Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Glargine is an analogue insulin with a flat pharmacokinetic profile and duration of action of 24 h providing stable ‘background’ insulin on which fast acting insulin can be added during meal times. Clinical trials have indicated that this leads to more satisfactory and stable glycaemic control with reduced frequency of hypoglycaemia. We carried out a prospective audit to see if these reported benefits are confirmed in routine clinical practice.<p cl...

The diet of patients exposed to stress had been shown to be low in fibre, low in fruit and vegetables, low in vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene, high in sugar, and high in saturated fat. The implications of these findings are two-fold: the diet associated with stress is similar to those in patients with features of the Metabolic syndrome (Met-S – visceral obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension).Aim: The aim of the present study was to ass...

Galactorrhea (G) is a frequent symptom in endocrinology when breast are systematically examined. In literature there is few works about aetiologies of G. The aim of our work is to evaluate prevalence of G and to study it’s cause in 170 subjects with nipple discharge.Our methodology is based on anamnestic history, clinical exam and a complete hormonal exploration. Women with normal cycle has a temperature curve, endometrial biopsy and progesterone ev...

The occurrence of thyroid diseases is determined by interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The major environmental factor that determines goiter prevalence is iodine status.Thyroid nodules are present in up to 30% of the Georgian population. The causative role of iodine deficiency which is still endemic in this country has long been established.Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the thyroid gland is the cost-effe...

IntroductionHuman clinical trials are currently evaluating the protective effects of antioxidants against pre-eclampsia in threatened pregnancy (Poston et al. Ann.N.Y.Acad.Sci. 1031:242.2004). While there has been increased awareness about the modulating effects on pituitary-adrenal responses to stress by antioxidants in adult life (Brody et al. Psychopharmacology. 159:319.2001). nothing is known about the effects of antioxida...

A 45 year old female with Type 1 DM for 12 years presented with malaise and frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia. Thyroxine was titrated to 150 mcg once daily over 2 months because TSH was 94 mIU/L [0.2–5.50 mIU/L]. However, her malaise and hypoglycaemia deteriorated, she also developed dense hyperpigmentation in the skin.Primary hypoadrenalism was confirmed by lack of response to 250 mcg IV Tetracosactide (Serum Cortisol at Time 0 min: 98 nmol/L; Ti...

The N-terminal fragment of human POMC consists of a 76 residue peptide (also known as pro-gamma-MSH) that contains the sequence of gamma-MSH in its C-terminus. Previous studies have demonstrated that the N-terminal portion not containing the gamma-MSH sequence is a potent adrenal mitogen while gamma-MSH itself can act synergistically with ACTH to increase steroid output.Since previous studies [1] have suggested that N-POMC 1-28 can stimulate the ERK path...

Overt primary adrenocortical failure is preceded by several stages of subclinical hypoadrenocorticolism. Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or who have other autoimmune conditions are at risk for the development of Autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD). These at risk individuals can be identified by the detection of adrenal autoantibodies (AAb).The aim of this study was two fold: firstly, to evaluate the sensitivity of early morning cortisol: ACTH ratio...

A 40-year-old woman was admitted for investigation of severe fatigue, abdominal pain, anorexia and myalgia over the preceding year. Past medical history included vitiligo, coeliac disease and depression. Initial investigations revealed hyperkalaemia, normocytic anaemia and hypercalcaemia with an inappropriately normal parathyroid hormone level. Low TSH with normal free T4 and T3 (0.02 milliunits per litre, 17.1 picomoles per litre and 6.3 picomoles per litre respectively) were...

We present the case of a 65 year old woman with history of difficult to control essential hypertension for many years, and subarachnoid haemmorhage in 1992 requiring insertion of surgical clips for aneurysms at both internal carotid arteries and right middle cerebral arteries.She presented in 2004 with a 3 week history of headaches and a history over one year of increasing size of her hands, feet and nose, goiter and hoarse voice. Serum IGF-1 was 84 nmol...