Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology

ea0019p318 | Steroids | SFEBES2009

Associated health conditions and occupational status are risk factors for adrenal crisis in treated Addison’s disease

White K , Arlt W , Wass J , Elliott A

Patients with chronic adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s) have mildly but significantly increased mortality from cardiovascular, malignant, and infectious diseases, predominantly pneumonia (Bergthorsdottir et al. 2006). Death from adrenal crisis is rare and largely preventable, but life-threatening adrenal crisis is a regular event in treated Addison’s with a previously reported annual incidence of 8% in the UK.We analysed the frequency of...

ea0012p63 | Endocrine tumours and neoplasia | SFE2006

Spindle epithelial thyroid tumour with thymus-like differentiation (SETTLE) in a six year old boy: a case report

Kurzawinski TR , Fulmali A , Ramsay A , Muller W , Gallimore A

We present a case of a six year old boy with an enlarging thyroid mass. He was asymptomatic, euthyroid and had no family history of thyroid disease.Examination and neck ultrasound showed hard mass replacing left thyroid lobe with no lymphadenopathy. FNA cytology suggested diagnosis of lymphoepithelial cyst of the thyroid.Left hemithyroidectomy and isthmusectomy was performed. At operation no lymphadenopathy was seen and right thyro...

ea0011p43 | Bone | ECE2006

Quantitative ultrasound at the hand phalanges in patients with acromegaly

Bolanowski M , Pluskiewicz W , Daroszewski J

Acromegaly is associated with various skeletal deformities and in some cases with bone deterioration. The aim of the study was to assess the skeletal status using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in patients suffering from acromegaly. A group of 38 patients with acromegaly (27 women and 11 men) in mean age of 57.21±9.85 y in various gonadal status was compared with a control group matched for sex, age and body mass. QUS measurements at hand phalanges were performed with DBM ...

ea0011p435 | Endocrine disruptors | ECE2006

Endocrine disruptors and idiopathic gynecomastia with aromatase gene polymorphism

Czajka IK , Zgliczynski S , Zgliczynski W

Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of the male breast due to the imbalance between androgens and estrogens in the breast tissue. In up to 40% of cases no evident reasons could be found. This idiopathic gynecomastia may be caused by excess aromatisation within breast tissue. Aromatase is a key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis. Mutations and polymorphisms of aromatase gene could lead to its overexpression. Some endocrine disruptors - chemicals that interfere with hormone functi...

ea0011p555 | Growth and development | ECE2006

Significance of neonatal steroid imprinting and of peripubertal growth hormone excess for the development of prostatic hyperplasia in the rat

Goetz F , Mitroshkin A , Patchev AV , Rohde W

The benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) represents an enlargement of the epithelial and fibromuscular parts of the prostate. Although androgens per se do not cause BPH, an intact androgen metabolism is a prerequisite for the normal fetal and pubertal development of the prostate. Furthermore, growth factors play a role in the development of BPH. Animal experiments have shown that the prostate – similar to other organs of the reproductive tract – undergoes a neonatal st...

ea0011p669 | Reproduction | ECE2006

Role of estrogen receptor α- or β-isoforms in sex-specific brain organization

Goetz F , Patchev AV , Rohde W

Male- or female-like neural control of gonadal function and reproductive behaviour is determined by sex-specific activation of estrogen receptors (ER) in the developing brain during a limited, critical period during ontogenesis. Exposure of the neonatal female brain to inappropriately high estrogen concentrations results in irreversible defeminization of neuroendocrine function which is manifested by disturbed cyclic ovarian activity and decreased female sexual receptivity in ...

ea0009p216 | Clinical | BES2005

Genuine carcinoid syndrome but spurious adrenal carcinoma - deception by heterophile antibodies

Nag S , Webb B , Kelly W

Case History: A 60 year old female presented with anxiety and weight loss. Serum free T4 was 50 pmol/l (normal 12-23). Despite restoring T4 to normal, symptoms persisted and included flushing attacks. Urine 5-HIAA was elevated (182 micro moles/24 hrs; normal 0-40).Tests were done to locate the primary and secondary carcinoid tumour.Investigations: CT of thorax and abdomen, and ultrasound of abdomen were negative. Routine biochemistry and haematology were...

ea0007p112 | Endocrine tumours and neoplasia | BES2004

Metastatic glucagonoma de-differentiated to an insulinoma: response to embolization

Dhillo W , Meeran K , Todd J

A 65 year old lady presented to her GP in 1997 with an extensive rash. She was referred to a dermatologist but the rash which failed to settle with topical treatments. A plasma glucagon level was elevated at 275 pmol/l (NR 0-50). CTscan revealed a mass in the pancreatic tail and hepatic metastases consistent with malignant glucagonoma. She was commenced on octreotide and the rash resolved. She underwent a distal pancreatectomy, partial left hepatic lobectomy and intraoperative...

ea0007p180 | Reproduction | BES2004

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) agonists increase glucose metabolism in a human granulosa cell line (HGL-5)

Berdiaki A , Chatterjee V , Rainey W , Franks S

Ligand-activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), a nuclear hormone receptor, dimerises with retinoid X receptor(RXR) and acts as a transcription factor translating nutritional, pharmacological and metabolic stimuli into changes in gene expression. PPARgamma is thought to serve several roles in adipocyte differentiation, fatty acid and lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity and ovarian steroidogenesis. PPARgamma has also been shown to increase gluco...

ea0007p261 | Clinical case reports | BES2004

Hypothalamic cavernous haemangioma presenting with hypothalamic syndrome and secondary hypogonadism

Downward H , Rowmanowski C , Bennet W

A 42 year-old man presented in 1994 with a two-week history of headaches, drowsiness and confusion. There had been reduced libido and weight gain for 2 years. There was testicular atrophy and morbid obesity, but no neurological abnormality. CT scan showed a large, partially calcified, suprasellar tumour extending up into the third ventricle. Downward displacement of the posterior clinoid was identified with features of haemorrhage peripherally. MRI scan showed tumour of mixed ...