Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Recently, we showed that rats on a free-choice high-fat high-sugar (fcHFHS) diet became rapidly obese and developed glucose intolerance within a week. Interestingly, rats on a free-choice high-fat diet (fcHF), although equally obese and hyperphagic as rats on a fcHFHS diet, did not develop glucose intolerance. Glucose tolerance was also unaffected in rats on a free-choice high-sugar diet, although they consumed more liquid sugar than rats on a fcHFHS diet. Hence, t...

Background and aimsIn the Republic of Belarus treatment of hypothyroidism in the adult population is regulated by the order of the Ministry of Health dated 2013. Levothyroxine is available in tablet form (dosage in increments of 25 µg). Liothyronine are not registered in the Republic of Belarus, but patients can purchase them on their own abroad. Thus, the aim was to study of possible endocrinologists’ preferences of choosing the levothyroxine ...

Since 1994, after initial outpatient review (OPD) for thyrotoxicosis, we have minimised OPD attendance and provided shared-care advice to primary care physicians on thyroid function tests (TFT) and anti-thyroid drug (ATD) and levothyroxine (T4) dose titration using our electronic patient record (EPR). Using EPR data we analysed treatment (Rx) choice, effectiveness and outcomes, classifying patients as autoimmune (+ve TPO or other Graves’ features), nodular, mix...

Osteoporosis is characterised by compromised bone strength leading to an increased risk of fracture. Many lifestyle factors are known to affect bone strength and moreover, may further affect fracture risk through modification of the risk of falling. Bone mineral density (BMD) is a major determinant of bone strength and reflects peak bone mass and subsequent rates of bone loss, both of which are influenced by lifestyle factors. Peak bone mass is a strongly heritable trait but m...

Aim of the study: To assess the efficacy of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) in acromegalic patients.Methods: Over the past 13 years, 207 consecutive patients (117 females; median age, 46 years, range 14–78) affected with GH-secreting adenoma (79 microadenomas, 38%) were operated on in our centre by the same surgical team. Age, gender, tumor size, extension, invasiveness of surrounding structures, and histopathologic features (ki67, mitoses,...

Introduction: Most (89%) UK units offer some form of free patient choice for new paediatric patients commencing GH therapy. Initial data indicates that patient choice improves adherence, resulting in improved growth (height velocity) short-term.Objective: To compare outcome measures between patients offered free choice and/or hospital supply (including home services and adherence tracking assessed using ampoule counting) with GH therapy with those who di...

Objective: To investigate performance of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) assays of different manufacturers and the effects of assay choice on calculated free testosterone (cFT).Methods: Anonymized serum samples of 113 men and 106 women were randomly selected from excess material from the routine clinical lab at the University Hospital of South Manchester. SHBG levels were measured using three different immunoassays (...

Background: Rats on a free-choice (fc) diet of saturated fat and liquid sugar in addition to chow (fcHFHS) overeat persistently, and show increased hypothalamic neuropeptide Y and decreased melanocortin signaling, which reflects a hunger state despite hyperphagia. This response is specific for a fcHFHS diet, because when given the choice between fat and chow (fcHF) or between liquid sugar and chow (fcHS) hyperphagia is not observed. Because leptin signaling is important for th...

Aim: Well-differentiated thyroid cancer (TC) comprises the most common endocrine malignancy, featuring very good prognosis and 5-year survival rate of nearly 100% after total thyroidectomy. However, the prevalence of incidental thyroid microcarcinoma (mITC) is continuously rising during the last decade. One obvious reason is the high prevalence of total thyroidectomy (TT) as the preferred operation for otherwise benign nodular or diffuse thyroid diseases. The current retrospec...

Aim: To develop a cost effective and individualised service model for GH replacement therapy based on a joint decision making process with patients and commissioners.Background: At University College London Hospital (UCLH), we have a caseload of about 300 adult patients treated with GH. Our in house structured GH treatment proforma is used at the patient’s initial consultation for joint decision making on prescribing the most suitable GH, e.g. non-r...