Endocrine Abstracts

Decreased GH secretion and increased GH clearance contribute to low GH levels found in obesity; in spite of which IGF-1 levels are reported as normal. To explain the discordancy between GH and IGF-1 status in obese subjects, an increase in peripheral (hepatic) sensitivity to GH activity has been hypothesized. Previously peripheral responsiveness to GH in obesity has been investigated and reported to be increased, however the use of weight-based GH doses made interpretation dif...

IGF-1 generation tests (IGF-1GT) have been used extensively in children to investigate growth hormone (GH) responsiveness. To help understand differences in the GH/IGF-1 axis in health and disease in adulthood interest has turned to the use of the IGF-1GT in adults. Different designs of IGF-1GT have been used with no clear evidence delineating which is the most sensitive to describe subtle changes in GH responsiveness. In order to design an IGF-1GT we have performed the first ...

Survival figures following the treatment of brain tumours continue to improve. Patients receiving cranial radiotherapy (XRT) frequently suffer a progressive loss of anterior pituitary function secondary to radiation damage to the hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA), therefore long-term follow up is required. The time frame of radiation damage to the HPA is not known. There is also a suggestion from animal data that the HPA is more sensitive to damage by radiation when treated at...

A 29 year old gentleman presented to Urology with scrotal pain. He had renal calculi but examination also revealed small testicles for which he was referred to Endocrinology. He achieved normal developmental milestones. He had no history of mumps or testicular torsion or surgery. He had no history of hypospadias or undescended testicles. He was not on any regular medication and denied anabolic steroids use. He reported a normal sense of smell. His body weight was 72 Kg with he...

Background: PCOS is a common female endocrine disorder, exacerbated by obesity. International guidelines therefore suggest weight loss as first line management. This service evaluation assessed the care pathway of patients referred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) with suspected PCOS. We aimed to assess the referral wait time, reason for referral, treatment offered, and weight management in clinic.Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional stud...

Introduction: Thyroid nodules are common. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has an essential role in the evaluation of thyroid nodules, but results may be nondiagnostic. A standardised (FNAC) reporting system: Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytology (BSRTC) is widely used.Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of (FNAC) of thyroid nodules performed at our Hospital before and after the introduction of (BSRTC)....

Background: Transition is an important stage in the care of a young person with a long-term endocrine condition.Objective: To explore current services for young people (YP) with endocrine conditions from the perspective of paediatric and adult endocrinologists, and YP and their parents using their services.Methods: There were two components:- i). service questionnaire for completion by paediatric and adult endocrinologists ii). &#1...

Aim: To evaluate the recovery rate, characteristics and factors that might help predict the HPA axis recovery of patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) and GC-induced AI.Study Design: A retrospective study involving all GN patients referred from January 2014-December 2016 with a confirmed diagnosis of GC-induced AI with a planned weaning from conventional Prednisolone (Pred) immunosuppression and switch onto Hydrocortisone (HC). Data collected up to Novem...

Background: Errors made with critical medicines such as desmopressin and hydrocortisone used in the treatment of endocrine conditions in hospitalised patients can undermine patient safety but are largely preventable.Methods: Retrospective audit of adult patients admitted at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust between January 2013 and June 2014, prescribed desmopressin for cranial diabetes insipidus (CDI) or other medical conditions using elec...

Background: Bone marrow transplant (BMT) survivors are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome and developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Measurement of HbA1c is increasingly used in recent years for the diagnosis of T2DM. An HbA1c level of ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol) is considered as a diagnostic cut-off for T2DM and an HbA1c between 6.0–6.4% (42–47 mmol/mol) is considered as at risk of T2DM. We aimed to look at the diagnostic performance of HbA1c and oral glucose toleran...