Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Urinary concentrations of the major progesterone metabolite pregnanediol glucuronide (P3G) are used clinically and in research to monitor ovulation. This ELISA is laborious and costly. If it could be replaced by the automated sensitive chemiluminescence assays routinely used for serum this would be of great value.Objective: We aimed to determine the validity of urine progesterone as measured by two widely used automated assays in comparison t...

The synthesis and metabolism of bile acids and steroid hormones are conflicted at several levels. We investigated potential interactions using a feeding paradigm to stimulate bile acid secretion and salivary steroid measurements to monitor post-prandial changes.The study followed a randomised cross over design; both cortisol and cortisone were measured by specific ELISAs to assess effects on 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (11βHSD). At...

Introduction: Guidance on the management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has recently been updated in an effort to reduce the risk of complications, in particular, cerebral oedema. However, differences in recommendations for children and adults persist making the care of teenagers with DKA confusing and potentially hazardous.Aims: To compare the management of DKA in teenage patients in paediatric and adult care settings in the context of the latest nation...

Parathyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a rare condition that lacks pathognomonic features, making diagnosis and therefore management challenging. In the very few cases of intra-thyroidal PTC reported, failure to achieve a pre-operative diagnosis has often led to unnecessary bilateral neck exploration and re-operation. We describe for the first time a case of intra-thyroidal PTC suspected pre-operatively. A 37-year-old Bangladeshi man presented with a 3-week history of mood changes, mu...

Introduction: Several biomarkers are elevated in late pregnancy in women with preeclampsia (PET), but none have been sensitive or specific enough to be used routinely in early pregnancy to predict the condition. We measured plasma levels of the anti-angiogenic peptides FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT-1), soluble endoglin (sENG), placental growth-factor (PGF), and an array of cytokines and adhesion molecules in early and mid pregnancy to assess their ability to predict PET.</p...

A 43-year-old woman presented acutely with Graves disease and hyperthyroidism. She had thyroid eye disease and a large diffuse goitre with pressure symptoms. She reported hearing a bruit herself without a stethoscope. She was tachycardic, with capillary nail fold pulsation and a positive Pemberton’s sign. Initial T4 was 78.6, TSH not detected.Betablockers to control the patients tachycardia were contraindicated due to a history of asthma,...

The development and maturation of kisspeptin neurons is critical for activating GnRH release needed to initiate puberty. However, little is known of the development and organization of kisspeptin neurons in the human hypothalamus and the anatomical architecture of kisspeptin neurons in rodents is distinct from that of primates.The aim of the present study was to examine the development of the hypothalamic neuroendocrine circuitry that sets the structural...

Objectives: To assess current clinical practice in children aged 0–5.99 years with Type I Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM).Methods: All paediatric diabetes centres (n=17) within a single UK region were asked to provide retrospective data for the year ending 01/12/07. 15 (88%) centres responded and provided data for each child on presentation, initial and current insulin regimens. Outcome measures were HbA1c, and acute hospital admissions post-diagnos...

BackgroundSerum testosterone remains the most important investigation in the diagnosis of androgen deficiency in men. Most of the circulating testosterone is bound to albumin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), whereas free testosterone accounts for approximately 2% of total testosterone. Because direct measurement of free testosterone is impractical in routine practice, several equations have been used to provide clinically useful estimates of free...

Prostaglandin F2a (PGF) receptor (FP) expression is up-regulated in neoplastic epithelial and perivascular cells in endometrial adenocarcinomas, indicating potential regulation of vascular function by PGF via the FP receptor. This study investigated the potential role of PGF-FP receptor signalling in modulating vascular function in endometrial adenocarcinomas.Endometrial biopsies were obtained in accordance with Ethics Committee guidance with ...