Endocrine Abstracts

Similarities between the metabolic syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome, and reversibility of the features of Cushing’s syndrome, suggest that cortisol may contribute to pathophysiology in both conditions and that reducing cortisol action may provide a novel therapeutic approach in metabolic syndrome. There is substantial evidence that circulating cortisol concentrations are higher in people with hypertension and glucose intolerance. The basis for t...

Childhood hypothyroidism results in severely delayed skeletal development whereas adult thyrotoxicosis is associated with a 3–4 fold increase in osteoporotic fracture. To investigate molecular mechanisms underlying these abnormalities we characterized the skeletal phenotypes of mice harboring dominant negative mutations (TRα1PV/+, TRα1R384C/+, TRβPV/PV) or deletions (TRα0/0, TRβ−/−) of the genes encoding TRα and TRβ. Endochon...

Several enzymes are expressed in adipose tissue which catalyse interconversion of steroids, generating oestrogens (aromatase), androgens (5α-reductase 1), and glucocorticoids (11β-HSD1). These steroids may activate local receptors which influence body fat accumulation and distribution, or be secreted to exert endocrine effects. Several mouse models (e.g. aromatase and 11β-HSD1 knockout mice and studies with 11β-HSD1 inhibitors) illustrate the potential impo...

IntroductionThere is growing interest in the impact of parathyroidectomy on quality of life in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). The aim of this study was to asses the symptomatic improvement in a cohort of patients with PHPT operated in a single centre in the UK.MethodsA prospective study of consecutive unselected patients with biochemical diagnosis of PHPT was approved by the Local Ethical C...

ObjectiveTo describe a few cases of patients presenting with various unusual causes of hypercalcaemia to a District General Hospital.MethodsThree case histories, including detailed results of laboratory tests, are presented, and the findings are discussed.ResultsIn the first case we describe an eighty year old patient recently started on lithium carbonate for mani...

ObjectiveTo describe two cases of patients presenting with abdominal pain to the gastroenterologists. These were diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism and adrenal insufficiency respectively.MethodsTwo case histories, including detailed results of laboratory tests, are presented, and the findings are discussed.ResultsWe present a 62 year old gentleman who was ...

It is well recognised that the intestinal epithelium has a remarkable capacity to regenerate after high levels of DNA damage or injury. Although the kinetics of this ‘clonogenic repopulation’ whereby a new stem cell repopulates the crypt is understood, little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying this, although upregulation of Musashi-1 is known to mark the process. By conditionally deleting genes that are lethal to the intestinal stem cells we have mimic...

Objective: To examine different methods of analysing bone health and body composition in children and examine the relationships between these methods.Method: In a LREC approved cross-sectional study, DXA was used to assess bone mineral content (BMC) (at total body (TB), lumbar spine (LS), femur (F) and femoral neck (FN)), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI) at the proximal femur and body composition (defined as Lean mass (LM) and Fat mass (FM)) in 6...

Introduction: It is accepted that hyperprolactinaemia associated with microprolactinoma may prove self-limiting in 25–30% women, and there is some suggestion from series of mixed gender that the same may be true in men.Methods: We have therefore reviewed the outcome in all men with microprolactinomas managed at the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, City Hospital, Nottingham, between 1994 and 2002. All had sustained and previously untreated h...

Vasotocin (AVT), the avian homolog of vasopressin, is synthesized in the BSTM of chickens in addition to the hypothalamo hypophysial axis. In previous reports, sex specific AVT–immunoreactivity(ir) in male BSTM (Jurkevich et al. 1999) and it’s ontogeny were demonstrated (Grossmann et al. 2002). In addition, galanin (Gal) was found in male BSTM co-localized to AVT. In the present study, the ontogeny of AVT- and Gal-ir was investigated in the SON as part ...