Endocrine Abstracts

The capacity of the adrenal to produce steroids is controlled in part through the transcriptional regulation of steroid enzymes. Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), an orphan nuclear receptor is thought to be central to the transcriptional regulation of all steroid hydroxylase enzymes. Recently co-regulatory proteins have been implicated in the modulation of nuclear receptor transcriptional activity. We hypothesised that classic and novel secretogogues, including forskolin, angiote...

This study was designed to evaluate whether weight change in type 2 diabetes leads to deteriorating glycaemic control necessitating treatment escalation, or whether deteriorating glycaemic control results in medication change and possible weight gain.We studied 702 type 2 diabetic subjects with a follow-up of 56 plus/minus 2 months (mean plus/minus S.E.) treated on diet, metformin or sulphonylurea, alone or in combination. Patients who remained on diet alone (40 plus/minus...

The Diabetes Control and Complications Study, United States, and the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study both reported increasing weight gain in all groups of patients with diabetes. The present study was designed to examine retrospectively if this was the experience in a clinic with an emphasis on weight loss as a central component of the treatment offered, facilitated by frequent clinic visits, the attendance of a dietitian at all clinics, a relatively low rate of insu...

The adrenal cortex produces aldosterone, cortisol and adrenal androgens in response to secretogogues including ACTH, angiotensin II(A-II) and insulin. Differential regulation of adrenal steroids is through the modulation of specific key steroidogenic enzymes. The capacity of the adrenal to produce cortisol is controlled in part by the transcription of 3beta-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase (3beta HSD) and production of adrenal androgens by 17 hydroxylase/17-20 lyase (CYP17). Protei...

Background: Hypogonadism in men is associated with osteoporosis and low libido. Serum testosterone in men falls after the age of 40 years; however the benefits of replacement therapy are not established. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of testosterone transdermal patches on bone turnover, body composition, quality of life (QoL) and well-being in men with borderline hypogonadism.Methods: 38 borderline hypogo...