease between January 2017 and May 2022 in our hospital. The clinical ...