Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: PHPT is reported to be rare in pregnancy, with 150 cases described in the literature. Its incidence is 8/100 000 in childbearing women/year. PHPT may lead to a loss of up to 50% of pregnancies through miscarriage or stillbirth, dehydration, hyperemesis, nephrolithiasis, pre-eclampsia, fractures and pancreatitis in mothers; and death, hypocalcaemia and tetany in neonates. Intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight and pre-term labour were described. Rate of...

Dynamic pituitary testing is a time consuming and high cost investigation. For effective use of this procedure a close audit of the effectiveness and outcome of testing is required. At UCH we have developed a streamlined nurse led service with medical supervision and we now present an audit of 1 year of testing.Forty-one patients underwent pituitary function testing for growth hormone (GH) and ACTH during 2006. Referral source was from the endocrine team...

Introduction: Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) affects quality of life causing a negative impact on psychosocial life. Previous findings identifed the phenomenon of an altered sense of identity with associated lowered-self esteem, social withdrawal and isolation. How this ‘altered identity’ influences interactions with Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) has not been investigated.Study aim: To explore the nature of interactions between HCPs and patients w...

Background: Endocrine-metabolic disorders, especially polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been linked with increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among reproductive age and implicated hyperandrogenism-driven adipose/hepatic insulin resistance (IR). Gut microbial metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are crucial modulators of metabolic regulation. However, the impact of SCFAs, in particular, acetate on hyperandrogenism and/...

Background of Study: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder, contributing to increased neurodegenerative disorders including hypothalamic disturbance. Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) has been reported to regulate metabolic health. However, its therapeutic nature in hypothalamic dysfunction, especially in PCOS individuals is unknown. This study hypothesized that SCFA reverses hypothalamic injury and its related abnormalities in experimentally...

The Src substrate associated in mitosis of 68 kDa (Sam68) is a KH-type RNA binding protein that has been shown to regulate several aspects of RNA metabolism. The tyrosine phosphorylation of Sam68 was shown to negatively regulate its RNA binding activity and hence it was termed a Signal Transduction Activator of RNA (STAR) protein. Although KH-type RNA binding domains are known to mediate specific protein-RNA interactions, their RNA targets remain elusive. Nevertheless, Sam68 h...

Case History: 69 years old gentleman was referred to endocrinology for investigation of a benign appearing left incidental adrenal adenoma (1cm) after being investigated for abdominal pain. He had a past medical history of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.Investigations: Initial endocrine investigations revealed normal 24h urinary free cortisol levels (twice), metanephrines and ARR. His overnight dexamethasone...

Background: Children and young people (CYPwD) with a persistent high HbA1c are at greater risk of developmental and long-term complications. Diabetes services across the England & Wales are mandated to have a ‘high HbA1c’ policy by the Best Practice Tariff quality standards, to improve health outcomes. Aim: To evaluate the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s (BWC) Diabetes Team ‘High HbA1c Policy’ from 2016 – 2019.</p...

A 22-year old female is followed at our department because of genetically confirmed autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1). This was diagnosed at the age of 9 and in this patient characterized by autoimmune hypoparathyroidism, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune gastritis and premature ovarian insufficiency. Throughout childhood and puberty, the hypoparathyroidism was treated with moderate doses of calcium citrate (~3g/d) and calcitriol (~1.5µg/d), nevertheless res...

Introduction: Exposure to deficient/excess glucocorticoids can lead to long-term health problems in patients with adrenal insufficiency. An age-appropriate low dose hydrocortisone formulation is not available therefore manipulation a 10 mg tablet is required with potential for inaccurate dosing.Aims: To assess the variability in manipulation procedures recommended by healthcare professionals and undertaken by parents/carers. To quantify the dose-variabil...