Endocrine Abstracts

Background, aims: Acromegaly is caused by excessive growth hormone (GH) secretion, usually by a pituitary adenoma. Surgical removal of the GH-producing adenoma is the most effective treatment. Drug treatment is second-line option. Earlier work suggested Soluble (s)Klotho levels to be a supplementary biomarker to IGF-1. We tested whether IGF-1 and sKlotho serum levels show a concomitant reduction under medical treatment. If yes, is the extent of reduction in serum IGF-1 and sKl...

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by biochemical and clinical androgen excess and disturbed ovarian function and is associated with disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism. Isoflavones are phytoestrogens exerting endocrine effects on human hormone and metabolic signaling and may influence symptom penetrance in PCOS. We investigated whether women with PCOS and healthy controls have alterations in their capacity to metabolize hormonally active dietar...

Background: Lifestyle approaches (diet, physical activity and/or behavioural) play an integral part in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) management. The internet is widely used as a resource for health information. However, the accuracy of lifestyle information on PCOS websites is unknown. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of lifestyle recommendations on PCOS websites.Methods: The internet search was conducted through three search engines across dif...

We present two uncommon cases of cyclical ectopic ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome due to diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine tumour (DIPNECH).Case 1: 62 yr lady presented with rapid onset of muscle weakness, diabetes and hypokalaemia. Random cortisol:1710 nmol/l, ACTH level:610 ng/l. LDDST: failure to suppress cortisol levels. Imaging: normal pituitary gland and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, consistent with ACTH dependent Cushing’s s...

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...

Introduction: Mct8 is a thyroid hormone specific transporter located at the basolateral plasma membrane of thyrocytes. To investigate the significance of Mct8 to the thyroid gland while excluding peripheral effects observed in global knockout models, we used a Cre-LoxP thyroid-specific Mct8-deficient mouse model. Phenotypes of the angiofollicular unit encompassing the follicle and surrounding endothelial cells were investigated with respect to functional and morphological stat...

A 62-year-old Asian British female presented with increasing tiredness. She had multiple co-morbidities and was prescribed steroid inhalers for suspected asthma. Her type 2 diabetes mellitus, previously well controlled on metformin, had worsened over a short period of time (48 to 85 mmol/mol). On examination, she was obese (weight 82 kg, BMI 43 kg/m2), hypertensive (155/78 mmHg); rest of the examination was unremarkable. The blood test revealed undetectable cortisol...

Background: Prior to 2014 Portsmouth patients with Turners syndrome (TS) were seen in a variety of endocrine clinics. Screening investigations e.g. cardiac echo, necessitated further appointments. The Turners Syndrome Support Society (TSSS) recommend that ladies should be under the care of a specialist multi-disciplinary TS clinic, equipped to manage the specific medical problems associated with the syndrome.Innovation: Portsmouth Endocrine Department es...

The Competency Framework for Adult Endocrine Nursing was launched at the Society for Endocrinology (SfE) BES conference in March 2013 and was made available to Endocrine nurses and Endocrine centres in the UK. It was also made accessible via the SfE website. Questionnaires were sent out 6 months later to audit its use.Results: 80.4% of nurse respondents had heard of the document and 69.6% had read it. 100% of those who had read it found it easy to use an...

Nutrient sensors mediating the stimulatory effects of food-derived carbohydrates and lipids on incretin and insulin secretion have been widely studied. However, mechanisms underlying amino acid regulation of those processes remain poorly understood. GPR142 was recently reported to be highly expressed in pancreatic beta cells and selectively activated by L-Tryptophan (L-Trp). Moreover, synthetic GPR142 agonists were demonstrated to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion ...