Endocrine Abstracts

Background: GH deficiency (GHD) has a spectrum of severity as characterised by GH stimulation tests; the cut-off level for GHD has been a long standing contentious issue. An independent biological correlate of severity would be valuable.Objectives: To identify patterns of gene expression (GE) that correlate with severity in GHD.Methods: Pre-pubertal children with GHD (n=72) were enrolled from the PREDICT study (NCT00256126...

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing problem worldwide, with serious effects on child health. Obese children are at a higher risk of developing metabolic co-morbidities earlier in life (WHO, 2013). Manchester has worse than national average levels of obesity, with an estimated 14 000 obese children (PHE, 2014).Aims and methods: A retrospective case note analysis of 117 obese paediatric patients, seen in our service between March 2012 and 2014, was ...

Background: The diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is based on a combination of clinical suspicion supported by growth hormone stimulation testing. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 are used as supportive markers. Reports over the last decade have examined the performance of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in the diagnosis of GHD. It is important that each unit evaluates the utility of these markers in the assay used by their laboratory based on relevant normative data.Aim:...

Cardiovascular risk factors are more prevalent in south Asian (SA) adults compared to White Europeans (WE), although the reasons for this are not fully known. Vascular growth factors (VGFs) are increasingly recognised to have various roles in arterial development, function and remodelling. We hypothesised that ethnic differences in VGFs in early life contribute to the later differences in CV risk. We further hypothesised that arterial stiffness, as a measure of large artery st...

Introduction: As in most sub-Saharan Africa, hypertension and its complications are increasingly common in Nigeria, where malaria is hyper-endemic. We established a birth cohort in Ibadan to assess the impact of maternal malaria on blood pressure (BP) in Nigerian infants over their first year.Methods: Healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancies were followed to delivery. They had regular blood films for malaria parasites through to delivery. Growth...

Introduction: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare condition of dysregulated insulin secretion causing hypoglycaemia. Oral Diazoxide is used as first line therapy for CHI. In those who are Diazoxide unresponsive, subcutaneous Octreotide is used as second line treatment. Octreotide has recognised side effects of biliary stasis. Additionally, we report hepatitis as a complication of Octreotide therapy in a child with CHI.Case report: A neonate with C...

Background: Obese young people are likely to suffer significant morbidity in adult life. Successful intervention during adolescence may have far-reaching benefits. Evidence is emerging that patient-responsive clinical services may deliver improved outcomes.Aims: To assess the perceptions of obese young people about weight and weight-management services.Method: Annonymised, postal questionnaire survey of 116 obese young people (9&#1...

Introduction: Hurler Syndrome, (MPS1H) is an inborn error of metabolism which was previously fatal in childhood. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has transformed the prognosis for these children. First BMTs are preconditioned with chemotherapy, and we have therefore put in place surveillance for endocrine sequelae. We present for the first time data on final adult height in children with MPS 1H post BMT, as well as the endocrine complications seen in this cohort.<p class=...

Background: Seeing the doctor alone has been associated with a better outcome following transition to adult services.Methods: A simple questionnaire was designed for young people (YP) to enquire about being seen alone in paediatric endocrine clinics.Results: The questionnaire was administered to 72 YP young people (37 male) with long term endocrine conditions. The mean age was 15.5 (2.5). 10% of YP thought they should be offered th...

Ubiquitination (Ub) is the process that controls the level and activity of cellular proteins. Mono-ubiquitination of a protein alters its function, while poly-ubiquitination targets a protein for degradation (as the ‘kiss of death’). Alterations in the Ub system are associated with a wide range of disease, e.g. cancer, neurological diseases and viral infection.Disorders of growth where the phenotype is primarily short stature are usually caused...