Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Disorders of sexual differentiation (DSD) are uncommon and pose many challenges to families affected and clinicians. The genotypic 46XY male with female phenotype form an interesting group with diverse presentation. We studied all such children attending our multidisciplinary DSD clinic. Only in a minority of these children did newborn examination raise the possibility of DSD. Delays in identifying these abnormalities can cause significant psychological difficult...

Introduction: The role of hormones and their underlying mechanisms in the development of osteoporosis are complex and not completely understood. Serum SHBG concentration is increased in older men and may be correlated with reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk. However, there is little data on exact relation of BMD with 24-h mean concentration and circadian rhythm of SHBG.Methods: We measured 24-h mean SHBG concentration in 3 groups of...

Introduction: Hypoparathyroidism is normally treated with calcium salts and activated vitamin D. Here we report a case where synthetic 1–34 PTH (teriparatide) and i.m. vitamin D was successful in treating a case of primary hypoparathyroidism resistant to conventional treatment.Case report: A 16-year girl presented to the emergency department with vacant episodes and mild confusion. Her childhood was uneventful until the age of 12 when she developed ...

Introduction: Data are conflicting on whether and how serum adipokines alter following acute dietary intake. Here, we used the specific challenge of standard 75 g glucose tolerance tests (GTT) to assess timed changes in TNF-α, IL-6, leptin and adiponectin in healthy younger women and how these would be affected by adiposity.Methods: Consenting participants in the Manchester Mothers’ Heart and Vascular health study had serum adipokines measured ...

Background: Increased levels of cortisol are associated with worse prognosis in heart failure (HF). The final step in cortisol production is catalysed by 11β-hydroxylase encoded by CYP11B1, which is highly homologous with CYP11B2. A common polymorphism in the aldosterone synthase gene (CYP11B2 −344T) is associated with a raised ratio of 11-deoxycortisol/ cortisol (S/F). We examined the relationship between −344C/T polymorphism and corticos...

The CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 genes encode 11β-hydroxylase and aldosterone synthase, which catalyse the production of cortisol and aldosterone, respectively, and have been implicated in the development of hypertension. For this study, we wished to investigate the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), a novel class of post-transcriptional gene regulators. To that end, we generated a profile of human adrenal miRNAs to study, and then investigated the action of one adrenal miR...

In patients presenting with a diffusely enlarged hard thyroid gland the differential diagnosis lies between thyroid carcinoma, lymphoma, and Riedel’s thyroiditis. We present a case of Riedel’s thyroiditis with multifocal nodular sclerosis, which improved with levothyroxine replacement.A 40-year-old woman presented with a 3 months history of neck swelling, dysphagia and breathlessness on exertion. Examination revealed a hard, fixed, diffuse goit...

Introduction: There is increasing evidence suggesting that adiponectin plays a role in the regulation of bone metabolism. We have studied the changes in the circulating concentration of adiponectin in lean and obese post-menopausal women with and without osteoporosis and its association with a marker of bone formation – type 1 procollagen amino-terminal pro-peptide (P1NP) and a marker of bone resorption – type 1 collagen C-telopeptide (βCTX).<p class="abstex...

Gut hormones are gastro-entero-pancreatic hormones released during the normal physiological response to feeding/fasting. Adequate nutrient intake and normal gastrointestinal function are critical to bone health, which can be under constant repair and remodelling. Gut hormones may integrate a connection between food intake and bone turnover.We studied the effects of five gut hormones, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like pepti...

Hypertension in obese Zucker rats is associated with raised plasma aldosterone, suppressed renin and increased hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal activity. We investigated the possible causes and consequences of these associations by comparing adrenal gene expression and urinary electrolyte and steroid excretion patterns in lean and obese rats. Groups (n=11) of adult male lean and obese Zucker rats were held in metabolism cages for 7 days. Urine collected over the ...