Endocrine Abstracts

MIF is a potent pro-inflammatory mediator that opposes the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids (Gc) and is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. The MIF promoter is inhibited by Gc in lymphocytes (CEMC7A) but not in epithelial cells (A549), despite expression of functional glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in both. Deletion studies localized the cis element responsible for Gc inhibition to between MIF −71 and +85. This sequence contained no GR binding s...

Many glucocorticoid (Gc) actions are of rapid onset, and therefore require acute regulation of intracellular signalling cascades. We have previously identified rapid Gc-dependent activation of the caveolae specific integral membrane protein caveolin, and the cytosolic kinase PKB in the lung epithelial cells, A549.Immunofluorescence studies demonstrate the appearance of activated glucocorticoid receptor (P-ser211-GR) localised to focal points around the c...

Glucocorticoids (Gc) act on most cells and tissues, but their effects vary in a cell-type specific manner. A number of genes show divergent responses to glucocorticoid action, dependent on their tissue of origin. One such gene is MIF, a proinflammatory cytokine associated with Gc resistance in inflammation, and linked with susceptibility to chronic, human inflammatory disease. Importantly, MIF gene expression is inhibited by Gc in lymphoblasts, but not in epithelial cells; a f...

An extraordinary array of behavioural and physiological systems is regulated by endogenous circadian timekeepers within mammals. This circadian machinery is comprised of intricate autoregulatory transcription feedback loops, which interact to generate a time delay of approximately 24 hours in the cyclical transcription of components. In addition to the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus it is clear that peripheral tissues also express clock components. The central clo...

Glucocorticoids (Gcs) exert their pleiotropic effects through activation of the ubiquitously expressed glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The mechanism of transcriptional activation by the GR involves interaction with co-modulator proteins. Glucocorticoid sensitivity is mediated by the expression level of these co-modulator proteins and GR concentration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify additional GR interacting proteins that may influence glucocorticoid sensitivity...

(This poster is based on OC29)...

Background: Giving patients information about steroid replacement is an inherent part of endocrinologists' and endocrine nurse roles. This information can be life saving and it is imperative that patients have not only understood the information correctly when it is given to them, but that they retain it and are able to act appropriately in times of stress and illness.Method: Following a pilot study, a questionnaire was sent to 102 patients attending the...

A South Asian woman aged 44 years presented with longstanding hirsutism. Her periods had always been regular and she had two children. She had been treated with spironolactone and Dianette without clinical benefit and the hirsutism was managed cosmetically. Investigations showed a high serum testosterone of 6.1 nmol/l ( 1-3nmol/l) and androstenedione 25nmol/l (2-10nmol/l). Serum sex hormone binding globulin was elevated at 96 nmol/l (23-85nmol/l), with normal DHEA sulphate, 4....

Introduction: Despite its high vascularity, metastases to the thyroid is rare. The frequency of metastasis in routine practice is less than 0.2% of thyroid malignancies.Clinical case: An ambulatory 48-year-old male presented with a two-month history of enlarging anterior neck mass that moves with deglutition, slowly growing in size, associated with hoarseness later in the course of the disease. He had no pertinent past medical history. Fine needle aspira...

Context: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL), defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses, is a serious reproductive problem, affecting 1–5 per cent of reproductive-age women. Although a high percentage (7.46%) of RPL cases are reported from India, scanty reports are available on the molecular mechanisms associated with RPL susceptibility in the population of the north-eastern state of Assam. Hormonal imbalances are a major cause of recurrent pregnancy loss. Recent stu...