Endocrine Abstracts

Malignancy-related hypercalcaemia occurs in over 20% of cancer patients. Most cases are due to enhanced production of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) by tumours and carry a poor prognosis of survival of weeks to months. A 74 year old man with a history of prostate cancer treated with radical radiotherapy in 2013 and androgen blockade until 2015 underwent CT and PET/CT scans in 2017, which showed liver and spleen abnormalities, suggestive of metastases, but unlikely...

Glucagon is released from α-cells in the pancreatic islets and is best known for its role in glucose homeostasis. Glucagon/GLP-1 receptor co-agonists have recently been shown to improve glucose homeostasis and reduce body weight in diet-induced obese mice. Glucagon receptor agonism increases energy expenditure while the GLP-1 receptor agonism prevents glucagon-induced hyperglycemia. Peripherally administered glucagon is also capable of reducing food intake, and glucagon n...

Case History: 29 year old lady presented with profuse diarrhoea, lethargy and hypokalaemia in 2010. CT scan confirmed mass lesion in tail of pancreas. Chromogranin A and 24 hour urinary 5HIAA were normal. Fasting Gut hormone level showed elevated level of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP), suggesting diagnosis of VIPoma. Further investigations confirmed hyperparathyroidism and microprolactinoma. Investigations: Adjusted calcium 2.98 mmol/l (<2.55), ...

The amelioration of type 2 diabetes and sustained weight loss after bariatric surgery are thought to be due to elevated circulating levels of the gut hormones peptide YY3–36 (PYY3–36) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 augments the insulin response to an oral glucose load. PYY3–36 has appetite-inhibitory effects and contributes to longer-term weight loss. Rodent studies provide conflicting data regarding the effects of PY...