Endocrine Abstracts

Replication of physiology is a basic tenet of endocrinology but this is rarely achieved. We developed a modified-release hydrocortisone to provide circadian cortisol. The adrenal glucocorticoid, cortisol, is an essential stress hormone and its secretion follows a distinct rhythm regulated by the central circadian oscillator in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Circulating cortisol levels are low at sleep onset, rise between 0200 and 0400 h, peak within an hour of waking and then de...

A number of new treatments are being developed for the treatment of bone diseases, particularly osteoporosis. We need tools to help identify how these drugs work and which bone compartment they affect. Bone turnover markers are very useful in identifying response to treatment in these allow identification of an early change and information about mechanism. New biochemical tests have become available that allow study of the key regulatory pathways in bone – these include o...

A wide range of reproductive functions are susceptible to adverse affects from cancer treatment. Effects on spermatogenesis are more common than deficiencies in testosterone production, but in the female the gametogenic and steroidogenic aspects of gonadal function are more intimately associated. Radiotherapy can compromise hypothalamic and pituitary function, the ability of the uterus to support a pregnancy, and erectile function. Alkylating agents are regarded as having high...

GH acts through a cell surface receptor, GHR, which is a member of the type 1 cytokine receptor family. Cytokine receptors have a single trans-membrane domain and dimerisation is required to activate intra-cellular signalling pathways. In common with other cytokine receptors the extra-cellular domain of the GHR is proteolitically cleaved and circulates as a binding protein. Under physiological conditions GH is in part bound in the circulation and the complex with the binding p...

Knowledge transfer has now entered common parlance to describe the interaction between industry and universities. Knowledge transfer frequently involves exchange of money. It consists of many different activities which include teaching, consultancy, licensing patents, and spinning out companies. Many academics provide consultancy to industry and this has the attractive benefits of bringing money to the individual and bringing industry to the university. Consultancy is usually ...

AMH is produced by the granulosa cells of growing follicles in the ovary, with peak expression at the small antral stage, followed by a sharp decline, and it is not produced by the corpus luteum. It therefore provides an indirect index of the ovarian reserve, and will also be affected by factors that influence folliculogenesis, such as hormonal contraception. This provides the basis for understanding and developing its potential use as a diagnostic tool in assessing the ovary....

Longstanding Paediatric guidance on the assessment and management of children with undifferentiated pubertal delay is not fit for purpose in relation to patients who are older and/or have obvious "red flag" clinical features to sign-post high risk for congenital hypogonadism. For these individuals, the well-intentioned stock phrases that "constitutional (or self-limiting) delayed puberty is always the more likely diagnosis", "attainment of Tann...

Background: Patients being treated for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) receive a dose of Radioiodine for remnant ablation. Occasional patients appear to have little or no iodine uptake at all in the thyroid bed or else where even shortly after thyroidectomy.Objective: To evaluate the influence of ‘Coexisting Thyroiditis’ on radioiodine uptake in thyroid cancer ablation doses.Methods and Design: Retrospec...

Background: Patients being treated for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) receive a dose of Radioiodine for remnant ablation. Occasional patients appear to have little or no iodine uptake at all in the thyroid bed or else where even shortly after thyroidectomy.Objective: To evaluate the influence of ‘Coexisting Thyroiditis’ on radioiodine uptake in thyroid cancer ablation doses.Methods and Design: Retrospec...

Introduction: Germline mutations in succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) are one of the commonest findings in familial paraganglioma (PGL) syndromes and account for one quarter of PGLs associated with germline mutations. Although the penetrance is low, the malignancy conversion is high; up to 30%. With the increasing availability of genetic testing and the identification of ‘asymptomatic carriers’ of the SDHB gene mutation, it is therefore impor...