Endocrine Abstracts

A 19-year-old man was referred to Endocrinology Clinic with a minimally raised calcitonin level. He had a past history of primary hyperparathyroidism resulting in renal colic aged 17 years, and underwent three gland parathyroidectomy aged 18 years. Histology demonstrated a single right lower parathyroid adenoma with normal thyroid biopsy. He has no family history of endocrine disease and is a non-smoker. His calcium has remained normal since with detectable PTH. Over 5 years t...

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in young adults. It is important to recognise pituitary dysfunction following TBI as it can cause significant morbidity.Methods: 179 TBI patients (137 males) age 41.0±15.7 years (17.6–88.1 years) attended Charing Cross Hospital clinic (July 2009–August 2011). Median time since TBI was 0.27years (0.05–46.5 years, 26% >1 years). 34% had an intrac...

Pituitary dysfunction is a common, treatable consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and is associated with poorer outcomes. Identifying prognostic factors that allow targeted endocrine testing will ensure that patients at higher risk of pituitary dysfunction are identified and screened.Analysis of 176 adults at least 6 weeks after TBI attending the multidisciplinary Imperial TBI clinic found an overall prevalence of pituitary dysfunction of 13.7% (...

Background: Pituitary dysfunction is a recognised consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) causing significant cognitive, psychological and metabolic impairment. Hormone replacement offers an important therapeutic opportunity. Blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is commonly seen in soldiers returning from recent conflicts. We investigated: i) the prevalence and consequences of pituitary dysfunction following moderate-severe bTBI, and...

The ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with resting ACE activity such that DD>ID>II. The D allele is strongly associated with increased exercise-induced left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and cardiovascular risk.Objective: Examine the relation between ACE genotype, exercise, circulating ACE and angiotensin II.Ethical approval was obtained and 17 (9DD, 8II) healthy, male (22.9+/-1.9 years, 178.6+/-2.8cm, 71.9+/-2.2kg) Caucasi...

Background: The ACE I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene, associated with cardiovascular risk and athletic performance, accounts for half the variation in resting ACE. DD subjects have the greatest, ID intermediate, and II subjects the lowest serum ACE. Exercise stimulates the renin-angiotensin system, producing a rise in angiotensin II. 3 small (n=6-8) lab studies suggest serum ACE does not change with exercise, despite a rise in angiotensin II, whereas 2 other studies have demon...

Using functional MRI, we examined how regional brain activity varies with nutritional state when viewing food pictures of different caloric density and appeal.Eighteen non-obese healthy volunteers (BMI 22.2±0.5 kg/m2, age range 19–36 years, 8 male) were studied on 2 separate mornings after an overnight fast (mean±S.E.M. 15.5±0.3 h) or when fed (1.2±0.1 h after breakfast, food intake 45±4% of estimat...

Background: Familial pituitary adenomas can occur in the classic syndromes of MEN-1 and Carney complex. Recently an autosomal dominant disease with incomplete penetrance has been described as ‘familial-isolated-pituitary-adenoma’ (FIPA). Previous studies of familial acromegaly and gigantism disclosed germline mutations in the AIP gene located in the previously suspected chromosome 11q13 region.Aims: To analyse the prevalence of AIP-mutations in...

We present a 57-year-old female with Cushing’s syndrome characterised by new type 2 diabetes, hypertension, weight gain, bruising, proximal myopathy and depression. She also had poorly-healing cellulitic ulcers on both legs. Investigations: hypokalaemia and ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. Low dose dexamethasone suppression test: T=0 ACTH 85 ng/l, cortisol 907 nmol/l, T=48 h cortisol 807. High dose dexamethasone suppression test failed to suppr...

Background: PWS is a rare neurodevelopmental genetic disorder characterized by hyperphagia, obesity, hormonal deficiencies, and problem behaviors for which there are no approved treatment. DCCR administration (100-525 mg/day) up to 52 weeks in participants with PWS improved hyperphagia, behavior, body composition and metabolic markers.Objective: The objective of this study was to compare changes in hyperphagia (using Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinica...