Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Maternal dexamethasone (DEX) treatment is known to promote thermoregulation in the newborn lamb by increasing the amount of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). The extent to which the IGF axis within adipose tissue (AT) may be altered following such treatment is not known.Methods: Eight triplet bearing ewes were entered into the study, 5 of which were injected with 16 micrograms of DEX at 138 days of gestation (term = 147 days). Caesarean section ...

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a major cause of mortality in diabetes mellitus. Gene therapy may be a useful approach to the treatment of this disorder. One of the main obstacles to the use of this therapeutic modality is the difficulty in obtaining safe and efficient gene transfer in vivo. Adenoassociated virus vector have been used in a number of previous studies but have never been used for vascular gene delivery. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to characterize AAV mediated gene de...

We carried out a series of experiments to identify common principles underlying the temporal organization of diverse circadian rhythms in endocrine and other functions in humans. Profiles of rhythms in plasma hormone levels, body temperature, and arousal state were measured while subjects remained at rest in continuous dim ( < 1 lux) light, after they had been exposed to artificial 'days' and 'nights' of different lengths. Subjects gave written informed consent for their pa...

During each reproductive cycle, the ovary produces fertilizable ova in a cyclic manner. This involves growth and development of premature follicles as well as the maturation of oocytes to mature ova. The process culminates in the rupture of the follicular wall and the extrusion of the mature ovum into the periovarian space. After ovulation, a corpus luteum (CL) is formed from the remnants of an ovulated follicle. Follicular development, ovulation, formation and regression of C...

Fetal stress, including inadequate nutrient supply and cessation of fetal growth, are major stimuli to the onset of parturition which acts to promote maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. These adaptations, together with rapid removal of lung liquid fluid and onset of endogenous heat production at birth, ensure oxygen supply is adequate and hypothermia prevented. A critical component of fetal organ maturation in preparation for life after birth is mitochondrial develo...

Most children with diabetes are insulin deficient (type 1). We have reported type 2 diabetes in children, defined by evidence of insulin resistance, but the prevalence and characteristics in UK children is unknown. We aimed to characterise and determine the prevalence of non-type 1 diabetes in the UK. The British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Clinical Trials unit undertook a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of all paediatric diabetes centres during 2000...

There is increasing evidence that cytokines may play an important role in the pathogenesis of human pituitary adenomas. We have measured the production of interleukin-1 alpha from 30 cultured human pituitary adenomas and looked at the relationship of its secretion to interleukin-6 and soluble gp130. Tumours were also analysed for interleukin-2 secretion. We also used the HP75 cell line to look at the effects of varying levels of interleukin-1 on interleukin-6 secretion.<p...

We analysed thyroid function tests (TFT; tT4 +TSH ±fT4) and clinical outcomes in patients with thyrotoxicosis managed with the aid of a computerised Thyrotoxicosis Shared-Care Scheme (TSC) between 1994 and 2001. During this 7-year period, 900 patients had been managed via TSC. 319 were in TSC since receipt of the initial referral letter, of whom 268 commenced TSC by mid-2000 with at least 6 months subsequent follow up (FU) data in the same tT4 assay and were analysed i...

Maternal thyroxine (T4) deficiency is associated with adverse outcome for mother and infant such that selective screening has been advocated. Thyroid hormone production increases in pregnancy, T4-dependent patients requiring increased treatment. To highlight aspects of current service delivery and guide service development, we audited management of pregnant women requiring T4 in our city over one year.Cases were identified retrospectively through a data...

Thyroid eye disease (TED) represents the most frequent and important extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease. Less commonly the eye changes may occur in euthyroid individuals without a preceding history of thyrotoxicosis, represents approximately 8-21% of TED cases. Patients with the rare combination of primary hypothyroidism and TED are predisposed to severe eye disease and atypical presentation of such patients may delay diagnosis and treatment . The primary importan...