Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Bioavailable testosterone (BioT) is measured directly by bioassay or estimated by calculating the free androgen index (FAI) and reflects hyperandrogenaemia more accurately than measurement of total testosterone in plasma. A comparison of the biological variation of FAI and measured BioT was undertaken to determine the relative suitability of these estimates in PCOS.Method: The biological variation of BioT and FAI was assessed in 12 PCOS patients (median age 28yr...

Introduction: Somatostatins are physiological down regulatory proteins that act via 5 different transmembrane receptors (SSTR1-5, including isoforms SSTR-2a & 2b) via GTP binding proteins. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of somatostatin receptors in thyrocytes of different thyroid pathologies.Method: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded sections from archival tissue were immunostained. Sections underwent dewaxing and rehydration before microwave ant...

Introduction: Reduced sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is seen in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and is considered a surrogate marker of hyperinsulinaemia in these patients. Little data currently exists on the biological variability of SHBG for an individual with PCOS and this information is crucial to establish its clinical utility. Method: 12 PCOS patients (median age 28 yrs, range 18-31) and 11 weight matched, control women having regular menses and wit...

AIMS: Postmenopausal oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) has been shown to lower serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, requiring the use of higher doses of growth hormone (GH) replacement. Soy derived phytoestrogens (PE) are in widespread usage as a natural alternative to ERT. No data exists on the effects of PE on serum IGF-1 levels. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the effects of Phytoestrogen dietary supplementation on the serum IGF-1 level in postm...

Isoflavones are a subgroup of phytoestrogens and have a chemical structure similar to oestrogen, leading to concerns regarding possible adverse effects of isoflavones in men. Testosterone levels in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are lower.Materials and methods: A randomised double-blind, parallel study was undertaken with 200 men with T2DM, of median age of 50 years (25th/75th centiles; 50, 55) years with a total testosterone level ≤12 nm...

Background: Endothelial damage is one of the early signs of cardiovascular disorders. Assessing endothelial function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has shown evidence of cardiovascular disease in the absence of clinically evident disorder. Flow mediated dilation (FMD) and reactive hyperaemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) are the frequently used non-invasive techniques for assessing endothelial function. Both the techniques have been used to assess endo...

: In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, soy protein and isoflavone combination has been shown to increase the risk of developing overt hypothyroidism; however, it is unclear if soy affects thyroid function in those without existing thyroid compromise.Materials and methods: Two double blind randomised trials were undertaken in which thyroid function was performed routinely at the beginning and end as a secondary end point. In both trials soy protei...

Context: Soy phytoestrogens are suggested to have an adverse effect on thyroid function but the contribution to this by soy protein alone when free from isoflavones is unknown.Objective: The primary aim was to determine the effect of isoflavone free soy protein supplementation on thyroid function, with a secondary aim of assessing the effects on cardiovascular risk indices in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.Design and sett...

Introduction: Microparticles (MPs) are membrane sheds formed during cell activation or apoptosis and are characteristic to the cell of origin. Microparticles are thought to have procoagulant activity and a potential role in the inflammatory process. They have also been identified as potential cardiovascular risk factor markers. Microparticles are found to be elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Annexin-V is a general apoptosis marker that binds to phospha...

Background: PCOS is associated with a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors. Increased serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are thought to be proatherogenic, and have also been found to be elevated in PCOS. This study was undertaken to determine the changes of VEGF in patients with PCOS after rimonabant and/or metformin intervention.Methods: A 6-month randomised open labelled parallel study of rimonabant or metformin in 20 patien...