Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Glucosinolates (GLS) are secondary plant metabolites found in members of families within the order Brassicales (e.g. broccoli, pak choi, cauliflower, kale, mustard or rapeseed), but they are also present in plants of Moringaceae (moringa) and Caricaceae (papaya). Some GLS-derived breakdown products, i.e. sulforaphane, were extensively studied for their beneficial effects on colon-cancer incidence. This preventive nutritional approach might require the prophylacti...

Vasopressin acts through G protein-coupled receptors on the cardiovascular and renal system to induce vasoconstriction and antidiuresis. Vasopressin also has important functions within the CNS influencing cognition, olfaction and a range of complex social interactions and behaviours. In addition, vasopressin has been reported in the mammalian retina and here we investigated the location and expression of vasopressin and vasopressin receptors (V1a, V1b, and V2) in the rat retin...

TESTOSTERONE-REPLACEMENT STIMULATED HYPERPROLACTINAEMIAR Sodi, R Fikri, M Diver, L Ranganath & J Vora*.Departments of Clinical Chemistry and Endocrinology*Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital,Liverpool, UK. L7 8XP.Around half of all men with macroprolactinomas have hypogonadism and may require exogenous testosterone replacement. However, testoste...

Background: Sotos syndrome is an uncommon condition characterised by rapid growth, large body size and acromegaloid facies.There is limited data on metabolic abnormalities in Sotos syndrome.Aims: We investigated insulin sensitivity and secretion rates in a 22 year old girl with Sotos syndrome, prompted by the observation of a flat glucose response after an oral glucose challenge.Methods: Glucose tolerance was assessed with a 75g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), ...

It has been reported that Ang II induces the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells (Muscella et al., J Endocrinol 173, 315-323, 2002). Here we have examined the signalling pathways evoked by Ang II in MCF-7. Ang II did not change the concentration of intracellular calcium but induced the cytosol-to-membrane translocation of atypical protein kinase C zeta (PKC-zeta). Ang II dose-dependently induced c-fos (mRNA and protein) and enhanced the phosphorylation state of extracellular s...

Growth hormone (GH) is thought to have a dual effect (direct and indirect) on bone metabolism. We sought to explore the inter-relationships and potential determinant factors of several markers of bone turnover in GH deficient adults (GHD), as well as possible acute changes arising from GH.24 GHD subjects [14 M, 10F; age (range, 24-74 yrs)] were studied after consent and ethical approval. They were randomised into three groups (GP) of 8 subjects, each to ...

Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been shown to co-vary with renal function in a number of physiological and pathological conditions. However, this relationship and possible co-variants have not been specifically explored in untreated growth hormone deficient adults (GHDA). To examine this issue, we studied 24 GHDA subjects (14M, 10F) in the fasted state twice after obtaining consent and ethical approval. The Cockcroft and Gault equation was used to calculate creatinine...

Introduction: Adult-onset noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia syndrome (NIPHS) associated with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is a very rare entity. Clinical features of NIPHS are similar to those of insulinoma. Hypoglycemia with neuroglycopenic symptoms presents the main diagnostic condition. NIPHS is often poorly responsive or unresponsive to medical management necessitating surgical intervention with resection of pancreatic tissue.Case report: W...

Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rare neoplasms with heterogeneous clinical behavior and potential long-term survival. In the last decade GEP–NET nomenclature has been twice reviewed. However, the 2000 WHO classification had poor prognostic power in well differentiated (WD) neoplasms. This led to the introduction of two new important parameters by the European Neuroendocrine Tumors Society (ENETS), grade and stage; the former became part of t...

Introduction: Pituitary adenomas are benign neoplasms which grow slowly, but that can recur even after apparent radical resection. Until now, markers predicting regrowth and invasiveness have not been completely characterized.Design: We investigated cell proliferation and apoptosis parameters in 20 radically resected pituitary macroadenomas (six GH, two PRL, two ACTH, one FSH and nine non-secreting), in order to predict recurrence risk. Tumour regrowth w...