Endocrine Abstracts

The activity of certain hypothalamic neuronal populations is altered by changes in glucose. in-vitro studies have identified several glucose-sensitive neuronal populations in hypothalamic regions controlling energy homeostasis. Subsets of orexigenic arcuate nucleus Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-releasing neurones are known to be glucose responsive. These neurones may allow glucose to influence appetite. Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) is a neurotransmitter ab...

Background: HADH encodes for the enzyme 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HADH) and catalyses the penultimate reaction in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Mutations in the HADH gene have recently been described to cause protein sensitive hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH). Protein sensitive HH (specifically leucine sensitivity), is also associated with the hyperinsulinism-hyperammonaemia syndrome (HI/HA syndrome) caused by activating mutations of GLUD1 ...

Introduction: Obesity is one of the biggest health challenges we currently face. Obesity results from imbalance of energy consumption and expenditure. Genetic studies on monogenic forms of obesity and Genome Wide Association studies have revealed neuronal mechanisms of genesis of obesity and/or leanness. We report a novel disorder of increased energy expenditure with severe failure to gain weight and increased brown fat.Case report: The proband is a whit...

Background: Hyperinsulinism–hyperammonaemia (HI/HA) syndrome is caused by gain of function mutations in the GLUD1 gene. Patients present with recurrent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) together with asymptomatic, persistent elevation of plasma ammonia levels. Leucine sensitivity is an important feature of this condition.Objectives: The aim of this study was to understand the genotype phenotype correlations in patients with HH due to GLUD1 mutati...

Hyperinsulinism in Infancy (HI) is a potentially-lethal condition of neonates and during early childhood. For many years the pathophysiology of this disorder was unknown. Recent advances in genetics, histopathology and molecule physiology have now revealed the causes of HI in a large cohort of patients. This review focuses upon the relationship between the basis of HI and current treatment options. From defects in ion channel subunit genes to lesions in the control of pancreat...

Pituitary tumourigenesis is a complex and poorly understood process. Crucial to the initiation and growth of such tumours is the oncogene PTTG, which stimulates FGF-2-mediated angiogenesis. We recently investigated expression of the angiogenic factor VEGF and its receptor KDR in 103 pituitary tumours. Non-functioning tumours demonstrated markedly raised VEGF mRNA (3.2-fold, P<0.05) and protein levels compared to normal pituitaries (N=10). KDR was also highly induced in NFTs...