Endocrine Abstracts

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a tumoral marker of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Iterative Tg assays are then mandatory for their follow-up. The maximum imprecision of any Tg measurement should be <5%. However, it is unlikely that current Tg assays can maintain such tight precision over the 6–12 months time period used for monitoring patients with DTC. This precision can be overcome by measuring archived frozen samples from the patient in the same run as the current spe...

On their first antenatal visit (median 10th gestational week), 977 pregnant women in one district were assayed for TSH (IRMA, non-pregnant normal range 0,15-5 mIU/l) and TPO-Ab (RIA). Abnormal values were found in 154 women (15.8%): positive TPO-Ab in 92 (9.4%), TSH<0,15 in 35 (3.6%), TSH>5 in 49 (5.0%). Of them, 128 women were examined in our endocrine clinic (median 15th week), incl. thyroid ultrasonography (7.5 MHz, Doppler), and assayed for TSH, free T4, free T3, a...

Objective: To assess the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of sonographic index point and resistivity index in predicting the risk for malignancy in thyroid nodules.Methods: Fifty consecutive patients undergoing thyroid ultrasound for clinical nodular thyroid diseases prior to planned surgery were recruited for the study. Sonographic index point was calculated for each nodule using morphological...

Acknowledgements: This work was generously supported by the Wellcome TrustAnnexin 1 (ANXA1) plays an important role in mediating the negative feedback effects of glucocorticoids on the HPA axis. It is released from non-secretory folliculostellate (FS) cells by glucocorticoids and acts locally to suppress ACTH release from corticotrophs. Previous studies suggest that the steroid-induced translocation of ANXA1 across the FS cell membrane is effected via me...

Annexin 1 (ANXA1) plays an important role in mediating the negative feedback effects of glucocorticoids on the HPA axis. In the anterior pituitary gland ANXA1 is localised mainly to the non-secretory folliculostellate (FS) cells. It is released from these cells by glucocorticoids and acts locally to suppress ACTH release from corticotrophs. Functional and histological studies suggest that the steroid-induced translocation of ANXA1 across the FS cell membrane is effected via me...

The HLA and CTLA-4 gene regions, on chromosomes 6p21 and 2q33 respectively, have been consistently associated with Graves' disease (GD). Recent data indicate that both DRB1 (in the HLA class II region) and the 3' untranslated region of the CTLA-4 gene are the most likely regions harbouring the aetiological variants for susceptibility to GD. It is not known, however, whether these variants lead to expression of specific sub-phenotypes in subjects with GD, or contribute to disea...

The autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), are thought to be caused by complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors, which result in an organ-specific autoimmune response being directed against the thyroid gland. GD and HT, although clinically distinct, share many immunological and histological features. Several potential susceptibility genes for AITD have been investigated, although to date only the HLA an...

A 76-year-old lady developed a tender thyroid swelling following a fall at home. One month later she was admitted with acute dyspnoea, and increased pain and swelling in her neck. She was found to be hyperthyroid on endocrine testing: free T4 (FT4) 24.8 (9-20) picomoles/litre, free T3 (FT3) 8.1 (3.5-6.5) picomoles/litre and thyrotropin (TSH) 0.2 (0.4-5.5) mIU/litre. She also had a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) at 54 mm/hr. She was commenced on hydrocortisone and ...

The adrenal function of children is investigated similarly to adults’ using at rest (basal) and after testing serum cortisol concentration ((F)). di Iorgi et al. (JCEM 95:2132) showed a good diagnostic accuracy of glucagon testing investigating (F) increase. We retrospectively addressed the relevance of using, in children with short stature tested for GH deficiency, 1/ the normal reference range of our assay for basal (F) and 2/ the threshold provided by di Iorgi et al. o...

Background: Bisphosphonates are capable of suppressing parathormone (PTH)-mediated bone resorption and can be used as an adjunct treatment in acute hypercalcemia. We investigated the effects of oral alendronate on bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of calcium and bone metabolism in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).Methods: Twenty-six patients aged 58.5±13.9 years with confirmed PHPT were treated with alendronate (70 m...