Endocrine Abstracts

Driven by the rising global tide of obesity, insulin resistance is already at pandemic levels, and is intimately associated with major pathologies including type 2 diabetes, ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism, the spectrum of fatty liver disease, and disorders of growth including cancer. Yet despite intensive study of prevalent forms of the condition, major questions remain both about the nature of the genetic predisposition to insulin resistance, and the mechanisms li...

Background: Infrared thermography (IRT) can assess human brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity non-invasively. However, it remains unclear if skin temperature is altered in obesity. We compared skin temperatures of lean and obese individuals following cold exposure and studied its relationship with energy expenditure (EE).Methods: 10 lean (age 28.3±2.1y, BMI 21.5±0.4kg/m2) and 10 obese (age 28.2±2.1y, BMI 36.2±1.3kg/m2</...

Case history: A 38-year-old man was referred with a 12-month history of recurrent bouts of transient hyponatraemia (serum sodium ranging from 115 to 125 mmol/l). Citalopram, which he was taking for depression, was discontinued, but the episodes continued.Initial investigations: Whilst symptomatic, and clinically euvolaemic, his biochemical profile was consistent with a syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD): sodium 124 mmol/l, potassium 4.5 mmol/l...

Introduction: Insulin autoimmune syndrome or Hirata disease is a rare cause of hypoglycemia without prior insulin exposure. Approximately 400 cases were reported, mostly in Japan. It’s associated with other autoimmune diseases or exposure to sulfhydryl-containing drugs.Case report: A 56-year-old Caucasian woman presented with a 20-month history of hypoglycemia ameliorated by sugar intake. She had a past history of autoimmune thyroiditis, asthma and ...