Endocrine Abstracts

Covid-19 infection severity has been associated with pre-existing conditions including obesity. Individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) are potentially at high risk. Reports on the outcomes of Covid-19 infection in individuals with DS are scant. Here we present such a case. MA is a 27-year old Emirati male with DS, obesity and hypothyroidism. He was brought to the ER with a history of hemoptysis (2 days), fever and cough (1 week). He tested positive for Covid-19. Initial investiga...

Background: Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are the most common pituitary macroadenomas with a prevalence of 7-22 per 100,000 population. As they are non-secretory, they tend to present late with visual disturbances, headaches or hormonal deficiencies. Surgery is the main treatment for NFPAs, particularly endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery which can be associated with surgical and endocrine complications.Aims: To compare pre- and post-operativ...

Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) has a critical role in orchestrating optimal vitamin D homeostasis and bioavailability. VDBP has been implicated in modulating the gene expression of amino-transporters within the placenta and might thus control the transfer of amino acids to neonates during in utero development. We hypothesize that dyshomeostasis of VDBP could lead to adverse metabolic profiles and low birth weight in neonates. VDBP genetic polymorphisms steer the uni...

Introduction: Low levels of vitamin D are associated with higher mortality in critically ill patients. Studies on vitamin D levels in adult burn patients and their influence on clinical outcomes are scarce. Therefore, vitamin D status following thermal injury is often overlooked as its clinical implications are poorly understood.Aim: To examine the relationship of major thermal injury on the vitamin D axis and the influence of ...

Ectopic insulin secreting tumours are rare and infrequent. Presentation can be with recurrent or constant hypoglycaemia often in older patients with advanced cancer. The mechanism is through: insulin or insulin-like activity (IGF-2)(often termed non-islet cell tumour hypoglycaemia), reduced gluconeogenesis, disruption of glucagon metabolism, or utilisation of glucose by the tumour. Neuroendocrine tumours are recognised as having hypogly...

Introduction: Low levels of vitamin D are associated with higher mortality in critically ill patients. Studies on vitamin D levels in adult burn patients and their influence on clinical outcomes are scarce. Therefore, vitamin D status following thermal injury is often overlooked as its clinical implications are poorly understood.Aim: To examine the relationship of major thermal injury on the vitamin D axis and the influence of ...

Ectopic insulin secreting tumours are rare and infrequent. Presentation can be with recurrent or constant hypoglycaemia often in older patients with advanced cancer. The mechanism is through: insulin or insulin-like activity (IGF-2)(often termed non-islet cell tumour hypoglycaemia), reduced gluconeogenesis, disruption of glucagon metabolism, or utilisation of glucose by the tumour. Neuroendocrine tumours are recognised as having hypogly...

Objective: We reviewed clinical and biochemical characteristics and post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for PHA in UHS between January 2014 and June 2022 (8.5-year period).Results: 17 patients (41% female, mean age 45y) underwent adrenalectomy for PHA during this period. 5/17 (29%) required admissions related to PHA, 7/17 had blood pressure (BP) of ≥ 200 mmol/Hg, 11/17 (65%) potassium ≤3 mmol/l, 5/17 required ≥ 4 BP a...

Introduction: Phaeochromocytoma affects <1:100000 people per year. Wilms tumour (WT) affects almost 1:10000 children each year. Both tumours are associated with somatic genetic alterations: Phaeochromocytoma (RET, VHL, NF1, SDHA, SDHAF2, SDHB, SDHC, SDCD, TMEM127 and MAX); WT (WT1, 11p13, 11p15, tp53, NSD1, KDM3B, BRCA2). Both tumours affecting the same person have only been reported twice in the literature.Case Report: We report a lady who, at the a...

Background: Liraglutide is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1) receptor agonist that promotes weight loss. The minimum adequate/good response to liraglutide (≥5% weight loss at 3 months) is not achievable in all patients. Currently there are no biomarkers to predict good response. Enhanced postprandial glicentin concentration was recently considered as superior to GLP-1 in predicting weight loss following bariatric surgeries.Objective 1) T...