Endocrine Abstracts

Cytosolic calcium signalling controls a vast number of cellular functions, such as contraction, secretion, cell growth and cell division. The increase of [Ca2+]i evoked by G-protein coupled receptor activation has two closely related components, i.e. the rapid phase of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate-mediated Ca2+ release from ER stores, and followed by Ca2+ entry through store-operated channels (SOCs) in plasma membrane. Orai and STIM p...

We report five cases of hyperthyroidism with complex management issues, which were successfully treated with iopanoic acid prior to thyroidectomy.Three patients (cases 1–3) had Graves’ disease; two developed agranulocytosis on carbimazole and one had uncontrolled severe thyrotoxicosis and poor compliance with treatment. Radioiodine was either declined or contraindicated due to radio-protection issues. All patients were rendered euthyroid with i...

Hyperinsulinism in Infancy (HI) is a potentially-lethal condition of neonates and during early childhood. For many years the pathophysiology of this disorder was unknown. Recent advances in genetics, histopathology and molecule physiology have now revealed the causes of HI in a large cohort of patients. This review focuses upon the relationship between the basis of HI and current treatment options. From defects in ion channel subunit genes to lesions in the control of pancreat...

Recent health reports state that the population of western countries is consuming excessive amounts of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the diet. Dietary n-6 PUFAs are precursors for prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, which play important roles in parturition. Increased dietary n-6 PUFA could thus alter PG production. This study determined the effect of a high n-6 PUFA diet on PG production and the timing of the onset of labour. Pregnant Welsh Mountain ewes were fed an is...

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is an important growth factor, simulating the process of angiogenesis which is required for tumour progression. It mainly acts through 2 receptors VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2. Whilst the presence of VEGF has been shown in pituitary adenomas, no study has undertaken the quantification of the expression of VEGF121, VEGF165, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2, and whether their expression may correlate.METHODS. We have used the technique of quantitative RT-...

ATP-evoked signalling events are known to promote release of insulin from pancreatic beta-cells in a Ca2+-dependent manner. In rodent beta-cells and insulin-secreting cell lines, this is mediated by purinergic receptors and there is evidence for the involvement of both P2X and P2Y subtypes. Here,we have used human insulin-secreting cells to examine the expression of purinoceptors in control and disease tissue. Intact islets and isolated beta-cells were obtained from...

The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria is often the trigger for the nuclear and cytoplasmic changes that characterise apoptotic cell death. Previously, we have shown that vascular endothelial cells of the line, EA.hy 926, undergo apoptosis in response to TNFalpha, camptothecin and oxidants and that this is blocked by the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (Dex). As a tool to determine where in the apoptotic pathway Dex acts to block the apoptotic process, we have developed a...

A 65 years old male chef presented with a history of weight loss of 15kg over a 12-month period associated with lethargy, constipation and abdominal pain. His past medical history included epilepsy, hypertension and gastric reflux. He reported no family history of endocrinopathies.At presentation his performance status was 0 and was found to have hepatomegaly. In view of rapid weight loss and hepatomegaly he had a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, which showed multiple hyperv...

Transsphenoidal surgery is the first-line treatment for non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas (NFPAs) causing pressure symptoms. However, the approach to asymptomatic NFPAs is unclear due to the limited data on their natural progression. This study retrospectively analysed data from patients with NFPAs who underwent conservative management for at least six months. The study screened 175 individuals treated at the National Neurosurgery/Pituitary Centre at Beaumont Hospital be...

Introduction: Worldwide guidance advocates regular HbA1c testing for people with diabetes mellitus, usually 2-4/yr. We previously showed that HbA1c testing frequency is linked to outcome in terms of HbA1c control. Here we examine the effect of variability (standard deviation = SD) in test interval on change in HbA1c over 7 yrs (Jun 2012-Jul 2019) using laboratory data.Methods: We focused on people with HbA1c within the first 2 years who also had a HbA1c ...