Endocrine Abstracts

Parathyroid hormone(PTH) is released by the parathyroid glands to regulate the concentration of ionised calcium in extracellular fluid.Any change in ionised calcium is followed by reciprocal changes in PTH secretion. PTH acts on the kidney to increase the renal tubular reabsorption of calcium and to increase the synthesis of the hormonal metabolite of vitamin D which enhances the intestinal absorption of calcium. Prolonged PTH secretion increases calcium release from bone as a...

Treatments of hyperglycaemia have mostly focussed on targeting fasting glucose. These include Metformin, most sulphonylureas and conventional insulin therapy and, more recently, the glitazones. However, management of postprandial hyperglycaemia in day-to-day practice in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is now becoming clinically relevant for a number of reasons.There is now robust evidence in women with gestational diabetes that specifically targeting pos...

Background: There are a variety of growth hormone delivery devices (GHDD) available to children requiring growth hormone (GH) therapy. Many paediatric endocrine nurses can offer patients and their families a choice of the products that are available, which can sometimes be overwhelming. However, factors such a licenced clinical indications have to be considered, as well as cost. This study explored nurses viewpoints on GHDD.Aim: The purpose of this proje...

Background: General Medical Council (GMC) guidance describes an intimate examination as one that may be embarrassing for the patient, for example, breast or genitalia examination. Documentation of consent and use of a trained impartial observer (chaperone) is recommended for intimate examinations. Pubertal staging is often necessitated for assessment of growth and puberty. We assessed current practice in pubertal staging by paediatricians and paediatric endocrinology nurse spe...

A 51 yr old woman presented to ENT surgeons with nasal polyps. Since examination revealed a multi-nodular goitre, large hands and prognathism, acromegaly was suspected. MRI of the pituitary arranged, was normal. Two years later, nasal polyps returned. CT on this occasion showed evidence of polyps with sinusitis but again a normal pituitary fossa. She was referred to a rheumatologist for carpal tunnel symptoms, the features of acromegaly were rediscovered and she was referred t...

Objective: We sought to assess the knowledge of adrenal insufficiency among undergraduate healthcare students and pharmacy staff.Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional UK-wide survey of final year undergraduate student knowledge of AI before and after an online educational intervention. Universities were recruited through the Council of Medical Schools, Council of Pharmacy and Dean of Health Council, whereby surveys wer...

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is a common endocrine condition. The associated metabolic abnormalities are usually amenable to surgical treatment (PTX). Although it is generally believed that such treatment will reduce the risk of long-term complications this has not been demonstrated in a clinical trial and the current treatment guidelines are based on consensus. In order to assess the effect of parathyroidectomy on two of the most common complications of PHP, renal stones...

The rising prevalence of childhood obesity is a major public health concern. Approximately 21% of children by the age of eleven are clinically obese, with a further 14% classed as overweight. The causes of obesity of childhood obesity are multifaceted, leading to a complex multi-disciplinary management approach. A high proportion of children and young people do not meet the recommended guidelines of a minimum of 60 minutes physical activity per day. In addition to the barrier&...

Background: Patients with hypoparathyroidism may present acutely with hypocalcaemia and these patients may have multiple admissions; however, data on the incidence of acute and recurrent acute hypoparathyroidism are scarce in the literature.Aim: We wished to determine: (1) the causes of severe hypocalcaemia amongst A&E attendances (2) the incidence of acute hypocalcaemia due to hypoparathyroidism amongst A&E attendances, and (3) the incidence of ...

Background: The Turner Syndrome Life Course Project, UCLH, has collected data on 810 women with TS, attending clinic for 20 years and has accumulated over 8000 clinic visits. We present an analysis of the effects of timing and type of exogenous oestrogen on health outcomes in adults.Methods: A cross- sectional analysis of 475 subjects with primary amenorrhoea with accurate age of pubertal induction data was performed using correlation coefficients contro...