Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The detrimental effect of excessive obesity on insulin resistance has been well established. The expansion of adipose tissue is closely dependent on two processes: adipogenesis and angiogenesis and the Wnt signalling pathway has been reported to affect both. In adipose tissue the Wnt signalling pathway functions in a converse manner: increasing commitment of mesenchymal stem cells to preadipocytes and inhibiting differentiation of preadipocytes to mature adipocytes...

Placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 (11β-HSD2) rapidly converts glucocorticoids to inactive metabolites, thus protecting the developing fetus from high maternal glucocorticoids. Genetic deficiency or inhibition of 11β-HSD2 associates with fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, and cardiometabolic disease in adulthood. Similar ‘programming’ effects are seen with maternal malnutrition or stress; these challenges associate with reduced place...

Objective: Inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) with CRH stimulation is considered the gold standard for the differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. The aim of this study is to evaluate its role in confirmation and lateralisation of a pituitary source in suspected Cushing’s disease (CD).Methodology: Nine patients with CD with indeterminate MRI underwent IPSS from August 2004 to February 2007. Three were being assessed fo...

Background: Radioiodine ablation is an effective curative treatment for hyperthyroidism in virtually all patients with single or multiple doses. The dosage of radioiodine used in the treatment of thyrotoxicosis has varied widely according to local experience and practice. Administration of low doses could lead to inadequate or delayed response, while using larger doses is associated with the risk of increased incidence of hypothyroidism.Introduction: In ...

Background: Standard glucocorticoid therapy in CAH often fails to control androgen excess, causing glucocorticoid overexposure and poor health outcomes, particularly in adolescents. Efmody, a MRHC, has recently been licensed for CAH patients aged >12 years following a phase 3 study by Merke et al., 2021 demonstrating improved biochemical control in adults, steroid dose reduction over time, and patient-reported benefit.<stron...

Background: Up to 60% of patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are malnourished. This negatively impacts survival, length of hospital stay, risk of complications, treatment response, fatigue and quality of life. Malnutrition is typically defined by body mass index (BMI) or weight loss, which provides no information on body composition. Research in other cancers has shown sarcopenia is more significant than BMI. Information is lacking on the influence of ...

Background: Obesity (BMI< 30 kg/m2) is a chronic and progressive disease, that is associated with many co-morbidities such as cardiovascular and psychiatric diseases, cancer, and arthritis. Lifestyle interventions are the cornerstone of obesity treatment, but when ineffective, anti-obesity pharmacotherapy could be added. In recent years, several anti-obesity agents have been approved, such as the glucagon-like peptide -1 (GLP-1) analogue liraglutide. Liraglutide...

Accumulating evidence from animal and human studies suggests that vitamin D is involved in many functions of the reproductive system in both genders. In women, vitamin D status has been associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome, features of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and sex hormone steroidogenesis. In detail, cross-sectional data suggest a regulatory role of vitamin D in PCOS-related aspects such as ovulatory dysfunction, insulin re...

Introduction: Thyroid hormone deficiency can lead to the impairment of cardiac function. Whether subclinical hypothyroidism (ScH) is a risk factor for left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is controversial. Aim of the study was to assess whether ScH is associated with LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction and it’s reversibility after treatment with L-thyroxine.Material and methods: Twenty-seven consecutive patients with newly diagnosed Sc...

Context: Cushing’s disease (CD) results from the release of high levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from a pituitary adenoma. Increased ACTH secretion stimulates excess cortisol production, causing weight gain, hypertension, diabetes and depression. The only curative treatment is transsphenoidal surgery, but the rate of recurrence is high and there is a lack of suitable medical therapies. RNA-interference is a mechanism of post-transcriptional gene silencing th...