Endocrine Abstracts

Paragangliomas are rare neuroendrocrine tumours arising from extra-adrenal paraganglia of the autonomic nervous system and excess catecholamine secretion is associated with higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 56-year old male referred to our outpatient clinic with symptoms of sympathetic-hyperactivity, including excessive sweating, palpitations and diastolic hypertension (140/100 mmHg). He had undergone...

33 year old female who is 5 months pregnant, referred to Endocrinology clinic with TFT’s in keeping with sub clinical hyperthyroidism. Previously also had thyroid USS showing large 5 cm nodules both lobes, both indeterminate in appearance (U3) which preceded pregnancy. Symptomatic with sweating and palpitations. No family history of thyroid disease and no ‘red flag’ symptoms. Clinical examination showed palpable thyroid nodules with no evidence of thyrotoxicosis...

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a nuclear receptor, a major drug target, and the end point of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Glucocorticoids (GC) are essential for life, but in excess cause disordered energy metabolism, including increased weight gain, adiposity and hepatosteatosis; all programmes modulated by the circadian clock. Secretion of GC is regulated by the circadian clock, but could their actions be also? Here, using mouse as a model, we found that whil...

Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) is the most frequent autoimmune disorder in women of childbearing age and increases the risk of thyroid dysfunction. TAI has been shown to be more common in women seeking counselling for infertility. The underlying causal mechanism that may account for any possible detrimental effect of TAI on fertility aspects remains hypothetical. In general, increased levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase abs (TPO-abs) have been defined as the most sensitive marker of...

Human sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is produced by the liver and secreted it into the circulation where it binds androgens and estrogens with high affinity. Therefore, SHBG acts as a carrier of these sex steroids and regulates their bioavailability. Low plasma SHBG levels are associated with obesity, fatty liver disease, abdominal adiposity and metabolic syndrome, and predict the development of type 2 diabetes. In addition, an inverse relationship between plasma SHBG lev...

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an endocrine and paracrine factor that is produced in many tissues in response to metabolic stress, including several nutrient and dietary conditions. In addition to its physiologic role in regulating the adaptive response to these conditions, pharmacologic administration of FGF21 to obese animals causes weight loss and improves insulin sensitivity. The diverse actions of FGF21 are mediated through a unique receptor complex that is compos...

Male fertility is controlled by complex interactions among the hypothalamus, pituitary, and testis. The major functions of the testis include production of spermatozoa (male gametes) and synthesis of testosterone. Testosterone is produced by the testicular Leydig cells and is responsible for the development of gonad, the attainment of puberty, and the maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics. It is also involved in the maintenance of of spermatogenesis and thus ensuring...

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the foremost health challenges presently facing developed society, affecting almost 10% of the UK adult population. This disease state can be best described as a failure of the insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cell mass to compensate for peripheral resistance. The resulting increases in blood glucose concentration lead to a range of co-morbidities including renal and heart disease, as well as blindness and nerve problems. Mounting evi...

In the present presentation, I will discuss the options open to researchers wishing to pursue a career in academia via the scientific fellowship route. Particular attention will be paid to establishing strong early career foundations, managing expectations, as well as appropriately timing career stage with any application. Finally, the pros and cons of this career track will be highlighted....

Quantitation of insulin in human plasma was first achieved by Berson and Yallow in 1960, as reported in their seminal paper describing radio-immunoassay (J Clin Invest. 1960(7)39:1157). Despite the wider availability of insulin assays, improvements in immunoassay design and the advent of mass-spectrometric methods to quantitate insulin, insulin assays are used far less than other hormone assays in endocrinological investigations. This is largely due to the dynamic nature of in...