Endocrine Abstracts

Background: The hypothalamic neuropeptides kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) are both obligate for normal gonadotrophin secretion. Studies in patients with loss-of-function mutations in NKB signalling suggest that kisspeptin is functionally upstream of NKB, but this hierarchy is unexplored in healthy men and women. We hypothesised that kisspeptin augmentation of estrogen-induced mid-cycle LH secretion will not be abrogated by pharmacological blockade of NKB.<p class="abste...

Introduction: Graves’ disease (GD) is associated with a number of cardiovascular complications, including rhythm disturbances, mitral valve prolapse, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. Pericardial effusion in the context of GD has only been reported in a small number of cases.Case: A 59-year-old gentleman presented with a 3-day history of dyspnoea and pleuritic chest pain. He had a previous history of GD 8 months ago, pulmonary embolism (PE),...

Oxidative stress in humans has been associated with obesity. Puberty is a maturation period characterized mainly by changes of the GH and the gonadotrophin hormones secretion. To investigate the possible association of the GH and the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axes before and during early puberty, with the pro- and anti-oxidation mechanisms 76 healthy, pre-pubertal normal weight (n=28), pre-pubertal obese (n=11), early pubertal normal weig...

Background: Sex-steroid feedback regulates gonadotropin (LH and FSH) secretion. Kisspeptin, a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, stimulates gonadotropin secretion by stimulating GnRH secretion, and has been shown in animal models to play a central role in mediating sex steroid feedback.Hypothesis: As estrogen feedback occurs at both the hypothalamus and the pituitary in women, we hypothesized that the stimulatory effect of kisspeptin-10 would be dependent ...

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and Urocortin 2 (Urn2) are secreted locally in peripheral tissues and play a direct immunomodulatory role as endocrine or paracrine mediators of inflammation. Studies on CRH as well as Ucn2 and vascular endothelial cells suggest that CRH may play a pivotal role in the regulation of vascular endothelial function under normal and pathological conditions. The present study was undertaken to determine whether CRH and Urn2 affect the endothelia...

Introduction: Acromegaly is associated with skeletal changes that are characterized by appositional bone growth, increased bone dimensions and increased bone turnover. PTH is an important regulator of bone remodeling and its anabolic action requires the presence of GH. The strong correlation found between PTH concentrations and bone turnover markers in active and treated acromegaly has led to the suggestion, that the effect of GH on bone turnover may be mediated by PTH. Succes...

The UKPDS study has shown that, intensive lowering of blood sugar and blood pressure decreases the risk of micro vascular complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The Steno-2 study has shown that target driven, long-term intensive treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria reduces the risk of cardiovascular and micro vascular events by about 50%.We investigated the effect on the 10 years absolute CHD risk of our type 2 diab...

Background: Radioiodine ablation is an effective curative treatment for hyperthyroidism in virtually all patients with single or multiple doses. The dosage of radioiodine used in the treatment of thyrotoxicosis has varied widely according to local experience and practice. Administration of low doses could lead to inadequate or delayed response, while using larger doses is associated with the risk of increased incidence of hypothyroidism.Introduction: In ...

Hydrocortisone day curves, Salivary cortisols, timed urinary free cortisols and 24 hour urine cortisols have been used to estimate hydrocortisone replacement in hypoadrenal patients.We looked at 39 patients who had hydrocortisone day curve estimations in our hospital. 35 of those patients had simultaneous 24 hour urine free cortisol estimation. All hypothyroid patients were on adequate replacement dose of thyroxine.The commonest cl...

A 35 year old woman presented with severe bone pain, body aches, progressive deformities of chest, skull and swelling of hands for two years. Past history included bilateral total hip replacement for fracture of neck of femur one year back. She was normotensive and normo-glycemic. Her dietary consumption of calcium and vitamin D and sun-exposure was adequate. Investigation revealed haemoglobin 5.4gram per deciliter. Serum calcium and serum iPTH levels were elevated at 3.6milim...