Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Adrenal crisis is a potentially life-threatening situation which can affect any patient with adrenal insufficiency (AI). Patients with AI and healthcare professionals looking after them should know the sick day rules and when and how to use parenteral hydrocortisone. Patient stories and feedback from patients with AI indicated low standards locally. We therefore aimed to empower patients through education and provide them with a hydrocortisone emergency kit.<p ...

A 69-year-old South Asian male presented in A+E with hyponatremia. He had pervious history of Lyme Node TB (treated 2014), Asthma and Nasal Polyps. Medication history, patient was taking Fludrocortisone nasal spray for the 30–40 years and Seretide inhaler. Also, CT scans at admission did not identify relapse in Lyme Node TB. Upon investigation he was found to have undetectable morning cortisol (<28 mmols). He was started on Hydrocortisone 10 mg, 5 mg and 5 mg regime, ...

Case history: A 58 year old woman presented to her GP when her family members noted prominence of her left eye. She had a background history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Her main symptom of PCOS was hirsutism. She had been treated initially with the combined oral contraceptive pill ‘Dianette’ (ethinyloestradiol/cyproterone) but had also been treated intermittently with varying doses of 25–100 mg cyproterone acetate (CPA) 10 days/cycle. Post menopause she...

Introduction: Reproduction exhibit a regular cyclicity and is regulated by complex interactions between circadian signals, gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones. Peripheral circadian rhythm is generated upon cyclic transcription of clock genes expressed in several cells, e.g. granulosa cells in the ovary. Here we investigated whether cyclic intracellular events occurring in response to gonadotropins are linked to expression of clock genes.Methods: Prima...

Background: Current practice of monitoring adrenal incidentalomas with biochemical follow-up and repeat imaging studies is under review by the ESE.Following an audit presented in 2015, we proposed that this extensive follow-up was unnecessary in radiologically benign lesions, as neither functional nor malignant lesions were present in this subgroup.Methods: A retrospective review of the same cohort of 145 patients with adrenal inci...

Introduction: It is now appreciated that peptide hormones encoded by the ghrelin gene, GHRL, have roles in many biological systems and cell types. In particular, the hormone ghrelin is a therapeutic target and clinical marker for a range of pathologies, including diet-induced and genetic obesity. High-quality transcriptome (RNA-seq) data sets generated by consortia, such as the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) and Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE), now offer an opportuni...

Introduction: Obesity associated with the risks of metabolic syndrome is a rising problem in Western societies but shows a wide depot- and sex-specific variation. A better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying this different depot- and sex-specific role is crucial to identify potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets. MicroRNAs are recently recognized important players in adipogenesis and fat metabolism. They post-transcriptionally regulate diverse biologica...

Introduction: Thyroid nodules can be detected in 50 to 60% of healthy individuals, particularly in the elderly and females. An increase in differentiated thyroid cancer has been noted over the years, especially papillary thyroid cancer.Objectives: To assess different approaches to management and histological nature of thyroid nodules in Malta, as well as to evaluate the association of ultrasound characteristics with biochemical and histological features....

Adrenal incidentalomas are a common clinical dilemma with increasing utilisation of cross-sectional imaging modalities. The aims of management include: i) exclusion of possible malignancy and ii) identification of hormonally active lesions.Our unit has adopted AACE guidelines, including a screen for adrenal androgen hypersecretion. This audit aimed to review the utility of such an approach.We identified case notes of 145 consecutiv...

Since the introduction of the reduction in hours for junior doctors in 1991, nurse led clinics (NLC) have increasingly become embedded into specialist practice. Whilst some NLC such as Diabetes and Respiratory have been established for many years, in the area of Endocrinology they are a newer evolving concept.Currently there is limited research in this area. An online survey was distributed to 98 nurse members of the Society for Endocrinology. The questi...