Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Evidence from a Needs Analysis (2006) and Patient Satisfaction Survey (2008) for people with pituitary conditions suggested infertility was a key yet unexpected problem for the majority of respondents. Being infertile without the co-morbidity of pituitary condition confers a huge emotional burden on the individual. The aim of this piece of research was to investigate individual’s perceptions of managing infertility following a diagnosis of a pituitary conditio...

We describe the case of a 39-year-old lady who was diagnosed with acromegaly in 1997 with basal GH 89.9 mu/l with paradoxical rise to 152 mu/l on OGTT, her IGF-1 was 76 nmol/l refrange (9.5–45). She underwent transphenoidal hypophysectomy in 1998 for pituitary microadenoma and postoperatively her growth hormone level was 5 mu/l. Six months following surgery she had an OGTT during which she suppressed her growth hormone levels to a nadir of 5 mu/l and her IGF-1 was 46.1 nm...

The existence of the principle of hypothalamic hypophysiotropic factors, predicted so prophetically by G W Harris in the 1940’s, has been confirmed by irrefutable evidence. This principle is central to the survival of complex organisms as both individuals and species. Life exists through maintenance of a complex dynamic equilibrium, or homeostasis, that is constantly challenged by intrinsic or extrinsic adverse forces, or stressors. Thus, stress is defined as a state of t...

This prestigious prize is intended for established workers in the field of basic or clinical neuroendocrinology, and is generously support by Ipsen. This year's recipient is Professor George P Chrousos. The prize will be presented as part of the ECE 2008 opening ceremony where Professor Chrousos will deliver his lecture. Professor Chrousos will also give two other lectures at future ESE scientific meetings. Further information can be found at <a href="http://www...

Our hospital has a referent population of 50 000 people in a rural area. We have made a retrospective study about ambulatory outpatients who had been diagnosed with subclinical hyperthyroidism.Objectives: To describe and analyze the characteristics of these patients, the treatment they received, the relationship beween TSH and goiter, complementary image tests and evolution.Material and methods: This is a descriptive study about pa...

Studies in our laboratories have demonstrated that some herbal extracts exert hypoglycaemic effects via unclear mechanism(s). Since the extracts did not have any significant effects on plasma insulin concentration, we speculated that they interfered with food intake and/or absorption to reduce blood glucose concentration. Accordingly, we monitored the amounts of food consumed and body weights in separate groups of non-diabetic and streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats orally trea...

A 50-year-old woman was admitted to hospital feeling unwell.Biochemistry: Calcium 3.46 (2.15–2.6),PO4 0.42 (0.8–1.5), AlkalinePhosphatase 259 (30–95). She had been diagnosed 3 years ago with Carcinoma breast and had undergone surgery,chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Regular follow-up had not shown any recurrence.No breast lump or bony tenderness was recorded.Further biochemistry: PTH 30 (0–6...

A 37-year-old female was referred with recurrent episodes of altered consciousness and disorientation. She described a three-year history of recurrent “funny turns”. They started with a sensation of warmth accompanied with cold sweat followed by unfamiliarity with the surroundings and cognitive impairment. The attacks increased in frequency gradually over time. There was a tendency for the attacks to occur in the morning, before bed and 3–4 hours after food. The...

We report a 49 year-old female patient who was referred to the endocrine clinic with two months history of heat intolerance and weight loss. She denied any symptoms related to her eyes. Past medical history included hypertension, epilepsy and manic-depressive psychosis, and she was on lithium, atenolol, phenobarbitone, doxazosin and phenytoin. On examination, there was a 45 g firm symmetrical multi-nodular goitre (MNG) with normal examination of both eyes. Thyroid function tes...

A 60-year-old Caucasian male was referred to our Endocrine unit with symptoms suggestive of adrenal failure (malaise and fatigue).A Synachten test confirmed the diagnosis (baseline cortisol <5 nmol/l, post Synachten 74 nmol/l) and indicated secondary adrenal failure (baseline ACTH undetectable). Further hormonal tests showed secondary hypothyroidism (TSH 0.43 mU/ml, FT4 7.1 pmol/l) and hypogonadism (testosterone <0.7 nmol/l, LH 0.6 U/l). Prolacti...