Endocrine Abstracts

Apoptosis plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. The aim of the study was to compare soluble Fas, FasL and Bcl-2 in Graves’ disease (GD) and Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) in relation to the age of the studied patients. The study was carried out in 5 groups of subjects: 1/14 patients with GD in euthyreosis on methimazol (euGD) 2/20 patients with hyperthyroid GD (hrGD) 3/15 patients with HT in euthyre...

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are important regulators of cellular function, with effects on growth, survival and metabolism mediated primarily through the type 1 IGF receptor (IGFIR). Recent work suggested that localisation of IGFIR to a subset of lipid rafts, known as caveolae, may be important for IGF function. In this study we have investigated whether these membrane domains were involved in IGF-I-mediated cell survival by comparing signalling in caveolae-positive...

Introduction: Leptin is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and excess leptin in obesity may induce autoimmune disease. The suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) are negative regulators of cytokine signalling and therefore a target for therapy. SOCS3 modulates leptin actions but there is no data regarding other SOCS proteins and leptin signalling.Aim: To develop a bioassay and examine the actions of SOCS proteins on leptin signalling.M...

Objective: Because the altered expression of superoxide dismutases, CuZn (SOD1) and Mn (SOD2) have been shown to constitute the basis of either resistance or susceptibility to the cytotoxic effect of various cytostatics and nucleoside drugs, we tested whether in human uterin cervix carcinoma cells (HeLaS3) the cytotoxic effect of cytostatics adriamycin (Adr), and cis-platinum (CP) or nucleoside drug, tiazofurin (TF) were involved in the activity of SOD1 and SOD2. Methods: Cyto...

Patients who have Sr. Prolactin level >3000 mU/l (n=24) were selected from the Biochemistry laboratory record & patients with confirmed diagnosis of prolactinoma (n=33) identified and / followed up at Endocrine Clinic between December 1999 and October 2001 were studied. The mean age of the patients were 45.03+ 14.09 years and 72% were women. Of the patients diagnosed to have prolactinoma, 16 had microprolactinoma. 16 had macroprolactinoma and 1 had stalk disconnection. ...

Uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) has many postulated functions, including possible solute exchange and immunity within the neonatal lung. The effect of maternal nutrition during late gestation on UCP2 abundance in the ovine neonatal lung has not been determined.Twin-bearing ewes of similar age and body weight were individually housed from 110 days gestation. Six controls (C) were fed and consumed 100% of their energy requirements for maintenance and growth of...

Background Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland is an extremely rare disease. Thyroid dysfunction is uncommon in this patient population with the majority of reported cases being clinically and biochemically euthyroid.Case History A 28-year-old man from India and resident in Ireland for previous 2 years presented with a six week history of cough, generalised weakness, night sweats, heat intolerance and 9 kilogram weight loss. On examination a ...

Glucocorticoids have potent but paradoxical effects on bone. In vitro they are required for the differentiation of osteoblasts but in excess can cause suppression of the mature osteoblast phenotype by reducing proliferation and inducing apoptosis. In vivo, glucocorticoids are anabolic at physiological concentrations, but in excess have an adverse effect on the skeleton most clearly seen in steroid-induced osteoporosis. We have postulated that this paradox may be ...

Objective: Despite being the most common endocrine malignancy, the management of thyroid cancer in the UK remains sub-optimal, with reduced survival rates compared with Western Europe. The British Thyroid association published national guidelines in March 2002 to help standardize and improve the management and survival of thyroid cancer in the UK. We have audited the management of thyroid cancer in a large district hospital comparing the results to the standards set by the Bri...

Objective: Despite being the most common endocrine malignancy, the management of thyroid cancer in the UK remains sub-optimal, with reduced survival rates compared with Western Europe. The British Thyroid association published national guidelines in March 2002 to help standardize and improve the management and survival of thyroid cancer in the UK. We have audited the management of thyroid cancer in a large district hospital comparing the results to the standards set by the Bri...