Endocrine Abstracts

Renal functions in a mouse model of Cushing’s Syndrome have been characterised by analysing RNA expression complemented by immunohistochemistry studies. A microarray of kidneys from mice infused with ACTH for two weeks identified gene transcripts that were up-regulated (70) and down-regulated (49) more than two-fold. Four separate clusters of closely correlated genes (r> 0.97; P< 0.001) were investigated in more detail. One down-regulated cluster included histocom...

Introduction: Acromegaly is a neuroendocrine disorder caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH). Current treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy and drugs like somatostatin or dopamine receptor agonist. In spite of combination of therapies cure rate is dismal. There is a quest for new therapeutic targets with optimal efficacy, least side effect without any cost constraints. Recently, a few reports have shown that tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Imatinib) causes growth f...

Introduction: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the thyroid gland is an accurate diagnostic test used routinely in the initial evaluation of nodular thyroid disease. A sizeable subset of patients are found to be taking antithrombotic and/or anticoagulant (AT/AC) medications. This creates a dilemma for the endocrinologist, who must weigh the risk of withholding these medications (and the associated potential benefit of diagnosis) against the perceived increased risk of ia...

Many conditions may interfere with intestinal absorption of levothyroxine (L-T4). In addition, it has been demonstrated a failure in the normalisation of TSH values in patients consuming L-T4 tablets with coffee or with water followed by coffee taken shortly afterwards. Recent studies showed that oral liquid L-T4 could remove the problem of L-T4 malabsorption by coffee and f...

The secretion of leptin, an indicator of energy reserves, declines as energy stores are consumed in growth and development at puberty. The pubertal growth and development are often altered under different kinds of stresses. Usually, stress stimulates the release of cortisol, which is a labelled marker of stress. Early teens are inclined to drug abuse that may put their bodies under stress and may induce excessive secretion of cortisol. Since, sustained high levels of cortisol ...

A small for gestational age baby boy (weighing 2.3 kg) was delivered at term by emergency section for foetal bradycardia, to a 35-year-old mother with type 1 diabetes.He was admitted with suspected sepsis because of maternal colonization with group B streptococcus. He had hyperglycaemia (6–12 mmol/l), initially attributed to sepsis and was treated as such. Hyperglycaemia persisted, despite treatment and being clinically well.F...

Evidence from studies in goats1, sheep2 and mice3 suggests that the kisspeptin cells of the arcuate nucleus generate the signal that causes the pulsatile secretion of GnRH. This effect may be due to action of kisspeptin on GnRH terminals in the median eminence3,4. We conducted studies on sheep to test the hypothesis that kisspeptin cells of the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and/or the glutamate cells of the hypothalamus pulses of GnRH secret...

We present the case of a 58-year-old woman who presented 30 years ago. She was noted to have abdominal obesity, moon-face and skin bruising/thinning, as well as hypertension. Serum cortisol was elevated and she was presumed to have Cushing’s disease (although we have no record of dynamic tests or imaging from the time of her original presentation). Owing to her desire for future fertility, she underwent bilateral adrenalectomy at the age of 31 years. She received hydrocor...

Phaeochromocytomas (PHAEOs) and extra-adrenal paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumours. As many as 35% may have an identifiable germline mutation, most commonly in the genes encoding RET, VHL or subunits of succinate dehydrogenase (SDHx).[123I]-labelled metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy is used to localise PHAEOs/PGLs, while 131I-MIBG is used as therapy in malignant disease. Uptake of radioisot...

Introduction: The diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome (CS) can be challenging and there is no single gold standard diagnostic test. Endocrinologists rely on a combination of plasma cortisol (before and after dexamethasone), midnight salivary cortisol and urinary free cortisol (UFC) to make the diagnosis. Assessment of urinary corticosteroids and their metabolites, measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), provide a comprehensive picture of corticoste...