Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Androgen-producing tumors are a rare cause of hyperandrogenism (±0.2%). Ovarian steroid cell tumors represent <0.1% of all ovarian tumors. They may present at any age and in 12–50% of cases are associated with virilization. The majority of these tumors are benign or low-grade malignanies.Clinical case: A 74-year-old female patient, with history of vaginal hysterectomy for genital prolapse at the age of 50, is referred to Endoc...

Ectopic ACTH secretion due to malignant tumours is a rare cause of hypercortisolism. Induced metabolic disturbances are often serious and the management of such patients may be difficult. We report the case of a 50-yr-old man who had a sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) removed 2 years ago (Dec/2003). Calcitonin and CEA levels remained high postoperatively and a CT scan revealed liver metastases. In August 2005 he was referred to Endocrinology with symptoms of muscular...

The chicken gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (cGnRH-R) is notable for having a cytoplasmic carboxyl-terminal tail, which is not present in the mammalian GnRH-Rs. We have previously shown that the cGnRH-R undergoes rapid agonist-induced internalization, and requires the carboxyl-terminal tail for this process. To investigate the role of the carboxyl-terminal tail of the cGnRH-R in relation to its rapid internalization, and to identify the key residues involved, a series ...

Introduction: Insulinomas are almost always located in the pancreas and are usually small. The peak incidence is from the third to fifth decade of life, with females being slightly more frequently affected. The average duration of neuroglycopenic symptoms prior to diagnosis is often prolonged, being more than 5 years in 20% of patients.Case presentation: Female, 52 years old, medical history notable for hypertension, dislipidemia and Graves disease. She ...