Endocrine Abstracts

Calcium mobilization from intracellular stores represents an important cell signalling process that is regulated, in mammalian cells, by inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3), cyclic ADP ribose (cADPR) and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP). Intracellular calcium is important for mobilization of secretory granules to the plasma membrane in preparation for exocytosis. NAADP mobilizes calcium from lysosome-related acidic compartments and it has been sho...

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...

Case history: A 39-year-old lady first presented to our endocrine outpatient clinic in September 2014 when blood tests at her GP surgery showed serum cortisol of 65 nmol/l. She had been having chronic back pain which is treated with Buprenorphine patches for many years. A Short Synacthen test (SST) showed an inadequate response. A low ACTH suggest secondary adrenal insufficiency. Other pituitary function tests and MRI of the pituitary were normal. After staying off buprenorphi...

A 64 year old man presented in 1992 with a dense bitemporal hemianopia and no endocrine symptoms. CT showed a large pituitary adenoma with suprasellar extension. He underwent transphenoidal resection of the tumour. Histology showed a typical chromophobe adenoma with no immunohistochemical staining. His vision recovered.He was followed regularly with serial MRI scan. No change was seen in the size of the residual intrasellar tumour. Pituitary testing show...

Introduction: Androgens have long been known to play an important role in health and wellbeing. A range of clinical disorders in males and females can arise due to disruption to production and action of androgens. Androgen receptor (AR) is widely expressed throughout the adrenal cortex, yet the wider role for androgen signalling in the adrenal remains underexplored due to the lack of suitable animal models.Methods: An adrenal-specific androgen receptor k...

Aim: To develop a cost effective and individualised service model for GH replacement therapy based on a joint decision making process with patients and commissioners.Background: At University College London Hospital (UCLH), we have a caseload of about 300 adult patients treated with GH. Our in house structured GH treatment proforma is used at the patient’s initial consultation for joint decision making on prescribing the most suitable GH, e.g. non-r...

The Estrogen Receptor (ER) is a well-studied, ligand dependent transcription factor. We have analysed, by kinetic chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, the mechanisms by which the ER modulates the permissiveness and transcriptional activity of the PS2 gene. Sequential ChIP assays were used to define the cyclical association of approximately 50 different proteins to the pS2 promoter. Key results from these studies are (i) that unliganded and liganded ER direct cycling on...

In August 1999, to reduce pressure on an overcrowded outpatient department and the incidence of undetected early hypothyroidism, we implemented a new protocol for the follow-up of patients undergoing radioiodine treatment for recurrent thyrotoxicosis. Suitable patients are invited to participate in follow-up by telephone. Thyroid function tests are checked at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks post-treatment. Patients who become hypothyroid post-treatment (fT4 <14 picomoles per litre) a...