Endocrine Abstracts

Studies have demonstrated that ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) subunits SUR2A (sulfonylurea receptor) and KIR6.2 are involved in glucose uptake into skeletal muscle. It is known that the glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression is highest in oxidative type I fibers, pointing out the important role of oxidative muscles as glucose uptakes. Considering these aspects the aim of this study was to investigate whether KATP channel can influence glucose uptake in oxidative musc...

This practical and interactive session will explore the difficult clinical presentation of sweating.This problem is very commonly encountered in primary care, and can present a major diagnostic and management challenge. In practise, although there are multiple endocrine causes for excessive sweating, in the majority of cases presenting with this symptom alone, no endocrine cause is found.An overview of the most important aspects of...

Major clinical events such as myocardial infarction and stroke are caused by atherosclerosis, a lipid-driven chronic inflammatory disease affecting the arterial wall. In recognition of the inflammatory drive in cardiovascular disease (CVD), a major interest has risen to complement current standards for high-risk patients by therapeutically targeting the inflammatory process. Prior to clinical application, therapeutic candidates are required to have a robust anti-inflammatory e...

Background: The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) published guidelines to standardise intravenous hypertonic saline (HTS) for severe symptomatic hyponatraemia in 2014. Two 150 mL boluses of 3.0% HTS are proposed, one after the other, to achieve an initial sodium rise of 5 mmol/l without waiting for an interval sodium result. ESE guidelines were adopted by our University Hospital in 2017. However, high rates of sodium overcorrection were observed, and the guidelines lacke...

Pomc synthesis and ACTH secretion by the anterior pituitary are controlled by two major, opposing players namely CRH and glucocorticoids. Most studies were performed on the AtT-20 mouse corticotroph tumor cell line or Pomc-transfected cells.Aim: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of CRH and DEX on Pomc expression and ACTH secretion in normal rat corticotropes in vitro.Methods: Rat anteri...

Adrenocortical carcinoma is extremely rare and accounts for 0.05–2% of all malignant neoplasms with an estimated incidence of 0.5–2% per million people per year. Feminising adrenal carcinoma is even rarer. We submit such a rare case presenting with gynaecomastia.A 50 year old man presented with a year history of increasing bilateral gynaecomastia. He had no problems with his sexual function. Initial investigations by the GP showed low testoster...

Background: Incidence of hypercalcaemia during pregnancy is difficult to estimate as routine calcium screening is not recommended. Literature is conflicting if hypercalcemia results in worse maternal and fetal outcomes.Objectives: Aim of this study is to determine frequency and association of hypercalcaemia in pregnancy with early maternal and fetal outcomes.Methods: This retrospective cohort study included gestations with expected...

Background: Emerging evidence shows that diabetes mellitus causes structural and functional alterations in the brain. Recent studies have shown that diabetes may induce reductions in N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and glutamate concentrations in the cortical grey matter, but few studies have performed the neurochemical profiling of other brain regions in patients with diabetes. Hence, the aim was to investigate brain metabolites in other brain regions of adults with diabetes.<p ...

Background: Gonadal dysgenesis (GD) is a congenital disorder of sex development resulting in gonadal dysfunction caused by a variety of underlying genetic aberrations. Psychiatric morbidity is more common in women with GD in comparison to the general population but whether this is the result of a hormonal disbalance is unknown. However, psychotic symptoms due to abrupt changes in blood estrogen levels have been commonly reported. The aim is to report the first case of a psycho...

The two main subtypes of pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP), PHP-Ia and -Ib, are caused by mutations in GNAS exons 1–13 and methylation defects in the imprinted GNAS cluster, respectively. PHP-Ia patients show Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) and resistance toward multiple hormones (PTH/TSH/GHRH/gonadotropins), whereas PHP-Ib patients classically display hormone resistance limited to PTH and TSH. Incoming data suggest that the two diseases share more genetic and clini...