Endocrine Abstracts

Background Somatostatin has many putative biological effects in the kidney such as influencing renal blood flow and urine volume, tubular transport and cell regulation. It exerts these effects via five identified G-protein linked receptors. However, only somatostatin receptor proteins 1 and 2A have been described in human kidney so far. In this study, we examined the distribution of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) in normal human adult kidney. Methods Formalin fixed paraffin em...

Hypopituitarism has been reported in 28-65% of long-term survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI). We attempted to define the natural history of post-traumatic hypopituitarism in order to devise guidelines for the optimal timing of patient assessment and hormone replacement.Fifty consecutive patients with severe or moderate TBI were enrolled in a prospective study of pituitary function during the acute phase, at 6 months and, at 12 months following TBI....

IntroductionAntithyroid drugs are widely used in the therapy of hyperthyroidism. This review (update of Cochrane review: Antithyroid drug regimen for treating Graves' hyperthyroidism. In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2003; with 4 additional trials) assesses the effects of dose, regimen and duration of antithyroid drug therapy for Graves' hyperthyroidism.MethodsThe Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLIN...

While iodine deficiency goitre is common worldwide, it is rarely described in the U.K. Vegan diet is the only real way for this deficiency to occur in the U.K. A MEDLINE search from 1966 revealed 1 reported case (Shaikh et al. Transient neonatal hypothyroidism due to a maternal vegan diet; Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism Jan 2003). We have identified 3 cases, which we will describe here.Case 1A 21-year-ol...

Antithyroid drug (ATD) resistant thyrotoxicosis raises difficult management issues. We describe three recent cases of apparent refractory thyrotoxicosis.Case 1: A 31 year old woman presented in July 2003 with thyrotoxicosis. Despite treatment with carbimazole (CBZ) 20 milligrams tds, serum free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations remained around 60 picomoles per litre (11-20). In October, CBZ dose was increased to 40 milligrams bd and dexamethasone 2 milligra...

The CRF-related ligand Urocortin 3 (Ucn 3) is expressed in discrete subcortical areas with highest mRNA levels in the medial amgydala (MEA), hypothalamic median preoptic nucleus (MePO) and the rostral part of the perifornical hypothalamic area (PFN). Close anatomical association between major Ucn 3 terminal fields and the type 2-CRF receptor in hypothalamus, lateral septum and medial amygdala suggest it is well placed to modulate physiological processes including behavioural, ...

IntroductionThe process of ovulation is believed to contribute to the majority of ovarian cancers that derive from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). The OSE is known to be important for successful ovulation and more recently was shown to be sensitive to inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha; Human Reproduction: 17:2300-2306).MethodsNormal OSE cells were obtained, with informed conse...

Objective: To evaluate the impact of laser treatment on the severity of facial hirsutism as well as psychological morbidity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods: Randomised controlled trial of 5 high fluence treatments (intervention) or 5 low fluence treatments (control) over 6 months. 88 women with facial hirsutism due to PCOS were recruited from hospital outpatient clinics and a patient support group in 2002. Main outcomes were self r...

Background Phytoestrogens are a group of biologically active plant substances with chemical structures similar to that of endogenous estrogen. Their beneficial effects on cardiovascular protection have been indicated by the relatively lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases in people with higher phytoestrogen consumption. Recent studies show that they have anti-oxidative properties, which have not been studied in human endothelial cells under different glucose conditions.</...

Virilization in post-menopausal women is usually the result of androgen production by ovarian or adrenal tumours. Androgen secreting tumours account for less than 1 % of all ovarian tumours and include granulosa cell tumours, thecomas, lipoid cell tumours and luteomas. We present a case of an occult virilizing ovarian luteoma diagnosed by selective ovarian venous sampling.A 68 year old nulliparous woman presented with a 15 month history of hirsutism and ...