Endocrine Abstracts

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are a heterogeneous, uncommon tumours for whom there have been few practice-changing clinical studies. Sub-groups of patients may be defined by site of origin, histological sub-type, mitotic activity and evidence of disease progression.Chemotherapy is active in patients with advanced pancreatic NETs; however, benefits are modest and associated with significant (albeit manageable) toxicity. Additional treatment options are sp...

The incidence of the metabolic syndrome has reached epidemic levels in the western world. With respect to the energy balance most attention has been given to reducing energy (food) intake. Increasing energy expenditure is an important alternative strategy. Adaptive thermogenesis, which is the increase in energy expenditure in response to cold or diet, may be an effective way to affect the energy balance.Several studies have confirmed that humans show sig...

Kisspeptin, the endogenous ligand of the GPR54 receptor, is a key regulator of reproduction. Inactivating mutations of the GPR54 receptor in mice and humans is associated with a failure of reproductive function. Activating mutations in the GPR54 receptor result in precocious puberty. The endogenous neuropeptide agonist for GPR54, kisspeptin, potently stimulates release of gonadotrophins in rodents and primates.Objective: We determined the effects of elev...

A 37-year-old Caucasian man was referred for assessment of borderline hypocalcaemia (2.15 mmol/l) associated with hypophosphataemia (0.32 mmol/l) and elevated serum PTH (145 ng/l). Serum 25OH cholecalciferol was normal (39 mmol/l). Some weeks earlier he had been admitted to hospital as an emergency with severe, colicky right sided abdominal pain. The pain had settled spontaneously and no cause was found. He had subsequently suffered isolated attacks of strangury, dysuria and t...

According to the WHO classification system the majority of endocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract (GI-NETs) are considered as being well differentiated benign or malignant tumours. Almost all GI-NETs are derived from enterochromaffin or Kulchitsky cells that can synthesize, store and secrete serotonin. The majority of these tumours are non-functioning and their presentation is non-specific. Functioning tumours, may exhibit protean clinical presentation, depending on t...

Conventionally, an allosteric modulator is neutral in respect of efficacy and binds to a receptor site distant from the orthosteric site of the endogenous agonist. However, recently compounds being ago-allosteric modulators have been described i.e. compounds acting both as agonists on their own and as enhancers for the endogenous agonists in both increasing agonist potency and often providing additive efficacy - superagonism. The additive efficacy can also be observed with ago...

Glucocorticoids (GCs) exert a wide variety of functions throughout the human body, including mediation of the stress response, regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory actions, vascular effects, increase of bone resorption, as well as effects on the development and function of numerous organs. The immuno-suppressive effects of GCs are routinely used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory or immune diseases (e.g. inflammatory bowel d...

Introduction: It is accepted that hyperprolactinaemia associated with microprolactinoma may prove self-limiting in 25–30% women, and there is some suggestion from series of mixed gender that the same may be true in men.Methods: We have therefore reviewed the outcome in all men with microprolactinomas managed at the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, City Hospital, Nottingham, between 1994 and 2002. All had sustained and previously untreated h...

Aim: To determine if the endogenous estrogen 17beta-estradiol protected against oxidative stress-induced endothelial cell damage and the mechanism of this potential effect.Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were isolated and cultured in phenol red free media with 2% charcoal-stripped serum. The following were undertaken (1) Cells were exposed to 0.1 to 1 nM 17beta-estradiol immediately prior to 100 μM hydrogen peroxide added for 24 hour...

Background Somatostatin has various biological effects such as modulation of exocrine and endocrine secretions, proliferation and apoptosis. These effects have been shown to be mediated via G-protein linked receptors known as somatostatin receptors 1-5 (SST 1-5). It has been shown that SST 2 in particular can be modulated by estrogen. The phytoestrogen genistein acts through the estrogen receptor beta and has been shown to have opposing effects on cell proliferation at differe...