Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Gonadotroph adenomas are usually clinically non-functioning and hypersecretion of FSH or LH is unusual, and no distinct hormone-dependent clinical phenotype is present. Positive immunostaining for nuclear transcription factor SF1 is usually sufficient to diagnose gonadotroph adenoma.Case History: A 37-year-old lady with Asian background presented with tiredness, headaches, weight gain, poor sleep, secondary amenorrhea and infertility for 2 ye...

Background: Our previous study revealed a high prevalence of abnormal mineralization markers namely low 25 hydroxyvitamin D (47.9%); high serum alkaline phosphatase (3.7%) and low calcium-phosphate product (9.8%) suggestive of biochemical signs of osteomalacia (OM, defined as any two of these risk factors). OM was more prevalent in girls (11.2%) compared to boys (5.0%). In this follow-up study, we aimed to evaluate if biochemical OM was associated with low intakes of calcium a...

Case History: A 61-year-old Caucasian female from Ukraine presented with severe hypercalcaemia following routine blood tests performed by the GP. She reported symptoms of back pain and joint pains. She had renal stones 10 years prior. No history of thiazide or lithium use. No red flags; no change in appetite or weight loss. There was no familial history of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN). Examination of her neck, cardiorespiratory, abdomen and breasts were normal. <p cl...

Secondary hormonal deficiency (SHD) is common in patients presenting with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFA). NFA can either stain for various hormones or be non-hormone staining on immunocytochemistry. To date, no study has assessed the association between staining pattern of NFA and pattern of SHD at presentation. The Halifax Neuropituitary Program has been prospectively collecting comprehensive data on all neuropituitary patients in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada ...

Leptin is regarded as an essential adipokine for controlling energy homeostasis, caloric intake reduction and increase of caloric expenditure by negative feedback mechanisms via receptors in the hypothalamus. Puberty is said to be triggered by leptin, which signals the hypothalamus that adequate fat reserves are available for initiation of energetically costly process of reproduction. Leptin activates gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) system, which stimulates luteinizing h...

During the time of puberty, thyroid hormones (THs), thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), influence growth and developmental processes by working in association with growth hormone (GH), insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-1), glucocorticoids, insulin and gonadal steroids. THs have a direct effect on GH secretion, which stimulates IGF system. It has been suggested that THs control increase in bone length through synergy with GH. This investigation determ...

Endometriosis is a chronic oestrogen-dependent incurable inflammatory disorder, defined by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity that affects 6–10% of women of reproductive age. It is associated with debilitating pelvic pain and subfertility with a significant impact on quality of life and estimated annual costs to the UK of £11.7 billion. Recent findings from our laboratory have shown that there is a shift in cell metabolism from mitocho...

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer with a median survival time of 12–15 months from diagnosis. Standard therapies utilise a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Patients also receive high doses of the potent anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid (Gc), Dexamethasone (Dex).Recent studies show that patients receiving the highest dose of Dex also have reduced survival time. Defining pathways under Gc control relevant to GBM is necessa...

Background: Correct identification of patients with HPA axis dysfunction following trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery is important. Our centre measures post-operative day 5 0900 h serum cortisol (24 h after the last dose of glucocorticoid) to identify the need for glucocorticoid replacement. This is given if post-operative day 5 0900 h cortisol concentration is <300 nmol/l, until dynamic pituitary function assessment occurs.Methods: Data were reviewe...

Puberty, one segment of a larger developmental continuum in humans, is characterized by major transformations in body such as highest growth, sexual development and distribution of fat in different body regions. Leptin is regarded as an essential adipokine that regulates intake of food, expenditure of energy and body fat mass. It is well known that alterations in nutritional states markedly influence growth hormone (GH) secretion, which in turn regulates linear growth, muscle ...