Endocrine Abstracts

The oestrogen-receptor related orphan nuclear receptors (ERR) share significant sequence homology with oestrogen receptors (ER) alpha and beta but are unable to bind oestradiol. They are reported to constitutively regulate gene expression by binding to the ER response elements (ERE) or SF1 binding sites (SFRE) in gene promoters. However recent evidence from transgenic animal models point towards a role of these orphan nuclear receptors as regulators of energy-producing metabol...

Introduction: The National Growth Hormone (GH) audit was initiated in 2013 with funding from BSPED, to establish the ongoing trends in GH prescriptions in the UK and facilitate future long term follow up studies through a central database. Here we have studied the trends in GH prescribing and the indications for treatment from 2013 to 2015.Method: We examined data collected on a quarterly basis from centres across the UK on subjects less than 16 years of...

A 60 year old nurse presented to the emergency department with palpitations, itchy skin, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, insomnia, weight loss and feeling hot /clammy. She felt her symptoms were in keeping with the menopause although she had been amenorrhoeic for six years. Thyroid function tests revealed fT4 73 pmol/land TSH <0.01 mIU/lhaving been normal six months previously. She was started on carbimazole 40 mg/day and was seen urgently in clinic. She reported to feelin...

Introduction: Nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP) is a three-drug antiretroviral regimen used to decrease the risk for HIV infection after less than 72 h from nonoccupational exposure to body fluids that might contain HIV. The most frequent side effects concern the gastro-intestinal intolerance, renal and hepatic toxicity, with no hormonal imbalance to have been yet reported.Case report: 24 years old male patient, consulted for palpitations, ...

Multiple subtypes of GnRH receptor (GnRHR) are present in individual vertebrate species. We found two distinct GnRHRs in tilapia, classified as type 1 and 3 (tGnRHR1/3). Amino-acid similarity between the receptors was calculated at 59%, with the different amino acids scattered throughout the receptors. We compared the sequence analysis and signal transduction of the two tGnRHRs, using the human GnRHR type 1 as a control. Sequence analysis revealed that all three receptors exhi...

The insulin gene is expressed almost exclusively in the β cells of the islets of Langerhans, where transcriptional control is conferred by cis-acting regulatory sequences located within 300–400 base pairs from the transcription start site. These elements bind β-cell restricted (e.g. PDX-1) and ubiquitous (E47) transcription factors. In non-β cells the insulin gene is localised within tightly packed (hetero) chromatin structures. Developments in under...

11BHSD1 is a NADP-dependant, bi-directional enzyme which inter-converts the glucocorticoid cortisol with its inactive metabolite cortisone. Follicular fluid (FF) from large antral ovarian follicles contains hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds which stimulate and inhibit 11BHSD1 enzyme activities, respectively. The objective of this study was to assess whether levels of these enzyme modulators change in FF during development of porcine follicles. Pooled samples of FF, aspirat...

There are still many questions remaining about the etiopathogenesis of thyroid cancer, themost common type of endocrine neoplasia. Numerous occupational and environmental exposureshave been shown to represent important risk factors that increase its incidence. Updated informationabout thyroid cancer diagnostics related to occupational and environmental risk factors is reviewedhere, considering an integrated risk assessment approach; new data concerning thyroid canceretiology a...

Objective: To analyze registry data on patients with acromegaly.Materials and methods: Russian hypothalamic and pituitary tumors registry database (on-line platform), which contains data on 3719 patients with acromegaly.Results: According to the database, highest prevalence of acromegaly per 100 000 inhabitants is registered in: Penza region (7.3), Kirov region (7.3), Krasnoyarsk region (6.2). Most common clinical presentations in ...

Marrow adipose tissue (MAT) accumulates in diverse clinical conditions but remains poorly understood. We have observed region-specific variation in MAT adipocyte development, regulation, size, lipid composition, gene expression and genetic determinants. Functionally, MAT is a disproportionate source of adiponectin. Early MAT formation in mice is conserved, whereas later development is strain dependent. Proximal, but not distal tibial, MAT is lost with 21-day cold exposure. Rat...