Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Lack of radioiodine uptake in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma is a huge diagnostic and therapeutic problem. This sign is associated with worse prognosis. DOTA-TATE preparation is a somatostatin analogue coupled with 90 Y which emites β (−) radiation. Its use in a treatment depends on excessive expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTR) in malignant tumours.The aim of the study: To present a possibility of treatment o...

Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as a biochemical abnormality characterized by an elevated serum level of sTSH with normal thyroid hormones (FT4) and no clinical symptoms. The objective of this study was to asses whether patients with subclinical hypothyroidism have a risk of hypercholesterolemia. We have evaluated 37 adults (34 female and 3 male), mean age 49.20±9.65 years, with laboratory confirmed subclinical hypothyroidism, sTSH value above of 4.5 mU/L and normal...

Synthesis of thyroid hormones by the fetal thyroid requires the passage of iodide through the placenta. In the thyroid active iodide transport is facilitated by three transporters, the sodium iodide symporter (NIS), Pendrin (PDS) and the recently described the human apical iodide transporter (hAIT). Simultaneous expression of all three transporters appears to be thyroid restricted and although extrathyroidal expression of individual transporters has been reported, relatively l...

Introduction: Hyponatraemia is a common biochemical abnormality in hospital patients, a robust management plan and correct diagnosis is important in the medical care of these patients. However these are frequently lacking.Methods: We audited the management and outcomes of hyponatraemia in a large district general hospital. In-patients for a period of 3 months starting from January 2004 with hyponatraemia (Sodium less than reference rang 132-146 mmol per ...

Cervical dilatation and myometrial contractions are essential processes of both pre-term and term labour. These processes are associated with enhanced production of 2-series prostaglandins (PGs) from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), by feto-placental tissues. Some human epidemiological studies suggest that specific PUFAs can alter the length of gestation. The amnion is a prime site for PG synthesis in the feto-placental unit. Thus perturbations of PG synthesis in this tiss...

Background: Hypogonadism in men is associated with osteoporosis and low libido. Serum testosterone in men falls after the age of 40 years; however the benefits of replacement therapy are not established. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of testosterone transdermal patches on bone turnover, body composition, quality of life (QoL) and well-being in men with borderline hypogonadism.Methods: 38 borderline hypogo...

Background: Current available data demonstrate the ability of somatostatin analogues (Ssan) to reduce tumoral size in GH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Somatostatin receptors are present on both tumour cells and vascular endothelium; therefore, potential mechanisms for tumour shrinkage with Ssan include inhibition of cell proliferation, increased cell loss, and inhibition of angiogenesis.Objective: To assess the mechanisms for tumour shrinkage in GH-secre...

Recent health reports state that the population of western countries is consuming excessive amounts of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the diet. Dietary n-6 PUFAs are precursors for prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, which play important roles in parturition. Increased dietary n-6 PUFA could thus alter PG production. This study determined the effect of a high n-6 PUFA diet on PG production and the timing of the onset of labour. Pregnant Welsh Mountain ewes were fed an is...

Background: Anecdotally patients with chronic pain on opioid analgesia have functional hypopituitarism, and studies in opioid addicts show suppressed pituitary function. We conducted a prospective observational study to determine the endocrine status of patients with chronic pain on opioid analgesia. Methods: 37 consecutive patients with chronic back pain attending the pain clinic were enrolled. 22 patients (age 45+/-9 years) were on long-term opioid analgesia and 15 (age 53 +...

We investigated the relationship between gestational diabetes (GDM) and the metabolic syndrome in 368 (185 European (EUR), 103 South Asian (SA) and 80 Afro-Caribbean (AC)) women studied 20.0 (18.2-22.1) months (mean (95% CI)) following a GDM pregnancy and 482 normoglycaemic women (288 EUR, 99 SA, 95 AC) with no history of GDM. Estimates of beta-cell function (%B) and insulin sensitivity (%S) were derived using the HOMA method. Analysis was by multiple linear regression includi...