Endocrine Abstracts

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy with hyperandrogenemia to be its strongest genetically determined characteristic. Our aim was to investigate the potential synergy of two functional polymorphisms: the (TAAAA)n polymorphism of the sex hormone-binding globulin gene (SHBG) known to be associated with PCOS and influence serum SHBG levels (longer repeats were associated with lower SHBG levels) and the (CAG)n polymorphism of androgen receptor gene (...

Background: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition defined by hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction, is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. Women classified as having PCOS according to the most recent consensus statement are heterogeneous both clinically and biochemically, and are therefore likely to have differing aetiologies, long term sequelae and possible treatment options.Aim: To utilise principal components ...

Objectives: There is strong epidemiological evidence that insulin resistance confers a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of the study is to compare the insulin resistance levels in metabolic syndrome of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with that of type 2 diabetes (T2DM).Methods: The biological variation of IR was assessed by measuring IR at four day intervals on 10 consecut...

In the ovary, glucocorticoids are metabolised by 11βHSD enzymes. The bi-directional 11βHSD1 enzyme usually acts as an NADPH-dependent 11-ketoreductase to regenerate cortisol (F) from circulating cortisone (E), while 11βHSD 2 inactivates F using NAD+ as cofactor. Having isolated endogenous inhibitors of 11βHSD1 from porcine follicular fluid (pFF) and ovarian cysts, the aims of this study were to establish whether 11βHSD enzymes interconvert F...

Oestrogens are essential regulators of fertility in women. They induce changes in uterine cell function by binding to oestrogen receptors (ERs) two of which (ERα and ERß) have been identified. ERα and ERß share significant sequence homology with three other steroid receptor superfamily members that are known as oestrogen related receptors alpha (ERRα), beta (ERRß) and gamma (ERRγ). ERRs bind as monomers to the sequence TNAAGGTCA and as dimers...

Without adequate treatment patients with acromegaly die prematurely from cardiovascular disease (CVD); however the contribution of atherosclerosis in this process is controversial. Increased carotid IMT is an early morphological marker of atherosclerosis and predictor of subsequent cardiovascular events. Contradictory data exist regarding IMT in patients with acromegaly.We measured carotid IMT in 79 patients with acromegaly (47 male, mean age 55±14 ...

Pregnancy causes significant physiological changes that can alter the results of thyroid function testing. The changes in circulating plasma-binding protein (TBG) concentrations interfere with FT4 estimate methods, and the hCG thyrotropic effect impacts TSH activity estimation. A TSH assay is the most sensitive test to assess thyroid status. T4 levels have been implicated as associated with fetal neurodevelopment. During pregnancy, differences in FT4 concentrations have been d...

Objectives: While evidence for an increased risk of hypertension in both overt hyperthyroidism and overt hypothyroidism is consistent, the relation between subclinical hyperthyroidism and blood pressure has not yet received sufficient attention. We aimed to investigate possible associations of decreased serum thyrotropin levels and subclinical hyperthyroidism with blood pressure, pulse pressure, and the risk of hypertension.Design: The population-based c...

The enzymatic inactivation of cortisol is catalysed by isoforms of 11βHSD. 11βHSD1 is a bi-directional, NADP(H)-dependent enzyme whereas11βHSD2 is an NAD+-dependent dehydrogenase that inactivates cortisol. In the male rat, 11βHSD1 is highly expressed in the testis, epididymis, vas deferens and vesicular glands. Although 11βHSD activities have recently been reported in boar testicular tissue, cortisol metabolism in the boar reproductive tract...

ObjectiveIn polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration is elevated and inversely related to insulin sensitivity. However, no data exists on the biological variability of CRP in PCOS.MethodsBlood samples were collected after an overnight fast at four-day intervals on 10 consecutive occasions from 12 patients with PCOS and 11 weight and age matched Caucasian women (controls). Dup...