Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: Mechanism underlying the IR (Insulin-resistance) remains yet to be identified. Resistin has been shown to antagonize insulin action, and thus might be implicated in the pathogenesis of IR. In contrast, adiponectin has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and improve glucose tolerance. We aimed to test the hypothesis that resistin levels might correlate positively with the indices of insulin resistance, while the opposite might be true for adiponectin...

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Objective: To study serum levels of angiogenic factors: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiogenin and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and their relationship to metabolic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus and to evaluate whether these angiogenic factors can predict and identify cases at greater risk to develop diabetic retinopathy or persistent microalbuminuria in a follow-up perio...

Triple A syndrome is is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterised by achalasia, alacrima, adrenocorticotropin-resistant adrenal insufficiency and a variable and progressive neurological phenotype. The AAAS gene encodes a 60kD WD-repeat nuclear pore protein named ALADIN (alacrima, achalasia, adrenal insufficiency neurologic disorder); its function and tissue distribution are unknown. In this study we performed in situ hybridization with 35S end-labelled AAAS mRNA oligon...

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis can be affected following therapy for brain tumours. Primary thyroid damage is frequent following craniospinal irradiation(CSI). Central hypothyroidism is less commonly reported following cranial irradiation(CI), however, some investigators have argued it is underdiagnosed and may be more prevalent than growth hormone deficiency(GHD). Utilising thyroid function tests(TFT) for the diagnosis of central hypothyroidism is notoriously difficu...

IntroductionIsolated TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) deficiency has been reported in the literature as a rare condition. Only 60 cases have been reported so far since 1960. It has been defined as central hypothyroidism without evidence of any other pituitary hormonal deficiencies or evidence of any structural pituitary abnormality. We report 3 cases of suspected isolated TSH deficiency, 2 of which presented in a year to one endocrine centre.<p clas...

A 32 year old women presented to her G.P.with a four month history of a lump in her neck, weight loss and anxiety. She had hyperthyroidism (TSH <0.1 mU/l, fT4 >100 pmol/l, TPO antibodies 318IU/ml). Thyroid U/S showed a 2x3cm nodule in the right lower pole. A thyroid isotope scan was reported as showing increased uptake throughout the gland with an area of decreased uptake in the right lower pole. She was started on carbimazole 30mg o.d. and she was referred to a head and ne...

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the commonest malignancy to occur during childhood. Treatment protocols included prophylactic cranial radiotherapy at doses of 18-24Gy. Radiation to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis causes hypopituitarism, the severity of which depends upon the dose and time from treatment. Adults who received 24Gy up to 25 years ago have been shown to be GH deficient, those who received 18Gy were not. Other pituitary function was reported be normal. The purpose...

Decreased GH secretion and increased GH clearance contribute to low GH levels found in obesity; in spite of which IGF-1 levels are reported as normal. To explain the discordancy between GH and IGF-1 status in obese subjects, an increase in peripheral (hepatic) sensitivity to GH activity has been hypothesized. Previously peripheral responsiveness to GH in obesity has been investigated and reported to be increased, however the use of weight-based GH doses made interpretation dif...

VA Thornton-Jones, JAH Wass and HE Turner, OBJECTIVE: Despite a recommended injection frequency of 4 weekly(4w), prolonged duration of GH suppression has been observed in some patients following treatment with long-acting somatostatin analogues. The aim of our study was to perform a prospective systematic study to determine whether extending the interval between doses of Octreotide LAR (LAR) allows maintenance of 'safe' GH in selected patients with acromegaly.<p class="abs...