Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) is a group of polyendocrinopathies characterizedby multiple glands insufficiencies associated with other autoimmune diseases resulting from immune mediated destruction. We describe a patient with type 2 APS presenting first with diabetes type 1 followed later by adrenal insufficiency and Hashimoto disease.Case report: A 23-year-old male, known with diabetes type 1, presented with a very low blood pres...

Introduction: Methodological differences in the immunoassay measurement of cortisol are apparent when reviewing External Quality Assessment scheme data. A bimodal distribution is often observed, particularly for samples from female subjects. It has been postulated that some immunoassays are inefficient at removing cortisol from its binding proteins and therefore have the potential to under-recover from female samples. We investigated the results obtained from two immunoassays ...

The glycosyl components of serum gonadotrophins are important determinants of biological half life, receptor binding and bioactivity of these hormones. We have compared serum FSH glycosylation from healthy women with regular ovulatory cycles (group A; n=8) to those identified inpharmacological preparations gonadotrophins (group B merional and group C puregon). Blood samples were taken within 4 days of the onset of menstruation in the control group (group A). Pharmaceuti...

Introduction: There has been much interest recently in measuring both salivary cortisol and cortisone due to the presence of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 enzyme in the salivary glands. This enzyme facilitates the conversion of cortisol to cortisone; hence the concentration of cortisone in saliva may also be of interest. Studies have shown recently that salivary cortisone and cortisol are good markers of serum free cortisol status.Methods:...

The measurement of plasma renin activity is required in a number of clinical situations, in particular screening for primary aldosteronism (PA) and monitoring mineralocorticoid replacement therapy. PA is a treatable cause of hypertension and has an estimated prevalence of up to 20% amongst resistant hypertensives. Consequently, recent guidelines now recommend screening for PA in all patients groups with a high prevalence of PA. At present, the most reliable method of screening...

Introduction: It has been recognised in EQA schemes in Europe and America that the reproducibility between labs using LC–MS for testosterone analysis is not optimal for this technique. We decided to conduct a calibration exercise to investigate the variability seen between labs.Methods: Aqueous and matrix matched serum samples were sent to labs participating in the NEQAS testosterone scheme. The labs were asked to measure these samples blind using t...

Saliva contains the free unbound fraction of testosterone, which has been shown to correlate with the free circulating serum testosterone, and may better reflect the physiologically active form. Recently, measurement of free testosterone has gained international recommendations for the diagnosis of hypogonadism in the ageing male. Saliva collection is a non-invasive technique, offering more flexibility to the patient, e.g. the collection of samples at home. Liquid chromatograp...

The insulin gene is expressed almost exclusively in the β cells of the islets of Langerhans, where transcriptional control is conferred by cis-acting regulatory sequences located within 300–400 base pairs from the transcription start site. These elements bind β-cell restricted (e.g. PDX-1) and ubiquitous (E47) transcription factors. In non-β cells the insulin gene is localised within tightly packed (hetero) chromatin structures. Developments in under...

Introduction: Pheochromocytoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma and primary hyperparathyroidism have been reported rarely together. Whether the association is coincidental or results from an underlying unique genetic process is difficult to ascertain.Case description: We report a case of a 59-year-old woman without a family history who had a personal history of multinodular goiter known for the ten last years and pheochromocytoma diagnosed and operated in 20...

Introduction: Follow up of differentiated thyroid cancer requires periodic measurements of thyroglobulin (Tg) and Tg autoantibodies (TgAb) and neck ultrasound. Recurrence is suspected in presence of rising levels of Tg and/or TgAb. Positive cytology or detectable Tg in washout of fine needle aspiration (FNA) of neck lymph nodes or 131-I neck uptake confirm the diagnosis of metastatic lymph node.Case report: We report on a 25 year-old Caucasian man, affec...