Endocrine Abstracts

Pregnancy is associated with increased circulating growth hormone (GH), which is thought to originate from the placenta in humans, but from the pituitary in rats. In this study we investigated the changes in somatotroph and lactotroph populations, and quantified spontaneous and secretagogue-induced GH and prolactin (PRL) secretion during pregnancy in rats.Using electron microscopy and immunogold labelling, somatotroph and lactotroph populations were quan...

Discussion/Conclusion: Sexual & reproductive health are important areas to be considered in the care of young people with Type 1 diabetes remembering that risk-taking behaviour is more common in those with chronic conditions. Education and advice about sexual health & contraception should be provided taking into account any background cultural and religious differences. Adolescent girls with diabetes should be aware of the importance of a planned pregnancy and that ovu...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be diagnosed in adult women using the Rotterdam criteria and includes the presence of at least two of the following:- androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction, or polycystic ovaries on ultrasound scan. The diagnosis of PCOS in adolescents is challenging since these criteria may define normal pubertal physiological features. PCOS is a diagnosis of exclusion and investigation for other possible underlying pathologies, such as non-classical cong...

Girls with ovarian failure or delayed puberty may be treated with incremental doses of oestrogen to induce puberty. Transdermal natural oestradiol is more physiological than oral synthetic ethinyl oestradiol but it is unclear how effective it is for inducing puberty and whether it confers any benefit.The aims of the audit were to review whether transdermal oestradiol was effective in inducing puberty, the optimal dosing regimen, effects on breast develop...

The current model of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) action is well established, whereby GR remains inactive in the cytoplasm until bound by ligand, then rapidly translocates to the nucleus to regulate target genes. However, our recent observations challenge the simplicity of this model and suggest a greater range of GR action.We have identified a novel pathway in which the GR is recruited to the plasma membrane through binding to the lipid raft marker cave...

The incretin access is the descriptive term behind the observed phenomenon that one can elicit more insulin secretion from oral glucose than from an equivalent intravenous stimulus. The major causes of this are two gut hormones GIP and GLP-1.GLP-1 is secreted in the intestine by the L cells and has effects at the beta cell, in the brain, and on gastric motility. At the beta cell it binds onto G protein receptors which activate the metabolic pathways rela...

The prenatal environment has a major influence on development and function of endocrine systems throughout life. We have shown that a short period of maternal nutrient restriction (48h), at the time of maximal fetal brain growth in the guinea pig, permanently modifies HPA function throughout the life of the offspring. This effect is highly sex-specific; males exhibit decreased basal and activated pituitary-adrenal activity, while females exhibit elevated activity. In the prese...

Background: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition leading to hyperthyroidism and characteristically elevated TSH receptor antibody (TRAb). TRAb levels typically fall post-treatment with anti-thyroid drugs (ATDs) and are used in identifying risk of relapse. Tobacco smoking is a risk factor for reduced treatment efficacy of ATDs. We intended to evaluate the effect of smoking on changes in TRAb levels in patients treated for Graves’ disease.<p ...

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are a group of conditions caused by atypical development of chromosomal, gonadal or anatomical sex which pose complex, long-term diagnostic, investigative and management challenges requiring expert teams and close collaboration with families and peer groups. The lack of nationally agreed clinical standards for the management of DSD has been recognised by the British Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, and these are now in develo...

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 ...