Endocrine Abstracts

Ingested protein has a greater satiating effect than other macronutrients. The underlying mechanism is unknown, but it has been shown that protein induces greater increases in anorectic gut hormone levels than carbohydrate or fat. It was hypothesised that these effects could be mediated by specific amino acids comprising the protein. We therefore examined the effects of specific amino acids on food intake and gut hormone release. Fasted male Wistar rats received an oral gavage...

Understanding the physiological control of appetite is crucial to our understanding of obesity and metabolic disease, and may suggest novel targets for anti-obesity drugs. In the last decade our understanding of the mechanisms by which the brain regulates energy homeostasis has improved dramatically, largely due to new techniques in neuroscience including optogenetics and chemogenetics. This talk will summarise our current understanding of the neural circuitry that regulates f...

Introduction: Conventional imaging for prostate cancer typically utilizes cross-sectional CT and MRI scanning, along with Tc99 bone scanning for bone metastases. All of these modalities have relatively poor sensitivity and specificity, particularly for men with suspected recurrence following radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy. PSMA PET is rapidly emerging as a superior imaging option.Objective: To give a clinical perspective of the role PSMA PET for s...

The effect of Oestrogen on brain aging. Declan GM Murphy.The biological basis of human brain aging is poorly understood and there are few proven treatments for age-related brain disease. Recently, however, it has been suggested that HRT may have a 'neuroprotective' effect. Some studies report no beneficial effect of HRT on cognitive function in healthy older women though most show a significant benefit to memory and/or a general cognitive enhancement. There is perhaps grea...

Introduction: The misuse or deliberate restriction of insulin for the purpose of weight loss is commonly referred to in the media and on social media as ‘Diabulimia’1, but this is not a medical definition. The relationship that young people with Type 1 Diabetes have with their weight, food and insulin is a commonly discussed, frequently studied but poorly understood issue. Mental health difficulties, especially eating disorders are common amongst adolescen...

Background Disturbances of calcium metabolism are frequent in patients with untreated hyperthyroidism, however they are typically mild and asymptomatic (1).Methods We describe a case of a 56-year-old female who presented with severe, symptomatic hypercalcaemia and hyperthyroidism secondary to Grave's disease. She initially presented with symptoms of weight loss, generalised malaise and lethargy. Investigations revealed hyperthyroidism and a positive TSH ...

Background: Substantial deposition of iron in the thyroid gland is a frequent autopsy finding in patients with genetic haemochromatosis. Despite this there have been relatively few reports, mainly isolated cases, of significant thyroid dysfunction in such patients. In one large study Edwards et al. (1983) observed primary hypothyroidism in 6.1% of cases, all subjects were male and had elevated titres of antithyroid antibodies.Aim: The aim of this prosp...

Introduction: Empirical research studies suggest that continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) are safe and could optimize neonatal hypoglycaemia management. However, they need to be tested within resource-limited, time-constrained clinical practice. CGMS was piloted in our Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in June 2017. Five key barriers to its effective implementation were identified: 1) Lack of NICU staff confidence in device usage 2) Infant discomfort during ...

I would like to present a case of autoimmune poly glandular syndrome who first presented as profround hypothyroidism and secondary amenorrhea 8 years after her first baby. TSH was >100 and LH and FSH 44.3 and 27 at diagnosis with oestradiol of 18. As patient remained symptomatic after being on thyroxine replacement she went on to undergo a synacthen test which showed a much blunted response (baseline cortisol 264, 30 min 273 and 60 min 264). While being investigated as an ...

Recent controversial studies in mice imply that TSH inhibits bone remodelling, suggesting TSH-deficiency rather than thyroid hormone excess causes bone loss in thyrotoxicosis. Measurement of the TRH-stimulated rise in TSH following three days administration of graded doses of T3 is the gold-standard for determining resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH). During this test, T3 excess coupled with suppressed TSH should induce high bone turnover, whilst administration of TRH causes a...