Endocrine Abstracts

Exertional symptoms, dyspnea, and impaired effort tolerance are common in patients with Graves’ disease. Proposed explanations include high-output left heart failure, ineffective oxygen utilization, and respiratory muscle weakness. In addition, cases of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with Graves’ disease have been reported. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is produced by thyroid follicular epithelial cells in response to stimulation of the...

Although the steroidogenesis in testis occur in a paracrine rather than in an endocrine, the comparative metabolic pathways between fetal and adult mice are not fully understood. Here, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based assay for profiling of 23 androgens, 7 estrogens, 13 corticoids, and 14 progestagens has been developed and applied to quantify their testis levels from both fetal and adult mice. Testis samples were purified with Oasis HLB solid-phase extraction and se...

Impaired glucagon suppression is an overlooked contributor to the transition of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. We used Graded Glucose Infusion (GGI) to examine the relationship of ISR and Glucagon Secretion Rate (GSR) with rising glucose. We studied 39 non-diabetic, weight-stable individuals (53±2 yrs, 30±1 Kg/M2) categorized by fasting and glucose tolerance status following a 75g OGTT at the time of screening. After an overnight fast, at 07:00 a variable ins...

Introduction: Pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The pathophysiology of DKA commonly associated with changes in pressure gradients in the pulmonary alveoli secondary to vomiting and/or Kussmaul respiration. We report a 21-year-old male with DKA who have no history of diabetes mellitus before and was found to have pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema.Case: A 21-year-old male without previous history of diabete...

Introduction: Differences/Disorders in Sex Development (DSD) represent a diverse range of conditions that present at various stages of life. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is required to reach a specific diagnosis and management plan, but few large single centre studies of the range and prevalence of diagnoses have been undertaken.Method: Medical records of all children with DSD discussed at a single MDT between 1-Jan-1996 and 31-Dec-2015 (n...

Chronically elevated glucocorticoid (GC) level impairs cognition. In rodents, elevated plasma GC levels, prior to an inflammatory challenge, potentiates neuroinflammation that is abolished by GR but not MR antagonism. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-1 (11β-HSD1) increases intracellular GC levels by regenerating active GCs from inert forms. Inhibition/deficiency of 11β-HSD1 is protective against age-related cognitive decline presumably by lifelong reduced b...

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas that can lead to necrosis of the pancreas and if infected could lead to multi-organ failure. Common cause of acute pancreatitis are gallstones and excess alcohol consumption. Hypertriglyceridemia is becoming an increasing cause of acute pancreatitis and is diagnosed with serum triglyceride levels >1.7 mmol/l. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality.Case presentatio...

Introduction: Pituitary adenomas are benign tumours of the pituitary gland with an estimated prevalence rate of approximately 17%. Around 1 in 600 people have macroadenoma (>1cm) that can present with variety of visual problems classically as bitemporal hemianopia due to compression of the optic chiasm.Case presentation: 50-year-old male was admitted with 3months history of worsening headache and 4months of visual disturbances. Initially he was seen ...

Background and aims: Obesity is a global problem. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) was introduced in our hospital since 2008. This study aimed at reviewing the metabolic changes after LSG among Hong Kong Chinese in a regional hospital.Materials and methods: 47 patients who received LSG in our hospital from June 2008 to October 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Change in body weight (BW) and glycaemic control up to 5 years were evaluated. Rate of r...

The combination of hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness and renal dysplasia, named HDR syndrome, is a rare disease. Heterozygous abnormalities of GATA3 gene are associated with this syndrome. Here we report a novel heterozygous mutation, c.255_256ins4 (GTGC), in GATA3 gene. A 41-year-old man was diagnosed as having idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and has been treated with 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 and calcium carbonate. Three years later, he had a hearing...