Endocrine Abstracts

The delivery of genes encoding neurotrophic growth factors (NFG) to injured CNS neurons promotes survival and sustains axon regeneration. The plasmid-based non-viral vectors that we have used are less toxic and safer than viruses. However, their efficiency is low, particularly in non-proliferating cells like neurons, where penetration of the nuclear membrane to access transcriptional machinery is a major factor limiting activity. We are, therefore, exploiting cytoplasmic expre...

Rescuing neurons from death and promoting axon regeneration through the delivery of individual neurotrophic factors (NTF) to the CNS has proved disappointing. We evaluated in vitro the potency of FGF2, NT-3, and BDNF given singly, or in combination, to trophically support retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in the presence of inhibitory CNS myelin, and demonstrated increased survival and neurite outgrowth greater than the sum of the effects of each NTF given alone. We observed...

The application of exogenous neurotrophins (NT) has been widely proposed as a therapeutic strategy for the recovery of regeneration in axotomised CNS neurons. Results from this approach have, however, been disappointing since limited regenerative responses are elicited, we suggest due to limited neurotrophin receptor (NTR) expression. NT exert their trophic effects by signalling through the Trk/p75 receptors. Adequate receptor expression levels must, therefore, be central to t...

Background: Bone densitometry by DXA is now considered routine part of clinical management of children at risk of osteoporosis. Data on activity of a paediatric DXA service would be helpful for service planning but are currently lacking.Aim: A survey of referrals to the service and size-adjusted total body (TB) and lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral content for bone-area standard deviation scores (BMC for BA SDS) were obtained from the local database.<p ...

The promiscuous low affinity neurotrophin co-receptor p75NTR, a member of the nerve tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily, mediates neuronal survival as well as death, and interacts with Trk receptors to increase their affinity for neurotrophins. Furthermore, p75NTR is the transmembrane signalling moiety which associates with the NOGO binding receptor for all CNC myelin-derived axon growth inhibitors in the injured CNS. We have shown in rats that intravitreal implan...

Introduction: The British Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (BSPED) DKA guidelines endorse the use of subcutaneous (SC) insulin in clinically well patients. In our institution, routine practice is to use SC insulin to manage DKA patients, without clinical evidence of shock. We present safety and efficacy data.Methods: A retrospective review of electronic records was performed to identify episodes of DKA (pH <7.30 or HC03<18 mmol/l and ketonaemi...

Introduction: Offspring of mothers with diabetes have greater risk of adverse metabolic outcome in later life. Increased adiposity is a plausible mediator. We performed a meta-analysis of studies examining adiposity in infants and children in relation to maternal diabetes.Methods: Citations were identified in PubMed and authors contacted for additional data. Fat free mass, fat mass, body fat %, and skinfold thickness were compared in offspring of mothers...

Thyrotoxicosis results in osteoporosis and thyroid hormone (T3) stimulates osteoclastic bone resorption by unknown mechanisms. We previously demonstrated that knockout mice lacking thyroid hormone receptor α (TRα0/0) are euthyroid but have high bone mass, whereas mice lacking TRβ (TRβ−/−) are thyrotoxic and have osteoporosis. Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAcP) staining revealed osteoclast numbers were re...

Background: Testosterone deficiency (TD) affects 5–6% of men aged 30–79 years and it can be a presenting feature of a serious underlying condition like a pituitary tumour. Clinical practice guidelines have recommended thorough investigative workup of such patients to delineate the underlying pathology in patients with secondary TD. We have undertaken a retrospective study to assess the need for expensive investigations in patients with relatively mild TD suspected to...

Background and objective: Addison’s disease occurs more frequently in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) as part of the autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes. There is, however, no such association between adrenal failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We, therefore, retrospectively audited referrals for short synacthen tests (SST) on patients with T2DM.Methodology: Seven years retrospective study of indications for and results of SST ...