Endocrine Abstracts

We present the case of a 54-year-old woman with known metastatic non-functional pancreatic NET since 2004 that developed new debilitating recurrent hypoglycemia in 2013. The patient presented in 2004 with disseminated malignancy. Radiology revealed a large pancreatic mass associated with multiple liver lesions and abdominal lymphadenopathy. Liver biopsy confirmed well differentiated NET. Initial treatment with cisplatin etoposide chemotherapy was poorly tolerated and discontin...

Background: Islet transplantation is an established treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, many recipients do not achieve independence from exogenous insulin since up to 50–70% of islets are lost post-transplant. An important factor determining transplant success is graft vascularisation. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a key pro-survival and proliferation factor. Here, we investigate for the first time if EGFR overexpression in pancreatic islets ...

High protein diets are effective at promoting weight loss and stimulating the secretion of pancreatic hormones. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these effects may highlight new potential therapeutic targets. The calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is stimulated by calcium and plays a critical role in calcium homeostasis. However, it is also found in many tissues unrelated to calcium regulation. CaSR activity can be modulated by aromatic amino acids, most potently by ...

Background: About 8–20% of patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease (vHLd) develop pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). However, prognostic markers for these tumors are lacking. The VHL gene mutation type is associated with the clinical phenotype of vHLd. Hence, we aimed to determine whether VHL mutation characteristics may be associated with PNETs phenotype in patients with vHLd.Methods: A prospective study of patients with vHLd and PNETs with ...

Background: Diabetes and hypertension are among leading causes of premature adult deaths in India. Innovative approaches such as electronic clinical decision support systems (DSS) could play major role in improving quality and access to diabetes and hypertension care at primary care settings.Objective: The main objective of this study is to develop an innovative tablet-computer based DSS namely “m-WELLCARE”, and other essential support healthca...

Background: During IVF treatment, a pharmacological dose of recombinant FSH (rFSH) is used to induce multi-follicular growth (controlled ovarian stimulation; COS). An insufficient dose of rFSH negatively impacts the number of oocytes retrieved, whereas an excessive dose risks the potentially life-threatening complication ‘ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome’. Hence, appropriate rFSH dosing is regarded as a key treatment decision affecting both the success and safety of...

Background: The KISS1 gene, is a critical regulator of normal reproductive function. In humans, KISS1 deletion results in a failure to go through puberty while activating mutations result in central precocious puberty. Administration of kisspeptin induces ovulation in rodents and sheep. However chronic exposure to exogenous kisspeptin-54 leads to profound tachyphylaxis in women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea. It is not known whether exogenous kisspeptin can alter the m...

Introduction: Neuroglycopaenia is recognised with abnormal neurology and development (Ab Dev) in 26–44% of children with persistent congenital hyperinsulinism (P-CHI). The prevalence of Ab Dev in spontaneously resolving CHI (R-CHI) is not known. We aimed to investigate Ab Dev in R-CHI and P-CHI children in a contemporary cohort.Methods: All children (n=67) were assessed for Ab Dev in the domains of speech, language, motor and vision, and cate...

Introduction: Pancreatectomy may be necessary to treat hypoglycaemia due to congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) following failure of medical management. Post-operative complications including infection and persistent hypoglycaemia have been reported after pancreatectomy, but factors predictive of these have not been recognised.Aims: To investigate if early factors or the time to surgery predict risk of CHI surgical complications and hypoglycaemia in the 6 m...

Prokineticin 2 (PK2) is a neuropeptide expressed in hypothalamic nuclei involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis, and has been shown to acutely reduce food intake in rodents. PK2 binds to and activates two G protein-coupled receptors, the PK receptor 1 (PKR1) and the PK receptor 2 (PKR2). We aimed to determine the sites and receptors which mediate the anorectic effects of peripherally administered PK2 within the CNS. We investigated neuronal activity in the hypothalamu...