Endocrine Abstracts

The adrenal cortex produces aldosterone, cortisol and adrenal androgens. ACTH regulates the production of both cortisol and adrenal androgens. However there are physiological and pathophysiological conditions where the production of these steroids is divergent. We examined the effect angiotension II (A-II) and insulin on the relative production of cortisol and adrenal androgens in the human adrenal H-295 cell line. We determined the ability of these secretogogues to regulate t...

The adrenal cortex produces aldosterone, cortisol and adrenal androgens in response to secretogogues including ACTH, angiotensin II(A-II) and insulin. Differential regulation of adrenal steroids is through the modulation of specific key steroidogenic enzymes. The capacity of the adrenal to produce cortisol is controlled in part by the transcription of 3beta-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase (3beta HSD) and production of adrenal androgens by 17 hydroxylase/17-20 lyase (CYP17). Protei...

BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated that in weight losing gastrointestinal cancer patients appetite is poor despite low circulating leptin concentrations. One explanation for the apparent inability of these low circulating leptin concentrations to increase appetite might be a decrease in the leptin binding component resulting in high concentrations of 'free' biologically active leptin. The present study was designed to investigate this possibility, furthermore the effe...

Background: Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a safe and effective treatment for management of hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease and multinodular goitres. However, patient engagement with this therapy is limited by concerns regarding significant weight gain following treatment. We therefore aimed to audit weight changes in individuals receiving RAI within our service and identify factors that may influence this outcome.Met...

Introduction: Hypo-&hyperkalaemia are common laboratory abnormalities, complicating up to 10% of all hospital admissions and contributing to mortality. Ideally, patients with mild deviations can be treated as outpatients, and only those patients with objectively severe or life-threatening levels are hospitalized. Once admitted, there are few data as to whether the degree of electrolyte disturbance consumes greater resource(s). We analysed the admission and discharge data, ...

Introduction: Hyponatraemia is a common biochemical abnormality, complicating up to 15% of all hospital admissions and associated with increased mortality. Hypernatraemia, occuring less frequently, is strongly associated with mortality and is almost always due to a free water deficit. There is limited data about hospital healthcare burden of these two relatively common electrolyte imbalances. We analysed the length of stay, for acute admissions, with reference to the admission...

University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) has over 1,000 thyroid patient contacts annually. These are primarily patients with autoimmune hyperthyroidism and are treated by titration of Carbimazole. Dose adjustments are made by a healthcare professional (HCP) based on the results of thyroid function tests. Once the test results are available, the HCP decides on a prescription dose and communicates this to the patient, which is time-consuming and introduces delays. This project aims to ...

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) accounts for 5 to 10% of DM cases, and can occur both in childhood and adults. Studies show an association between severe hypoglycemia and increased vulnerability to cardiac arrhythmias due to conduction disorders, interval ST-segment changes, and even sudden death. The aim of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias during episodes of hypoglycemia. A prospective study with DM1 patients under insulin therapy for at least 5 ...

Sex hormones are important determinant of body composition. The significant negative correlation between testosterone and obesity, positive correlation between testosterone and muscle mass and that testosterone therapy increases muscle mass in hypogonadal men is well-known.Objectives: To assess the impact of total testosterone (TT) level on body composition in men with T2D.Methods: A cross-sectional study involving men with T2D (<e...

Hormonal control of pancreatic β-cell development in the fetus during late gestation remains unclear. In fetal sheep hypothyroidism causes an increase in pancreatic β-cell mass in association with increased plasma insulin and leptin concentrations. This study investigated the effects of triiodothyronine (T3), insulin and leptin on proliferation rates in fetal ovine pancreatic β-cells in vitro.All procedures were approve...