Endocrine Abstracts

25–30% of normotensive people have salt-sensitive blood pressure, which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. The underlying mechanisms are not clear but impaired renal salt excretion and vascular (endothelial) dysfunction are currently viewed as important processes for salt-sensitivity.To add complexity, non-modulation of the hierarchical control systems that regulate renal and vascular function are critical to the development...

25–30% of normotensive people have salt-sensitive blood pressure, which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. The underlying mechanisms are not clear but impaired renal salt excretion and vascular (endothelial) dysfunction are currently viewed as important processes for salt-sensitivity.To add complexity, non-modulation of the hierarchical control systems that regulate renal and vascular function are critical to the development...

Historically, many radionuclide therapy (RNT) procedures practiced in nuclear medicine have employed standardised amounts of a radionuclide for the therapy. This often neglects factors such as patient size, tumour burden, rate of disease progression and intra-lesional heterogeneity. At the opposite end of the spectrum, treatment procedures using external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) have become increasingly individualised to maximise the dose to target whilst minimising radiation ...

Excess adiposity, especially in visceral depots, is a major driver of insulin resistance, fatty liver and hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Treatment guidelines for T2DM emphasise lifestyle measures (principally diet and exercise) with pharmacotherapy as additionally required to achieve glycaemic control. Therapeutic strategies ideally assist weight control, avoid hypoglycaemia and address cardiovascular, renal and other risks. Metformin (weight neutral), whic...

The incretin concept refers to components of the entero-insular axis that enhance the insulin response to a meal. The incretin effect is mostly attributed to the gut hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). The incretin effect is reduced in type 2 diabetes, and this appears to be due largely to reduced secretion of GLP-1. GLP-1 increases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells, reduces glucagon sec...

Introduction: We sought to the impact of an out of hours telephone advice service for children and young people with diabetes mellitus on Emergency Department attendance rates.Methods: In July 2014 we commenced a collaborative service for 240 patients with diabetes across two Paediatric diabetes centres- Croydon University Hospital (CUH) and St George’s University Hospital, London. Paediatric diabetes specialist nurses and consultants in Paediatric ...

Introduction: Increasing evidence is emerging that demonstrates the increased prothrombotic risk associated with DKA.1 We present the case of a child who developed multiple complications which we believe can be explained by his hypercoaguable state.Case history: A 14-month-old male was admitted in DKA at first diabetic presentation, complicated by cardiovascular shock. Initial blood tests showed blood glucose 80 mmol/l, blood ketones 5.9 mmol/...

Glucocorticoids synchronise peripheral clocks with the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the brain. In humans and mice, abnormal glucocorticoid rhythms induce blood pressure abnormalities accompanied by vascular dysfunction. The mechanisms of this remain unclear. We hypothesise that excessive activation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) disrupts circadian clock signalling, altering vascular function and inducing non-dipping blood pressure. We characterise the va...

Objective: Children with malignant disease are at increased risk of bone disorders, cardiovascular disease and further neoplasia. Vitamin D status may influence this risk and so we assessed Vitamin D levels in children with malignant disease undergoing active treatment or surveillance post-therapy.Study design: This was an outpatient-based cross-sectional study of 60 children with a history of malignancy (cases: median age 11.1 years; range 1.5–24.4...

We have previously shown that β-endorphin reduces muscle fatigue and increases glucose uptake in contracting and non-contracting skeletal muscles of the mouse. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of these peptides on glucose uptake and muscle fatigue in normal mice and obese-diabetic mice (which provide a model for non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, NIDDM). The uptake of glucose into contracting and non-contracting muscle was assessed using the non-metab...