Endocrine Abstracts

Low testosterone levels in men are associated with increased atherosclerosis, and testosterone replacement therapy has been shown to reduce myocardial ischemia in men with coronary artery disease. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis is proposed to reduce plaque stability, but the role of testosterone in this process is unknown. Testosterone causes vasodilatation via calcium channel antagonism and the calcium channel antagonist nifedipine induces VSMC apoptosis. We hav...

Atherosclerotic plaque smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are sensitive to apoptotic stimuli, increasing plaque instability. Testosterone replacement therapy is beneficial in men with coronary artery disease, although its effect upon plaque stability is unknown. We have utilised the rat A7r5 vascular SMC line to investigate the effects of testosterone on apoptosis induced by serum deprivation or the calcium channel antagonist nifedipine.Cells were plated at 1500...

BACKGROUNDAngina and Myocardial infarction have been reported in hyperthyroidism. Intense coronary artery spasm can be life threatening as it can lead to ventricular fibrillation and haemodynamic instability as reported in this patient.CASE HISTORYA 45-year-old lady was admitted with a history of head aches, palpitations, diarrhoea and weight loss. She was subsequently found to have thyrotoxicosis with the th...

In addition to expression in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, POMC is also expressed in a group of neurons in the caudal aspect of the nucleus of the solitary tract, the primary site of synapse of vagal afferent fibers. To test the hypothesis that the brainstem POMC neurons may be involved in satiety signaling, we assessed whether genetic or pharmacological blockade of MC4-R could attenuate the ability of CCK to inhibit food intake. CCK-8s was administered to female C5...

Hormone-responsive reporter plasmids are widely used for the analysis of endocrine responses in target cells. We have investigated the effect of different promoters on reporter gene expression by oestrogen-responsive reporter constructs.Plasmid constructs were transfected into an oestrogen responsive bovine endometrial stromal (BST) cell line. Two reporter gene products were analysed: secreted alkaline phosphatase(SeAP) and beta galactosidase.<p clas...

Testosterone therapy has been shown to benefit men with heart failure or coronary artery disease, an activity proposed to be mediated via its vasodilatory efficacy. Testosterone has been demonstrated to dilate human coronary arteries, but it is unknown whether testosterone has a similar action in human pulmonary or systemic vessels.Male patients were recruited from cardiothoracic (n = 14, age = 68 plus/minus 9) or gastrointestinal (n = 8, age = 70 plus/minus 3) operating l...

Transphenoidal hypophysectomy is often carried out to remove ACTH-secreting tumours of the pituitary. A postoperative serum cortisol of <50nmol/l usually indicates cure of the disease but after other audits found persistent cases, 'remission' is thought to be a more appropriate term.Charing Cross Hospital is the tertiary neurosurgical centre for West London where a single, dedicated pituitary surgeon was appointed in 1995. We analysed the success of e...

Background: Current evidence suggests that testosterone acts as a vasodilator in several vascular beds. This may have implications for men who are androgen deficient, in whom vascular reactivity may be impaired. We have studied vascular responses in vitro in femoral arteries from testicular feminised mice (Tfm), which lack a functional androgen receptor and are consequently androgen resistant and have reduced circulating levels of testosterone. Methods: Femoral arteries from m...

Background: Most thyroid nodules are benign, but they can also be associated with thyroid cancer. To be sure how to proceed with an ultrasound suspicious nodule (EU-TIRADS), it is recommended to perform a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and classify the nodule in the BETHESDA system.Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether we perform an excessive number of FNA according to the EU-TIRADS classification in order to reduce the number...

Background: Hypomagnesemia is an electrolyte disturbance defined by a low serum magnesium level. Causes of hypomagnesemia include inadequate dietary intake, decreased intestinal absorption, and increased renal excretion. The clinical presentation varies depending on the severity of the magnesium deficiency-from asymptomatic cases to patients with mild symptoms, to severe, life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and seizures.Case presentation: A 55-year-old ...