Endocrine Abstracts

Somatostatin (SRIF) has been demonstrated to inhibit in vitro proliferation of normal and transformed cells via SRIF receptors (SSRs). Moreover, like other neuroendocrine molecules, SRIF and SSRs may play a significant role in the progression and neuroendocrine differentiation of human prostate cancer (PCa). However, conflicting results have been reported in the literature on SSR heterogeneity and specific cell localization in PCa. In the present study, using the human ...

Background: Soluble alpha klotho (sαKL) is a circulating protein that has been linked to the growth hormone (GH) axis. We previously showed its association to disease activity in patients with acromegaly, with considerable robustness towards biological confounders. However, there is scarce data in literature regarding the analytical performance of the assay, and pre-analytical stability of sαKL in blood samples. Objective: We aimed to evaluate ...

Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced adipose-related protein (TIARP)/six-transmembrane protein of prostate 2 (STAMP2) has been characterized as an adipocyte-expressed protein which might play a crucial role in metabolic homeostasis and inflammatory pathways. In the current study, the impact of insulin resistance-inducing and proinflammatory interleukin (IL)-1ß on TIARP/STAMP2 gene expression was determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain re...

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is present in small quantities in human adults (~100 g) and can have a significant influence on metabolism. This effect is mediated by rapid activation of the BAT specific uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), following stimulation of β-adrenergic receptor (AR) by the sympathetic nervous system. AR agonists stimulate rodent BAT, but have so far provided inconsistent findings in humans when administered orally (Vosselman et al. 2012). Rapid activ...

Background: We previously published data for short-term outcomes in patients with SIADH-related hyponatraemia unresponsive to fluid restriction and treated with tolvaptan. In light of concerns over longer-term side-effects we have revisited the topic and extended both group size and follow-up period to determine longer-term safety and treatment implications.Aims/methods: We report ongoing treatment outcomes (case-note review) for 25 patients (age 71&#177...

The intraperitoneal environment of the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) has an oxygen (O2) tension of 5–12%. This could impact cellular events leading to ovulation. Furthermore, ovarian cancers arising from the OSE (∼80–90% of ovarian malignancies) are likely to experience increased hypoxia due to the relatively poor vascularisation of solid tumours.Using 1%, 5% or 20% O2, we measured the expression of HSD11B1, COX-2...

Introduction: Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is the gold standard method for urinary steroid profiling. However, GC-MS requires chemical derivatisation, long run times, is labour intensive, expensive, and unsuitable for rapid multi-sample analysis, limiting its use in routine clinical practice. GC-MS urinary steroid metabolomics, the combination of steroid profiling and machine learning (Generalized Matrix Learning Vector Quantization) was shown to have superior ...

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is a high-affinity binding protein for androgens and estrogens. According to the “free hormone hypothesis”, SHBG regulates the free sex steroid fraction and restricts androgen bioactivity. SHBG has also been independently associated with diabetes, osteoporosis etc., but whether this represents causality or residual confounding remains unconfirmed. We studied mice overexpressing human SHBG. Using multiligand liquid chromatography ta...

Introduction: The regular diagnostic workup for primary aldosteronism (PA) can be very demanding and involves multiple invasive as well as time and cost intensive diagnostic tests. Here we have explored the value of urinary steroid metabolome analysis in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of PA. Previously, urinary 3α,5β-tetrahydroaldosterone (THAldo) has been suggested as a reliable screening test for PA and serum 18-oxocortisol and 18-hydroxycortisol have bee...

Rationale: At present, there is no approved medical treatment for patients with clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma. A number of open-label studies suggest that treatment with somatostatin analogues may prevent tumour progression in selected patients. In vivo assessment of somatostatin receptor status using 68Ga-DOTATATE PET could help to select patients responsive to treatment.Trial objective: To investigate the effect of the somatosta...