Endocrine Abstracts

Adipose tissue inflammation may be an important mechanism in the development of systemic insulin resistance, such that modulation of this system may be a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes and obesity-related disorders. AMPK has anti-inflammatory properties, yet the anti-inflammatory actions of AMPK in adipocytes remain poorly characterised. We questioned whether AMPK activation influences pro-inflammatory responses in cultured adipocytes in basal and stimulated conditions...

The increasing global prevalence of obesity requires urgent intervention to limit the anticipated surge of associated cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. The energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is one proposed target for treating metabolic disorders and is downregulated in adipose tissue of obese insulin resistant individuals. Given the strong relationship between metabolic syndrome and overactivity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) we inves...

Background: Hypospadias in boys may be associated with a lack of androgen exposure during the masculinisation programming window. As testosterone has effects on the vasculature, we assessed whether boys with hypospadias show evidence of vascular dysfunction.Methods: Excess foreskin tissue was obtained from boys undergoing hypospadias repair (cases) or circumcision (controls) and small arteries dissected. Vascular contractility was assessed by wire myogra...