Endocrine Abstracts

An large number of clinical entities are associated with abnormal bone mineral density. On one end of the spectrum, the sclerosing bone dysplasias are characterized by an excess of bone tissue. These conditions are, in most cases, monogenic diseases with involvement of one gene resulting in a clear mode of inheritance. Molecular genetic studies over the last decennia revealed the underlying genetic causes for many of them. The pathogenic mechanism can either be a decreased bon...

Background: Due to improvements in diagnosis capabilities, there has been a recent increase in adrenal tumors, that are incidentally discovered in patients, who underwent examination by sonography (S), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) The aim of this study was to define the usefulness of contrast-enhanced three-dimensional sonography in the diagnosis of nonfunctioning adrenal incidentalomas.Patients and methods<p class="a...

Although polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is arguably the commonest endocrine condition, affecting 7% of women, medical students and junior doctors often find it difficult to grasp its pathophysiology. This workshop describes a paradigm to teach about PCOS and uses this framework to describe lifestyle, hormonal and metabolic strategies for the regulation of periods and optimisation of fertility.Declaration of interest: There is no conflict of interest th...

In acromegaly, an excessive GH secretion by pituitary adenoma, minimal active disease may be defined as slow progression of characteristic signs and symptoms at presence of slightly elevated or normal IGF1 levels and lack of GH suppression after glucose load. Nadir post-glucose GH level defining active disease is under permanent discussion and depends on assessment methods. IGF1 reference range is wide, must be age-adjusted and often is sex-dependent. From mid-00’s excess...

Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are a heterogeneous, uncommon tumours for whom there have been few practice-changing clinical studies. Sub-groups of patients may be defined by site of origin, histological sub-type, mitotic activity and evidence of disease progression.Chemotherapy is active in patients with advanced pancreatic NETs; however, benefits are modest and associated with significant (albeit manageable) toxicity. Additional treatment options are sp...

The incidence of the metabolic syndrome has reached epidemic levels in the western world. With respect to the energy balance most attention has been given to reducing energy (food) intake. Increasing energy expenditure is an important alternative strategy. Adaptive thermogenesis, which is the increase in energy expenditure in response to cold or diet, may be an effective way to affect the energy balance.Several studies have confirmed that humans show sig...

W F Young Jr, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA AbstractProf. William Young is Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Vice-Chair of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, and Nutrition. He received his MD degree from Michigan State University. Prof. Young trained in endocrinology and metabolism at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. He has been a member of the staff at Mayo ...

Kisspeptin, the endogenous ligand of the GPR54 receptor, is a key regulator of reproduction. Inactivating mutations of the GPR54 receptor in mice and humans is associated with a failure of reproductive function. Activating mutations in the GPR54 receptor result in precocious puberty. The endogenous neuropeptide agonist for GPR54, kisspeptin, potently stimulates release of gonadotrophins in rodents and primates.Objective: We determined the effects of elev...

A 37-year-old Caucasian man was referred for assessment of borderline hypocalcaemia (2.15 mmol/l) associated with hypophosphataemia (0.32 mmol/l) and elevated serum PTH (145 ng/l). Serum 25OH cholecalciferol was normal (39 mmol/l). Some weeks earlier he had been admitted to hospital as an emergency with severe, colicky right sided abdominal pain. The pain had settled spontaneously and no cause was found. He had subsequently suffered isolated attacks of strangury, dysuria and t...

According to the WHO classification system the majority of endocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract (GI-NETs) are considered as being well differentiated benign or malignant tumours. Almost all GI-NETs are derived from enterochromaffin or Kulchitsky cells that can synthesize, store and secrete serotonin. The majority of these tumours are non-functioning and their presentation is non-specific. Functioning tumours, may exhibit protean clinical presentation, depending on t...