Endocrine Abstracts

Morphological and therapeutic interventions have uncovered an inflammatory process in patients with type 2 diabetes. This inflammation is due to a pathological activation of the innate immune system by metabolic stress and is largely governed by IL-1 signaling. Initially, the inflammatory response is probably deployed to promote adaptation and regeneration. Indeed, we identified a role for IL-1β and insulin in the regulation of both metabolism and immunity in response to ...

Introduction: Hyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte abnormality encountered in hospitalised patients.Methods: This retrospective study included all inpatients with serum sodium ≤128 mmol/l at any point during their hospital stay between 1st March 2013 and 31st May 2013. Full review of medical case notes and laboratory results was undertaken in order to determine the comorbidities, drug history and aetiology of inpatients with hyponatraemia.<...

Introduction: Hyponatraemia is associated with increased inpatient mortality, but there is debate about whether hyponatraemia per se contributes to mortality or is merely an epiphenomenon of severe illness.Methods: This retrospective review of medical records included all inpatients with serum sodium (sNa)≤128 mmol/l who died at a teaching hospital over a 3-month period. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical course and the pote...

Introduction: Milk – alkali syndrome is a rare and distinctive disorder caused by ingestion of large amounts of calcium and absorbable alkali resulting in hypercalcemia. It is characterized by a triad of hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis and renal failure. It was first described in 1920s, as it was mainly caused by administration of milk and bicarbonate for treatment of peptic ulcers. Since the usage of new treatment modalities for peptic ulcer disease, the incidences of...

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a major health problem in our countries. Primary hyperparathyroidism and obesity surgery increase this risk of adverse events such as fractures. We report the case of a patient with mild asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism with low serum mild hypercalcemia non-osteoporotic who developed osteoporosis after obesity surgery improved by parathyroidectomy.Case: This is a female 55-year-old patient with past history appendectomy, str...

Background: Tuberculous (TB) lymphadenitis can mimic cervical node metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) since the distribution and appearance of affected lymph nodes is similar.Case: A 50-year-old Filipino presented with a gradually-enlarging anterior neck mass, with a solitary lymph node palpated at the left cervical area. The rest of the history, physical examination and blood workup were unremarkable. A thyroid ultrasound showed a 6.5&#21...

Hyponatraemia is a very common electrolyte abnormality with varied presenting features depending on the underlying cause. The authors report the case of a 75 years old, previously fit, gentleman who presented with weight loss, lethargy, and blackouts. He was admitted to the hospital repeatedly under the general physicians over an 8 month period.Investigations revealed persistent hyponatraemia (serum sodium 113–120 mmol/l, serum osmolality 258 mOsm/k...

A 59-year-old gentleman presented with a 6-month history of painless, progressive lower limb weakness. There was no history of trauma or weight loss although he had been suffering night sweats. He had been bed bound for 4 weeks prior to admission. He was an insulin-dependent type 2 diabetic.Examination revealed marked symmetrical wasting of the leg muscles with reduced power (3/5) and absent reflexes and plantar reflexes were up-going. He was in urinary ...

Insulinoma is a rare but potentially treatable cause of hypoglycaemia. We present a case where achieving a diagnosis of insulinoma was complicated by evidence of low serum insulin levels during documented biochemical hypoglycaemia.A 58 year old lady presented with weight gain and daily episodes of shaking, hot flushes and disorientation that were relieved by the ingestion of food. During symptomatic episodes home capillary blood glucose measurements sugg...

Introduction: Current clinical practice guidelines recognise that a calculated free testosterone (T) level is the single most-useful, clinically sensitive marker of androgen excess in women, but there is no clear guidance as to the best way to measure free T. Several equations have been proposed to calculate clinically useful estimates of free T including the free androgen index (FAI) and calculated free T (cFT). The FAI is not used in men but it is...