Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Hyponatremia is common in hospitalised patients and can be due to a number of aetiologies. Investigations and management are often quite varied.Aims: To find out the prevalence, aetiology, investigations and management of hyponatremia in our hospitalised patients over a 2 week period (1 May and 15 May 2011).Methods: Case notes and electronic data assessment of all patients admitted with sodium level <130 mmol/l.</...

Background: Hypertension (HT) is common in adults with Turner Syndrome (TS) but less is known about HT in children with TS.Aim: To determine the frequency of HT in girls with TS in West of Scotland and to assess its association with clinical characteristics. Patients and methods Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 126 girls with TS in the West of Scotland, with at least 2 clinic blood pressure (BP) measurements in the preceding 12 months. HT was de...

A 20-year-old female admitted under haematology team for acute myeloid leukaemia. During her admission, she had a whole body CT scan and was found to have a left breast lesion (proven on biopsy to have invasive ductal carcinoma) and a right adrenal mass measuring 6.5 × 7.5 cm with radiological features suggestive of an adrenocortical cancer. Biochemical workup showed raised adrenal androgens: DHA Sulphate 14.9 umol/l (4.0–11.0), 17-OH Progesterone 7.6 nmol/l (0.6&#15...

The hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis undergoes adaptive changes in response to increased energy expenditure at puberty, a process called thyroidarche. Furthermore, the secretion of thyroid hormones (THs) is influenced by various kinds of acute and chronic stresses. Amongst others, persistent and severe physical stress may affect the secretion of THs. The present study investigates changes in the secretion of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TSH), trioiodothyronine (T3) and tet...

Background: Hypertension is common in adults with Turner Syndrome (TS) but less is known about hypertension in children with TS.Aim: To determine the frequency of hypertension in a contemporary paediatric TS cohort and to assess its association with clinical characteristics.Patients and methods: Preliminary analysis of 22 girls with TS attending a designated TS clinic at RHC, Glasgow, with at least 2 blood pressure measurements in ...

The reawakening of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) leading to attainment of sexual maturation and reproductive capacity is influenced by several internal and external factors. Amongst external factors, adverse physical or psychological conditions may alter the timing of onset of puberty. The present study examined the effect of persistent and severe physical stress on timing of onset of puberty. The study included non-working school/college going and working boys of 10...

Adrenarche is a normal maturational event that in humans occurs at around 6–8 years of age. During adrenarche, a new zone of the adrenal cortex, the zona reticularis, is developed, resulting in increased production of adrenal androgens, androsteindione, DHEA and DHEAS. The increase in the secretion of adrenal androgens causes the appearance of axilliary and pubic hair, a brief increase in linear growth velocity and bone maturation, and the development of the brain. The pr...

The oxyntic mucosa of digestive tract secretes two peptide hormones, ghrelin and obestatin, which are derived from the same gene transcript and play an important role in food intake, metabolic responses and growth and reproduction. Ghrelin and obestatin bind GH secretagogue receptor GHSR1α and G-protein coupled receptor GPR39 respectively, in the pituitary. A limited data in the literature demonstrate that levels of ghrelin peak during first 2 years of life and thereafter...