Endocrine Abstracts

Biopharmaceuticals are complex molecules and can show variation between production batches. Physicochemical tests and biological activity measurements contribute complementary data to the characterisation of these products.As part of a project to correlate physicochemical and bioassay data, under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Measurements for Biotechnology programme, we have developed a simple, robust cellbased bioassay protocol for interfe...

Patients with hypoadrenalism are at risk of life-threatening events if they do not receive adequate glucocorticoid replacement during intercurrent illness. We think that these patients should know when and how to adjust their steroid dose when ill. We also think they should possess, and know how to give themselves, an injection of hydrocortisone for emergencies.Current education is given ad hoc at clinic visits, supported by written information, but ther...

VEGF is an endothelial-cell specific mitogen and is a critical regulator of developmental and reproductive angiogenesis. VEGF165 is the most abundant isoform, with the N-terminal 110 aa domain containing the receptor binding site and the C-terminal 55 aa domain containing a heparin-binding site. The activity of the molecule is mediated through its interaction with two main receptors, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, the binding to which is modulated by both cell surface-associated glycosa...

Since 1994, after initial outpatient review (OPD) for thyrotoxicosis, we have minimised OPD attendance and provided shared-care advice to primary care physicians on thyroid function tests (TFT) and anti-thyroid drug (ATD) and levothyroxine (T4) dose titration using our electronic patient record (EPR). Using EPR data we analysed treatment (Rx) choice, effectiveness and outcomes, classifying patients as autoimmune (+ve TPO or other Graves’ features), nodular, mix...

Background. Abnormal lipoprotein composition associated with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) may contribute to increased mortality observed in conventionally replaced hypopituitarism. Aim. To examine the effects of forty weeks of growth hormone replacement (GHR) on lipoprotein composition and LDL size in sixteen GHD hypopituitary subjects. In eight patients, VLDL and LDL composition were additionally assessed after eight weeks. Methods. VLDL and LDL were separated by different...