Endocrine Abstracts

White adipose tissue (WAT) stores excess energy as triglycerides, while brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates energy through heat, acting as a defence against cold and obesity and as a positive regulator of metabolic functions. BAT thermogenic functions are mainly induced by mitochondrial uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), which induces uptake of lipids and glucose to sustain oxidation and thermogenesis in both brown and beige adipocytes. Beige/brite adipocytes arise in WAT depots ...

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a commonly encountered endocrine pathology. Asymptomatic renal stones have been reported in 7-22% of patients. NICE guideline (NG132) published in May 2019 on PHPT recommends renal US in all patients. The value of renal ultrasound for all patients with PHPT has been debated. This audit aims to compare local practice to NICE guideline (NG132) and to see if a tailored approach for renal ultrasound would be safe, practical and e...

Introduction: Prolactinomas are the commonest type of secretory pituitary tumours. In current practice, dopamine agonists (DA) remain the mainstay treatment. However, treating physicians are increasingly aware of DA-associated impulse control disorders (ICD) in their patients. We describe 4 individuals with prolactinomas, who either developed ICD on DA or deemed at ‘high risk’, successfully managed surgically with preservation of pituitary function. All decisions for...

Objective: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is themalignantcancer with altered microRNA (miR) changes. miR149-5p and miR-548c-3p participates in multiple processes of tumor development, progression, tumor suppression. Whereas miR-3619-3p plays role to promote cell migration and invasion in PTC. However, the role of miR149, miR-548c-3p, and miR-3619-3p in PTC and the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. Therefore, the present study is aimed to quantify therelative expressio...

Case history : A 44-year-old female presented with 6-week history of gradual deterioration in her left vision associated with eye pain. She saw an ophthalmologist who noted that she had reduced visual acuity (6/24) and colour vision (Ishihara colour vision score 3/15) in her left eye with left relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). It was thought that she may have a left retrobulbar neuritis so she was advised to attend A&E for an urgent neurology assessment. On examin...

Bladder Paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare forms of neuroendocrine tumours arising from sympathetic paraganglionic tissue. They account for <1% of all Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas (PPGLs) and < 0.06% of all bladder tumours. All patients with PPGLs are recommended to be considered for genetic testing as ~ 40% of PPGLs are associated with a germline mutation, even if there is no prior family history of disease. Identifying an inherited PPGL predisposition has importa...

Background: Correct identification of patients with HPA axis dysfunction following trans-sphenoidal pituitary surgery is important. Our centre measures post-operative day 5 0900 h serum cortisol (24 h after the last dose of glucocorticoid) to identify the need for glucocorticoid replacement. This is given if post-operative day 5 0900 h cortisol concentration is <300 nmol/l, until dynamic pituitary function assessment occurs.Methods: Data were reviewe...

A 28-year-old woman presents with a one-year history of marked weight gain of 18 kg, increasing hirsutism and night sweats. Clinically, hyperandrogenism and Cushing’s syndrome were suspected. A diagnosis of Polycystic ovarian syndrome was made based on Rotterdam criteria and Metformin was initiated. Initial testing for Cushing’s syndrome demonstrated a high 24 h urinary free cortisol (306 nmol/l) with incomplete cortisol suppression on an overnight dexamethaso...

Ghrelin is an acylated peptide hormone that is expressed by a variety of tissues including the stomach, hypothalamus and kidney. Ghrelin produces a range of effects, including stimulating the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland, and inducing feeding and obesity.The effects of some hormones can be altered by interactions with other proteins; so the aim of this project was to screen plasma for proteins that can bind ghrelin, as part of an i...

Introduction: Graves’ disease (GD) is often treated with radioiodine therapy for cure. While, post external irradiation and post-radioiodine therapy (RAI) induced hyperparathyroidism after many years of latency is a well known phenomenon, there are only anectodal reports of post-radioiodine hypocalcemia. The factors contributing to this are poorly understood. In this context, we evaluated our own series to look deeper in to this issue.Material and m...