Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Radioiodine is used for the treatment of Thyrotoxicosis when medical treatment (anti-thyroid drugs) has failed or cannot be tolerated and surgical treatment is not an option. Our previous audit in 2011 demonstrated substantial adherence to the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) guidelines for Radioiodine treatment, but one patient was lost to follow-up. It was recommended that we improve our re-call system. We aimed to re-audit our service.<p ...

59 year old woman with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), not under Neurology follow-up was privately consulting a nutritionist based in Ireland and following the Coimbra protocol1 since December 2016. This included colecalciferol (1000-170000 IU/ day), vitamin B-complex and trace elements. Dose adjustments were advised during weekly skype consultations based on blood tests (via General Practitioner) and symptoms.<p class="abstex...

45 years old male of Romanian origin presented with shortness of breath and reduced exercise tolerance over 3 months with increased sweating and weight gain from 90 kgs to 118 kgs over 2 years. Also reported hands/fingers/feet size increase. He also complained that his breathlessness worse by as tongue and lips were ‘large’. Denied any visual disturbance, especially peripheral vision. On examination, coarse features, prognathism and possible macroglossia noted. Photo...

Introduction: Following a National training programme for Endocrinologists to provide RAI treatment for benign thyroid disease, the ESHT NHS Trust started Radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for benign thyroid disease a couple of years ago. Previously ESHT trust patients were referred to neighbouring trusts for RAI treatment.Data/Results: The data was collected over a 12-18 month period. A total of 34 patients received RAI treatment during this period; 28...

Introduction: Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a rare cause of hypocalcaemia due to parathyroid hormone (PTH) resistance in the proximal renal tubules. In contrast to PHP type 1A, PHP type 1B is characterised by the absence of the characteristic skeletal abnormalities and is transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner, but in the maternal line. Patients may have resistance to the action of other G-protein signaling hormones, like thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).<p class...

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 2nd most commonly diagnosed cancer in Europe. Previously, we have shown steroid sulphatase (STS), the enzyme that converts conjugated oestrogens to their active forms, is significantly upregulated in human CRC tissue. Furthermore, increased STS activity substantiates greater CRC tumour burden in mouse models. Here we demonstrate that this oestrogen-induced increase of CRC proliferation is mediated by G-protein coupled oestrogen receptor (GPER) vi...

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues are now the standard hormonal treatment for prostate cancer. A fundamental difference between GnRH agonist and antagonist treatment is the permanent suppression of both gonadotropins (LH and FSH) by antagonist, while a rebound in FSH is associated with agonist treatment. The benefits of antagonist include the immediate onset of action and profound long-term suppression of FSH, suggested to be an independent growth factor in prost...

Background: The short Synacthen test (SST) is frequently used to diagnose adrenal insufficiency; however the role of baseline cortisol. With the recent European shortage of synacthen, there was a pressing need to identify the best possible way to use the resource and rationalize the test. Our aim is to identify whether baseline cortisol can be safely used to rule out adrenal insufficiency in clinical practice.Methods: All SSTs performed at the OPD, Royal...

Steroid sulphatase (STS) liberates sulphated oestrogens into their active forms. In the colon, evidence suggests that although initially pro-apoptotic in healthy mucosa, once malignancy occurs, oestrogens may stimulate colorectal cancer (CRC) proliferation. Moreover, greater intratumoural oestrogen synthesis is negatively associated with survival outcomes in CRC patients. However, little is known about oestrogen metabolism pathways in CRC, and whether alterations in local oest...

Steroid sulphatase (STS) is the primary enzyme for desulphating steroids from their inactive to their active forms. Principal substrates include steroid precursors oestrone-sulphate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Alterations in STS activity can directly affect local concentrations of oestradiol, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone; steroids that are frequently dysregulated in disease. Despite the importance of STS activity on steroid synthesis, little is known about its ...