Endocrine Abstracts

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) currently affects ~10% of the UK adult population and is one of the foremost health challenges currently facing society. This syndrome can be described as a failure of the pancreatic beta cell mass to secrete sufficient insulin to counteract elevated blood glucose levels. It is largely believed that all beta cells are the same. However, recent studies have shown that beta cells in fact comprise discrete subpopulations, some of which may contribute to insu...

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) currently affects ~10% of the UK adult population and is one of the foremost health challenges currently facing society. This syndrome can be described as a failure of the pancreatic beta cell mass to secrete sufficient insulin to counteract elevated blood glucose levels. It is largely believed that all beta cells are the same. However, recent studies have shown that beta cells in fact comprise discrete subpopulations, some of which may contribute to insu...

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the foremost health challenges presently facing developed society, affecting almost 10% of the UK adult population. This disease state can be best described as a failure of the insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cell mass to compensate for peripheral resistance. The resulting increases in blood glucose concentration lead to a range of co-morbidities including renal and heart disease, as well as blindness and nerve problems. Mounting evi...

In the present presentation, I will discuss the options open to researchers wishing to pursue a career in academia via the scientific fellowship route. Particular attention will be paid to establishing strong early career foundations, managing expectations, as well as appropriately timing career stage with any application. Finally, the pros and cons of this career track will be highlighted....

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition characterised by raised intracranial pressure (ICP) that primarily affects obese women of reproductive age. The aetiology is poorly understood but involves imbalance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion and absorption. IIH patients share similar phenotypic characteristics to PCOS patients, a condition with a distinct androgen signature. We hypothesise that obesity and androgen excess maybe...

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition characterised by raised intracranial pressure (ICP) that primarily affects obese women of reproductive age. The aetiology is poorly understood but involves imbalance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion and absorption. IIH patients share similar phenotypic characteristics to PCOS patients, a condition with a distinct androgen signature. We hypothesise that obesity and androgen excess maybe...

Aim: One of the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is impaired beta cell function, which develops in part as a result of widespread cellular de-differentiation. The current state-of-the-art defines beta cells as a heterogeneous islet population, with the existence of individual subpopulations including specialised ‘pacemakers’. We sought here to understand how overexpression-induced beta cell maturity affects such heterogeneity, befo...

Aim: One of the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is impaired beta cell function, which develops in part as a result of widespread cellular de-differentiation. The current state-of-the-art defines beta cells as a heterogeneous islet population, with the existence of individual subpopulations including specialised ‘pacemakers’. We sought here to understand how overexpression-induced beta cell maturity affects such heterogeneity, befo...

Background: Current therapies for reducing raised intracranial pressure (ICP) in conditions such as idiopathic intracranial hypertension have limited efficacy and tolerability. As such, there is a pressing need to identify novel drugs. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are used to treat diabetes and promote weight loss but have also been shown to affect fluid homeostasis in the kidney. Here, we investigate whether exendin-4, a GLP-1R agonist, is able to modula...

Background: Current therapies for reducing raised intracranial pressure (ICP) in conditions such as idiopathic intracranial hypertension have limited efficacy and tolerability. As such, there is a pressing need to identify novel drugs. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are used to treat diabetes and promote weight loss but have also been shown to affect fluid homeostasis in the kidney. Here, we investigate whether exendin-4, a GLP-1R agonist, is able to modula...