Endocrine Abstracts

ObjectiveIt has been suggested that ghrelin may play a role in regulating the growth hormone (GH) response to exercise. This study was designed to determine whether very intense exercise alters circulating ghrelin concentrations. Design: Following Local Ethics Committee approval, 7 male volunteers were familiarised before completing two trials in a random order. In one trial participants performed a single 30-s sprint on a cycle ergometer, in the ...

Endocrine sequelae occur following cancer therapy. The majority of studies focus on childhood survivors of common cancers, in particular brain tumours, and isolated growth hormone deficiency (GHD) following radiotherapy is well recognised. The need for endocrine follow up in adults or following treatment of less common cancers with lower survival rates is often overlooked. Survival following treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer is improving. Although therapy options are changin...

Background: Ectopic-ACTH syndrome (EAS) is an extremely rare cause of Cushing’s syndrome in young children. The intensity of ACTH secretion and hypercortisolaemia is greater in EAS than in Cushing’s disease. Control of hypercortisolaemia represents a key management step while awaiting localization of the ACTH source or in preparation to surgery. Etomidate inhibits cortisol synthesis and its rapid onset of action makes it an ideal medication in severe hypercortisolaem...

Objective: To determine if the impact of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose levels and post load glucose levels on large for gestational age neonates varies with ethnicity.Data sources: Electronic health records of all eligible pregnant women in an inner city service. Study designRetrospective analysis of pregnant women at risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (2016-2019) of. Population or sampleEligible pregnant women. Synth...

Background: Successful reproduction relies on integration of sensory cues of attraction with corresponding emotions and behaviours. However, the intrinsic factors integrating these fundamental aspects of human attraction with limbic and reproductive pathways have not been fully identified. Kisspeptin is a crucial activator of the reproductive axis and together with its receptor is widely expressed throughout the limbic and olfactory systems in humans suggesting a potential rol...

Hypercalcaemia in pregnancy is a rare but important finding, given the associated potential risks to mother and baby. These include hypertension, pancreatitis, nephrolithiasis and renal failure in the mother and intrauterine growth restriction, neonatal hypoparathyroidism/hypocalcaemia and stillbirth in the baby (1). We present the case of a 26-year-old female with a background of PTH-independent hypercalcaemia of unknown aetiology. This was initially detected at age 6 months ...

Background: Placentation (invasion of the placenta into the maternal endometrium) is hypothesised to be critical for healthy placental function and is abnormal in two thirds of miscarriages. Kisspeptin has emerged as a putative regulator of physiological placentation; it is highly expressed in placental syncytiotrophoblasts and could play an important paracrine role in the regulation of placentation. Circulating kisspeptin levels are considerably raised during healthy pregnanc...

Background: Kisspeptin-54 (KP54) stimulates hypothalamic GnRH release. The kisspeptin analogue, MVT-602, has a longer half-life (t1/2108min) than KP54 (t1/228mins). MVT-602 potently stimulates gonadotrophin release in men. We sought to determine for the first time the effect of MVT-602 on gonadotrophin release in healthy women.Methods: A two-phase dose-finding study was carried out in 9 healthy women, 18–35 yrs with regular men...

Background: Placentation (invasion of the placenta into the maternal endometrium of pregnancy known as the decidua) is hypothesised to be critical for healthy placental function and is abnormal in two thirds of miscarriage. Kisspeptin has emerged as a putative regulator of physiological placentation; it is highly expressed in placental syncitio-trophoblasts, whereas its receptor is expressed in both syncitio- and cyto-trophoblasts, such that kisspeptin is hypothesized to play ...

Introduction: Peptide-YY (PYY) is produced by intestinal L-cells following nutrient ingestion. PYY analogues are an emerging class of anti-obesity medication. Peripheral administration of PYY has potent anorectic effects in rodents and humans. Interestingly, rodent studies have demonstrated that PYY has additional effects on reproductive hormone secretion depending on the model studied. In humans, hypogonadism occurs in up to 40% of men with obesity. Therefore, the effects of ...