Endocrine Abstracts

We have investigated inter-individual transfer of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P-4), and related it to mammalian ‘pheromonal’ effects. Assays of unconjugated E2 and P4 revealed their presence in male and female urine of laboratory mice and big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), which are phylogenetically very distant from each other. These small and lipophilic steroids readily pass through biological membr...

Introduction: Immunotherapy has become standard treatment for an increasingly wide range of cancers. Checkpoint inhibitors (ICT; CTLA4, PD1 & PD-L-1) can cause endocrine toxicity, principally affecting the pituitary and thyroid glands. We have studied the clinical management and outcome of patients with endocrine adverse effects over 5 years at our cancer centre.Methods: All patients treated with ICT agents between 1 Jan 2014 to 31 Jan 2019 were incl...

Introduction: Immune checkpoint therapies are novel cancer agents, which have been associated with the development of endocrine toxicities. ESMO and SfE endorsed management guidelines have been helpful for the early recognition of these toxicities, but in clinical practice, having early access to specialist endocrine advice improves the decision making and effective use of these agents when toxicities occur. In response to need we developed an easily accessible interdisciplina...

We present a case of a 26 years old female who was rushed to hospital with 4 days history of abdominal pain, vomiting and dizziness. She also had one episode of diarrhoea. Further history revealed that she had lost 32 kilograms of weight over the last 18 months through diet and exercise. There were no signs suggestive of an eating disorder.On examination she was peripherally cold, tachycardic (117/min), hypotensive (86/50 mmHg) and sweaty. Her Glasgow Co...

Circulating oestrogen concentrations affect the incidence of and outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We have previously shown that steroid sulphatase (STS), the fundamental enzyme that liberates conjugated oestrogens into their active forms, is significantly elevated in human CRC tissue. Here we demonstrate that elevated STS activity correlates to increased CRC proliferation, and that these effects are mediated through G-protein coupled oestrogen receptor (GPER...

Background: A re-emergence of mild iodine deficiency in the United Kingdom (UK) has been reported. A recent UK study suggested a dose dependent relationship between mild maternal deficiency and a number of childhood cognitive scores. The World Health Organisation defines sufficiency in a population as a median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of ≥100 μg/l in non-pregnant women and infants and ≥150 μg/l during pregnancy. It also recommends a daily intake...

Delayed wound healing (WH), characterized by ischemia, is exacerbated by glucocorticoid (GC) excess. Local GC availability is regulated by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) which generates the GC cortisol from inactive cortisone. We previously reported improved WH in 11β-HSD1-null mice but regulation of 11β-HSD1 by hypoxia in human skin remains unknown. Primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDF, biological n=3), were treated...

The SIGN guideline group recently suggested a fracture risk threshold of 10% as an indication for DXA. Patients who do not have a 10 year fracture probability of 10% or more would therefore not meet the criteria for direct access to DXA. In order to assess whether implementing these guidelines would impact overall management, we undertook a prospective audit of our direct access DXA and health promotion service. Charts from 61 consecutive patients were reviewed (54F/7M, Mean a...

Background: Altered connexin expression and/or function is linked to the development and progression of secondary microvascular complications associated with diabetes. Despite this, we know little for the role of these small membrane proteins in the diabetic kidney. This study examines if glucose-evoked changes in TGF-β1 modulate connexin expression and gap junction-mediated intercellular communication in diabetic nephropathy.Methods: Biopsy materia...

Background: Changes in the expression of connexins have been linked to renal damage in diabetes and both hemi-channels and gap junctions represent potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. In the current study, we utilize model epithelial cells from human renal proximal tubules (HK2), to demonstrate a role for glucose and its downstream beta1 isoform of the pro-fibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor (TGFβ1) on connexin expression and h...