Endocrine Abstracts

Heterotrimeric G proteins mediate signalling from 7 transmembrane domain receptors to a variety of intracellular effectors. Regulators of G protein signalling (RGS) are a novel family of proteins, that act as GTPase activating proteins. In the human myometrium signalling via G proteins may be altered during pregnancy and labour, suggesting a physiological role of G proteins in human gestation. Our aim was to investigate the expression of RGS proteins in the human myometrium. E...

Gonadism is a medical term for decreased functional activity of the gonads (ovaries or testes) producing hormones and gametes. Male hypogonadism is characterised by a deficiency in testosterone – a hormone critical for sexual, cognitive and body function as well as development. Low testosterone levels can be due to hypothalamic, pituitary or testicular abnormalities. Hypogonadism is classified as primary (primary testicular failure) and secondary (a problem in the hypotha...

Successful reproduction in humans at a population level, is reliant on the careful co-ordination of reproductive hormones with associated behaviours. Kisspeptin is a neuropeptide that is critical for normal hypothalamic function of the reproductive hormonal axis. However beyond its hormonal effects, non-human data suggests an emerging role for kisspeptin in a range of animal behaviours through extra-hypothalamic downstream neuroendocrine pathways. Until recently, the roles of ...

Issues: Adolescent diabetes social stigma in India. Such diabetics needs proper guidance/information/treatment-counselling outlets. This is burning issue in developing-nations like India. Hence we all need to unite & form a comprehensive diabetes care & counselling policy plan at ECE conference. Treatment options must be suitable for developing-nations considering cost of Rx. Incorporating NGO’s in such efforts is very effective.Our Project ...

It is paramount that any adolescent with a suspected disorder of sex development (DSD) is assessed by an experienced clinician with adequate knowledge about the range of conditions associated with DSD. If there is any doubt, the case should be discussed with the regional team. In most cases, a named endocrinologist within the regional DSD team acts as the first point of contact. The underlying pathophysiology of DSD and the strengths and weaknesses of the tests that can be per...

Professor Waljit Dhillo is a Professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism and Consultant Endocrinologist, Imperial College London. He completed his medical training at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School, University of London in 1994. During this time he also completed an Intercalated BSc in Biochemistry (awarded First Class Honours) funded by the Medical Research Council. He then completed h...

Fragility fractures in the young individual are an uncommon clinical scenario and when faced with such a situation, appropriate assessment is required to ensure correct diagnosis of the underlying aetiology and to avoid unnecessary interventions. Although, primary causes of osteoporosis such as osteogenesis imperfecta are considered rare, this group of conditions has considerable phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity and may be underdiagnosed. However, the majority of the you...

Premature ovarian failure or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is characterized by amenorrhea occurring before the age of 40-year-old, with elevated gonadotropins (FSH >20 mIU/ml). It affects 1–2% of women. So far, in more than 75% of cases, its etiology remains unknown.The obvious causes are chemotherapy, radiotherapy and ovarian surgery, mainly for bilateral ovarian endometriomas. Genetic causes of POI include rare diseases, such as blepharo...

This is the review of original data concerning the role of some metabolic hormones (GH, leptin, ghrelin, obestatin), growth factors (IGF-I, IGFBPs, EGF, thrombopoietin), intracellular mediators of their action (cyclic nucleotides, protein kinases, PKA, MAPK, CDK, transcription factors, CREB, STAT-1, p53 and related cDNA, siRNA and miRNA gene constructs) on basic ovarian functions (cell proliferation, apoptosis, secretion, oogenesis, ovulation, production and viability of pups)...

There are two issues: i) dopamine agonist (DA) safety for mother and baby, and ii) risk of oestrogen-induced prolactinoma enlargement. Bromocriptine (BC) and Cabergoline (CAB) are both safe for ovulation induction but the safety database is larger for BC (6239 pregnancies) than for CAB (789). Neither drug causes increases in miscarriage, premature delivery, multiple births or congenital malformations, compared to data for normal pregnancy. Risk of symptomatic tumour enlargemen...