Endocrine Abstracts

Leptin, a key metabolic signal controlling both energy intake and energy reserves, informs the brain about energy stores of the body to initiate reproductive processes at puberty. Thyroid hormones are important determinant of overall energy expenditure, basal metabolic rate and thermogenesis. The present study examined the relationship between leptin and thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) in boys (n=540) between the age of 1 and 20 years. B...

Introduction: Pituitary insufficiency of the adult is a rare pathology (~30–40/1 000 000 per year). Among the acquired causes, Sheehan syndrome (SS) is often characterized by an insidious evolution, which allows it to pass unnoticed for a long time.Case report: R Maria, 58 years-old, known with SS for 10 years, was hospitalized in the ER with severe asthenia, obnubilation, symptomatic arterial hypotension. Laboratory studies revealed severe hyponatr...

Adrenarche is a normal maturational event that in humans occurs at around 6–8 years of age. During adrenarche, a new zone of the adrenal cortex, the zona reticularis, is developed, resulting in increased production of adrenal androgens, androsteindione, DHEA and DHEAS. The increase in the secretion of adrenal androgens causes the appearance of axilliary and pubic hair, a brief increase in linear growth velocity and bone maturation, and the development of the brain. The pr...

Objective: Brain tumour treatment with radio- and chemotherapy may lead to endocrine and other medical sequelae. Still, many countries lack tailored surveillance programs for such patients so that potential health problems may remain unrecognized. The present study was performed to investigate endocrine and psychosocial impairment in a single centre university setting in Germany in patients treated with cranial radiotherapy as a part of brain tumour or leukaemia treatment....

Background: Sex-steroid feedback regulates gonadotropin (LH and FSH) secretion. Kisspeptin, a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, stimulates gonadotropin secretion by stimulating GnRH secretion, and has been shown in animal models to play a central role in mediating sex steroid feedback.Hypothesis: As estrogen feedback occurs at both the hypothalamus and the pituitary in women, we hypothesized that the stimulatory effect of kisspeptin-10 would be dependent ...

A 52 year old lady with hypothyroidism and hypertension was referred by her GP for unexplained low blood glucose on several occasions. There was history of vacant spells with confusion and disorientation over the previous year. When referred for neurological assessment, no abnormality was identified. Her medications included amlodipine 5 mg, ramipril 10 mg, thyroxine 50 mcg, loratidine 10 mg. Her BMI was 44 kg/m2.Additional investigations arra...

Type 1 diabetes is among the top rising problems in public health, since its incidence is growing in almost all series studied, all over the world. The gold standard for its control is based on achieving good metabolic control, through insulin, diet and regular physical activities, and it is delivered by a multiprofessional team in tertiary centers, which have enough resources (material and personnel). Scheduled visits are ideally programmed three to four times annually, but m...

The P300 wave is an event related potential which is used to assess cognitive function, it is recorded as positive deflection in voltage at latency of roughly 300 ms. P300 latency suggests that shorter latency times are related to cognitive performance. This study was undertaken to evaluate objectively effect of hypothyroidism on latencies of ERPs and response to thyroxine replacement.Biochemically proven new onset cases with hypothyroidism were enrolled...

Epigenetic dysregulation may be one mechanism underpinning the link between early life conditions and later cardiometabolic risk. In animal models, environmental manipulations including modified maternal diet change DNA methylation and offspring phenotype. Manipulations altering the epigenetic state reverse the phenotype suggesting causality. We have previously reported higher blood pressure (BP) and cortisol in an adult cohort whose mothers were advised to eat a high-protein,...

Background: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) previously conducted a Technology Appraisal for Genotropin in children and positive guidance was issued in 2002. This guidance is currently under review.Aim: To perform a systematic review (SR) to identify studies investigating the efficacy and safety of Genotropin published since the previous NICE appraisal for the existing indications (GH deficiency (GHD), Prader-Willi syndrom...