Endocrine Abstracts

Somatostatin analogues are the first line therapy for patients with functioning neuroedocrine tumours. These drugs prevent the release of peptides which cause symptoms in patients with neuroendocrine tumours. Correct and proper preparation and administration of the analogues are vital in the care of patients. The somatostatin analogues not only provide relief of symptoms, benefiting the patient, but improve the quality of life for patients. The cost of the analogues to the hea...

Being different = XOTurner Syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality where all or part of one X chromosome is missing causing some or all of the body cells to have one inactive, an absent or only a fragment of one X chromosome. Physical manifestation of the classic features of Turner Syndrome are well described, what is not so well understood are the psychosocial aspects of Turner Syndrome.Although intelligence is generally in the norm...

We identified 65 patients from the departmental endocrine database who had received testosterone (T) therapy. 62 records were reviewed and 7 patients excluded as they received T <6 months. We undertook a retrospective audit examining the routine monitoring of these patients. These 55 patients included; 21 patients with primary hypogonadism (PH) and 34 patients with secondary hypogonadism (SH); mean age (range) 52 (28–75) and 59 (35–91) yrs respectively. 46 (84%) ...

The adrenal gland is composed of the medulla and the cortex, which is further subdivided into three zones: zona glomerulosa (zG), zona fasciculata (zF) and zona reticularis (zR). The zones of the cortex are functionally characterised by their ability to synthesise different steroids and consequently they express different steroidogenic enzymes. These and other markers of the zones have been described but so far no good candidate for a determining factor of zonal establishment ...

The adrenal gland is composed of the medulla (neurodermal origin) and the cortex (mesodermal origin). The cortex is further subdivided into three zones: zona glomerulosa (zG), zona fasciculata (zF) and zona reticularis (zR). The zones of the cortex are functionally characterised by their ability to synthesise different steroids and consequently they express different steroidogenic enzymes. These and other markers of the zones have been described but so far no good candidate fo...

Expression of the ACTH receptor, MC2-R, is highly restricted, being detectable in the mouse only in the adrenal cortex and adipose tissue. The promoter of the murine MC2-R contains binding sites for SF-1, a transcription factor that has been shown to be essential for the transcriptional activity of a number of steroidogenic genes. However, SF-1 is not expressed in adipocytes and therefore is not essential for MC2-R expression in these cells. We have investigated the requiremen...

A 20 year of man with cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia and mild learning difficulties) initially presented to the neurologists with a 4 month history of deterioration in mobility and new difficulties in speech, swallowing and incontinence of urine. New proximal muscle weakness, dyskinesia and ataxia were noted bilaterally in all limbs, Myoclonic jerks and absence seizures were also seen. His swallowing deteriorated to the point where 'PEG' feeding was necessary. Exhaustive neu...

Background: Phaeochromocytoma are rare catecholamine secreting tumours and may present with hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia and even cardiogenic shock. These tumours can easily be missed particularly in patients presenting with other disorders. We present a case of a patient with severe community acquired pneumonia who despite overwhelming sepsis was severely hypertensive.The case: JP was a 33-year-old man who was previously fit and we...

The murine ACTH receptor MC2-R is primarily expressed in the adrenal cortex and adipocytes where it binds ACTH leading to steroidogenesis and lipolysis, respectively. We have recently shown that the previously described 'adrenal' MC2-R promoter is transiently activated by PPAR gamma 2 early during differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes, declining to background levels from a peak of activity seen at day 4 following commencement of adipogenesis. This is mirrored by the ...

The peptide hormone ACTH can stimulate lipolysis and suppress leptin expression in murine adipocytes. These effects are mediated via the Melanocortin 2 Receptor (MC2-R), which is expressed when 3T3-L1 cells are induced to differentiate into adipocytes. In this study we have investigated the transcriptional activation of the MC2-R gene during adipogenesis.5' deletion analysis of the murine MC2-R promoter revealed the presence of a transcriptional enhancer...