Endocrine Abstracts

Hyperaldosteronism is a significant cause of secondary hypertension, but there are often delays in obtaining the diagnosis. The recent BES publication of Guidelines for the investigation and management of this condition represent a move to standardise the work-up of these patients.We present an audit of cases, dating back to 2000, with confirmed biochemical hyperaldosteronism (on the basis of plasma aldosterone/renin activity ratio or lack of aldosterone...

We report five cases of hyperthyroidism with complex management issues, which were successfully treated with iopanoic acid prior to thyroidectomy.Three patients (cases 1–3) had Graves’ disease; two developed agranulocytosis on carbimazole and one had uncontrolled severe thyrotoxicosis and poor compliance with treatment. Radioiodine was either declined or contraindicated due to radio-protection issues. All patients were rendered euthyroid with i...

Aim: To evaluate the frequency and morpho-histological characteristics of the colonic polyps (CP) in acromegaly patients (pts).Materials and methods: We studied 53 pts (50 female, 3 men) aged 23–76 (median – 47) with active acromegaly. The mean disease duration was 10.7±4.3 years. Somatotropinoma was diagnosed in 51 pts and somatoprolactinoma in two. The activity of acromegal? was confirmed on the base of the clinical and hormonal data. Ba...

Objective: Treatment with ergot-derived dopamine agonists, pergolide and cabergoline, has been associated with an increased frequency of valvular heart disease in Parkinson’s disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of valvular heart disease in patients treated with dopamine agonists for prolactinomas.Design: Cross-sectional study.Patients: We performed conventional two-dimensional and Doppler echocar...

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetSy) comprises a cluster of risk factors (central obesity, high blood pressure, low high density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol, elevated triglycerides and hyperglycaemia) associated to the risk of cardiovascular diseases development. Depression has also been reported to be associated with an increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the underlying mechanisms being still poorly described. MetSy may mediate this association, but o...

Tyrosine availability critically influences thyroid hormone synthesis, and thyroid disorders, such as hyperthyroidism, affect 1% of humans. In contrast, nearly 10% of mature/senior cats develop hyperthyroidism, but colourpoint breeds with mutations in the tyrosinase gene (e.g. Siamese) show reduced risk of developing hyperthyroidism, potentially due to increased availability of tyrosine (related to coat colouration). To establish how tyrosine availability can alter thyroid fun...

The high pprevalence of thyroid cancer among the male population of Ukraine during the active reproductive age (over 25 years) makes it reasonable to study the effect of the disease on testicular function. The purpose of work was to examine the state of androgen levels and pituitary hormones in men with thyroid cancer.Design and methods: The study involved 14 male patients aged from 21 to 40 years, with thyroid cancer. The control group were 46 healthy m...

Objective was to analyze the place of endocrine and metabolic disorders among other comorbid diseases in the Chernobyl accident emergency workers (EW) who had cardiovascular diseases as main pathology.Materials and methodsThe health state was analyzed in 420 male EW, who worked at the Chernobyl NPP at 1986–1987 yrs, and 188 males not exposed to ionizing radiation (the control group, CG). Patients of both groups had a hospital ...

Protein stimulates insulin release and improves post-prandial glycaemic excursions. The underlying mechanism has previously been attributed to gastric emptying, incretin release and direct pancreatic stimulation. However, our studies suggest the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in the vagus nerve plays an important role. The CaSR has a well characterised role in calcium homeostasis, but also acts as a protein metabolite sensor. In response to the amino acid products of protein ...

Background: Dexamethasone significantly improved outcomes in patients requiring supplementary oxygen and in ventilated patients with COVID-19 in the RECOVERY trial. Consequently, dexamethasone is now routinely used in these patients. However, dysglycaemia is commonly associated with steroid use and is an established risk factor for poorer outcomes in COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of dexamethasone use in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in a real-...