Endocrine Abstracts

Annexin 1 (ANXA1), a Ca2+ and phospholipid binding protein, is an important mediator of glucocorticoid (GC) action in the host defence and neuroendocrine systems (1). It is not however known whether the dysregulation of the inflammatory response sometimes observed in patients with disturbances in GC secretion is associated with alterations in PBL ANXA1 expression/activity. To address this question we have (a) examined ANXA1 expression (flow cytometry and western blot analysis)...

Short synacthen tests (SST) are used to investigate patients with suspected HPA pathology and a rise of serum total cortisol > 550nmol/L is accepted as demonstrating sufficient cortisol reserve. However, cortisol is 80% bound to cortisol binding globulin (CBG) and therefore abnormal values of CBG can influence serum total cortisol used to interpret dynamic tests of the HPA axis. The free cortisol index (FCI) is a surrogate marker for serum free cortisol and is defined as s...