Endocrine Abstracts

Tachykinins are a family of peptides comprising substance P, neurokinin B (NKB) and endokinin B (EKB) that are encoded on three separate genes, TAC1, 3 and 4, respectively. Traditionally classified as neurotransmitters the highest expression levels of EKB and NKB are found in the placenta, where, NKB has been implicated in pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction. We have conducted mRNA expression studies to look at the placental expression of each of the ...

The major source of neurokinin B (NKB), a peptide of the tachykinin family, is the placenta. Little is known of the regulation of NKB or its preferred hypertensive-inducing receptor, NK3, during pregnancy, nor, the mechanisms leading to elevated NKB associated with pre-eclampsia (PE) during the third trimester. Using the pregnant rat we have looked at the changes in NKB and NK3 expression using real time PCR between day 16 and 21 of gestation in the placenta, brain and differe...

Substance P (SP), neurokinin A and neurokinin B (NKB) are vasoactive tachykinins, believed to exert their effects by release from nerve endings to activate three neurokinin receptors. We have found the major source of NKB (TAC3) expression to be the placenta which results in elevated maternal blood levels in pre-eclampsia. Placental NKB appears to increase blood flow in the placenta and uterus but causes pressor effects in the peripheral circulation. Whilst the placenta, is de...

We report a case surviving hyperparathyroid crisis, with the second highest serum calcium concentration ever reported.A 45-year-old female with type 2 diabetes and mixed hyperlipidaemia was admitted with extreme lethargy, dehydration and drowsiness. Serum corrected calcium was 6.49 mmol/l (2.2–2.6 mmol/l), phosphate 1.79 mmol/l, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) 1059 pg/ml (15–65 pg/ml), creatinine 124 μmol/l and urea 16.0 mmol/l.<p cla...

Annexin I (ANXA1), a Ca2+- and phospholipid-binding protein is an important mediator of glucocorticoid (GC) action in the host defence and neuroendocrine systems. In the anterior pituitary ANXA1 is highly expressed by the folliculo-stellate (FS) cells (1). We have shown that GCs cause the externalization of annexin I in a FS cell line (murine TtT/GF) despite the fact that ANXA1 lacks a signal sequence and is not packaged in secretory granules. In bacteria and yeast ...

Primary Aldosteronism (PA), due to a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma of the adrenal (APA), is the commonest curable cause of Hypertension, but the prospects for cure fall with age. APAs rarely increase in size, suggesting an origin much earlier than the development of resistant hypertension. Most APAs have gain-of-function somatic mutations which result in increased Ca2+ entry, and constitutive activation of aldosterone production. Women with larger APAs, a...

Primary Aldosteronism (PA), due to a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma of the adrenal (APA), is the commonest curable cause of Hypertension, but the prospects for cure fall with age. APAs rarely increase in size, suggesting an origin much earlier than the development of resistant hypertension. Most APAs have gain-of-function somatic mutations which result in increased Ca2+ entry, and constitutive activation of aldosterone production. Women with larger APAs, a...

Case presentation to demonstrate the presentation and treatment of patients with Thyroid Associated Orbitopathy with particular reference to the role of the Endocrine Nurse in their management.Declaration of interest: There is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.Funding: No specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.<...

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by major disturbances in lipids as well as the defining abnormalities in glucose. In spite of this, our understanding of the control of lipid metabolism is incomplete. In particular, the relative contribution of insulin compared to other regulatory inputs to the determination of liver and total body adiposity is unclear. We have used a loss of function approach to study the requirement for a major downstream target of insulin, t...

Permanent hypoparathyroidism is rare after total thyroidectomy. However, our experience is that often patients remain on alfacalcidol and calcium supplements long-term after thyroidectomy.Administration of these drugs can result in complications such as hypercalcaemia, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis and vitamin D toxicity.Case histories will be used to demonstrate that withdrawal of alfacalcidol should be attempted post thyroidec...