Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Pituitary adenomas (PA) are considered very rare conditions, with an estimated prevalence of 25 cases/100 000 inhabitants. However, community-based studies on the prevalence of PA are currently scant.Aim: To ascertain the prevalence of PA and the characteristics of the patients diagnosed with them in a large population of inhabitants.Methods: A survey on the GP surgeries of Banbury (Oxfordshire, UK) covering 89 334 inha...

Pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction are associated with abnormal placental cell (cytotrophoblast; CT) proliferation and apoptosis. The mechanisms regulating these events are unclear however altered levels of IGFs have also been reported in these conditions. Using an explant model of human first trimester placenta we have shown that both IGF-I and –II act through IGF1R mediated signalling pathways to enhance CT proliferation, d...

Introduction: Newly diagnosed primary hypoparathyroidism during pregnancy has been reported rarely. We recently encountered a first presentation of maternal hypoparathyroidism that was complicated by acute maternal and fetal hypocalcaemia.Clinical presentation: A 36-year-old lady presented with hypocalcaemia at delivery of her third child. While early antenatal progress was uncomplicated she was admitted at 36 weeks gestation with pre-eclampsia and supra...

Aim: To study those factors which influence the sensitivity and positive predictive value of combined MIBI scintigraphy and ultrasound scan in the localisation of parathyroid adenomas.Method: A retrospective review of notes was done of 150 patients with hypercalcaemia referred to the Endocrine outpatients’ clinic, between the years 2002–2005.Notes of 135 patients with biochemical evidence of primary hyperparathyroidism (P...

Objective: To test the hypothesis that poor adolescent diabetic control results in poor adult control.Methods: We conducted a retrospective case notes study involving 57 patients (M:F 30:27) in a teaching hospital. Patients who had diabetes atleast for a minimum period of 10 years were selected and their HbA1c when they were between 17 and 19 years of age were compared with the most recent HbA1c.The adolescent control was divided i...

Background: Pituitary adenomas (PA) have traditionally been considered as very rare conditions, with an estimated prevalence of 25 cases/100 000 inhabitants. However, these data have been extracted either from cancer registries or from hospital databases and therefore, may not be accurate.Aim: To ascertain the prevalence of PA and the characteristics of the patients diagnosed with them in a large population of inhabitants.Methods: ...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) externalised from folliculostellate cells is known to be an essential intermediate in the early delayed (30 min- 3 h) negative feedback of glucocorticoids on the release of ACTH and other pituitary hormones. We have used a well-characterised folliculostellate cell line (TtT/GF cells) to investigate the mechanism by which ANXA1, a cytoplasmic protein, is externalised by cells. Externalisation is stimulated by dexamethasone (Dex) and inhibited by inhibitors of ...

Introduction: There are numerous conditions which can cause elevated testosterone levels in women. PCOS being the commonest. Other causes include ovarian/adrenal androgen secreting tumours, CAH, Cushing syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, virilisation during pregnancy and finally idiopathic cause.Objectives: Our objective was to look into the way in which women with elevated testosterone were evaluated. We looked into why testosterone levels were done, who req...

Background: Testosterone replacement therapy is available in a variety of preparations. Nebido, a long acting testosterone undecanoate injection offered at 3 monthly intervals, has recently become available thus reducing the need for frequent injections.Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Nebido.Patients and methods: Eighteen patients aged between 22–77 years (median 44.5 years) with primary or secondary hypogonadis...

Background/objective: The prevalence of low serum TSH in the general population is in the order of 2.5–3.9%, and increases with age. True subclinical hyperthyroidism (SH) (low/suppressed serum TSH, normal serum fT4 and fT3) is less common. In one population based study of 1193 subjects, 66 (5.5%) were found to fit the criteria for SH. Of these, 75% had serum TSH 0.05–0.5 mIU/l, of whom 76% normalised within 12 months. At 12 months 87.5% subjects with serum TSH <0...