Endocrine Abstracts

The octapeptide hormone angiotensin II (Ang II) exerts its major biological effects via angiotensin AT1 receptors (AT1Rs). Signaling of AT1Rs is regulated by ß-arrestins, which bind to activated AT1Rs, uncouple them form G proteins, and initiate their internalization via clathrin-coated pits and cause G protein independent MAP kinase activation. It has been shown previously that AT1Rs internalize via ß-arrestin-d...

The detection of thyroid nodules has been increasing over time, resulting in an extensive use of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and cytology. Tailored methods are required to improve the management of thyroid nodules, including algorithms and web-based tools. To assess the performance of the Thyroid Nodule App (TNAPP), a web-based, interactive algorithmic tool, in improving the management of thyroid nodules, we carried out a preliminary analysis on a cohort of outpatients. One h...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder associated with infertility and metabolic disturbances. Ovaries of PCOS women contain an increased number of growing follicles. Such an ovarian phenotype is also observed in mice lacking the ovary-specific growth factor anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). To determine the interaction between ovarian and metabolic function, we studied the metabolic phenotype of mice lacking AMH signaling as a model for an altered profile in ovarian ...

The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit 2021 uncovered widening disparity in the utilisation of diabetes technologies among children and young people (CYP) with type 1 diabetes from ethnic minorities and low socioeconomic groups. Our data revealed that only 27.5% of CYP from ethnic minorities were using insulin pump therapy, compared to 50% from a white background. Unfortunately, our current staffing levels and available resources were inadequate to address this issue effective...

Introduction: 3-Iodothyronamine (T1AM) is a novel endogenous relative of thyroid hormone able to interact with specific G protein-coupled receptors, known as trace amine-associated receptors (TAAR). Metabolic, endocrine and cardiac effects of exogenous T1AM have been reported.Methods: We synthesized radiolabelled T1AM, [125I]-T1AM, and explored its distribution in different mouse organs after injection in the tail vein. The specificity of [<su...

Prolactin is expressed in lymphoid cells and differentiating (decidualised) endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) under the control of an alternative upstream promoter, distinct from the pituitary-specific promoter. Local prolactin action may have immunomodulatory effects. Th1/Th2 imbalance may be an important cause of habitual abortions in man but the mechanism is unknown. Recently, we characterised a G/T SNP at position -1149 that altered prolactin production by lymphocytes, and ...

Abiraterone acetate is a potent, selective inhibitor of CYP17, a key enzyme that catalyses the conversion of pregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and progesterone to androstenedione. Inhibition of this enzyme causes suppression of the synthesis of both androgens and oestrogens. Hence treatment with abiraterone acetate could impact on the development and progression of hormone-dependent breast and prostate cancers.In a phase I/II1,2 st...

Insulin tolerance test (ITT) is considered the golden standard test to evaluate HPA axis in suspected hypopituitarism. Low dose (1 μg) ACTH1–24 short stimulation test (LDSST) and metyrapone are often used when ITT is contraindicated. The diagnostic reliability of LDSST is, however, controversial, as even this dose has been considered supramaximal, while very low ACTH doses have been suggested more reliable to assess the adrenal sensitivity. Thus, in...

Pituitary tumors are most usual intracranial tumors, displaying hormonal hyper-secretion with in some cases a sustained cell proliferation. The somatotroph adenomas are characterised by a GH hypersecretion. The current treatments are based on somatostatinergic or dopaminergic agonists. Unfortunately, there is steel 50% of patients, which remain insensitive to these treatments. The aim of our work is to find a pharmacological alternative to treat the patients resistant to the c...

Objective: Our goal was to investigate the effects of glucose levels from 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) on large for gestational age (LGA) newborns in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Material and methods: A prospective study was undertaken in Outpatient Department of Clinics for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders. One hundred and eighteen pregnant women were prospectively screened for GDM between 24 and 28 weeks of p...