Endocrine Abstracts

The neuroendocrine aspects of schizophrenia generally receive little attention. This is in marked contrast to depressive disorders, where neuroendocrine issues are central to discussions of pathophysiology and treatment. Although the nature of neuroendocrine dysfunction is less well characterized in schizophrenia than major depression, a number of neuroendocrine abnormalities have been described. Hypercortisolemia has been extensively documented in patients with schizophrenia,...

“Ligand” (or “binding”) assays – a class of methods of which for many years immunoassay long constituted the most widely used example – were first applied (in the late 50 s/early 60 s) to measurements of hormone concentrations in body fluids, but were later extended to the assay of other substances present in samples at low concentrations. This presentation reviews the main developments in this field, including those presently occurring (which...

For patients diagnosed with PCOS, hirsutism is likely to be identified in over 50% of cases. This, along with other distressing symptoms, can have a profound psychological effect on the patient.My lecture will focus on the treatment of hirsutism with particular emphasis on electrical epilation- the only treatment available which has potential to achieve permanency.I will discuss temporary methods of hair removal and their affects o...

Vitamin D is a substrate for the active hormone, 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, which binds to a single vitamin D receptor (VDR) belonging to the class of nuclear transcription factors.Ligand activated VDR regulates about 3 % the mouse/human genome and has a wide variety of physiologic actions. Its regulates calcium and bone homeostasis by increasing transepithelial calcium transport (intestine, kidney) and regulates the functions of bone an...

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Alterations in gene expression are a fundamental component of diabetes. These may be occur as a result of specific genetic alterations that underlie diabetes, due to a lack of insulin signaling as a result of insulin deficiency or insulin resistance, or be secondary to the hyperglycemia and altered metabolic state that occurs in diabetes. To help determine which alterations in diabetes are the result of decreased or absent insulin action in tissues or secondary to the metaboli...

Annexin A1 - a unique mediator of glucocorticoid action.Annexin A1 is a 37 KD protein found in a variety of differentiated cell types in the mammalian body. It is a member of a super family of proteins known as the annexins of which approximately 13 are found in mammals. Annexin A1 is one of the most studied members of this family and appears to play a key role in mediating the effects of glucocorticoid hormones and drugs on the immune and neuro-endocrin...

In primates: (a) the midcycle surge of gonadotropins (particularly LH) is essential for ovulation and luteinization of the dominant follicle, and (b) the pulsatile release of LH during the subsequent luteal phase is required for the normal functional lifespan of the corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle. However, information on the cellular and molecular actions of LH, outside of promoting steroidogenesis, remains limited. This presentation will summarize evidence that ster...

Steroid hormones play an important role in the skeleton and may be involved in the pathogenesis and management of osteoporosis. The decline in estrogen levels at the menopause is associated with increased bone resorption and accelerated bone loss. Although there is no comparable reduction in serum testosterone in middle-aged men, the gradual decline in free testosterone may contribute to bone loss with age. Hypogonadism is a well-established cause of secondary osteoporosis in ...

The lack of proper career structure for non-clinical researchers has become an endemic problem for the thousands of biomedical science post-graduates and post-doctoral researchers in the UK. Traditionally, undertaking a stint at a recognised research institute in the USA was seen as a major way of guaranteeing success in obtaining academic appointments at UK universities. However, have the costs, inconveniences and competition for suitable funding made this avenue for career p...