Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: To identify the role of unmetabolised arachidonic acid (AA) produced by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes, and its 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) products in the insulin secretory response of human islets of Langerhans. Material and Methods: Expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNAs was determined by RT-PCR. Insulin secretion from perifused human islets was measured by radioimmunoassay, in the presence of inhibitors of PLA<su...

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the investigation of choice for patients with thyroid nodules in secondary care. Ideally the following standards should be met: assessment within 2 weeks of referral; FNAB performed in the first visit; consent obtained and documented; communication of the result in person.A cohort of 64consecutive patients (57 female) was identified. The median age was 49 (16-78). Thyroid function tests were normal in 89% of patien...

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the investigation of choice for patients with thyroid nodules in secondary care. Ideally the following standards should be met: assessment within 2 weeks of referral; FNAB performed in the first visit; consent obtained and documented; communication of the result in person.A cohort of 64consecutive patients (57 female) was identified. The median age was 49 (16-78). Thyroid function tests were normal in 89% of patien...

There is no consensus on the role of insulin secreted from pancreatic β-cells in regulating its own secretion, nether in rodent islets nor in human islets. We have now investigated whether there is an autocrine signalling role for insulin in human islets by determining insulin receptor expression and assessing the effects of insulin receptor activation using a non-peptidyl insulin-mimetic termed L-783,281. All experiments used hand-picked human islets of Langerhans. Human...

Mice and rats are unusual amongst mammals for having 2 structurally similar but non-allelic insulin genes. Both genes are functional but their expression patterns relative to each other have not been conclusively determined. The insulin 1 gene (ins 1) has been shown in several studies to be selectively glucose responsive in mice and rats. We have used the MIN6 cell line to examine passage-related changes in ins 1 and 2 expression and to test glucose responsiveness of the 2 gen...

Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) represent a population of self renewing pluripotent cells, capable of differentiating into derivatives of the 3 embryonic germ layers and are therefore a promising source material for generation of replacement pancreatic beta cells for transplantation in type 1 diabetes. ES cells can be induced to undergo unregulated differentiation when cultured as floating clusters (embryoid bodies). Successful generation of pancreatic endocrine cells from ES ...

Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) represent a population of self renewing pluripotent cells, capable of differentiating into derivatives of the 3 embryonic germ layers and are therefore a promising source material for generation of replacement pancreatic beta cells for transplantation in type 1 diabetes. ES cells can be induced to undergo unregulated differentiation when cultured as floating clusters (embryoid bodies). Successful generation of pancreatic endocrine cells from ES ...

BackgroundHeart failure is a syndrome of vaso-constriction and hormone abnormalities. There is an excess of catabolic and vasoconstrictor hormones and a relative deficiency of anabolic hormones. Vaso-dilating drugs improve symptoms in heart failure and inhibition of some catabolic / vasoconstrictor hormones improves prognosis. We aimed to study the direct vascular effects of testosterone resistance arteries from men with heart failure.Methods6 resistance arteries w...

Background. Males with coronary disease have lower levels of endogenous testosterone than unaffected males. It is not known if low testosterone is a cause, effect or an epi-phenomenon of ischaemic heart disease.We hypothesised that androgen deficient men treated surgically with complete resolution of their symptoms would have a higher subsequent testosterone than men with persistent angina.Methods. Subjects were recruited after angiography. All subjects were biochemically ...

Objectives: Testosterone deficiency has been associated with depressive symptoms, which may be improved by replacement therapy. Patients with chronic heart failure have a high prevalence of depression, which is associated with early mortality in these patients. Men with heart failure may also have low plasma levels of testosterone, which could contribute to depressed mood. In a clinical study investigating whether testosterone treatment benefits men with heart failure, patient...