Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Glucocorticoids may exert important actions in early pregnancy on the invading trophoblast. The local actions of glucocorticoids can be modulated by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) enzymes which catalyse inter-conversion of cortisol with its inert metabolite, cortisone. Although two cloned 11β-HSD isoenzymes are known to be expressed in the term placenta, their expression and activity have not been well characterised in the first trimest...

We describe the case of a 22-year-old South Asian male presenting to Endocrine Services with morbid obesity (BMI>50), sexual immaturity and agoraphobia. Born at full term following an uncomplicated pregnancy, he reached all developmental milestones appropriately. His problems began aged 15 after witnessing a murder, with reactive depression and hyperphagia. By the age of 18, he weighed over 140 kg, had poor self-image and suicidal ideation. He was managed initially by seve...

Testicular tumours are uncommon causes of precocious puberty (10%). The majority are Leydig cell tumours and require surgical removal plus chemotherapy. We present an 8 years (8.04 years) old male child who presented with rapid onset of pubic hair growth and right testicular swelling. Examination: his height was (143.3 cm, just above 99.6 th centile), weight (32.3 kg, 91st centile). Pubertal staging at A1, P2, G 4. Left testis 2 ml/right 8 ml. Bloods taken showed prepubertal L...

We present 2 cousin brother and sister, MK and AK (family tree attached in Fig) who presented with a common pattern of hyponatremia with hyperkalemia, hypomagnesaemia, salt wasting, hyperaldosterinism and hyper-reninaemia in their neonatal life with polyuria. A diagnosis of pseudohypoaldosteronism was made and they were commenced on sodium supplements and indomethacin.The shaded boxes are in utero deat...

Considerable overlap in IGF-I levels exists between normal and severely GHD subjects; the mechanisms underlying this observation remain poorly understood. Under various clinical circumstances therefore, IGF-I estimation is an unreliable marker of GH status. A polymorphism in the IGF-I gene influences IGF-I levels in normal populations; a higher IGF-I is associated with the presence of 2 wild type alleles of the IGF-I gene (WTG). The possibility that an IGF-I gene polymorphism ...

Introduction: The biochemical diagnosis of acromegaly is based on elevated plasma growth hormone (GH) that fail to suppress after an oral glucose load. Elevated insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1) supports the diagnosis. Traditionally GH level of less than 2 miliunits per litre rules out acromegaly. With advent of recent sensitive GH assays, lower levels of GH are increasingly being recognized. We describe a case of acromegaly which differed from the traditional presentation.<...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of the QOL impairment observed in GHD survivors of cancer (group 1), and response to GH replacement in comparison with GHD patients with primary pituitary pathology (non-secreting pituitary adenoma or prolactinoma; group 2).METHODS: Patients were considered for GH replacement on the basis of biochemically established severe GHD and subjectively poor QOL noted at interview. QOL was studied at baseline, and at ea...

Background: The incidence of young-onset colorectal adenocarcinoma is predicted to continue rising over the next decade. Overall, data about young onset neuroendocrine tumors (NET) is scarce. In this analysis, we sought to investigate trends and differences in survival for colorectal NET in the young-onset population and to compare this with the average onset population. In addition, we seek to compare differences between adenocarcinoma and NET in the young-onset population. <...

Use of 18F-FDG-PET/CT (PET) staging for a variety of malignancies has increased in recent years. A rise in detection of incidental thyroid lesions creates a novel diagnostic challenge. We present four cases of Thyroid PET positivity.A 62-year-old lady with pulmonary adenocarcinoma on contrast CT-Thorax had diffuse thyroid PET uptake. Biochemistry revealed a self-limiting TSH rise. Thyroid ultrasound showed benign nodular goitre (U2). Findin...

Use of 18F-FDG-PET/CT (PET) staging for a variety of malignancies has increased in recent years. A rise in detection of incidental thyroid lesions creates a novel diagnostic challenge. We present four cases of Thyroid PET positivity.A 62-year-old lady with pulmonary adenocarcinoma on contrast CT-Thorax had diffuse thyroid PET uptake. Biochemistry revealed a self-limiting TSH rise. Thyroid ultrasound showed benign nodular goitre (U2). Findin...