Endocrine Abstracts

Primary human hepatocytes are considered the ‘gold standard’ to explore metabolic phenotype within the liver, however they come with limitations, such as donor variability, lack of proliferation and rapid phenotype loss. The human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, has been used extensively in cell-based metabolic studies but there are significant limitations including their malignant origin and inherent low rates of triglyceride secretion. The aim of this study was to inves...

Background: The low-dose short synacthen test (LDSST) is the most popular diagnostic test for adrenal insufficiency in UK. Although various dosing strategies exist 1 μg is most commonly employed but not commercially available. A BSPED survey revealed 14 different methods for diluting the 250 μg/ml ampoules. We investigated whether differing dilution strategies, made up using standard ward not laboratory equipment, result in differences in Synacthen dose administered....

Introduction: Poor HbA1c in the first year following diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is a predictor of poor metabolic control and early development of complications. Achieving good glycaemic control requires compliant, well-educated patients. In October 2013, we introduced a revised and extended ‘Newly Diagnosed Patient Education Programme’ in which a total of 20 sessions are delivered by the multidisciplinary team.Aim: To assess the effect of the...

Background: X-rays of the left hand and wrist are used to assess skeletal maturity. The Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) scoring method provides a framework for calculating bone age but specifies exact hand position. We noted a number of poor quality films, caused by difficulty with hand placement, e.g. scrunching of the fingers. This compromises the ability to score accurately and in a proportion necessitates re-X-ray, resulting in additional time, cost and radiation exposure. We in...

During early life, the majority of cardiomyocytes exit the cell cycle and undergo terminal differentiation, becoming binucleated. This establishes the number of cardiomyocytes for the remainder of the lifetime, with subsequent consequences for cardiac resilience in adulthood. Activation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is important for heart maturation: fetal mice lacking GR in cardiomyocytes (SMGRKO) show structural and functional cardiac immaturity. Young adult male and f...

Introduction: Excessive consumption of free sugars (glucose and fructose) is linked to an increased risk of developing chronic metabolic diseases. Current knowledge of fructose metabolism has focussed on the liver where it is implicated in impaired insulin sensitivity, increased fat accumulation and dyslipidaemia. The long-term effects of elevated fructose consumption on human health are poorly defined and fructose metabolism in subcutaneous adipose tissue, the largest human f...

Background: Adrenal incidentaloma (AI) increasingly pose a diagnostic challenge. This retrospective observational study evaluated biochemical investigations performed in patients referred to Endocrine Surgery with AI and assessed adherence to Guidelines. Biochemical, histological and radiological characteristics of AI were also reviewed.Methods: Data were collected from Hospital and Laboratory records for referrals between January 2012–April 2014.</...

Androgens are required for normal development and fertility. They have a vital role in tissues such as the reproductive tract, the brain, muscle and bone. Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent malignancy in western males: it is dependent upon circulating androgens and the therapies currently available aim to reduce synthesis of circulating androgens and/or inhibit the pathway using antiandrogens. Therapies inhibiting androgen signalling, and in particular the androgen re...

Hepatic steatosis, accumulation of intracellular triglyceride (TG) (>5% of hepatic tissue), is the prerequisite for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD represents a spectrum of liver diseases and is associated with obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Steatosis occurs due to an imbalance between fatty acid input and removal (fatty acid partitioning) which can be affected by geneti...

Endocrinopathies are becoming increasingly recognised with the use of new anticancer drugs. Ipilimumab therapy has recently been associated with hypophysitis. The presentation of hypopituitarism can be non-specific and diagnosis in an oncology setting may be challenging. We describe a 77-year-old man who presented to oncology with a short history of lethargy, nausea, anorexia, and weight loss. He had completed four cycles of ipilimumab as treatment for melanoma 7–9 months...