Endocrine Abstracts

Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of the male breast due to the imbalance between androgens and estrogens in the breast tissue. In up to 40% of cases no evident reasons could be found. This idiopathic gynecomastia may be caused by excess aromatisation within breast tissue. Aromatase is a key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis. Mutations and polymorphisms of aromatase gene could lead to its overexpression. Some endocrine disruptors - chemicals that interfere with hormone functi...

The benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) represents an enlargement of the epithelial and fibromuscular parts of the prostate. Although androgens per se do not cause BPH, an intact androgen metabolism is a prerequisite for the normal fetal and pubertal development of the prostate. Furthermore, growth factors play a role in the development of BPH. Animal experiments have shown that the prostate – similar to other organs of the reproductive tract – undergoes a neonatal st...

Male- or female-like neural control of gonadal function and reproductive behaviour is determined by sex-specific activation of estrogen receptors (ER) in the developing brain during a limited, critical period during ontogenesis. Exposure of the neonatal female brain to inappropriately high estrogen concentrations results in irreversible defeminization of neuroendocrine function which is manifested by disturbed cyclic ovarian activity and decreased female sexual receptivity in ...

Case History: A 60 year old female presented with anxiety and weight loss. Serum free T4 was 50 pmol/l (normal 12-23). Despite restoring T4 to normal, symptoms persisted and included flushing attacks. Urine 5-HIAA was elevated (182 micro moles/24 hrs; normal 0-40).Tests were done to locate the primary and secondary carcinoid tumour.Investigations: CT of thorax and abdomen, and ultrasound of abdomen were negative. Routine biochemistry and haematology were...

A 65 year old lady presented to her GP in 1997 with an extensive rash. She was referred to a dermatologist but the rash which failed to settle with topical treatments. A plasma glucagon level was elevated at 275 pmol/l (NR 0-50). CTscan revealed a mass in the pancreatic tail and hepatic metastases consistent with malignant glucagonoma. She was commenced on octreotide and the rash resolved. She underwent a distal pancreatectomy, partial left hepatic lobectomy and intraoperative...

Ligand-activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), a nuclear hormone receptor, dimerises with retinoid X receptor(RXR) and acts as a transcription factor translating nutritional, pharmacological and metabolic stimuli into changes in gene expression. PPARgamma is thought to serve several roles in adipocyte differentiation, fatty acid and lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity and ovarian steroidogenesis. PPARgamma has also been shown to increase gluco...

A 42 year-old man presented in 1994 with a two-week history of headaches, drowsiness and confusion. There had been reduced libido and weight gain for 2 years. There was testicular atrophy and morbid obesity, but no neurological abnormality. CT scan showed a large, partially calcified, suprasellar tumour extending up into the third ventricle. Downward displacement of the posterior clinoid was identified with features of haemorrhage peripherally. MRI scan showed tumour of mixed ...

Pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone is a very rare cause of hyperthyroidism. It is characterized by normal, or elevated TSH concentration with high concentration of thyroxine and triiodothyronine.Here, we present a case of a 24-year-old woman who suffered from mild thyrotoxicosis and diffuse goiter for ten years. For several years she was under treatment with methimazole, but without any significant improvement, apart from the enlargement of the thyr...

INTRODUCTION:True hermaphroditism is rare but has been reported in more than 400 individuals.Thediagnosis requires the presence of both ovarian and testicular tissue in either the same or opposite gonads.The external genitalia may simulate those of either a male or a female or may be ambiguous.Diagnosis and treatment at an early age is important .CASE REPORT:A 14 years old phenotypic ma...

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension with hypokalaemia suggests primaryaldosteronism, which is confirmed by high plasma aldosterone with low renin concentrations. CT and MRI scans frequently fail to detect small primary aldosteronomas, and may incorrectly identify ' incidentalomas', so adrenal vein sampling is needed.AIM: To review the clincal and biochemical results on 12 patients who had catheter sampling of adrenal and ivc aldosterone(A) and Cortisol (C)with calculation of Aldosteron...