Endocrine Abstracts

BackgroundCannabinoid (CB) receptors are expressed in adipocytes. CB1 antagonism may have potential in the metabolic syndrome, with effects mediated through central orexigenic mechanisms and via peripheral action on white adipose tissue (WAT). Equivalent studies in brown adipose tissue (BAT) are lacking.ObjectiveWe aimed to compare CB1 and CB2 receptor expression during WAT and BAT adipogenesis and to investi...

Background: PCOS is a metabolic disorder associated with long-term health risks including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia. Metformin improves insulin sensitivity in PCOS and reduces circulating concentrations of markers of endothelial dysfunction, although it is unclear whether this translates into improvements in vascular function.Objective: To determine whether metformin therapy improves arterial stiffness and endothelial function...

Background: Patients with Addison’s disease (AD) and hypopituitarism have increased mortality, mainly from vascular disease. Both diseases are characterised by DHEA(S) deficiency yet this is not usually corrected. It is unclear whether treatment of these conditions with DHEA improves vascular risk.Objective: To evaluate the effects of DHEA on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in subjects with AD and hypopituitarism.M...

A 22 year old lady, in her third pregnancy, presented at 35 weeks gestation with modest hypertension (BP 130/90). She was known to carry a high risk mutation for Von Hippel Lindau syndrome with no prior disease manifestations. Urinary catecholamine levels were normal at 18 weeks gestation and she remained asymptomatic throughout her pregnancy. Repeat measurement at 35 weeks demonstrated elevated noradrenaline and normetadrenaline values (1761 nmol/24h and 9.69 micromol/24h res...