Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Previous studies have linked a low protein maternal diet with hypertension in adult offspring, and have suggested that impaired kidney development may be an important predisposing factor. This study aims to identify the molecular and structural changes that explain the decline in function.Methods: Pregnant ewes were fed either a control diet providing adequate dietary protein (control protein (CP); n=15), or a low protein diet during e...

Introduction: We have developed a highly sensitive LC–MS assay in an attempt to improve the measurement of salivary testosterone in female samples.Methods: A 200 μl saliva sample, calibrators or QC were mixed with 10 μl working internal standard (0.1 μg/l) and 1 ml of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Vortex mixed for 4 min and frozen at −80 °C (1 h). Unfrozen organic layer was transferred to a glass tube and evaporated. The ...

Background: Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) usually show catch-up growth during the first few years of post-natal life. However, some infants remain small and little is known about the factors governing their growth failure. GH and IGF1 receptor mutations only account for a minority of cases. We have now initiated an in vitro assessment of signalling molecules downstream of these receptors and evaluation of cell growth characteristics.<p class="abstext"...

Introduction: Congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) has a reported incidence of 1:3500 in Caucasian populations. Early detection by newborn screening and appropriate L-thyroxine treatment leads to normal or near-normal neurocognitive outcome.The National Newborn screening programme (NNP) was established in Children’s University Hospital, Temple St. in 1979. This study aimed to ascertain the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism in the Republic of Ireland...

A 24-year-old Pakistani woman presented one day after returning from a 6-week holiday in Pakistan with a 3-day history of generalised weakness, difficulty in walking and left flank pain. She was known to have mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Clinically she was pyrexial and had generalised muscular weakness (power 3/5), and hypotonia. Biochemically, she was found to have hypokalaemia (1.8 mmol/l), raised serum urea (8.1 mmol/l), and creatinine (160 μmol/l), high ESR...

Background: Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) usually show catch up growth within the first few years of life. However in the UK ~1500 SGA children each year remain small, with no clear endocrine cause with rare genetic syndromes accounting for only a minority of cases. In order to define growth factor activation in these children we have initiated an assessment of cell growth and signalling in response to GH and IGF1 in fibroblast cell lines....

Testosterone, androstenedione and DHEAS are commonly measured by immunoassays. Variations in antibody specificity and calibration of assays results in non-commutability of measurements. Even more specific mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) assays still exhibit differences in calibration. As the use of mass spectrometry for measuring steroids is becoming more common in the clinical laboratory, the development of LC–MS/MS reference ranges for these analytes is essential to h...

Aim: The present study aimed to compare the androgen levels in men with obesity, metabolic syndrome /MS/ and healthy normal – weight controls.Materials and methods: Eighty-six males (mean age 29.65±8.57 /18–50/) were investigated. 31 of them were healthy (mean BMI – 23.66±1.97); 22 were with simple obesity (mean BMI – 32.79±7.16) and 33 (mean BMI – 35.78±8.71) were with overt metabolic syndrome /MS/ according ...

Recently was established, that in the ovary Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by the granulose cells and correlated with the count of small antral follicles. As AMH is largely expressed throughout folliculogenesis, it is considered that the serum levels of AMH may represent both the quantity and quality of the ovarian follicle pool. To determine the changes of AMH in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) we have studied 22 patients with this disorder and comp...

Intranasal presentations of pituitary tumours are rare. Management can be difficult and delayed due to their location and extension. Macroprolactinomas are uncommon and can often pursue an aggressive clinical course, including invasion into the nasopharynx.We describe three cases of prolactinomas that initially presented to the ENT Department as nasal polyps. Table 1 highlights their clinical features and response to treatment. Recurrence of nasal polyps...