Endocrine Abstracts

For over two decades the hypothesis of dimerization of G protein coupled receptors (GPCR) exist. But only in 1999 it became clear by investigation of GABA B receptors that dimerization is the prerequisite for function. Since then our understanding of GPCR function is widened by the fact that nearly all GPCRs form dimers or higher order oligomers. This formation of GPCR homodimers or heterodimers influence the functional properties of a GPCR from that we know of a monomer in it...

A 29 year old female presented with a two year history of recurrent numbness and tingling in her hands. Trousseau’s sign was positive. Investigations confirmed hypocalcaemia with serum calcium 1.64 nmol/L (2.10–2.60), phosphate 1.23 nmol/L (0.80–1.55), alkaline phosphatase 82 U/L (35–120). Parathyroid hormone was inappropriately normal at 36 pg/ml (10–65), Vitamin D 78 nmol/L (50–75). Her mother reported a history of hypocalcaemia when she was two...

A 35 years old male, automobile factory worker was brought to emergency room with suddden onset rapidly progressive flaccid quadriparesis of 12 hours duration. He was unable to stand or use his upper limbs. There was tingling in distal aspects of all four limbs. There was no loss of sensation, respiratory muscle, cranial nerve, or cerebellar involvement. He reported no other symptoms. There was no history of alcohol use, drug use, or exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. ...

Aim of the study: To examine the white blood cell count and the platelet count in type 2 diabetic patients vs. age-matched healthy controls, as well as to investigate if the abovementioned counts are associated with parameters of diabetes.Methods: This study included 337 subjects, divided into two groups. Group A comprised 190 type 2 diabetic patients (98 men, mean age 66.5±9.6 years, mean diabetes duration 11.7±8.6 years). Group B comprised 14...

Recent evidence indicates that the increase in follicle numbers seen in PCOS occurs early in folliculogenesis, and that androgens are implicated in this. In primates and sheep, androgen excess in-utero results in ovarian changes similar to those in PCOS. We have recently shown using a novel in ovo model, that testosterone added to implanted human tissue increased primary follicles compared to untreated tissue (Qureshi et al. 2005). This is similar to the p...

By including the synthetic glucocorticoid (GC), dexamethasone, in the maternal drinking water on gestational days 16–19 (0.5 μg/ml) or days 1–7 after birth (1.0 μg/ml), we have recently demonstrated (McArthur et al. J. Neuroendocrinol. 17: 475) that perinatal exposure of rat pups to GCs increased dopaminergic (DA) cell numbers in the adult ventral tegmental area (VTA) at −5.1 to −5.4 mm relative to Bregma (level I). In order to investig...

Background: The majority of patients with GH insensitivity have defects in the extracellular domain of the GHR. We have identified a 47yr old woman homozygous for a 22bp deletion in the cytoplasmic domain of the GHR. The patient had high GH levels, and low IGF-1 of 8 ug/L (normal 54-389 ug/L), IGFBP-3 16nmol/L (normal 61-254 nmol/L) and GHBP 6.8 percent (normal greater than 10 percent) levels. We report functional studies for this mutation (GHR1-449) which results in premature...

High dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy is used in patients with severe thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and other inflammatory disorders. Although in the short-term it appears to be safe, the acute metabolic effects of this regimen have not been studied in detail.We studied 15 patients with severe TAO, aged 59 ± 10 (mean ± SD) years. One patient was known to have type 2 diabetes. Each patient received 500 mg of iv methyprednisolone daily on t...

While previous studies have shown relatively low concentrations of insulin-like growth factors (IGF)in human ejaculates, high levels of IGF binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2)have been reported. The IGF/IGFBP system was investigated in ejaculates from thirty men aged 23-46 years consulting a fertility clinic. Volume, viscosity, total and motile sperm counts were estimated by standard methods and each subject consented for the specimen to be used in this study. Local Ethical Committee ...

Thyroid hormones have been employed for 3 decades as adjunct treatments in depression and the stabilization of manic depression, especially in women. After a brief historical review, two studies will be presented to highlight this 'drug' use of thyroid hormone.(1) A meta analysis of six studies on the use of thyroid hormone to accelerate antidepressant response. Five studies found T3 to be significantly more effective than placebo, especially in women....