Endocrine Abstracts

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases significantly contribute to the mortality excess observed in survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The study explores advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) levels, inflammatory status and lipid profile in a cohort of ALL survivors, in order to investigate their potential role in the pathogenesis of CV late effects. Inclusion criteria were: a) previous diagnosis of ALL...

Exogenous glucocorticoids lead to suppression of the HPA axis via negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary and may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality (Wei L. Ann Intern Med. 2004). Many patients whose steroids are no longer required for their underlying disease find withdrawal challenging. Presentations: Case 1: 68-year old male treated with steroids for hepatic graft versus host disease following a stem cell transplant for EBV-lymphoproliferative ...

Spermatogenesis is a complex process that requires the formation of junctional complexes between somatic Sertoli cells and germ cells and hormonal regulation of the Sertoli cells. Androgens and oestrogens are both synthesised in the testis. In adults Sertoli cells contain both androgen receptor (AR) and oestrogen receptor beta (ERß). In the present study we used a transformed Sc cell line (SK11) that was prepared from the testes of mice expressing the large T antigen. Whe...

The HLA and CTLA-4 gene regions, on chromosomes 6p21 and 2q33 respectively, have been consistently associated with Graves' disease (GD). Recent data indicate that both DRB1 (in the HLA class II region) and the 3' untranslated region of the CTLA-4 gene are the most likely regions harbouring the aetiological variants for susceptibility to GD. It is not known, however, whether these variants lead to expression of specific sub-phenotypes in subjects with GD, or contribute to disea...

The autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), are thought to be caused by complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors, which result in an organ-specific autoimmune response being directed against the thyroid gland. GD and HT, although clinically distinct, share many immunological and histological features. Several potential susceptibility genes for AITD have been investigated, although to date only the HLA an...

Objective : To determine whether simultaneous ultrasonography at the time of scintigraphy affects the diagnosis or diagnostic confidence in patients with hyperthyroidism.Method Used: A retrospective study was carried out involving 100 patients who attended for investigation of hyperthyroidism between 01/07/01 and 31/03/02. All patients ( 15 male, 85 female) had simultaneous radioisotope scanning and ultrasound of their thyroid glands performed and reported. Subsequently th...

Introduction: Achieving glycaemic targets for young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is challenging due to rapidly changing physiology and behavioural patterns. An under-fives specialised multidisciplinary clinic (U5-MDT) was implemented in January 2022 due to poorer glycaemic control in this group compared to the rest of the clinic cohort. The U5-MDT aimed to optimise glycaemic control through access to technology while providing family support.<p clas...

The human endometrium is a complex multicellular tissue the prime function of which is to provide a receptive environment during a fertile cycle. The tissue responds to steroid hormones exhibiting dynamic cyclical regeneration, angiogenesis, differentiation (decidualisation) and inflammation. In the absence of an embryo the inner surface is shed and repaired without scarring (menstruation). The endometrium exhitbits spatial and temporal expression of androgen receptors (AR) in...

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynaecological malignancy. Obesity is a major risk factor for EC and is associated with elevated cholesterol. 27-Hydroxycholesterol (27HC) is a cholesterol metabolite that functions as an endogenous agonist for Liver X Receptor (LXR) and a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). Exposure to estrogenic ligands increases risk of developing EC however the impact of 27HC on EC is unknown.Samples of stage 1 EC ...

Background: Adrenal incidentalomas are common and require investigation to exclude malignancy and evidence of hormone overproduction. Clinical guidelines recommend overnight dexamethasone suppression tests (ONDST) to assess for cortisol hypersecretion with cortisol levels of 50-138 nmol/l termed “mild autonomous cortisol secretion” (MACS). MACS may be associated with both cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity. We assessed cardiovascular risk in patients with MACS us...