Endocrine Abstracts

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate derivative (DHEA-S) are major adrenal secretory products in humans, but their biological function is not still fully explained. Some studies reported negative correlation of DHEA(S) with BMI, fat distribution, and correlations with insulin sensitivity or lipid spectra, but the results are often controversial. Our objective was to assess the correlations of DHEA and DHEA-S levels in Czech non-diabetic population with anthropometric,...

The relationship of insulin resistance, androgens and endothelial dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome ,PCOS, is controversial till now. We evaluated if ICAM-1 levels differ between PCOS and healthy women and whether this marker of the early endothelial damage is associated with the particular metabolic and/or hormonal characteristics.After signing written informed consent, 39 PCOS women -median of age 25 yrs, BMI 24.9 and 10 age matched healthy wome...

Hypoglycaemia stimulation serves as a model of physiological function of adrenal action during the stress reaction. The study aimed to describe the differences of steroid response between hypoglycemia and various doses of Synacthen (as ACTH stimulation alone). The goal of the study was to investigate the physiology of adrenal response. Twenty four steroids were measured in plasma using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry after stimulation of 1 μg, 10 μg and 250 &#...

The adrenal androgens dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, 5-androstenediol and 11β-hydroxy-androstenedione have a wide spectrum of important physiological effects. Aim of our study was to find differences in reaction of the C19 Δ5-steroids between healthy women and patients with adrenal insufficiency in various doses of Synacthen (1 ug, 10 ug and 250 ug). Our study involved seven healthy women and six premenopausal females (BMI an...

Background: Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (GI NETs) are subdivided into grades (G) G1-G3 based on Ki-67 proliferation index (%) (G1<3%, G2 3-20%, and G3 >20%) or mitotic rate, with tumor grade informing prognosis and treatment. Grade progression (GP) over time in GI and pancreatic NETs has recently been identified, with low(G1/2)-to-high(G3) grade progression (L-to-H) the most clinically relevant form. L-to-H is associated with worse survival, yet the timefram...

Objective: Clinical management of pituitary cysts remains controversial, especially if asymptomatic. We retrospectively review clinical management and outcome of these patients undergoing long-term follow-up in our pituitary clinic.Methods: All patients with MRI-based diagnosis of pituitary cyst were included. Clinical presentation, cyst size and endocrinopathies (secondary adrenal, thyroid or gonadal deficiency) were compared between surgical and observ...

Objective: Standard Cushing’s disease (CD) treatment is trans-sphenoidal surgery (TSS). However, reported postoperative remission and relapse rates are variable. We have retrospectively analysed clinical outcomes of patients with CD undergoing TSS at our centre.Methods: Patients with CD currently under our long-term endocrine care were included. Diagnosis of CD was made following standard biochemical and radiological investigations. Post-operative r...

Introduction: Corticosteroid Binding Globulin (CBG) binds >85% of plasma cortisol and modulates free cortisol levels. Observations in vitro show that CBG is cleaved by neutrophil elastase (NE), a mechanism proposed to reduce CBG binding affinity and increase free cortisol availability to inflamed tissues. However, detection of cleaved CBG in vivo in human plasma is controversial, and any influence of NE on CBG cleavage has not been tested in vivo...

A 65-year-old man presenting with urinary symptoms was incidentally discovered to have an adrenal mass on imaging. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a 9.5 x 8 cm heterogenous solid right adrenal tumour with no evidence of metastatic disease. Family history included a brother who died from metastatic carcinoid and another brother who died from metastatic neuroendocrine tumour. The initial differential lay between adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) or a pheochromocytoma. T...

A 33 year old primip presented to the local ophthalmic hospital at 34+4 weeks’ gestation with two weeks of blurred vision. Examination revealed a bitemporal hemianopia and reduced visual acuity. She was previously fit and well, and a pre-eclampsia screen was negative. An MRI scan demonstrated a haemorrhagic pituitary lesion extending into the suprasellar cistern with mild compression of the optic chiasm. Pituitary function tests showed a raised prolactin 3844 mU/l, isolat...