Endocrine Abstracts

Adult-onset Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease characterised by the abnormal proliferation of Langerhans cells, and has a distinct phenotype to that of childhood-onset LCH. Diabetes Insipidus (DI) is a well-recognised manifestation of LCH, caused by infiltration of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis (HPA). Anterior pituitary dysfunction is an uncommon complication of LCH, which has been shown to be associated with DI. However, this association has previously onl...

Bone is the major sink and store for calcium and it fulfils essential roles in the maintenance of extracellular free ionised calcium concentration ([Ca2+e)within its homeostatic range (1.1 to 1.3mM). In response to acute hypercalcaemia or hypocalcaemia, Ca2+ is rapidly transported into or out of bone. Bone turnover (and therefore bone Ca2+ turnover) achieves the long term correction of the [Ca2+e] by the metabolic actions of osteoblasts (i.e., bone-forming cells) and osteoclas...

While it is generally acknowledged that hyperthyroidism and Paget's disease are states of increased bone turnover and that treatment reduces this, whether treatment entirely corrects or reverses abnormalities has not been established. A variety of biomarkers for bone formation which include serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC) and amino terminal procollagen type 1N propeptide (PINP) and resorption biomarkers which include urinary excretion of deoxy...

High levels of physical inactivity contribute to the development of obesity. We aimed to evaluate the benefits of exercise instruction in obese patients with type 2 diabetes who have demonstrated difficulty with weight management since diagnosis. Ethical approval was obtained from the local committee.Sixty-six patients were recruited from the diabetes out-patient clinics. All patients underwent treadmill-testing prior to randomisation. Patients were matc...

A 59 year old man was admitted with epistaxis. Blood pressure on admission was 213/110 mmHg. Past medical history included hypertension (3 years) and a cerebrovascular accident 5 years previously. Drug therapy included an ACE inhibitor, beta-blocker and thiazide diuretic. He denied thirst, polyuria or weight loss. He was an ex-smoker. On examination he was not Cushingoid. There were no diabetic complications.On block analysis potassium was 2.2mmol/l and ...

An 82-year-old male was referred to the breast clinic with a four month history of painful right gynaecomastia (GM), without nipple discharge. A 4 cm plaque of tender, soft tissue was palpable. Physical examination and external genitalia were normal. There was no relevant drug history. Prolactin, Testosterone (T), CXR, Ultrasound and FNA of the breast were normal. LH 13.0 IU (1.5-10.0) and FSH 18.1 IU (1.5-10.0) were raised. FT3 was raised at 7.3 pmol/L (3.5-5.5) with TSH supp...

Parturition in the ewe is initiated by the fetus following the cortisol rise via activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and increased intrauterine PG production. Dietary n-6 PUFAs, noteceably linoleic acid (LA) are the precursors for PG synthesis. The maternal intercotyledonary endometrium is the main site of PGF2alpha during labour. This study investigated the effect of dietary n-6 PUFA supplementation on uterine PG production at term. Ewes (n=32) we...

11HSD1 regenerates cortisol from cortisone and maintains glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation. Adipose-specific transgenic 11HSD1 overexpression in mice causes obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension (reflecting increased adipose angiotensinogen); however, the effect depended upon local GR expression. In human obesity, 11HSD1 activity is increased similarly in biopsied adipose, but the impact remains uncertain. We tested whether increased adipose 11HSD1 activity in ob...

Lymphocytic adenohypophysitis (LA) is a rare inflammatory disorder of the pituitary, probably auto-immune in origin, usually affecting young pregnant women. Clinical features resemble a pituitary adenoma but differing in the hierarchy of endocrine loss, preferentially destroying ACTH and TSH secreting cells. A useful diagnostic feature is pituitary enhancement with gadolinium on MRI.A 39-year old female, with treated hypothyroidism, was referred to endocrinology out-patien...

Synthetic C19 gestogens which are used in combination with testosterone as hormonal contraception in men bind to both the androgen and progesterone receptor. The relative contribution of these two components is unclear. In this study, we have compared the effect of a synthetic gestogen (desogestrel) with naturally occurring progesterone on the pattern of secretion of LH and FSH in healthy volunteers. Twenty men aged 18-40 were randomised to receive either progesterone (gestone...