Endocrine Abstracts

The syndrome of Resistance to Thyroid Hormone (RTH), found in about 300 patient families, is characterized by multiple somatic abnormalities, varying levels of mental retardation, and tachycardia. It is caused by mutations in thyroid hormone receptor beta 1 (TRb) which confer dominant negative effects. No patient with a germline mutant TRa gene has yet been found. We therefore introduced a patient’s mutation into the mouse TRa1 gene. The mutation allows T3 binding with a ...

Introduction: It is believed that key pathogenic mechanism of PCOS is hyperinsulinemia. Insulin synthesis is linked to C-peptide release, but the role of C-peptide in PCOS remains unknown.Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate of C-peptide serum levels in obese women with PCOS with concomitant assessment of possible link between C-peptide concentrations and metabolic disturbances and androgens levels in those individuals.Si...

Aim: The aim of our study was to explore the possibility of using a district-wide laboratory database as a governance tool to ensure the optimum management of patients with biochemical hyperthyroidism.Patients and methods: A complete list of patients on whom TFT were requested over a 3-month period was obtained and patients with unequivocal hyperthyroidism were identified. General practitioners (GP) of patients not referred to the specialist endocrine te...

Introduction: Anti-epileptic drugs (AED) adversely affecting bone health. However, individual variations between different AEDs exist and not all AEDs are equally toxic to the bone. There is almost equipoise about the effect of valproate on bone.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study assessing bone mineral density with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at the hip and lumbar spine in 33 outpatients receiving valproate for ≥1 year and 36 health...

Introduction: Stimulated serum C-peptide (sCP) during a mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) is the gold standard measure of endogenous insulin secretion in Type 1 diabetes (T1D). However invasiveness of sampling, the need to discontinue insulin prior to testing and rapid processing of samples limits its widespread use, particularly in children. Practical alternatives would increase utility.Aims: To assess if in a MMTT: 1.It is necessary to omit insulin. 2. ...

Parathyroidectomy is the only definitive cure for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). The standard for pre-operative localisation of parathyroid pathology at our institution is both a (99m)Tc-sestamibi SPECT/CT (sestamibi) and neck ultrasound scan (USS). The aim of this audit was to assess the accuracy of this standard pre-operative imaging.Methods: Retrospective data was gathered from all parathyroidectomies performed at St Thomas’ Hospital between...

Introduction: In case of inoperable disease or tumor recurrence, therapy with mitotane (MIT), sometimes in combination with doxorubicin (DOX), etoposide (ETO), cisplatin (CIS) or streptozocin (STREP), is frequently applied in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). The multidrug resistance pump MDR1 is responsible for resistance of tumor cells to cytostatic drugs. The activity of MDR1 is inhibited by the calcium-channel blocker verapamil. There are equivocal data in the ...

Efflux transporters in the blood–testis barrier (BTB) prevent entry and accumulation of xenobiotics in testis but are also involved in local transport of steroid hormones. Among these are the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, P-glycoprotein (P-gp/ABCB1) and multidrug resistance proteins 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) and 4 (MRP4/ABCC4). Here, we studied the interaction of suggested endocrine disruptors (EDCs) bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), bis(...

Introduction: Pasireotide is a multi-receptor targeted somatostatin analogue with high affinity for sst5, which is commonly expressed in corticotroph adenomas, thus having potential as therapy for Cushing’s disease.Methods: One hundred and sixty-two patients with persistent/recurrent or de novo (if not surgical candidates) Cushing’s disease were randomized (double-blind) to pasireotide 600 μg (n=82) or 900 μg ...

Introduction: The multi-receptor targeted somatostatin analogue pasireotide has demonstrated efficacy in reducing cortisol in patients with Cushing’s disease in a large, randomized, double-blind, Phase III study. The effects of pasireotide on the signs and symptoms of Cushing’s disease were also investigated as secondary objectives in this trial.Methods: Adult patients with persistent/recurrent or de novo Cushing’s disease were rand...