Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Lifestyle, exercise and diet vary hugely between summer and winter months population-wide. We compared diabetes control in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), during summer and winter months.Methods: All children under 18 years with T1D attending our diabetes clinics were eligible. Those diagnosed within one year, changed insulin regimen between seasons or with incomplete data were excluded. Summer or winter months were defined by British ...

Introduction: C-peptide is frequently used in clinical practice to estimate insulin secretion, and guide need for future insulin treatment. Present practice is based on studies with small patient numbers.Aim: To explore the association between non-stimulated c-peptide and progression to insulin therapy in patients with diabetes.Patients and Methods: 1971 patients with c-peptide measurements were identified (February 2007–Decem...

Introduction: Accumulating evidence suggests that one of the most significant contributors to endothelial dysfunction is increased oxidative stress. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation can have injurious effects within the vasculature including elevated expression of adhesion molecules, stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, and promotion of endothelial cell apoptosis; events which culminate in the formation and progression of atherosclerotic ...

Introduction: The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that in an iodine sufficient population <3% of neonatal TSH values will exceed 5 mU/l. In Belgium and Wales 2.6 and 1.5% of values were above 5 mU/l respectively.Methods: Neonatal TSH (neoTSH) levels (AutoDELFIA fluoroimmunoassay, 2006–2013, Scotland) were analysed for prevalence of high value according to cut-off, season and feeding mode (IBM SPSS 22).Results: Out o...

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in adverse health outcomes related to immunity, metabolism and physical function. Comprehensive assessments are required to characterise vitamin D status and relationships with physical function and frailty markers in the acutely unwell.Aims: To assess vitamin D and related parameters for patients admitted acutely to hospital who have been tested and to assess the relationship with muscle function an...

Introduction: Gynaecomastia, a benign enlargement of glandular breast tissue in males, may be associated with anxiety, depression and reduced self-esteem.Aims: To assess current practice in management and treatment outcomes in the management of gynaecomastia with a view to improving quality of service and rationalising investigations and referral pathway.Methods: A health informatics search identified 42 patients with documented gy...

A 54-year-old man was admitted to hospital with a new diagnosis of Miliary Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB). Early in admission he developed septic shock with multiorgan failure requiring organ support and anti-TB medications. Recovery was complicated by persistently low Glasgow coma score (GCS), noradrenaline dependency and limb threatening microvascular injury. At day-25 he was apyrexial but remained hypotensive and drowsy with no evidence of sepsis or hypoadrenalism. Over the ne...

Background: Thyroid disease in pregnancy is common with hypothyroidism predominating.Objectives: To determine the aetiology of thyroid disease in patients attending an antenatal thyroid clinic, their baseline biochemical and therapeutic characteristics as well as subsequent management.Subjects/setting: 114 women with a mean 31 years (±5) age were seen by a consultant endocrinologist in the antenatal thyroid clinic, between Sep...

Background: Elevated morning plasma cortisol is associated with multiple cardiovascular risk factors in metabolic syndrome. Epidemiological studies have also reported a positive association between plasma cortisol and coronary heart disease (CHD), although not all estimates are statistically significant (OR 1.10 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.25)) (Davey Smith et al. Circulation 2005). Importantly, observational studies are unable to infer causality and results may be confounded.<...

Pancreatic islets are susceptible to hypoxia during isolation, culture, and transplantation. An intervention that protects against hypoxia while preserving β-cell function will improve islet quality. Adrenaline suppresses insulin secretion and oxygen consumption in pancreatic islets. These findings suggest that adrenergic action creates metabolic quiescence in β-cells. Our objective was to determine whether adrenaline is protective during hypoxic culture in an insuli...