Endocrine Abstracts

Prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3), encoded by protein convertase subtilisin kexin type 1 (PCSK1), converts inactive prohormones such as pro-opiomelanocortin, proinsulin, proglucagon into biologically active peptides. Inherited genomic mutations of PCSK1 present with malabsorptive diarrhoea, hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia, central adrenal and thyroid defects and severe obesity. Somatic mutations of insulinomas are associated with genetic defects interfering with insulin secreti...

Prednisolone is widely prescribed in the UK, whereas prednisone is used instead for the same indications in the United States. Both have utility as anti-inflammatory agents and for use as glucocorticoid replacement therapy at lower doses. Oral prednisone is converted to prednisolone by first pass hepatic metabolism by 11 beta HSD-1. This study was undertaken to compare the bioavailability of prednisone against prednisolone. To determine the conversion of prednisone to predniso...

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a clinical condition often recognized as a result of biochemical screening. While surgery is indicated in symptomatic hypercalcaemic states, the need and timing of surgery in asymptomatic patients is not always clearcut. We conducted a retrospective audit on the diagnosis and management of primary hyperparathyroidism between the years 2010 and 2014.Method: Patients were identified through our histopatho...

Background: Dexamethasone significantly improved outcomes in patients requiring supplementary oxygen and in ventilated patients with COVID-19 in the RECOVERY trial. Consequently, dexamethasone is now routinely used in these patients. However, dysglycaemia is commonly associated with steroid use and is an established risk factor for poorer outcomes in COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of dexamethasone use in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in a real-...

Introduction: Diabetes has been associated with poorer outcomes with COVID-19 infection, but precise predictors of mortality in patients with diabetes remain unclear. We assessed predictors of adverse outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHNT) hospitals during the first and second waves of COVID-19 to determine if outcomes for patients with diabetes have evolved with new variants and treatments.Method...

Introduction: Selenium supplementation is recommended for all patients with mild Graves’ orbitopathy (GO). The thyroid gland contains high levels of selenium, which has an anti-oxidant effect and a role in the metabolism of thyroid hormones. The study on which this recommendation is based was conducted in countries of a selenium-deficient region and did not measure subjects’ selenium concentrations. There is therefore no consensus on optimum dose, duration, or safety...

Introduction: Subactue thyroiditis (SAT) is a self-limiting inflammatory condition caused by follicular destruction of the thyroid gland, commonly precipitated by viral upper respiratory tract infection 2 weeks preceding the onset of thyroid symptoms. However, SAT following COVID-19 vaccination is rare. Herein, we report two cases of subacute thyroiditis which presented after administration of COVID-19 vaccine. Case series: The first patient was a 42 yea...

Introduction: Free ionised calcium is the biologically active component of total circulating calcium but is infrequently measured due to sampling requirements. Therefore, total calcium is ‘adjusted’ for albumin to provide a closer estimate of the biologically active ionised calcium level (e.g. James, Orell, Payne and Berry formulae). Here, we aim to derive a novel equation to estimate ionised calcium from readily available biochemical parameters and compare its perfo...

Objective: To determine if the impact of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose levels and post load glucose levels on large for gestational age neonates varies with ethnicity.Data sources: Electronic health records of all eligible pregnant women in an inner city service. Study designRetrospective analysis of pregnant women at risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (2016-2019) of. Population or sampleEligible pregnant women. Synth...

Background: Non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) affects up to 30% of adults worldwide. With the prevalence of NAFLD increasing after menopause, women aged >55 years are more likely to progress to advanced fibrosis than men. Moreover, liver decompensation secondary to NAFLD is more frequent in women compared to men. However, the causes of these differential outcomes are not fully understood.Methodology: We performed a retrospective cohort study utilis...