Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Dopamine agonists may act on prolactinoma size and secretion through additional effects on adenoma vascularity which can be visualised using Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI). To investigate this 23 subjects, 5 with macroprolactinomas (prolactin (PRL) range 14631-500000mU/L), 11 with microprolactinomas (PRL range 621-4777mU/L), 7 individuals with non-lesion hyperprolactinemia and 15 normal volunteers, including 5 females on oral contrac...

In breast cancer associations between p160 co-activator proteins and the development of resistance to endocrine treatment have been shown. We hypothesized that nuclear co-regulatory proteins may interact with non-steroid receptors. We investigated the effect of silencing the co-activator, SRC-1, on tumour cell growth in vitro. We also examined the MAPK activated transcription factors, Ets, as possible interaction proteins of the co-activator SRC-1 in human breast cancer. The e...

Calcitonin assays remain a key requirement for the diagnosis and monitoring of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Until recently calcitonin assays were mainly competitive radioimmunoassays (RIA) but there are now more specific immunometric assays (IMA) available. Cost and staffing pressures are emcouraging routine clinical chemistry laboratories to perform easier kit methodologies rather than refer samples to specialist centres. However, endocrine tumours are known to secrete ...

Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) transports glucocorticoids in blood and is a serine protease inhibitor family member. Plasma CBG has a reactive center loop (RCL) structure that when cleaved by specific proteases, including neutrophil elastase, results in a loss of high affinity steroid-binding activity. Measurements of CBG levels are typically based on functional assays of its steroid-binding capacity or immunoassays, including enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISAs)...

Adipose exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) results in visceral adiposity and insulin resistance. Only the unbound, free fraction of GC can diffuse into cells. Corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) is the major GC carrier, binding 80–85% of circulating GCs with high affinity. Targeted proteolysis of CBG by neutrophil elastase (NE) significantly reduces CBG binding affinity. This suggests that neutrophil-mediated inflammation provides a regulatory mechanism for delivery of G...

Adipose exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) results in visceral adiposity and insulin resistance. Only the unbound, free fraction of GC can diffuse into cells. Corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) is the major GC carrier, binding 80–85% of circulating GCs with high affinity. Targeted proteolysis of CBG by neutrophil elastase (NE) significantly reduces CBG binding affinity. This suggests that neutrophil-mediated inflammation provides a regulatory mechanism for delivery of G...

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumour arising from the adrenal cortex, with an estimated annual incidence of one to two patients per million. Ectopic ACCs are extremely rare. They are believed to arise from cortical fragments arrested during embryologic migration and have been found close to the adrenal gland or along the path of gonadal descent. The majority of ACCs are sporadic, however, ACC has been linked with genetic disease processes, including multip...

Adrenal lesions are commonly detected incidentally during cross-sectional imaging examinations, and the majority are benign adrenal adenomas. A 52 year old gentleman with a history of hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was referred to our service following a fall in which he fractured several ribs. Subsequent abdominal CT revealed an incidental finding of bilateral adrenal masses, reported as approximately 5 cm and 4 cm on the right and left side respectively with...

Although characterised predominantly for its role in the brain, the neuropeptide kisspeptin has previously been shown to potentiate glucose-stimulated insulin through its receptor, GPR54; expressed abundantly in β-cells. We have previously reported a physiological role for kisspeptin signalling in the islet adaptation to pregnancy, using a β-cell specific GPR54 knockout mouse line (βGPR54ko). The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of impaired &#...

Background: ‘Glycaemic tracking’ describes the stability of HbA1c over time commonly observed in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Preliminary studies have noted the relationship between early metabolic control and long-term outcomes, while recent evidence has been presented for glycaemic tracking in a large number of newly diagnosed individuals with T1DM. The benefits of tight glycaemic control, in terms of reducing microvascular complications and lowering Hb...