Endocrine Abstracts

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine condition and if untreated can have serious consequences in pregnant women. Generally, TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) is performed in hyperthyroid pregnant women as high titres can cause foetal hyperthyroidism Neonatal thyrotoxicosis develops in 1% of infants born to thyrotoxic mothers due to placental transfer of TRAb.As part of management of hypothyroid pregnant women, TRAb are checked routinely in our hospital in k...

Background: Steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT) also known as Hashimoto’s encephalopathy (HE), is a rare immune-mediated complication independent of functional status of thyroid, which leads to either stroke-like symptoms, or presents as diffuse progressive symptoms of altered mental status, seizures, and cognitive dysfunction. Here we present a case of SREAT in a female with recurrent episodes.Case histo...

Introduction: The early management of atypical genitalia has been highlighted as being of critical importance by the UK-DSD guidance in 2011.Objectives: To estimate the incidence of atypical genitalia requiring early specialist input in neonates and its clinical presentation and management.Method: Prospective audit through the Scottish DSD network and the Scottish Paediatric Endocrine Group, between June 2013 and June 2014. Monthly...

Aims/hypothesis: Oxytocin (OT) and OT receptor (OTR) are expressed in the heart. During OT synthesis, its precursor, termed OT-Gly-Lys-Arg (OT-GKR), is abundantly accumulated in the developing rat heart. Because the OTR is primarily associated with Gq/11protein subunit that activates protein synthesis, we hypothesised that OT can cause cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. On the other hand, OTR signalling is associated with anti-hypertrophic atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release and ...

Background: Ovarian granulosa cell tumours are rare, aggressive, hormonally active neoplasms.Case: A 16-year-old, nulliparous, Eastern European woman presented with a 9-month history of secondary amenorrhoea and a 2-month history of galactorrhoea. She denied headache or visual symptoms. Past medical history was unremarkable with menarche at age 14 and a previously normal menstrual cycle. She had never used hormonal contraception. Only medications were pa...

We have uncovered the cardioprotective functional oxytocin (OT) system in the rat and human heart. In rat model of heart infarct, OT treatment significantly reduced infarct size, decreased cardiomyocytes (CM) diameter, increased expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and improved parameters of heart function. Consequently, in this report we investigated hypothesis that OT-related mechanism of ANP synthesis or release, plays a role in the control of CM hypertrophy.<...

In a retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the medical notes of patients with severe hyponatreaemia admitted to acute medical unit at Blackpool Hospital between January and March 2012. We assessed the severity, causes of hyponatraemia, length of stay and mortality in patients with hyponatraemia.We identified 25 patients with plasma sodium ≤120 mmol/l, 5 of whom were admitted twice during the study period. Their average age was 70 (range 30–9...

Introduction: Metastases of thyroid carcinoma to the choroid and/or orbit are rare and usually occur at an advanced stage of the disease. The principal symptoms are decreased or blurred vision and/or persistent eye pain but they can be totally asymptomatic. They are diagnosed by ultrasound ocular CT and/or MRI scanning. The diagnosis is certain if they fix radioactive iodine. Their prognosis is very bad. Enucleation is the treatment of choice in cases of visual impairment. We ...

This 23 years old man was noted incidentally to have bilateral adrenal calcification on CT scan of his abdomen for chronic abdominal pain. He had normal growth and milestones with no neonatal events. Aged 10 years he was admitted briefly to a high dependency unit with circulatory shock and hyperthermia, with isolation of Streptococcus mitis from blood culture. One year later he was noted to have bilateral adrenal calcification on abdominal XR, and a short Synacthen (250 μ...

A 83-year-old gentleman admitted with nausea and feeling generally unwell. Past medical history of hypertension, duodenal ulcer, previous gastric surgery, polymylagia rheumatica and type two diabetes mellitus. Chest XR showed right basal pneumonia which was treated with antibiotics. Patient admitted to significant weight loss therefore he had thoracic-abdominal CT scan performed which showed 4 cm by 4 cm solid cystic lesion in the left adrenal gland possibly malignant. Subsequ...