Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Evidence from a Needs Analysis (2006) and Patient Satisfaction Survey (2008) for people with pituitary conditions suggested infertility was a key yet unexpected problem for the majority of respondents. Being infertile without the co-morbidity of pituitary condition confers a huge emotional burden on the individual. The aim of this piece of research was to investigate individual’s perceptions of managing infertility following a diagnosis of a pituitary conditio...

In late pregnancy, the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is less responsive to immune challenge(1). Circulating and brain levels of allopregnanolone (AP), a neuroactive steroid and allosteric enhancer at inhibitory GABAA receptors, increase during pregnancy(2) and AP treatment attenuates stress-induced HPA activity in male rats(3). Here we sought a role for AP in attenuated HPA axis responses to interleukin-1-beta (IL-1B) in pregnant rats. Conscious pregnant (day 21) an...

Aim: Acute bouts of exercise are known to have a beneficial effect on glucose homeostasis immediately following exercise in people with Type 2 Diabetes. Evidence suggests that this effect is independent of the effects of insulin. In this study we compare recently developed indices of insulin sensitivity derived from the oral glucose tolerance test to determine whether the improvements in glucose homeostasis following physical activity are independent of the effects of insulin....

Background: Management of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome (ACTH-CS) remains a challenge. In the past 2 decades open bilateral adrenalectomy, associated high morbidity and long post-operative in-patient stay, has usually been reserved for cases of failed transsphenoidal surgery (TpS) and radiotherapy (RT), or where the source of ACTH is not found. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a significant advance with low morbidity and mortality.Aim: To assess the eff...

We present a case of a 73 year old female with recurrent non-functioning adenoma and co-existent mantle cell lymphoma within the pituitary fossa. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is rare comprising around 6% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnoses. It infrequently involves the central nervous system, with only one published case of involvement of the pituitary gland. Our patient initially presented in April 2003 with marked visual loss due to a large non-functioning cystic pituitary macro...

Objective: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a rare, sometimes devastating disorder caused by-mainly inherited- mutations in the ABCD1 gene. Cerebral X-ALD can be prevented or modified if diagnosed presymptomatically. Mutation can lead to very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) accumulation in adrenocortical cells, which can cause antibody negative primary Addison’s disease (ANPAD). There are recommendations that all males affected by ANPAD should have VLCFA analysis. W...

A 73-year-old independent female presented with reduced consciousness following a tonic-clonic seizure. Investigations revealed acute hyponatraemia, with a serum sodium of 103 mmol/l. Cortisol reserve and thyroid function was normal and the biochemical diagnosis was consistent with SiADH. A CT brain scan was normal. Hypertonic saline was commenced with empirical anti-viral and antibiotic therapy. Lumbar puncture revealed a slightly elevated CSF protein and her EEG showed non-s...

Canrenone is a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist used as a diuretic agent to treat hypertension. It is the major active metabolite of spironolactone and may be quantified in clinical studies either to ensure compliance or to gain information about pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic interactions.The aim of this study was to develop and validate a sensitive, quantitative assay for the analysis of canrenone in plasma.HPLC mass spectr...

Hypothalamic regulation of the appetite and reproductive neuroendocrine axes is modulated by nutritional feedback from the periphery, potentially via shared mechanisms. Ghrelin is a recently identified orexigenic hormone secreted by the stomach that has been implicated in meal-time hunger, energy homeostasis and body weight regulation. In rodents, intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection acutely stimulates food intake and one study has shown that it can also transiently suppres...

Case history: A 36 year-old man was referred to our department for further evaluation of a large adrenal and multiple liver mass lesions. These had been found on an abdominal ultrasound requested for a 3 week history of mild, episodic abdominal pain. He was asymptomatic but described mild night sweats for over 10 years.Investigations, results and treatment: Hyperparathyroidism was evident, with a serum corrected calcium 3.04 mmol/l (2.15–2.65), PTH ...