Endocrine Abstracts

Alemtuzumab, a highly effective, newly-licensed, treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), is notably associated with Graves’ disease (GD), which reportedly has an indolent course.Methods: Case record review of patients who developed thyroid dysfunction (TD) after alemtuzumab treatment in Cambridge & Cardiff, to determine type, frequency and course of TD.Results: 41.8% (104/249; 81F, 23M) of alemtuzumab-treated patients devel...

Introduction: The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is the most important hypothalamic expressed G protein coupled receptor in weight regulation. Mutations in the MC4R are the most frequent genetic cause of obesity. Recently an accessory protein of the MC4R (melanocortin receptor accessory protein 2, MRAP2) was discovered that was found to play a role in body weight regulation. MRAP2 deficient mice develop early-onset obesity. The mechanisms of disturbed weight regulation is pote...

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare acquired paraneoplastic syndrome clinically presenting with recurring fractures, muscular weakness and pain. Laboratory values of affected patients are characterized by renal phosphate wasting and hypophosphatemia caused by an overexpression of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF- 23), a hormone belonging to the group of phosphatonins regulating phosphate and vitamin D homeostasis. Pathologically, it is secreted especially by small (and ...

Introduction: Changes in the gut microbiome have been associated with the development of obesity. The aim of the present study was to examine i) the effect of a formula based very-low-calorie weight loss diet (VLCD) on the gut microbiome of obese humans and ii) whether if potential changes are sustained during weight maintenance.Patients and methods: The study consisted of 3 months VLCD (~800 kcal/d) followed by 3 months of weight maintenance. 18 obese h...

Introduction: This non-interventional study assesses real-life use and potential predictive parameters for lanreotide (LAN) in pts with either acromegaly (ACRO) or NET over a period of 24 months. We present a pre-specified interim analysis after first 6 months of therapy.Methods: The primary objective is to evaluate the long term treatment response under LAN and to correlate it with early changes of biochemical markers. The planned sample size is 152 (76...

The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) represents the major hypothalamic G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) controlling feeding behavior and therefore body weight regulation. MC4R is highly expressed in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) where hormonal and neuroendocrine signals from periphery and arcuate nucleus (ARC) are allocated. MC4R knockout in mice or natural occurring loss-of function variants result in hyperphagia and early-onset obesity. MC4R mutations represent the most f...

The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) in its role as well characterized reporter and therapy gene represents an outstanding tool to target different cancer types allowing non-invasive imaging of functional NIS expression by 123I-scintigraphy and therapeutic application of 131I. Based on its overexpression on the surface of the vast majority of cancer types, the cMET/Hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR) serves as an ideal target for tumor-selective gene de...

Introduction: Fluid restriction (FR) is often the recommended first-line treatment for hyponatremia due to the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD). However, FR not always leads to successful correction of hyponatremia, making predictive markers of treatment response desirable. The aim of this study was to evaluate routinely measured laboratory parameters, copeptin and pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (pro-ANP) as possible predictors of treatment success to FR.<p cl...

The role of the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) in bone is unclear. TSHR-deficient mice have low bone mineral density (BMD) and focal osteosclerosis despite normal thyroid hormones (suggesting TSHR function, in bone, is important). Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) has various aetiologies including thyroid autoimmunity (TA) and inactivating TSHR mutations (TSHR-M). In TSHR-deficiency & TSH-M elevated TSH compensates for reduced TSHR function, whereas in TA it compensates for red...

Calcification is a physiological process in bone but occurs also pathologically in the vasculature, favouring cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Vitamin K metabolites, particularly K1 and MK-4, are associated with decreased vascular calcification especially in patients with chronic kidney disease. We investigated the expression of components of the vitamin K cycle (VKC) and the MK-4 synthesis (MKS) in aorta and bone of 26 brain dead organ donors in order to identify d...