Endocrine Abstracts

Ovarian ageing is a naturally occurring physiological process, marked by dynamic changes in ovarian function and hormone secretion. A key endocrine regulator of ovarian function is the heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH is secreted as two glycosylation variants: partially glycosylated FSH (FSH21) and fully glycosylated FSH (FSH24). These variants have different in-vitro activities, with FSH21 more bioactive than FSH24. Interest...

Aims: A critical function of astrocytes is to recycle glutamate to neurons as glutamine to sustain glutamatergic neurotransmission. In the hypothalamus, this is required for effective counterregulatory hormone release in response to hypoglycaemia. However, after recurrent hypoglycaemia in vivo, this is attenuated. The aim of this study was to characterise how rat primary hypothalamic and cortical astrocytes adapt to recurrent low glucose (RLG) with repeated exposure t...

During starvation, ketone bodies acetoacetate and 3-D-hydroxybutyrate are freely soluble energy substrates made by the liver. Their major role is to supply an alternative glucose substrate for the brain under conditions of medium- and long-term energy restriction. The most common cause of pathological ketoacidosis is poorly controlled type 1 diabetic mellitus triggering uncontrolled hyperglycaemia. Other common causes are alcoholic ketoacidosis and fasting ketosis. In non-diab...

A 60 year old gentleman with a history of renal stones presented 5 years ago with left sided flank pain. A CT of his renal tract showed an unexpected metastatic deposit in the left iliac crest. Cross-sectional whole body imaging, performed to locate the primary, also identified an expansile soft tissue mass in the T8 vertebral body and a predominantly cystic looking left sided thyroid nodule. He proceeded to have an iliac crest biopsy which was consistent with metastatic folli...

Background: At the beginning of the first Covid 19 lockdown the team realized the need for an innovative way of having contact with young people. Virtual sessions could do this? We also needed to meet young person’s wishes.Objectives: -For the activity to be fun. -Improve carbohydrate counting, knowledge, expertise and confidence -Give young people skills to be independent with their carb counting skills...

A 71 year old man presented with 6 months history of pain over the nipples, weight loss of ½ stone over the previous month and nausea. Initial investigations carried out by the breast surgeons including ultrasound scan of the breast and testes were normal. He was then referred to the Endocrine department for further investigations. There was no significant past medical history, he was taking over the counter vitamins and ...

A 42 year old male was referred to the endocrine clinic with accelerated hypertension (190/110) and an elevated aldosterone renin ratio (59). CT adrenal scan revealed a 16 mm diameter mass in the posterior limb of the right adrenal gland which was confirmed to be hyperfunctioning through adrenal vein sampling. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed and histology confirmed cortical adenoma of the right adrenal gland consistent with Conn’s syndr...

A 71 year old man presented with 6 months history of pain over the nipples, weight loss of ½ stone over the previous month and nausea. Initial investigations carried out by the breast surgeons including ultrasound scan of the breast and testes were normal. He was then referred to the Endocrine department for further investigations. There was no significant past medical history, he was taking over the counter vitamins and ...

A 42 year old male was referred to the endocrine clinic with accelerated hypertension (190/110) and an elevated aldosterone renin ratio (59). CT adrenal scan revealed a 16 mm diameter mass in the posterior limb of the right adrenal gland which was confirmed to be hyperfunctioning through adrenal vein sampling. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed and histology confirmed cortical adenoma of the right adrenal gland consistent with Conn’s syndr...

A 53 year old female weighing 117 kg was thought to be slightly cushingoid by her GP who checked a morning cortisol. This was surprisingly undetectable (<28nM) on 13th June 2022. The patient was urgently referred for a medical opinion. A repeat cortisol in A&E was 29nM with an undetectable ACTH. Given the lack of clinical features of adrenal failure, further history was obtained. The patient appeared well on examination, and denied any inhaled, oral/ topical steroid us...