Endocrine Abstracts

Synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligands are used clinically to improve insulin sensitivity. Although designed as specific ligands for PPARγ, there is evidence for some ‘off target’ effects being mediated by a non-classical, non-PPARγ mechanism. Recent evidence further suggests that some of these effects may be glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-dependent.To analyse activation of GR following exposure ...

Glucocorticoids (Gcs) are important regulators of cellular homeostasis, with their effects mediated by the intracellular glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Once activated, the GR may initiate rapid effects within the cytoplasm, but also translocate to the nucleus to affect gene transcription. The subcellular localisation of the GR is therefore an important determinant in the cellular response to Gcs.To analyse subcellular trafficking of the GR, HeLa cells wer...

Pituitary apoplexy is an acute medical emergency but there are no evidence based management guidelines, especially for neurosurgical intervention.A 35-year old male presented with sudden onset severe headache. On examination blood pressure was 180/120 without any lateralising neurological signs. He appeared acromegalic with a short history of enlarging hands & feet. Emergency CT scan and a MR scan later confirmed haemorrhagic pituitary adenoma, 3 cm ...

Management of patients with gender dysphoria (transsexualism) is often difficult, and most patients are routinely managed outwith specialist gender identity clinics. We carried out a retrospective case-note survey of 21 patients attending a routine adult endocrine clinic (ages 24–64 y; 13 male-to-female (MF) and 8 female-to-male (FM)).All MF and 6 of 8 FM patients were on hormonal treatment. 6 of 13 MF patients took oestrogen alone, 6 used oestrogen...

Glucocorticoids (Gcs) act via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to inhibit proliferation of many epithelial cell types, and induce apoptosis in others, notably lymphoblastic leukemia. Resistance to Gcs occurs in human small cell lung cancer (SCLC), manifest clinically as dysregulated secretion of ACTH-related peptides. Currently nothing is known of the biological consequences such resistance causes. We have previously shown that a panel of human SCLC cell lines secrete ACTH rel...

Glucocorticoids (Gc) act through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to regulate gene transcription, but also initiate a number of rapid non-genomic effects. The inactive GR is found complexed with hsp90 and immunophilins. Several other signalling molecules including c-src and raf-1 also associate with hsp90. Evidence suggests that Gc treatment results in the rapid activation and dissociation of GR and c-src from these complexes. We speculate that GR-mediated activation of one or...

Glucocorticoid sensitivity is dependent on the intracellular concentration of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). GR expression is regulated in a complex, cell-type specific manner, but in most cell types the GR is subject to negative autoregulation by glucocorticoid exposure. Many human diseases are associated with reduced tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids, including inflammatory arthritis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Therefore there is interest in ap...

AbstractThe diagnosis of osteomyelitis in diabetes mellitus remains a challenge. This study was conducted to evaluate the infection scintigraphy with instantly prepared single vial kit, radio-labelled ciprofloxacin (Diagnobact TM), as a mean to detect bone infection; in comparison with bacterial culture as gold standard. Written consent was taken from all patients including approval from institute ethics committee. Twenty-five patients with diabetic foot...

Turner's syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal abnormality in females. Adults with Turner's have a threefold increase in mortality and life expectancy is reduced. Recent recommendations for the follow-up of women with Turner's syndrome include annual checks of thyroid function, serum lipids, blood glucose, liver function, renal function, and 3 to 5 yearly echocardiography, bone densitometry, and audiogram.We have reviewed actual follow-up m...

DHEA, the most abundant circulating adrenal steroid in humans has an uncertain role. DHEA declines with age, and has been suggested to antagonise some glucocorticoid actions. Previous studies have suggested that DHEA may have immunoregulatory, and metabolic functions. In rodent studies DHEA has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, possibly by opposing glucocorticoid action. Glucocorticoids act on multiple tissues and employ a variety of mechanisms of action.<p class...