Endocrine Abstracts

Background: A polymorphism within the CYP11B2 gene, characterised by a C/T substitution at position 344, the putative binding site for steroidogenic transcription factor1, has been shown to influence aldosterone excretion rate and blood pressure in essential hypertension.Aims: Assess the effect of contrasting genotype for the SF1 site on urinary and plasma steroid production during dietary manipulation of the renin-angiotensin system and assess the press...

In the rat hippocampus, corticosteroids modulate neuronal excitability. Glucocorticoid excess within the rat hippocampus results in a neurodegenerative effect, although corticosteroids also protect oligodendrocytes from cytokine-mediated apoptosis. Other studies have shown that systemically insignificant levels of aldosterone affect systemic blood pressure when administered icv. Previously, we have shown by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry that the genes for 11beta-hydroxylase ...

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) has been postulated to function as a vasodilator via a nitric oxide (NO) pathway. IGF-1/growth hormone deficiency in humans is associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased cardiovascular mortality.We compared the effects of IGF-1 on vascular function in control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) (n=6) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats characterised by endothelial dysfunction (SHRSP) (n=7)....

A 24-year-old male was referred to endocrinology with multiple severe atraumatic vertebral fractures. In the preceding 10 years the patient had experienced a bimalleolar ankle fracture and numerous metacarpal and metatarsal breakages unrelated to trauma. There was no family history of osteoporosis and examination did not reveal any abnormalities in scleral colour, stature, dentition or facial/thoracic morphology. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry demonstrated severe densitometr...

Insulin resistance is one of the metabolic pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus which cause neurodegeneration, due to its effects on insulin signaling pathway. The present study focused on the intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce insulin resistance directly in brain, accounting for alteration in insulin signaling pathway and thus the possible therapeutic effect of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum on the impairment hippocampus of diabetic r...

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a significant complication of paediatric diabetes, the effective management of which relies on meticulous calculations, and timely decision making in response to changing physiology. A previous regional audit in South West England has shown that compliance with national guidelines is highly variable, and errors in calculations such as fluid rates are common. Fluid management in paediatric DKA is a subject of ongoing debate and changing guidance. ...

Neonatal hypocalcaemia (NH) is a well described phenomena with values of 2–2.25 mmol/l seen at 24 h of age after the cessation of transfer of transplancental calcium. Levels then increase to normal by 2 weeks of life. Calcium levels below 2.0 mmol/l in infants >1.5 kg is considered to be pathological hypocalcaemia. The role of vitamin D in NH is unclear and not well studied in both neonate and mother.Aim: To present the features of neonates with...

Fasting hypoglycemia in the setting of hyperinsulinemia typically is persistent and often progressive. We present a case where fasting hypoglycemia with hyperinsulinemia was transient in nature over a fortnight. This occurred in the setting of recurrent seizure-like activity. Seizures are a well known sequela of hypoglycemia; however, the reverse is not nearly as well documented. A 20 year old male with a history of developmental delay, chronic PEG tube, and nonverbal at basel...

Patients with neuroendocrine tumours require co-ordinated multidisciplinary and multimodal management, with appropriate referral pathways and access to timely expert care. This is exemplified by the European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (ENETS) Centres of Excellence (CoE). There are forty CoE in Europe, ten of which are in the UK. The bar to achieve CoE status is set high, and the standards used for the audit assessments are appropriate to deliver best care even where centre ...

Recent years have seen major advances in our understanding of the causes of adrenal and pituitary Cushing’s syndrome. Careful molecular analyses have yielded new information about the underlying cellular mechanisms leading to the excess secretion of ACTH from the pituitary or cortisol from the adrenal. Unpicking these mechanisms has allowed proposals for new clinical trials of medical treatments for Cushing’s disease. Intriguingly, inherited germ line mutations appea...