Endocrine Abstracts

The crucial role of vitamin D in mineral homeostasis is well known. However recent evidence has documented its importance for immunomodulation and inflammation. The kidney is the main source for the endocrine synthesis of the active metabolite 1,25-dihdroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3), with expression of the key enzyme, 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1alpha-hydroxylase (1alpha-OHase). Our aim was to investigate the alteration of the vitamin D hormonal system in renal failure and assess the impact...

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a major cause of morbidity in β thalassaemia major patients. Our institution serves one of UK’s largest populations of thalassaemia patients. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in thalassaemia major patients and identify risk factors for low bone mineral density (BMD).Methods: BMD of lumbar spine and neck of femur were measured using dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). ...

We found that mast cells were present in pubertal mammary glands, and hypothesized that they participate in mammary morphogenesis and are sensitive to IGF1, which is essential for mammary development.As independently reported in another model of mast cell deficiency (Developmental Biology 2010 337 124), mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice had significantly less terminal end buds and ducts and smaller gland areas than controls at 3, 6, ...

Background: Amiodarone is frequently associated with thyroid dysfunction. Identifying predictors for amiodarone-associated thyroid dysfunction and assessing treatment outcome may aid clinicians in daily practice.Patients and methods: In our retrospective study, we included 303 consecutive patients with amiodarone therapy for cardiac arrhythmias (260 with atrial fibrillation and 43 with ventricular arrhythmias). Thyroid function tests were performed every...

Objective: To determine the predictive risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) during the 8.5 follow up.Research design and methods: This is an 8-year prospective study in a randomly selected urban population including 2838 subjects aged ≥40 years living in Krakow. Seven hundred and six had IGT (387) or IFG (319) based on WHO criteria and 2...

We report the efficacy, safety, and effects on glucose homeostasis of converting patients with acromegaly from slow release octreotide (OT, treated for >3 months) to pegvisomant (Peg), a GH receptor antagonist. 52 patients (median age 49, range 23-81, 13 with diabetes) who had previously participated in a Peg clinical trial and subsequently treated with OT were enrolled in a 32-week, open-label, multicentre study. Peg 10 mg/d was started 4 weeks after the last dose of OT (w...

Aims: Increasing evidence supports the role of glycated insulin in the insulin resistant state of type 2 diabetes. We measured 24-hour profiles of plasma glycated insulin, using a novel radioimmunoassay, to evaluate the effects of meal stimulated insulin secretion and the fasting state on production of plasma glycated insulin in type 2 diabetes. Methods: Patients (n=6, HbA1c 7.2±0.6%, fasting plasma glucose 7.4±0.7 mmol l-1, BMI 35.7±3.5 kg m<su...

Plasma homocysteine is now regarded as a graded risk factor for vascular disease comparable to smoking, high cholesterol and raised blood pressure. In diabetes homocysteine values have correlated with microalbuminuria and are thought to contribute to vascular damage. Folic acid is an essential co-factor for homocysteine metabolism and folic acid supplementation has been shown to reduce plasma homocysteine by about 30%.In this study patients with Type II ...

Background: Over 90% of the blood supply to the adenohypophysis arises from hypothalamic portal vessels, in contrast to the systemic blood supply to the posterior lobe. A pre-existing, or tumour stimulated direct (non-portal) blood supply has been suggested as a possible pathogenic mechanism for prolactinoma development.Methods: 6 patients (3 microprolactinomas (mic), and 3 macroprolactinomas (mac)), and one control subject were imaged using a 3T magnet...

Aims: Glycated insulin exhibits impaired glucose-lowering ability and increasing evidence supports a role for glycation of insulin in the insulin resistant state of Type 2 diabetes. We used a novel radioimmunoassay to evaluate the effect of the insulin secretagogue nateglinide on plasma glycated insulin in Type 2 diabetes. Methods: Ten patients (5M/5F, age 57.8±1.9 years, HbA1c 7.6±0.5%, fasting plasma glucose 9.4±1.2millimols per litre, creatinine 81.6&pl...