Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Men who receive gonadotoxic treatment for cancer may be at risk of hypogonadism. The extent of this risk is unknown. Severe hypogonadism is associated with fatigue, sexual dysfunction, reduced muscle mass and obesity. Diagnosing mild or moderate hypogonadism is difficult and requires evaluation.Aim: The aim of this study was to identify hypogonadism in young male survivors of cancer.Subjects and Methods: The study was a...

Background: Gamma-Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery (STRS) is a single highly focused dose of radiotherapy used for intracranial pathologies, including pituitary tumours. At the National Centre for Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Sheffield more than 450 patients undergo STRS per year. The UK experience of this modality of treatment for acromegaly is limited because of the few gamma knife units in operation.Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of ...

Background: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an inherited cancer syndrome characterized by the development of tumours in at least two of the following three main sites: parathyroid, pituitary and endocrine pancreas. Hyperparathyroidism is the most common presenting feature, with a typical age at onset of 20-25 years, and > 90% penetrance by 40 years. After extended family studies, an index case may have no affected relatives and be apparently 'isolated'. We rep...

Background: Hypogonadism in men is associated with osteoporosis and low libido. Serum testosterone in men falls after the age of 40 years; however the benefits of replacement therapy are not established. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of testosterone transdermal patches on bone turnover, body composition, quality of life (QoL) and well-being in men with borderline hypogonadism.Methods: 38 borderline hypogo...

Oral but not transdermal ORT reduces serum IGF-1 levels in postmenopausal women. The effect of ORT type on GH dose and sensitivity is unclear. We present a retrospective analysis of GH-deficient women on ORT in the KIMS database.AIM: To determine the type of oestrogen prescribed and its effect on GH dose.METHOD: Patients were divided into groups taking oral oestradiol valerate, conjugated oestrogen, ethinyloestradiol and transderma...

IntroductionOvulation involves rupture of the ovarian surface, and thus the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) is subjected to serial injury and repair with each ovulatory cycle. Inflammation is integral to the process of ovulation, but importantly, inflammatory damage is also thought to be a potential mechanism of ovarian tumour development. We have examined OSE responses to an inflammatory stimulus associated with ovulation, Interleukin-1alpha (IL1alpha)...

Background. Adrenal insufficiency requires life long corticosteroid therapy, but optimal dosing of hydrocortisone replacement has not received adequate attention.Chronic over or under treatment predisposes to morbidity and mortality.Objective.To examine the variables determiming hydrocortisone disposition and develop practical protocols for individualised prescribing and monitoring of treatment.Design. Prospective open study.<p...

Introduction: Identifying leptin agonists and antagonists requires a reliable bioassay responsive to physiological levels of leptin. The leptin receptor exists in multiple isoforms but Ob-Rb, the full length receptor, mediates the biological actions of leptin and its predominant signalling pathway is through STAT3. We report the development of a bioassay based on a STAT3 firefly luciferase reporter. Materials and Methods: HEK 293 cells were transfected with varying amounts of ...

Background: Anecdotally patients with chronic pain on opioid analgesia have functional hypopituitarism, and studies in opioid addicts show suppressed pituitary function. We conducted a prospective observational study to determine the endocrine status of patients with chronic pain on opioid analgesia. Methods: 37 consecutive patients with chronic back pain attending the pain clinic were enrolled. 22 patients (age 45+/-9 years) were on long-term opioid analgesia and 15 (age 53 +...

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of a new a bioadhesive buccal testosterone tablet in testosterone deficient men.RJM Ross, A Jabbar, H Jones, B Roberts, K Dunkley, A Long, H Levine, DR CullenObjectives: A phase I single centre, open label study of the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of a buccal testosterone tablet (COL1621). Design: The study was approved by The South Sheffield Ethics Committee. Twelve testosterone deficient males were treated with the buccal tablet...