Endocrine Abstracts

Systematic collections of neuroimaging data are rare in brain tumour survivors treated with adult growth hormone replacement therapy (AGHRT). In 1993, our unit implemented a policy of performing baseline brain scans on every brain tumour survivor before starting AGHRT, with repeat neuroimaging at least once after 12 to 18 months treatment. This retrospective study analyses the neuroimaging results for this cohort of 60 patients. Follow-up scans were available in 41 (91%) of th...

Cortisol profiling at 20-min intervals over 24 hours during the fed state and in the last 24 hours of a 33-hr fast were undertaken in 34 ACTH-replete adult cancer survivors irradiated for non-pituitary brain tumours and 33 matched normal controls. Compared with normals, patients had significantly higher (mean ± SEM) minimum (nadir) cortisol concentration (37.8 ± 2.5 vs. 29.7 ± 2.9 nmol/L, p = 0.03), maximum cortisol concentration (547 ± 18 vs. 495 &...

It has been claimed that the use of the TRH test and the nocturnal TSH surge test might uncover the diagnosis of the so-called 'hidden' central hypothyroidism, in a substantial proportion of euthyroid cranially irradiated children. In our study of 37 euthyroid adult cancer survivors and 34 matched normal controls, patients had significantly (P<0.05) higher basal and stimulated TSH levels and a slightly slower TSH decline between 20 and 60 min during the TRH test; none had b...

A 76 year old woman was referred in December 1997 to the Endocrine clinic at Luton & Dunstable Hospital following admission with atrial fibrillation which was managed by digoxin, flecainide and warfarin.Investigations initiated by her GP included reduced TSH at 0.18 milliUnits/Litre (0.32-5.00) despite normal free T4 of 14 picomols/Litre (9-24) and normal free T3 of 4.4 picomols/Litre (2.5-5.3). Ultrasound scan was in favour of multinodular goitre an...

A 32 year-old man was referred with complaints of weight gain, sweating and a rash. Examination revealed a moon face, hypertension, centripetal obesity, a dorsal fat pad, and violaceous abdominal striae. A diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome was suspected.Urine free cortisol was elevated (3674 nmol/24hrs) with an unsuppressed ACTH level (39ng/l). Serum and urine cortisol failed to suppress with low and high dose dexamethasone. Corticotrophin Releasing Factor...

Pituitary radiotherapy (RT) causes hypopituitarism that is associated with a doubling in standardised mortality ratio. Other potential complications of pituitary RT are less clearly defined. Retrospective observational studies have estimated the risks of secondary intracranial tumour formation to be as high as 1-2% following conventional pituitary RT but these figures have been calculated against background normal population data. The majority of cases of intracranial tumors f...

There is clear evidence in humans that stress during pregnancy has negative consequences on the foetus leading to greater susceptibility to disorders such as heart disease, diabetes type II and anxiety in adulthood. We aimed to assess whether stressors experienced by commercial pigs have a detrimental impact on piglet behavioural and neurophysiological development. Thirty-six primiparous sows were divided into control and two mixed groups that were stressed (social mixing) dur...

Phytoestrogens bind weakly to oestrogen receptors and can initiate oestrogen-dependent transcription. They are promoted as natural alternatives to HRT and yet epidemiological evidence suggests that they may protect against breast and prostate cancer. Studies in cell-free preparations have shown that phytoestrogens can inhibit the activity of aromatase and that the inhibition is, at least partly, competitive with androgen substrates. The question as to whether chronic exposure ...

Gonadotropin releasing-hormone (GnRH or LHRH) regulates the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in vertebrates. GnRH neurons that regulate the HPG axis derive from progenitor cells in the nasal compartment and migrate along vomeronasal fibers across the cribriform plate into the forebrain. GnRH neurons migrate over a long route that provides many factors for guidance. Early in their migration, GnRH neurons always follow fibers; if fiber trajectories are altered, GnRH neur...

The GH-IGF-1 axis alters through the menstrual cycle. During the periovulatory period when oestrogen levels have risen serum growth hormone (GH) levels increase 2-fold. IGF-1 levels have been reported as unchanged or modestly increased in the periovulatory period. Similarly exogenous oestrogens also increase GH levels while IGF-1 levels have been reported as reduced, unchanged or increased. Peripheral responsiveness to GH as reflected by the IGF-1 response to an acute bolus of...