Endocrine Abstracts

Aims: 11C-methionine positron emission tomography co-registered with MRI (met-PET/MRI) is a new imaging technique used for functioning pituitary adenomas. In patients with persistent acromegaly after primary therapy, met-PET/MRI can help identify the site(s) of residual pituitary adenoma when MRI appearances are inconclusive and direct further targeted intervention (Trans-sphenoidal surgery-TSS or radiotherapy).<p class="ab...

Aims: 11C-methionine positron emission tomography co-registered with MRI (met-PET/MRI) is a new imaging technique used for functioning pituitary adenomas. In patients with persistent acromegaly after primary therapy, met-PET/MRI can help identify the site(s) of residual pituitary adenoma when MRI appearances are inconclusive and direct further targeted intervention (Trans-sphenoidal surgery-TSS or radiotherapy).<p class="ab...

Normal functioning of the thyroid is of profound importance for lifetime health due to its role in hormone production. Dysfunction of the thyroid is associated with severe congenital pathologies, some of them appearing in childhood. For example, over half the babies born with congenital hypothyroidism appear completely normal and have no symptoms. However, early diagnosis of thyroid defects is lacking mainly due to a poor understanding of the development of the tissue in utero...

Intracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the NAD salvage pathway. Abnormally elevated NAMPT can promote autoimmune and inflammatory processes. Many of these processes are key to type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis. Whilst NAMPT has been examined in other inflammatory diseases, the role of NAMPT in T1D remains unclear. To investigate the role of NAMPT in T1D, we used small molecule NAMPT modulators to determine the role of abnor...

Aims: Recent Endocrine Society Guidelines (2016) suggest establishing the aetiology of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) and screening for other autoimmune conditions. The aim of our audit was to compare current practice against these recommendations.Methods: We identified patients seen in clinic over 18 months between January 2015 and May 2016. The data was collected by reviewing electronic and paper records.Results: Eighty-thre...

Aims: Adrenal crisis (AC) is a life- threatening condition with an incidence of 6–10 adrenal crises per 100 patient year in European populations. The aim of our study is to identify the prevalence of adrenal crisis in our clinic population and assess the preventative measures in use.Methods: Data was obtained from electronic records and paper records were reviewed in adrenal crisis patients.Results: There were 230 patients wit...

Introduction: Macroprolactin is a physiologically inactive form of prolactin, usually composed of a prolactin monomer and an IgG or anti-prolactin antibody molecule. Whilst clinically non-reactive, it interferes with immunological assays used for prolactin detection. It is identified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation, and levels of macroprolactin are generally believed to remain stable over time.Case: We present the case of a 36-year-old gentlem...

The pattern of food consumption has a profound influence on metabolic hormone secretion, but until recently only crude manipulations of feeding events have been possible in rodents. Using a CLAMS-based system to overcome this problem, we have investigated the effect of 3 weeks of grazing (consumption of 1/24th of the total daily food intake of ad libitum-fed controls every 30 min during the dark phase (18.00–06.00 h)) and meal feeding (three 1-h periods of ad...

Background: For patients in an adrenal crisis, the timely administration of parenteral hydrocortisone can be life-saving. Data from the Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group found that a large proportion of adrenal crises occur out of hospital, with many patients relying on the emergency services for initial parenteral hydrocortisone administration. Despite regular patient education (including parenteral hydrocortisone self-administration) and recommendations to wear steroid...

Background: The measurement of thyroglobulin (Tg) is important in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), but interpretation is subject to interference by anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb). National guidelines recommend measurement of TgAb status but no consensus exists on how surveillance should be adapted in cases of TgAb positivity.Aims: To evaluate the impact of TgAbs on clinical management, in a single-centre cohort of...