Endocrine Abstracts

High protein diets suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss, but are difficult to adhere to in the long-term. Understanding the mechanisms by which protein suppresses appetite may establish targets for more acceptable interventions to treat or prevent obesity. Of particular interest is the concept of functional foods or novel products which aim to potentiate satiety. However, the specific mechanisms regulating protein-induced satiety are unknown. Protein has a satiating ef...

A 48-year-old lady presented to neurology with a 2 year history of progressive leg weakness, rendering her wheelchair-bound. Neurological examination revealed a proximal myopathy. She had a 2 year history of diabetes, and an endocrine opinion was sought to see if the clinical features could be related to diabetes. It was then noted that she appeared Cushingoid, with a blood pressure of 158/92, central obesity, striae and facial acne. She had been amenorrhoeic for 2 years. Endo...

We present a case of a 29-year-old lady who presented with subfertility. She had had a 2 years history of oligomenorrhoea with highly irregular menses. She had symptoms of depression and described tunnel vision. Clinically, she was euendocrine with no features of hormonal excess or deficiency. She was not hirsute. Visual field testing demonstrated a severe left superior temporal quadrantopia.Laboratory investigations demonstrated an oestriadol level rang...

Background: Arginine Vasopressin Deficiency [AVP-D] can occur as consequence of any abnormality or injury at one or more of the sites involved in the Antidiuretic hormone [ADH] secretion. AVP-D is one of the presenting features of suprasellar lesions with panhypopituitrism. The natural course of the disease differs based on the underlying aetiology. It is likely to be transient post-operatively. Idiopathic DI is usually permanent however DI can be reversible w...

Background: Chromaffin cell tumours are rare but potentially curable endocrine tumours. These tumours may be sporadic or familial in nature. Biochemical tests are normally performed initially, followed by radiological investigation.Aim: To assess the correlation of biochemical and radiological investigations with histologically proven chromaffin-cell tumours in patients with sporadic and familial disease.Methods: We retrospectively...

Aim: In the thyrotoxicosis local investigation protocol, Tc99m pertechnetate scintigraphy technetium scan is used to assess the presence of thyroid uptake and both the degree and pattern of uptake. TSH receptor antibodies are used to demonstrate the presence and activity of autoimmune thyroid disease. We audited the utility of these investigations in a series of thyrotoxic patients.Methods: Forty-nine patients (11 men, 38 women, mean age 47.5±38) we...

High protein diets suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss, but are difficult to adhere to. Understanding the mechanisms by which protein suppresses appetite may establish targets for more acceptable interventions to treat or prevent obesity. Of particular interest is the concept of functional foods or novel products, which aim to potentiate satiety.Receptor systems that respond to amino acids have been identified. However, the specific mechanisms r...

Neuromedin B (NMB) is a highly conserved bombesin-related peptide found in mammals. The mammalian bombesin family of receptors consists of three closely related G protein coupled receptors, BB1, BB2 and BB3. The BB1 receptor subtype has the highest affinity for NMB. NMB mRNA is detected in the CNS and is expressed at relatively high levels in the rat hypothalamus, in particular the medial preoptic area and the arcuate nucleus.<p ...

A 69-year-old Iraqi lady presented with a 4-day history of diplopia, headache and right eye swelling. She had a pituitary adenoma diagnosed in Beirut when she was 20 years old and underwent trans-frontal surgeries and radiotherapy twice and further transsphenoidal surgery in 1980. She was on prednisolone 2 mg+1 mg and thyroxine 50 mcg daily.She initially presented to the ophthalmology clinic. Examination revealed a pupil-sparing 3rd nerve palsy of the ri...

A 69-year-old lady presented with a 4-day history of diplopia, headache and right eye swelling. She had a pituitary adenoma diagnosed in Beirut when she was 20 years old and underwent trans-frontal surgeries and radiotherapy twice and further transsphenoidal surgery in 1980. She initially presented to the ophthalmology clinic. Examination revealed a pupil-sparing 3rd nerve palsy of the right eye, with complete ptosis, proptosis and reduced visual acuity (6/9). She was referred...