Endocrine Abstracts

Intravenous Immunoglobin (IVIG) therapy is used in recurrent miscarriage, despite its efficacy being limited to specific sub-groups such as those with underlying immune conditions. The indications, efficacy and side effect profile of IVIG when used in pregnant women are not established. We present the case of a 41-year-old pregnant woman with one previous miscarriage, who had received IVIG as part of her fertility treatment and subsequently developed profound symptoms and bioc...

Introduction: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive neuromuscular disorder causing progressive muscular degeneration and weakness. The survival of patients with DMD has improved with multi-disciplinary team input. Sub-specialties have moved towards anticipatory diagnostic and therapeutic strategies which focus on prevention and treatment of modifiable disease complications. Endocrine complications of DMD include impaired growth, delayed pu...

The corepressor NCOR2/SMRT regulates multiple nuclear receptors (NRs) and other transcription factors. Disruption to these functions are implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) progression but the details remain enigmatic. Therefore we sought to define the global functions of NCOR2/SMRT using isogenic PCa cell models, PCa mouse models and human PCa cohorts.We mapped the NCOR2 dependent transcriptome (RNA-seq), miRnome (miRNA-seq), methylome (EPIC methylation...

Clinically, glucocorticoids are widely used as a treatment mainly due to their potent anti-inflammatory abilities, however these are associated with several side effects and furthermore some patients go on to develop glucocorticoid resistance. ARID1a mutations have been linked to glucocorticoid resistance and are frequently identified across numerous cancers; therefore it is important to determine the functional role of ARID1a to GR signalling. The ATPase driven SWItch/Sucrose...

Chronic treatment with the synthetic glucocorticoid (GC) prednisolone has been reported in association with many detrimental health effects. In addition to well-documented adverse metabolic effects, there is evidence for memory impairments in these patients. GCs are known to have effects on memory, either enhancing or impairing dependant upon timing of exposure. Cell experiments have shown that synthetic GCs such as methyl-prednisolone (MPL) cause an alteration in timing of gl...

Background: Small frequent meals are often recommended for weight loss, with supporting evidence often provided from studies in diabetes. Dietary meal content is also relevant, as high fat meals cause systemic inflammation via gut derived bacteria, endotoxin. As such, repeated meals may exacerbate this. In contrast, dietary induced thermogenesis, related to meal size, may reduce with small frequent meals.Aim: Therefore, the aim of this study was to compa...

Clinical, epidemiological and in-vitro studies have found evidence for an association between Vitamin D and diabetes. Vitamin D receptors are found on pancreatic beta-cells, suggesting they have a role in glycaemic control. Vitamin D analogues inhibit inflammatory cytokines involved in destruction of Beta-cells. This study aimed to assess the relationship between Vitamin D and glycaemic control, as measured by HbA1C, in a Type 1 (T1) diabetic paediatric population. HbA1C value...

Maintaining glycaemic control within recommended levels is crucial to minimise vascular complications associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Vitamin D is recognised as a vascular growth-factor. Detection of its receptors on pancreatic β-cells suggests it may have a role in glycaemic control. This study aimed to assess determinants of HbA1C including the potential influence of vitamin D status in a T1 diabetic paediatric population.Methods: Patients ...

Introduction: A multi-disciplinary endocrine Adolescent Transition Clinic (ATC), with key professionals from paediatric and adult services, was instituted at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, in October 2008 serving young people in the West of Scotland. A good transition should improve clinic attendance, health outcomes and quality of life into adulthood.Aim: To systematically review the success of ATC in engaging young people following thei...

Introduction: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is recognised as an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Low number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), defined as mononuclear cells, expressing endothelial (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, VEGFR-2) and stem cell (CD-34, CD-133) markers is associated with CVD. Our aim was to identify whether reduced EPC number might contribute to increased CV risk in subclinical and overt hypothyroidism (Hy)...