Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The NPDA has been providing annual audit reports to paediatric units in UK from 2003 and a compliance report for 7 care processes since 2016–2017. Over the years the focus on the type of data and implications of data has changed and become more focused especially after introduction of BPT and PEER review. The paediatric diabetes services at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals (BTUH) were identified as negative outliers in 2016–2017 NPDA report. A Q...

Introduction: Hydrocortisone therapy in adrenal insufficiency and medical management of Cushing’s syndrome requires accurate monitoring of glucocorticoid status. Currently, this necessitates admitting patients to hospital for serial measurements of serum cortisol. From previous studies in Cushing’s, the goal of medical therapy is a mean (based on five samples) serum cortisol of 150–300 nmol/l, which is known to equate to a normal cortisol production rate. Saliva...

Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed therapeutic agents, however long term treatment can cause increased morbidity from adverse metabolic events, including weight gain and hyperglycaemia. The mechanisms and site of action which underpin these side-effects are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to characterise phenotypic, biochemical and neurohormonal responses in mice administered corticosterone, with a particular focus on changes seen in the early stages of chro...

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely prescribed to treat a number of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. However, patients receiving GCs often develop adverse metabolic effects such as hyperphagia leading to weight gain and hyperglycaemia. Little is known about the central effects of GCs; however they can act in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), a region involved in the integration of other energy regulatory hormones such as leptin, insulin and ghrelin. Therefore, the ai...

Glucocorticoids (Gcs) are used in the treatment of inflammatory disorders including asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. However, long-term use can cause metabolic side-effects including obesity and diabetes. Previous studies have shown that Gcs increase Agrp expression and that AgRP/NPY/GABA (ANG) neurons can regulate appetite and insulin sensitivity. To investigate the effects of chronic Gc treatment directly on ANG neurons, we crossed AgRP-IRES-Cre with GR...

Glucocorticoid (Gc) excess, either from endogenous overproduction in disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis or exogenous medical therapy, is recognized to cause adverse metabolic side effects including obesity, hyperphagia, and hyperglycemia. The Gc receptor (GR) is widely expressed in the brain including the hypothalamus which is known to regulate energy balance. We have previously established through the administration of corticosterone (Cort) in the drinking w...

Glucocorticoids (Gcs) are widely prescribed to treat a number of conditions, such as arthritis and asthma. However, patients receiving Gcs often develop metabolic complications such as obesity and hyperglycaemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms in the hypothalamus which drive these adverse effects. Male C57BL/6J mice were given ad libitum access to either corticosterone (CORT; 75 μg/ml) or vehicle (V; 1% ethanol) in their drinkin...

Background and objective: The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide and it is known that intra-uterine experience can program metabolic disorders. The hypothalamic appetite regulatory system is a key target of developmental programming by maternal nutrition. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal overnutrition on the expression of hypothalamic genes controlling energy homeostasis.Research design: Eight week ol...

Background: The 2013 Scottish Diabetes Survey demonstrated that only 22% of individuals with type 1 diabetes have optimal glycaemic control, defined as a HbA1c <58 mmol/mol. The 2014 Diabetes Improvement Plan in Scotland prioritised, ‘improving the care and outcomes of all people living with type 1 diabetes’. Scotland’s Diabetes Education Advisory Group has now been established. Accordingly, the Fife Insulin and Food Education for Diabetes (FIFE Diabetes) st...

Circulating levels of prolactin are subject to acute and long-term regulation by many factors including oestrogen and dopamine. We have studied the regulation of prolactin promoter activity in living pituitary cells using transgenic Fischer rats in which reporter gene expression is regulated by the human prolactin gene locus (hPRL-d2EGFP). We have previously identified pulsatile prolactin transcription patterns in living lactotroph cells in fetal tissue, that became stabilised...