Endocrine Abstracts

A 21-year-old man presented with tonic–clonic seizures and two-week history of nocturnal headaches, sweatiness, hot flushes and abdominal pain. Blood pressure was 220/110 mmHg and pulse 120–160 bpm. A GTN infusion was commenced and the blood pressure improved to 150/90 mmHg. Examination revealed a large, hard mass in the left hypochondrium. There was no palpable lymphadenopathy and no papilloedema. A 2 cm hard, irregular mass was present on the left testis. CT showed...

Introduction: Decidualisation of the endometrial stromal cell (ESC) is pivotal for successful implantation and is initiated in response to increasing progesterone levels. Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGFβ-1), a potent cytokine involved in many diverse cellular responses, is activated from the latent form in the mid-late secretory phase. Previous reports suggest that TGFβ-1 might oppose the action of progesterone, although no mechanism has been proposed. We hav...

Virilization in post-menopausal women is usually the result of androgen production by ovarian or adrenal tumours. Androgen secreting tumours account for less than 1 % of all ovarian tumours and include granulosa cell tumours, thecomas, lipoid cell tumours and luteomas. We present a case of an occult virilizing ovarian luteoma diagnosed by selective ovarian venous sampling.A 68 year old nulliparous woman presented with a 15 month history of hirsutism and ...

Introduction:Steroid hormones exert numerous effects through their action on genomic receptors but little is known about the rapid effects mediated via membrane-bound proteins. Analyses in several vertebrate species indicate that three groups (alpha or A, beta or B, and gamma) of membrane progestin receptors (mPR) exist and have distinct tissue distributions.Objective:The aims of this study were to establish ...

Alstrom syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by obesity, sensorineural deafness, cone-rod dystrophy and hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism. Diabetes in these patients is characterised by severe insulin resistance.We describe the management of diabetes in a 28 year old male patient with Alstrom syndrome and severe insulin resistance. Obesity developed early in childhood and at 3 years weight was 22.2 kg. Genetic studies revealed that the patient is a compo...

The capacity of the adrenal to produce cortisol is controlled in part by the transcription of 21 hydroxylase(CYP21) and production of androgens by 17 hydroxylase/17-20 lyase(CYP17) in response to secretogoues including ACTH, angiotensin-II(A-II) and forskolin. Both mRNA and protein expression of CYP21 was upregulated in the presence of forskolin and A-II alone and in combination in vitro H-295 adrenocortical cells, as detected by northern and western blotting. Whereas, ...

Introduction: The GH/IGF-I axis is implicated in colorectal cancer development. We have previously shown regional variations of the GH/IGF-I axis, and other tumour associated genes between the rectum (RS) and caecum (C). Whether variations in the GH/IGF-I axis align with differing expression patterns is unknown.Aim: To determine the association between colonic expression of the GH/IGF-I axis and that of tumour associated genes by region.<p class="abs...

Aim: To ascertain the types of treatment, results and correlation between GH and the simultaneous IGF-1. Setting: Endocrine and Neurosurgical Unit. Methods: Endocrine and laboratory database of 17 acromegalic patients (11 male) with mean (SD) age 51(3) years and follow up 11 years. Results: Pituitary surgery 11 patients (3 twice), external radiotherapy 10 (one heavy particle therapy). GH levels have come down from a median value 32.5 mU per litre (Mean plus/minus SEM: 51.9 plu...

Background. The GH/IGF-I axis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of colon and breast cancer. We have recently demonstrated that the local expression of its components correlates with that of tumour-associated genes and angiogenesis. The two predominant isomers of GH in humans are 22kDa and 20kDa isomers. A recent study reported that the two isomers exert opposing effects on breast cancer cells: 22kDa GH promotes proliferation whereas 20kDa GH inhibits proliferation. The l...

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects between 5-10% of premenopausal women and is characterised by insulin resistance. PCOS also carries with it an increased lifetime risk of diabetes, hypertension and possibly coronary heart disease. The underlying mechanisms are unknown but we have proposed that metabolic insulin resistance may be associated with endothelial dysfunction, leading to increased vascular stiffness, abnormalities of fibrinolysis and increased platel...