Endocrine Abstracts

Although glucocorticoids (Gc) are used to treat a range of pathologies, an individuals response to therapy varies considerably. There is a distinct correlation between certain cell types and steroid sensitivity. Aberrant glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function is well-characterised in lymphoid malignant cells but not small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (DMS79) or osteosarcoma (U2OS) cell lines, which are both Gc resistant.Previously we have shown reduced GR cont...

Background: Advances in insulin pumps and continuous monitoring mean that, where indicated sensor augmented pump therapy (SAPT) can be prescribed for children under NHS care in England. National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) data shows improved diabetes outcomes (in terms of HBA1c) in children managing their diabetes in this way. Use of this technology is significantly lower in children in the lower deprivation quintiles and in patients from non white ethni...

Introduction/Purpose: Despite some evidence that women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI, loss of ovarian activity<40 years of age) are at risk for diminished life expectancy, large scale population-based studies are still scarce. The evidence on whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use decreases the mortality risk among women with POI are lacking. The aim of our study was to explore mortality among women with spontaneous POI and their controls in a large nati...

Background: Cerebral malaria may present with altered cognition, severe hemolysis, renal and metabolic dysfunction. The endocrine abnormalities induced by malaria include: hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypercortisolism and compromised pituitary function due to sequestration of drepanocytes in hypothalamo-pituitary portal microvasculature.Aim: To raise awareness for the risk of pituitary dysfunction in severe malaria.Case: A previousl...

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent condition worldwide. Low serum 25(OH)D levels are associated with several diseases, being age and obesity strongly related to hypovitaminosis D. In addition, several genetic variants have also been associated with lower and/or higher 25(OH)D levels.Objective: We aimed to assess the potential influence of age, BMI, waist circumference and genetic variants on the efficacy of 12-month treatment with calcifed...

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass and increased risk of fragility fractures. The pathogenesis of this disease is complex and influenced by multiple risk factors, where genetic factors play an important role. Menopause predisposes women to osteoporosis due to declining estrogen levels. Osteoporosis and iron metabolism have an important relationship. Iron overload suppresses osteoblast formation and stimulate osteocl...

Introduction: Primary Bilateral Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia (PBMAH) represents <2% of causes of Cushing’s Syndrome (CS). Clinical course is insidious, with adrenal bilateral macronodules and gradual cortisol excess, only rarely presenting with overt CS. The pathophysiology remains unclear, however, hyperactivation of the cAMP/PKA pathway, in 77-87% of cases through aberrantly expressed G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), has been described. Despite being a benig...

Introduction: Pheochromocytomasand paragangliomas are tumors derived from chromaffin cells which result from mutations of at least six different genes as autosomal dominant disorders.Aim: To evaluate the existence of correlations between genetic alterations and clinical data in 16 patients with pheochromocytomas and/or paragangliomas.Methods: From 2007 to 2009, 13 patients with pheochromocytoma [3 men, medium age 39 years (14&#8211...

Introduction: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are two distinct neoplasms originating from follicular and parafolicular-C cells, respectively. These pathologies have always been considered different from each other in terms of their incidence, their cell origin and their histopathological features. Concurrent occurrence of MTC and PTC in the same patient is an unusual event and its occurrence as true mixed medullary-follicular-derived car...

Introduction: The diagnostic gold standard for thyroid nodular disease is ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (US-FNAC), being the most accurate, cost-effective and minimal invasive preoperative test to distinguish benign from malignant nodules, aiming to resolve patient management. However, up to 30% of FNACs are classified as indeterminate nodules, turning difficult the decision on patient management to avoid unnecessary surgeries. The development of thyroid ca...