Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are epithelial tumors that typically arise in the suprasellar region. They are associated with high levels of morbidity related to tumour location and/or treatment-related injuries. Recent discoveries have also led to a better understanding of CP development and potential treatments.Objetive: To analyse the clinical, pathological, molecular features and outcomes of patients with CP.Design: Retro...

17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) is currently used as a diagnostic parameter in children and young adults when a milder form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH, late-onset) is suspected. A basal serum level of 17OHP (2 ng/ml; 6.0 nmol/l, respectively) has been discussed as cut-off for suspected late-onset disease. We analysed 17OHP in a cohort of children and adolescents without CAH and in confirmed CAH patients to define reference ranges for these age...

Objective: Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disturbance encountered in patients – yet its management remains challenging and variable. We audit the management of hyponatraemia in a busy district general hospital, focusing on length of stay (LOS), readmissions and mortality.Methodology: A retrospective analysis was carried out of 30 consecutive inpatients alerted by the hospital biochemistry department with a sodium concentration of &#880...

IGFBP-2 represents a multifunctional protein with effects on growth, reproductive development, aging, and metabolism. For the expression of these diverse effects in vivo, IGFBP-2 has a number of binding sites for IGFs, integrins, and proteoglycans. In order to assess the relative contributions of these binding sites to the multiple effects of IGFBP-2, we have developed transgenic mouse models overexpressing intact or mutant IGFBP-2. Here we discuss functions of the RG...

Introduction: Transsphenoidal surgery is the gold standard in Cushing’s disease and recurrence is a major risk. We wondered which impact remission and recurrence might have on control rates of hypercortisolism and conducted a systematic analysis of our cohort of patients with Cushing’s syndrome after undergoing surgical therapy.Methods: We analysed the course of the disease in 74 patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome (63 Cushing&...

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary androgen measurements via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry as a non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the assessment of metabolic health.Methods: Saliva and serum samples of 274 patients with PCOS fulfilling Rotterdam criteria and 51 BMI-matched, premenopausal, healthy controls were analysed for steroid hormones using liquid chromatography/mass spectro...

Background: Optimal glucose management in older people is currently unclear. Recent guidelines recommend avoiding tight glycemic targets in elderly patients with comorbidities because intensive control is unlikely to achieve benefit and they are at higher risk of hypoglycaemia.Objective: To estimate the prevalence of potential overtreatment in older adults with diabetes mellitus and comorbidities.Design: Cross-sectional study.<...

Background: Poorer control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (cvd) has been reported in diabetic women compared with men.Objective: To investigate whether control of diabetes and risk factors for cvd differ between sexes in a cohort of diabetic patients monitored at an outpatient endocrinology clinic from 2004 till 2014.Design: Observational, retrospective cohort study.Patients and methods: A cohort ...

There is limited evidence for the role of screening for Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Patients referred to the specialist medical weight management service at Musgrove Park Hospital have routinely been screened for CS with either an overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ODST) or two 24hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) if evidence of dysglycaemia. We retrospectively analysed the results of all patients referred to the service between 2013–2016. 794 patients were seen as...

Introduction: Cinacalcet is an oral calcimimetic indicated in treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism in patients who are unable to undergo parathyroidectomy: do not accept surgery, there is failure of previous surgery or serious comorbidity that makes surgery impossible.Methods: Descriptive study that includes nine patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who have completed at least 48 months of treatment with cinacalcet (seven patients refusal to par...