Endocrine Abstracts

Background: A polymorphism within the CYP11B2 gene, characterised by a C/T substitution at position 344, the putative binding site for steroidogenic transcription factor1, has been shown to influence aldosterone excretion rate and blood pressure in essential hypertension.Aims: Assess the effect of contrasting genotype for the SF1 site on urinary and plasma steroid production during dietary manipulation of the renin-angiotensin system and assess the press...

In the rat hippocampus, corticosteroids modulate neuronal excitability. Glucocorticoid excess within the rat hippocampus results in a neurodegenerative effect, although corticosteroids also protect oligodendrocytes from cytokine-mediated apoptosis. Other studies have shown that systemically insignificant levels of aldosterone affect systemic blood pressure when administered icv. Previously, we have shown by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry that the genes for 11beta-hydroxylase ...

Burosumab has become available as a treatment for children with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) and is a recombinant fully human IgG1 against FGF23. By binding to the active FGF23, burosumab inhibits its effect and symptoms (growth retardation, rickets, enthesiopathy, low phosphate) may improve, however, not in all children. Concomitantly paediatricians are keen to measure FGF23, in treated children, to avoid overtreatment with burosumab, associated with potential calcificatio...

Background: Zoledronate is a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (BP) recognised for its antiresorptive potency. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic of zoledronate remains unclear. Although adverse events from overuse of BP is rare, there have been reports of over-treatment resulting in pathophysiological consequences. The current administration regimen is not tailored to the individual’s therapeutic response to zoledronate. Quantifying post-dose serum con...

Background: The active form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D, plays a key role in regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism and bone homeostasis. In paediatrics, maintaining optimal 1,25(OH)2D levels is crucial for supporting musculoskeletal growth. The hormone also serves as a diagnostic indicator for multiple disorders such as vitamin-D dependent rickets. Current Literature lacks comprehensive reporting of age-specific reference ranges in pa...

Clinical Endocrinology, 2020, 92(1): 29–37 (DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cen.14119)...

Background: Establishing endocrine diagnoses including pituitary Cushing’s remains challenging with delayed or misdiagnosis being very costly for both patient and the health care system. A key issue is that standard diagnostic tests are typically single time point, single analyte samples, which do not consider dynamic variation intrinsic to endocrine systems. Having previously demonstrated that free tissue hormones correlate strongly with plasma concentrations, we present...

Liquid Chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) is gold-standard for androgen analysis in biological fluids, superseding immunoassays in specificity, particularly at low concentrations. While LC–MS/MS is well established for analysis of testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A4), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) presents greater analytical challenges. DHT circulates at low nanomolar concentrations in men and lower in women, ionising inefficiently. Thus, eve...

Background: 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is metabolised into two forms of metabolites: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) by the actions of 1α hydroxylase, and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25(OH)2D) by 24-hydroxylase. Studies suggest the production of 1,25(OH)2D is 24,25(OH)2D dependent. Genetic mutations of CYP24A1 gene resulting in reduced or total loss of 24-hydroxylase function are associated with hypercalcaemic condition...

Introduction: British Army recruits suffer from musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) during initial training. Up to 10% suffer skeletal stress fracture (SFx) resulting in lost training days and medical attrition. There is evidence to suggest that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in the army. Our aim was to determine vitamin D metabolites (VDM) in recruits upon starting training, and health outcomes after a 14-week training programme.Methods: ...