Endocrine Abstracts

Aims/hypothesis: Resistin could be implicated in the mechanism of insulin resistance and recent evidence suggests this occurs, in part, via a brain-dependent pathway. Given the emerging role of hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the modulation of appetite and glucose levels, we hypothesized that its activity would be modulated by resistin. To verify such a pathway, we employed the N-1 hypothalamic neuronal cell line, which expresses a variety of neuropeptides ...

A 44-year-old man referred with erectile dysfunction was found to have hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH), but otherwise apparently normal anterior pituitary function (LH 1.6 & FSH 2.7 IU/l; T 3.4 & cortisol 516 nmol/l; PRL 103, GH 5.5 & TSH 2.8 mU/l; f-T4 13, f-T3 4.8 & f-T 128 pmol/l; ferritin 103 ug/l). He appeared normally virilised, with central obesity (BMI 36 kg.m−2, collar size 46 cm) and symptomatic sleep apnoea (SA). MRI showed a rig...

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) such as PTPN22, that encodes lymphoid tyrosine phosphatase (LYP), are important regulators of cell signalling. LYP, through interaction with various accessory molecules including Grb2 and Csk kinase, has been shown to be particularly important in regulating signal transduction from the T cell receptor. The identification of PTPN22 as a susceptibility locus for Graves’ disease (GD) led us to hypothesise that other PTPs may...

IntroductionSevere physical, and psychiatric illnesses are characterised by high cortisol levels and disturbance in circadian rhythm. A distinct awakening cortisol response and a marked diurnal decline is reported to be associated with better physical and psychological health, deviations from this pattern are negative for health. It is however not known if ITU patients have any specific cortisol pattern associated with their altered sleep awakeness cycle...

Some people with obesity have hormonal, metabolic and circulatory changes that constitute the metabolic syndrome that resemble characteristics of patients with Cushing's syndrome. A link between the two conditions, possibly genetic, has therefore been suspected, and the glucocorticoid receptor gene (GRL, 5q31-q32) has been one of the candidate genes.The single nucleotide polymorphism N363S is an ATT to GTT missense alteration within exon 2 of G...

BACKGROUND: AGHD is associated with reduced BMD. GHR results in improvement in BMD, however, some patients remain osteopaenic despite all appropriate pituitary hormone replacement. PTH plays an important role in bone metabolism, with anabolic effects following intermittent administration. To date the difference in PTH activity and phosphocalcium metabolism between fully replaced AGHD patients with normal and reduced BMD has not been investigated.OBJECTIVES: To determine th...

BACKGROUND: Untreated Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD) is associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD). PTH plays an important role in bone metabolism and reports suggest that bone and renal target cell insensitivity to PTH may contribute to changes in bone turnover in AGHD.OBJECTIVES: To determine the difference in PTH and phosphocalcium metabolism in untreated AGHD patients who have normal and reduced BMD.METHODS: 13 ...

BACKGROUND: Healthy and Adult Growth Hormone Deficient (AGHD) women exhibit elevated leptin concentrations compared with men. AGHD is characterised by obesity and associated with increased leptin concentration and decreased leptin pulsatility, however the gender variation in rhythm and pulse parameters is yet to be defined. Following growth hormone replacement (GHR), leptin concentration decreases and pulsatility increases preceding a reduction in body fat mass (BFM).<p cl...

A 73 year old man was admitted to the hospital with a multi-factorial fall. He was otherwise asymptomatic. Past medical history included stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD), ulcerative colitis, epidermolysis bullosa and mild cognitive impairment. Examination was unremarkable apart from unilateral leg swelling and deep venous thrombosis was excluded. Investigations showed incidental undetectable magnesium level and severe hypocalcaemia. Potassium level was normal, 25-hydroxy-v...

We report a case of a 43 year old lady who was referred by her general practitioner (GP) to the endocrine team with an 8 month history of extreme fatigue, difficulty losing weight, galactorrhoea and mild breast enlargement. She has two children aged 16 and 14, all well. Her background medical history included depression, asthma and hysterectomy for fibroids 3 years ago. Examination of all systems were unremarkable including visual fields to confrontation, fundoscopy and full n...