Endocrine Abstracts

Hypoglycaemia in non-diabetic patients has a multitude of causes from exogenous insulin to paraneoplastic syndromes. We explore the importance of obtaining a ‘golden sample’, a serum blood sample, during the episode of hypoglycaemia, prior to reversal with treatment. The case herein describes a patient with recurrent episodes of unexplained hypoglycaemia which precipitated several hospital admissions. Standard screening tests did not detect any obvious cause for his ...

Hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease (GD) is traditionally managed in the secondary care ambulatory setting. Conventionally patients are required to attend for regular review at 4–12 weekly intervals, presenting practical difficulties for many adults. Nurse-led Telephone Consultations are gaining momentum in the care of long-term conditions. This Service Development Project (SDP) addressed whether or not a specialist nurse delivered telephone consultation could be ...

Introduction: The circadian clock controls numerous aspects of mammalian physiology across the 24 hour day, including lipid and glucose metabolism. Disruption of the core circadian gene CLOCK is associated with the development of obesity, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in mice. Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are at increased risk of developing diabetes, dyslipidemia and the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship o...

Introduction: We previously reported the novel finding that leptin, and several other fat-derived hormones (adipokines), is expressed and regulated in rat hypothalamus (1). Subsequently leptin (ob) mRNA was found in human, sheep and pig brain, but was surprisingly undetectable in mouse brain. In the present experiments we used a mouse hypothalamic neuronal cell line to investigate possible inhibitory mechanisms that may prevent mouse neurons from expressing ob mRNA. These incl...

The potent effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) upon carbohydrate metabolism are well described. However, their actions upon lipid metabolism are poorly characterized. Patients with GC excess (Cushing’s syndrome) develop central obesity, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in up to 20% of cases. The A-ring reductases (5α-reductase type 1 [5αR1] and type 2 [5αR2]), inactivate cortisol as well as generate dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from testosterone (T) and a...

Background: The level of 25OH vitamin D (25OHD) which separates deficiency from sufficiency is heavily deabted. With decreasing 25OHD levels, typical biochemical derangements set in, such as increasing parathyroid hormone (PTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, and decreasing phosphate and calcium levels. In adults, serum concentrations of PTH reportedly start to rise when serum 25OHD levels drop below 30 μg/l. Such data are scarce in children....

Background: Pigmented hypertrichotic dermatosis with insulin-dependent diabetes (PHID) syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder due mutations in SLC29A3. SLC29A3 encodes for an equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 (ENT 3). A hallmark of PHID syndrome is the chronic inflammation characterised by the persistently raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. A key pathway involved in triggering inflammation is the nuclear factor kappa β (N...

Individuals considering research participation are provided with information but this is usually at the end of the process of engagement. Getting young people interested in research can be difficult, even more so when competing against a demanding school and social life that many young people lead. Working with a group of young people we produced a pilot website containing video and text material about diabetes and research that was designed to be appealing and informative.</p...

Iodothyronines stimulate neovascularization in tumor beds, brain, ischemic myocardium and striated muscle. The molecular basis of the action can be studied in models such as the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and human microvascular endothelial cell (HDMEC) microtubule formation. Nongenomic and genomic actions of the hormone may contribute to angiogenesis. The initial description of the cell surface receptor for thyroid hormone (T4 and 3,5,3′-triiodo-<sm...

Introduction: Hip fractures are the most serious osteoporotic fractures and difficult to prevent them without a precise knowledge of the causative factors. The risk factors, which precipitate hip fracture in elderly may vary according to the local customs and practices. Indian data on risk factors for hip fractures are scant. The present study was undertaken to assess the various risk factors leading to femoral neck fracture in postmenopausal women and also to define the thres...