Endocrine Abstracts

Growth hormone treatment (GHT) is used to improve height, and potentially quality of life (QOL), in children with abnormal growth patterns. Previous QOL research suggests children with acquired growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) benefit more from GHT than those treated for other conditions.The aim was to determine child and parent reported QOL change over 1 year depending on GHT and diagnosis.One hundred and twenty-two children (mean...

Background: Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may suffer from growth and pubertal delay.Objective: To assess pubertal status and growth in a group of boys with IBD before (T+0) and 6 months after (T+6) initiation of testosterone therapy.Methods: Retrospective study of boys with IBD undergoing pubertal induction. Height (Ht) and pubertal status were obtained at T+0 and T+6. Markers of disease activity and data on concom...

Glucocorticoids possess potent angiostatic properties. 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) amplifies local glucocorticoid action in a tissue-specific manner, and we have shown that inactivation of this enzyme enhances angiogenesis within sponges implanted subcutaneously, wounds and infarcted myocardium. 11βHSD1 is present within ocular tissues but its role in the pathogenesis of proliferative retinopathy is unknown. We hypothesised that inhibition ...

Diabetes mellitus like all chronic illnesses requires lifelong management (self or guided) with regular health professional support and supervision. Non-attendance at outpatient clinics (OPD) is a common cause of inefficiency in our current health care system causing undue wastage of clinician time and resources and potentially lengthening waiting times.Aim: The aim of our pilot project was to improve our diabetes OPD from the current attendance of 78% t...

Complement C5a is associated with various pro-inflammatory effects such as chemotaxis, production of superoxides, histamine release, vasodilatation and smooth muscle contraction. In sepsis, excessive production of C5a can lead to multi-organ failure. C5a mediates its actions through the C5a receptor (C5aR) but may also bind to a second receptor called C5L2 that acts as a decoy for removing excess C5a. C5a is also rapidly cleaved to a less active form, C5adesR; C5L2, in contras...

T3 is essential for skeletal development and its actions are mediated by two nuclear receptors (TRs), with TR alpha (TRa) being functionally predominant in bone. The TRa1 isoform binds T3 with high affinity and activates target gene expression in response to hormone. TRa2, however, does not bind T3 or regulate transcription in response to hormone. Intriguingly, TRa2 is expressed at high levels from early in development in all tissues and is conserved in all mammals, although i...

Background. Males with coronary disease have lower levels of endogenous testosterone than unaffected males. It is not known if low testosterone is a cause, effect or an epi-phenomenon of ischaemic heart disease.We hypothesised that androgen deficient men treated surgically with complete resolution of their symptoms would have a higher subsequent testosterone than men with persistent angina.Methods. Subjects were recruited after angiography. All subjects were biochemically ...

Expression of the Sodium Iodide symporter (NIS) in the breast was thought to be restricted to lactation but recently have been shown in breast cancer and benign breast disease. CpG island methylation of the promoter region of NIS is known to decrease iodide uptake in the thyroid. No such information has been documented in the breast. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of demethylating agents on iodide uptake in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (oestrogen (E) and...

High dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy is used in patients with severe thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and other inflammatory disorders. Although in the short-term it appears to be safe, the acute metabolic effects of this regimen have not been studied in detail.We studied 15 patients with severe TAO, aged 59 ± 10 (mean ± SD) years. One patient was known to have type 2 diabetes. Each patient received 500 mg of iv methyprednisolone daily on t...

Objectives: Testosterone deficiency has been associated with depressive symptoms, which may be improved by replacement therapy. Patients with chronic heart failure have a high prevalence of depression, which is associated with early mortality in these patients. Men with heart failure may also have low plasma levels of testosterone, which could contribute to depressed mood. In a clinical study investigating whether testosterone treatment benefits men with heart failure, patient...