Endocrine Abstracts

A 43-year-old policeman was referred for investigation of recurrent symptomatic hypomagnesaemia. He initially presented with a one week history of dizziness, headaches, and ‘funny turns,’ on a background history of bronchial asthma, reflux oeosphagitis and hypertension. Initial investigations demonstrated hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypophosphataemia. These disturbances were attributed to his thiazide diuretic which was subsequently discontinued; his symptoms ...

Background: Chromogranin A and B (CgA, CgB) are widely used as markers of neuroendocrine tumour (NET) disease. However, the sensitivity of the test is variable and the value of CgB measurement is unclear. We thus sought to review 3 years of CgA and CgB requests made in our hospital.Methods: CgA and CgB were measured at the Hammersmith Hospital. Case notes were reviewed in each of these patients.Results: There were 520 tests perform...

A 67 year old female presented with hypertension, oedema and cough. A CT scan of her abdomen showed an enlarged left adrenal gland. Urinary free cortisols were grossly elevated and low dose dexamethasone suppression testing confirmed Cushing’s Syndrome. 24 hour catecholamines were also elevated consistent with a diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma. ACTH levels were high (690 pg/ml) but pituitary MRI was normal. She was commenced on alpha and beta blockade in preparation for su...

Background: Women with epilepsy may be at risk of developing PCOS, but it is unclear whether this is due to the disease or sodium valproate (VPA) therapy. We sought to determine androgenic status and cardiometabolic risk in women taking VPA monotherapy and compared these with subjects taking lamotrigine and healthy controls.Methods: Patients with epilepsy (age 18–43) with no known vascular risk were divided into 3 groups: VPA monotherapy (n=1...

Folliculostellate (FS) cells within the anterior pituitary gland produce cytokines and growth factors which are regulated by molecules produced by neighbouring endocrine cells. There are many factors that could potentially be responsible for this intercellular communication that is mediated via connexins (Cx) and gap-junctions. We thus investigated the effect of co-culturing lactotrophs (MMQ) and FS cells (TtT/GF) on Cx43 expression. Our in vitro model system consists o...

Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) are able to differentiate along multiple lineages including adipogenic and osteogenic lineages. The adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) modulates adipose tissue function causing an inhibition of lipolysis. We therefore studied A1R expression in BMSCs induced to differentiate along the adipogenic lineage.BMSCs were isolated from rat femur (10 wk male Wistar), cultured in control medium (alphaMEM 10% FCS) and then plated into adipocy...