Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis induce changes in the skin-secretome, which potentially lead to dysfunction of key metabolic tissues and increased risk of psoriasis co-morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the proteins and peptides that make up the skin-secretome remain poorly characterised. Proteomic analysis has identified vimentin, parathymosin, prothymosin-alpha, dermcidin, and desmin as potential skin-secretome factors, which may in...

Objectives: Autoimmune diseases are typically studied with a focus on the immune system, and less attention is paid to responses of target tissues exposed to the immune assault. We aimed to evaluate, based on available bulk RNA sequencing data, whether inflammation induces similar molecular signatures in the target tissues of five autoimmune diseases, namely type 1 diabetes (T1D), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS) and systemi...

Background: Serum total cortisol responses to the short Synacthen® test (SST) are used to confirm or refute a diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency. Salivary cortisol measurement offers a non-invasive alternative and has the potential advantage of evaluating free, bioavailable cortisol. However, reference ranges and its performance in the investigation of suspected hypoadrenalism (SH) have not been firmly established.Aims: 1....

Background: Serum total cortisol responses to the short Synacthen® test (SST) are used to confirm or refute a diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency. Salivary cortisol measurement offers a non-invasive alternative and has the potential advantage of evaluating free, bioavailable cortisol. However, reference ranges and its performance in the investigation of suspected hypoadrenalism (SH) have not been firmly established.Aims: 1....

A 45-year-old man with obesity (BMI 36 kg/m2) was admitted with a 12-hour history of headache and confusion and managed for viral meningitis. Treatment was discontinued after CSF viral PCR was negative. At presentation, he was hypoglycaemic with a capillary glucose of 1.6 mmol/l. Past medical history was not significant and there were no similar episodes previously. He denied taking insulin, other medications, illicit drugs or alcohol. Initial investigations reveale...

A 32-year-old man presented with a four year history of reduced libido, erectile dysfunction and inability to conceive with his partner. He went through puberty normally and had a normal sense of smell. Clinical examination revealed that he was 205 cm tall and normally virilised. Testicular volume was reduced, but the phallus was normal. Clinically, he appeared euthyroid and there were no features of hypercortisolism or growth hormone excess. Biochemical picture: prolactin 375...

Background: Over-dosing and under-dosing of vitamin D in children and young people appears to be common, based on our audit of current practice. The contribution of ethnicity, skin colour, and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) genotype has not been fully explored during vitamin D treatment.Objective: To investigate how ethnicity/skin colour and genetic variation affect the response to 150 000 units of vitamin D administered to young adults of white Caucas...

The inflammatory skin disease psoriasis is an independent risk-factor for development of insulin resistance. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly elucidated. We used human and mouse models of psoriasis to investigate a potential endocrine role of the skin in regulating subcutaneous adipose tissue (sAT) and pancreatic islet function. Mice were administered a daily topical dose (75 mg) of imiquimod (IMQ), or Vaseline control, to a shaved dorsal region for 4 days. IPG...

Background/objectives: While patients are commonly referred to endocrinology with a low FT4 and normal TSH, there is no consistency in the management of these patients. The aim of this audit was to assess management of these patients including investigation, diagnosis and pharmacological intervention and compare to the current Association for Clinical Biochemistry guidelines.Methods: This was a retrospective audit studying 41 endocrine outpatients at Uni...

A 41 year old female presented to the haematologists with a coincidental finding of polycythaemia: haemoglobin 198 g/L, white blood cell count 8×109/L, platelets 236×109/L, haematocrit 0.57 L/L and red blood cell count 6.16×1012/L. Six years earlier haemoglobin 151 g/L, white blood cell count 7.7×109/L, platelets 297×109/L, haematocrit 0.4 L/L and red blood cell count 4.53×1012/L. S...