Endocrine Abstracts

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived cytokine critical to the integration of energy homeostasis and reproduction which putatively acts as a metabolic gate for the onset of puberty. However, it is unknown whether the age of puberty reflects leptin levels or leptin sensitivity. If pubertal age reflects leptin sensitivity, it may also reflect susceptibility to diet-induced obesity.We hypothesised that age of pubertal onset reflects leptin sensitivity. We assessed...

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship among the indices of insulin resistance (IR), the lipid parameters and thyroid function in euthyroid adults.Material and methods: Two hundred and sixteen euthyroid adults, mean age 57.08±13.81 years (112 female and 104 male) were included. Serum lipirds, Immunoreactive insulin, glucose, TSH, waist circumference (WC), body height and weight were measured. HOMAi and BMI were calculated.<p cl...

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) is a 36 amino acid peptide, secreted from the endocrine pancreas. Previous work has shown that peripheral administration of PP inhibits food intake in rodents and humans. However, PP has a short circulating half-life that limits its use as an anti-obesity agent. Determining the mechanisms involved in the physiological breakdown of PP will allow the rational design of long-acting analogues with greater clinical utility in the treatment of obesity. PP...

Objective: To investigate gender differences in spatial orientation and verbal memory we conducted a study in 21 healthy young women and men (eleven women). Participating women were required to be in the mid-luteal phase of the cycle. Hormone profiling for behavioural studies is often performed in saliva samples to avoid venous blood sampling. We have compared simultaneously collected blood and saliva samples to confirm the presence of the luteal phase.M...

While primary hyperparathyroidism is most commonly due to a parathyroid adenoma, very occasionally it may be secondary to a parathyroid carcinoma. A substantial minority of parathyroid adenomas are due to mutations or transpositions in genes in involved in the regulation of the cell cycle. In particular, at the cell cycle checkpoint which regulates exit from G1 phase, there is an interaction between the cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs); specifically, cyclin D intera...

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) occurs in approximately 1 in 3000 individuals. Rapid detection and treatment by neonatal screening and administration of T4, is essential to prevent severe mental retardation and impaired growth.We report on two Welsh siblings, detected by neonatal screening, which had normal sized and placed glands but negative isotope uptake. Mutations resulting in CH are known to occur in 11 known genes, given the clinical presentation, we investigated the...

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) occurs in approximately 1 in 3000 individuals. Rapid detection by neonatal screening and T4 administration is essential to prevent severe mental retardation and impaired growth. About one third of CH is due to mutations in known genes including the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR).Two Welsh male siblings with CH were detected, both had normally sized and located thyroid glands, no iodide uptake and were negative for thyroid bloc...

MIF can override the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids during immune response, and thus is an important pro-inflammatory factor. The presence of MIF in the cytoplasm of adenomatous cells of the anterior pituitary has been described, and high levels of MIF in other rapidly-proliferating tissues have been demonstrated. It is hypothesized that MIF release from these cells is influenced by the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, and that ACTH and MIF are released simult...

Case History: A 47-year-old man presented to his GP in November 2019 with sudden onset polydipsia, polyuria and large volume nocturia, passing approximately 5L of urine daily. He was drinking to thirst, had no past medical or family history, and was not taking any medication. He had normal serum calcium, sodium and HbA1c. His GP referred to the local endocrinologist. Five months later, he was referred to our tertiary centre for a water deprivation test, as it had not been poss...

Loss of function of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), caused by mutations in each of the 4 subunits – SDHA/B/C and D – is associated with development of phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). The mutations lead to loss of enzymatic activity and subsequent accumulation of the oncometabolite succinate, a driver of tumourigenesis. It is well established but poorly understood why mutations in SDHB are associated with more aggressi...