Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: In neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), the urinary concentration of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) is used to monitor disease progression or treatment response. The sensitivity and specificity in the presence of the carcinoid syndrome are approximately 70 and 90%, respectively. Collecting a 24 hour urine specimen is difficult and inconvenient for patients and increases analytical variability. In addition, serotonin-containing foods may i...

Case Report: A 42 year-old male, with a family history of phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas, was diagnosed as a carrier of the succinate dehydrogenase subunit-B (SDHB) mutation. He was also diagnosed with macroprolactinoma and treated with cabergoline (currently 250 mcg weekly). A contrast CT chest scan, performed as part of the surveillance program for SDHB-associated tumours, revealed a small right lung lesion, which was found to be OctreoScanTM positive. The ...

Intracellular cortisol is regulated by 11βHSD1. Although the field has focused on regeneration of cortisol from inert cortisone by 11β-reductase activity of 11βHSD1, we have used stable isotope tracers and arteriovenous sampling to quantify simultaneous dehydrogenase (cortisone generation) and reductase (cortisol regeneration) in human adipose and skeletal muscle. In vitro studies suggest insulin regulates this balance of reductase vs dehydrogenase acti...

Introduction: Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare tumours with high morbidity. The majority are benign and surgically curable, but genetic testing suggests that many are associated with germline mutations, and careful long-term follow-up of patients and their family members is important. Regular biochemical screening with plasma or urinary metanephrines (uMetanephrines) is essential, but currently 24-h collections of uMetanephrines is cumbersome and inconven...

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects nearly is reported to be present in approximately 8% of cases of elective hip arthroplasty and an HBA1c >53 mmol/mol may be associated with poorer outcomes in these cases.Aims: To understand the demographics of DM patients in Glasgow undergoing elective hip arthroplasty over a 6 year period between Jan 2009 and Dec 2015 and the rate of post-operative complications.Methods: Patients wer...

Introduction: In patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), the urinary concentration of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) is used to monitor disease progression or response to treatment. The sensitivity and specificity in the presence of the carcinoid syndrome are approximately 70 and 90%, respectively. However, there are problems with the accurate meaurement of a 24-h collection, and this is often inconvenient for patients. In addition, serotoni...

Objective: Androsterone glucuronide (ADTG) concentrations have been suggested as a more reliable marker of the effects of androgens at the target tissue level and they are significantly elevated in hirsute compared to non-hirsute women with PCOS. This study compared the different precursors of testosterone, including dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), ADTG and androstenedione in non-obese compared to obese women with PCOS, and in normal subjects and their implications on...

Introduction: Although biochemical markers of acromegaly disease activity, including GH and IGF1, may fluctuate from day-to-day, biochemical treatment response in clinical trials is generally monitored using single-point analyses. Accordingly, longitudinal evaluations may assess patient status more accurately. In a phase 3 trial, oral octreotide capsules (OOC) demonstrated sustained composite endpoint GH and IGF1 response for ≤13 months in 151 patients with acromegaly pr...

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary androgen measurements via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry as a non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the assessment of metabolic health.Methods: Saliva and serum samples of 274 patients with PCOS fulfilling Rotterdam criteria and 51 BMI-matched, premenopausal, healthy controls were analysed for steroid hormones using liquid chromatography/mass spectro...

Thyroid hormones (THs) play a critical role in the regulation of growth and development in both animals and humans. They regulate metabolism primarily through actions in the brain, white fat, brown fat, skeletal muscle, liver and pancreas. Therefore, it is not surprising that since a long time scientists have been interested in measuring TH concentration in different tissues and to relate this value with possible dysfunctions. In general, TH levels are measured by immunoassay ...