Endocrine Abstracts

‘Silent’ ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas are not characterized by specific clinical features that would suggest the presence of hypercortisolism. In contrast, they present as non-functioning pituitary macroadenomas with either visual compromise or hypercortisolism. However, immunostaining reveals ACTH-secreting cells.In order to characterize the laboratory features of these tumours, we have preoperatively assessed 56 patients with either clin...

A 53 year old man with ANCA-positive glomerulonephritis was referred with a 3-month history of hypercalcaemia. There was no significant family history and treatment consisted of Maxepa concentrated fish oils 5g/day for glomerulonephritis and lansoprazole plus Bisodol (proprietary indigestion preparation containing calcium, magnesium and sodium bicarbonate) for a hiatus hernia. Investigations revealed a corrected calcium concentration of 3.06 mmol/l, phosphate 1.27 mmol/l, crea...

Background: HSD-1, an intracellular enzyme, converts cortisone to cortisol in tissues where cortisol excess is associated with morbidity including liver, adipose, bone, brain, muscle, skin, and eye. SPI-62 is a potent and specific HSD-1 inhibitor in development for treatment of Cushing’s syndrome and autonomous cortisol secretion, and as adjunctive therapy to prednisolone in polymyalgia rheumatica. In Phase 1 clinical trials SPI-62 was generally well tolerated and associa...

Background: HSD-1, an intracellular enzyme, converts cortisone to cortisol in tissues where cortisol excess is associated with morbidity including liver, adipose, bone, brain, muscle, skin, and eye. SPI-62 is a potent and specific HSD-1 inhibitor in development for treatment of autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) and Cushing’s syndrome, and as adjunctive therapy to prednisolone in polymyalgia rheumatica. In Phase 1 clinical trials SPI-62 was generally well tolerated and a...

Objectives: BRAFV600E- anaplastic thyroid cancers (ATCs) show remarkable responses to dabrafenib and trametinib (dab/tram) an effect that may be in part immune-mediated. Murine BRAFV600E-ATCs regress upon BRAF inhibition. We find that recurrences are frequent and associated with loss of Mhc class II (MhcII) expression. Our goal was to investigate the mechanisms of loss of antigen presentation by tumor cells and whether this contributes to disease recurren...

The androgen receptor (AR) function is inhibited by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as DDT and DDE leading to problems in embryonic development and negative health outcomes for adults. EDCs may bind in the steroid binding pocket and disrupt AR function by leading to altered receptor conformations. However, this may not be the only way EDCs interfere with the receptor. Estébanez-Perpiñá et al identified binding function 3 (BF3) as a surface bi...

Introduction: Pituitary Apoplexy is a rare endocrine emergency which can occur due to infarction or haemorrhage of pituitary gland. Pituitary apoplexy can occur as an initial presentation in patients who are not known to have Pituitary adenomas. Clinical Symptoms vary, however, one should have a high index of suspicion if symptoms such as acute headache, visual loss or ocular palsy occur.Precipitating factors: Hypertension, Preganancy, Head trauma, Dynam...

Background: Rare genetic disorders of obesity result from an impaired central melanocortin pathway, comprised of multiple genes, including POMC, PCSK1, and LEPR. Because of their rarity and the difficulty in identifying individuals with pathogenic mutations in these genes, a complete understanding of these disorders remains unclear. We reviewed previous case reports of individuals with POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiencies to understand their cl...

Sex steroids have complex effects: testosterone predominantly regulates trabecular and estradiol, cortical bone1. Studies in transgender individuals use insensitive technology and report conflicting effects2. We hypothesized estradiol therapy will increase cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) in male-to-female (MtF) individuals and testosterone therapy will increase trabecular vBMD in female-to-male (FtM) individuals.Aims...

Background: Obesity is a public health problem, associated with several non-communicable diseases, lower psychosocial well-being and elevated risk of death. Managing obesity with Orlistat (a lipase inhibitor) has shown gastrointestinal side effects. Seaweed and its extract alginate, have shown lipase inhibition, which could help with weight loss. Therefore, adding alginate or seaweed into a cheese could decrease dietary lipids digestion and absorption and therefore reducing bo...