Endocrine Abstracts

Aims: MEN1 is characterised by parathyroid, pituitary and pancreatic tumours in association with neoplasia of intra-thoracic endocrine tissue, adrenal glands and cutaneous manifestations. Mutations of the tumour suppressor Menin are causative and affected patients possess heterozygous germline mutations in MEN1, with acquisition of a second hit in the wild-type allele initiating tumourigenesis. Phenotype–genotype correlations can provide insights into the molecular functi...

Introduction: The molecular basis of exocytosis of secretory insulin-containing granules (SGs) during biphasic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) of pancreatic β-cells remains unclear. Syntaxins (Syns) Syn-1A and Syn-4 are t-SNARE proteins situated on the plasma membrane that have been well studied to mediate insulin exocytosis. However, Syn-3, peculiarly more abundant in insulin SGs, has unclear function in GSIS.Methods/Designs: Confocal m...

Adrenal masses are common incidental radiological findings. It has been estimated that as many as 10–20% of patients with essential hypertension may suffer from undiagnosed primary aldosteronism (PA). In patients who have both adrenal incidentaloma, which the functioning one must be identified. We report a case where an unilateral PA was detected on 18F-fluorodexoyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET), and comfirmed by adrenal venous sampling.<p ...

Background: True cyclical Cushing's syndrome is rare and usually due to an ACTH-secreting corticotrophinoma. We describe a man with cyclical Cushing's syndrome of 15 years duration who had unexpected pituitary immunohistopathology.Clinical details: A 22-year-old man presented in 1986 with clinical features of Cushing's syndrome & urinary free cortisols up to 1800 nmol/24h, but normal low-dose DXM suppression, & normal pituitary and adrenals on CT. He was then lost ...

Background: Since receiving its UK licence in 1994, cabergoline [CAB] has become the dopamine agonist of choice for the management of hyperprolactinaemia in most UK endocrine units. Aim: To review the outcomes for the mother and neonate when CAB is taken during conception and into early gestation. Method: Retrospective review of Aberdeen casenotes from all hyperprolactinaemic women of childbearing age on CAB therapy and those of their live born infants. Results: Twenty women w...

Efficacy and Safety of High Dose Testosterone Therapy in Partial Androgen InsensitivityS. Bandyopadhyay, W.A.Watson, C. M.Park, P. Abraham, S. Philip, S. Acharya , J.S. Bevan. Department of Endocrinology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN.INTRODUCTION: There have been few reports of the efficacy and safety of high dose androgen therapy in men with partial androgen insensitivity (PAI). We report on the responses of a p...

The high survival rate for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) declines markedly in those with bony metastases. We compare the management of two patients with large dominant pelvic metastases.Case 1 63 year old man with R hip pain. Investigation revealed a 10cm lesion in the R hemi pelvis and subsequent imaging and biopsy revealed a 9th rib lesion and metastatic follicular DTC. He underwent 131 I ablation of the normal thyroi...

WF a 52 year old female was referred to the Hammersmith Hospital in August 2001 for further investigation of her persistently elevated fasted gut hormones (GIH) [all previously assayed at the Hammersmith Hospital]. WF was initially diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome 16 years ago. Following an exacerbation of her condition 9 years ago, fasting gut hormones were performed, which showed gross elevation of all peptides measured.The possibility of a neuroendocrine tumour was p...

Background: Metformin plays anti-tumoral roles in human cancers including breast and thyroid. However, its effects on metastatic lesions are undetermined. We studied the effects of metformin on bone metastasis of thyroid cancer.Method: Luciferase-tagged anaplastic FRO and follicular FTC 133 thyroid cancer cells were used. In vivo effects of metformin were evaluated in both ectopic tumor model and bone metastasis model generated by intratibial injection.<...

Cellular Ca2+ signals have been proposed to activate signal for hormone secretion. In pancreatic β cell which produce insulin, Ca2+ signals have been known contributing insulin secretion. Prior to conduct this study, we confirmed calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) which responsible for regulation of the distribution offree calcium in the cytoplasm. Hypoxic condition induces endoplasmic reticulum(ER) stress, increase both insulin signaling and insulin resistance. Byexposing hypoxia, ...