Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Chromogranin A and B (CgA, CgB) are widely used as markers of neuroendocrine tumour (NET) disease. However, the sensitivity of the test is variable and the value of CgB measurement is unclear. We thus sought to review 3 years of CgA and CgB requests made in our hospital.Methods: CgA and CgB were measured at the Hammersmith Hospital. Case notes were reviewed in each of these patients.Results: There were 520 tests perform...

Introduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are submicron vesicles released by most cells. They contain protein, enzymes and microRNA of the donor cells and are believed to play a role in paracrine communication. Circulating EVs might reflect heightened immune/inflammatory status in obese individuals and play a role in initiation/modulation of chronic low grade inflammation associated with obesity.Aims: To compare circulating plasma EVs between healthy vo...

Introduction: Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic disorder associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Exercise is an effective treatment strategy to manage symptoms and reduce long-term health risk. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been suggested as a more efficient exercise mode in PCOS; however, it is not clear whether HIIT is superior to moderate intensity steady state exercise (MISS).Methods: We synthesized availabl...

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) have diverse natural history and clinical syndromes. As a result of the disease or related to management, patients may have altered gut or pancreatic function that can cause nutritional deficiencies. There is a lack of consistent evidence-based dietetic guidance for patients with NETs.Aim: This study evaluated whether nutritional status and nutritional deficiencies had been assessed in patients with NETs in an ...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterised by a high prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance, leading to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, it is unclear whether cardiovascular risk (CVR) is increased in PCOS independently of these metabolic disturbances.Aims: To establish whether PCOS is associated with arterial stiffness, carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and myocardial dysfunction, and explore the relationships ...

Background: Metastatic insulinomas are very rare (fewer than 1:100000) and therefore may pose a therapeutic challenge as there are no case controlled studies comparing the efficacy of various therapeutic approaches avialable. The Ki 67 index from the histology of the primary tumour is an established prognostic marker for metastatic disease with tumours showing low Ki 67(<3%) being defined as low risk of early recurrence.Case Presentation: A 60 year o...

Iodine deficiency may lead to reduced thyroid hormone production and ultimately hypothyroidism. The UK has previously been considered to be iodine sufficient, however recent evidence suggests the UK may be iodine deficient. Iodine status can be assessed in several ways, including measurement of urinary iodine excretion, for which inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is considered the gold standard method.An ICP-MS method for determinatio...

Background: Phaeochromocytomas (PHAEOs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare catecholamine producing tumours which are potentially lethal if left untreated and may be associated with a wide variety of complications. Optimum management demands multidisciplinary input from endocrinologists, biochemists, geneticists and endocrine surgeons.Objective: A retrospective audit into the management of PHAEOs/PGLs at our institution against the 2005 recommendations ma...

Background: The screening investigation of choice for phaeochromocytomas (PHAEO) and paragangliomas (PGL) in the UK is usually a 24 h urine collection for fractionated metadrenalines +/− free catecholamines. These assays have high diagnostic sensitivity (approaching 98%) but lower specificity.Aim: To review causes of false positive (FP) catecholamine and metabolite results in our centre over a 12-year period.Methods: Data wer...

Introduction: Neuroendocrine tumors of GI tract are a heterogeneous group of rare neoplasms that secrete peptides and amines. These tumors are highly vascular and their vascularity reflects increased tumour related angiogenesis. Adenosine, a major regulator of angiogenesis, is released by enhanced degradation of ATP, during cellular stress, damage and hypoxia.Material and methods: The expression of adenosine receptors (AR) was investigated in two human n...