Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Osilodrostat is a potent, oral inhibitor of 11β-hydroxylase, the enzyme that catalyses final step of cortisol biosynthesis. In a phase II study, 15/19 patients treated with osilodrostat met the primary endpoint (normal urinary free cortisol (UFC) at 22 weeks); osilodrostat was generally well tolerated. This phase III study aims to confirm the efficacy and long-term safety of osilodrostat.Patients and methods: Adults (18–75 years) ...

Introduction: Giant prolactinomas are rare pituitary tumours. They can present with visual field defect, intracranial pressure symptoms and even temporal lobe epilepsy. Impairment of higher cognitive functions has been reported postoperatively after trans-cranial surgery and following radiotherapy. Reversible cognitive disturbances have been previously reported in patients with surgically decompressed arachnoid cysts but not after medical treatment of giant prolactinoma. We pr...

Background: Training is adolescent health and transition is lacking in medical education. Clinicians working in diabetes and endocrinology across paediatric and adult services need to have the skills to work effectively with this age group. Our aim was to identify the current state of training and to ascertain training needs in trainees.Methods: A questionnaire was developed based on existing questionnaires. Using trainee representatives all paediatric a...

Introduction: There is a strong association between testosterone deficiency and the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in men. Physiological testosterone replacement (TRT) improves insulin resistance and glycaemic control in hypogonadal men. The mechanism by which testosterone mediates these beneficial actions are unknown but may be due to an effect on major metabolically active tissues such as liver and muscle. This study investigates the expression of key regulatory targets ...

Testosterone deficiency increases risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. Testosterone replacement (TRT) improves insulin resistance, glycaemic control and cholesterol in hypogonadal men. Liver X receptor (LXR) is a nuclear receptor which regulates lipid and glucose metabolism. LXR agonists protect against atherosclerosis but cause hepatic steatosis. We have previously shown that TRT protects against hepatic steatosis and atherosclerosis in high-fat diet-fed...

Objectives: Testosterone deficiency is common in obese men with type 2 diabetes. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) improves insulin resistance, glycaemic control and cholesterol in hypogonadal men, and TRT reduces body fat mass. Adipose tissue plays a major role in glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity through the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. There are functional differences between subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue. This study investigates the...

Objectives: A clinical feature of insulin resistance is the development of fatty liver (hepatic steatosis). Testosterone deficiency is common in men with type-2 diabetes and is associated with insulin resistance. The testicular feminised mouse (Tfm) exhibits a non-functional androgen receptor (AR) and low circulating testosterone. We have previously shown that a high-cholesterol diet promotes hepatic steatosis in Tfm mice, and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) attenuates ...

Objectives: Symptomatic hypogonadism is common in obese men with type-2 diabetes (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), and is now an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) improves cholesterol metabolism in hypogonadal men with T2DM and/or MetS. We have previously shown that a non-functional androgen receptor (AR) and low levels of circulating testosterone in the testicular feminised (Tfm) mouse is associated with elevated ch...

Background: Lithium remains a first-line treatment for bipolar affective disorder and acute maniac state despite the introduction of newer and effective treatment. Lithium therapy is associated with a variety of side effects. Although thyroid dysfunction is the most widely recognised endocrine side effect, hypercalcaemia and more rarely a biochemical picture resembling primary hyperparathyroidism or familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia may develop. Recognition of this less co...

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is regarded as a precursor to the development of carcinoid tumorlets. It is confined to the neuroendocrine cell of the airway mucosa without penetration through the basement membrane and appears in a diffuse pattern, typically in association with obliterative bronchiolar fibrosis. DIPNECH belongs to the preinvasive lesions defined by the 1999 World Health Organization classification, along with atypical ade...