Endocrine Abstracts

The prevalence of obesity is increasing in most populations. The aim of this study was to provide baseline data on the concentrations of chlorinated and brominated dioxins and related compounds as well as polybrominated diphenyl ethers to assess whether concentrations of these compounds are higher in obese than control subjects.Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery for weight loss and control patients who were underg...

Context: There is growing evidence that cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB-1) blockade reduces inflammation and neovascularization by decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels associated with a reduction in inflammatory markers, thereby potentially reducing cardiovascular risk.Objective: To determine the impact of CB1 antagonism by rimonabant on VEGF and inflammatory markers in obese PCOS women.Design: Randomised, open-la...

Objective: Androsterone glucuronide (ADTG) concentrations have been suggested as a more reliable marker of the effects of androgens at the target tissue level and they are significantly elevated in hirsute compared to non-hirsute women with PCOS. This study compared the different precursors of testosterone, including dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), ADTG and androstenedione in non-obese compared to obese women with PCOS, and in normal subjects and their implications on...

Aim: In diabetes, non-invasive lower-limb assessments including continuous wave Doppler (CWD), ankle-brachial index (ABI) and toe-brachial index (TBI) are recommended to assess vascular status due to increased risk of ulceration and amputation associated vascular pathology. How well these measurements can identify those at risk of these complications is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a history of foot complication and non-invasive va...

Central obesity and increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) are key factors contributing to metabolic dysfunction in PCOS. We therefore hypothesized that there would be alterations in the morphology and function of adipocytes from visceral fat depots. The female offspring of pregnant sheep treated biweekly with either 100 mg of testosterone propionate (TP) or vehicle control (C) from day 62–102 of gestation develop a clinically realistic PCOS-like condition. They develop ...

Introduction: In adult patients with pituitary disease no relationship has been established between the biochemical severity of GHD and the degree of QoL impairment. Reasons may include heterogeneity of underlying pathologies, and the type of therapies received by GHD patients.Methods: The KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database) database was used to focus solely on patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas and prolactinomas treated by surge...

Introduction: Metformin is widely used as oral anti-hyperglycaemic agent to treat type 2 diabetes, with increasing reports of an additional, potential bone protective role.Objective: We investigated the role of AMPK in mediating the effects of metformin on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to either osteoblasts or adipocytes.Methods: Confluent murine MSCs (C3H10T1/2) were treated with metformin (500 μM), a k...

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease affecting every aspects of human system including the sense organs. Sadly, the prevalence is increasing in Nigeria and currently 5.5%. Hearing impairment (deafness) is public health disease and diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common risk factor.Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity of deafness among Nigerians with DM attending FMC Lokoja.Metho...

Background: Empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose-cotransporter-2 that improves cardiovascular risk and weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with obesity and increased cardiovascular risk; therefore, empagliflozin may be of benefit in PCOS.Methods: A randomised, open-label study in 40 overweight and obese women with PCOS treated with either empagliflozin 25 mg or metformin 1500mg daily for 12 weeks....

Coupling the release of pituitary hormones to the developmental stage of the oocyte is essential for female fertility. It requires estrogen to have simultaneous positive and negative feedback effects on spatially-distinct regions of the hypothalamus. However, the mechanistic basis for this differential effect is not known. We have found that negative-feedback is mediated by the nuclear receptor Dax1, which is present in the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus and serves as a ligand-d...