Endocrine Abstracts

Adequate iodine intake during pregnancy is required for the production of thyroid hormones and brain development in the foetus. Recent evidence has suggested re-emergence of mild iodine deficiency in the UK but there are few studies that have specifically looked at iodine intake in pregnant women. Current World Health Organisation recommendation is for 250 mcg/day intake of iodine in pregnancy and the following are good sources of dietary iodine: 1 pint milk (~140–220 mcg...

The predominant positive and negative regulators of skeletal muscle mass are IGF1 and myostatin respectively. The regulation of skeletal muscle mass, IGF1 and myostatin by the gonadal steroids testosterone and 17β-oestradiol (E2) remains controversial. Male and female C57BL/6 mice underwent bilateral gonadectomy or sham surgery at 4 weeks of age, with insertion of s.c. silastic implants containing testosterone, E2, or cholesterol (placebo) (n</em...

GH regulates IGF1 predominantly through the intracellular signallers Stat5a and Stat5b. Inactivating mutations of Stat5b in humans result in severe growth retardation and low circulating IGF1 concentrations in males and females. In mice, however, there is only a loss of sexually dimorphic growth in males when Stat5b is deleted. No study has observed Stat5b−/− mice beyond 12 weeks or investigated any subsequent changes in skeletal muscle mass or IGF1 expr...

Background: In steroid dependent patients the knowledge of steroid dose change during illness and stress is of paramount importance.Objectives: i) To assess patient’s knowledge of steroid management during acute illness and stressful condition. ii) To evaluate whether there is a relation between patient knowledge and admission with documented adrenal crisis. iii) To improve medical access to information about patients on steroid at Emergency Departm...

Diabetic polyneuropathy is the most prevalent complication of diabetes. Diabetic foot lesions become limb threatening from a combination of injury, infection and impaired micro and macrocirculation. When diabetic patients go on holiday they usually change their routine and may become careless in routine care of their feet. We report a case series of seven middle aged Irish born diabetic male patients who developed serious foot lesion on holiday. They were identified from the p...

Adequate iodine intake during pregnancy is required for the production of thyroid hormones and brain development in the foetus. Recent evidence has suggested re-emergence of mild iodine deficiency in the UK but there are few studies that have specifically looked at iodine intake in pregnant women. Current World Health Organisation recommendation is for 250 μg per day intake of iodine in pregnancy and the following are good sources of dietary iodine: 1 pint milk (~140&#150...

Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable mental impairment worldwide. Recent evidence suggests the re-emergence of mild iodine deficiency in the UK possibly due to changing farming practice. A recent multicentre survey in the UK reported that 68% of school girls were iodine deficient with the lowest levels seen in Northern Ireland (NI). Unlike many countries, the UK does not have a salt or food iodination programme. A cross-sectional survey of 264 schoolgirls,...

Background: Bone mass is low and fracture risk is higher in obese children. We wished to ascertain the relationships of obesity-related changes in hormones with skeletal microstructure.Method: Children aged 8–15 years matched by gender and pubertal stage were recruited into lean and obese groups (18 pairs). We used high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT – resolution-82 μm) to assess three-dimensional cortical a...

Introduction: Testicular germ cell tumours are the most frequent cancer of young men. Epidemiological and clinical data have suggested that fetal or perinatal exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) with estrogenic effects, could participate to testicular germ cell carcinogenesis. However, EEDs (like bisphenol A (BPA) are often weak ligands for classical nuclear estrogen receptors.Using a human seminoma cell line (JKT-1), devoid of ERα...

Tolvaptan (a selective V2 receptor antagonist) is licensed for the inpatient management of SIADH induced hyponatraemia, a common complication in patients with malignancy. Licensed daily doses start at 15 mg but there is evidence that some patients have a rise in serum sodium (Na) of >12 mmol/l per 24 h in response to this. Lower initial doses (7.5 mg) may therefore be appropriate1,2.Methods: A retrospective case note audit was performed. T...