Endocrine Abstracts

The intensive physical activity is often associated with cardiac changes, particularly involving the right ventricular (RV) chamber. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the RV physiologic adaptation to long-term training are not completely understood. In the present study we investigated the role of the growth hormone/insulin like growth factor 1 (GH/IGF-1) axis in the RV remodeling of athletes.Nineteen male top levels rowers and 19 age-matched...

Testosterone therapy has been shown to benefit men with heart failure or coronary artery disease, an activity proposed to be mediated via its vasodilatory efficacy. Testosterone has been demonstrated to dilate human coronary arteries, but it is unknown whether testosterone has a similar action in human pulmonary or systemic vessels.Male patients were recruited from cardiothoracic (n = 14, age = 68 plus/minus 9) or gastrointestinal (n = 8, age = 70 plus/minus 3) operating l...

Testosterone improves symptoms and exercise capacity in men with heart failure (Pugh et al., Heart, 2003, In Press), and has been demonstrated to lower peripheral vascular resistance in such individuals (Pugh et al., Eur.Heart J. 2003, 24, 909-15), consistent with a systemic vasodilatory activity. The vasodilatory mechanism of testosterone has yet to be investigated in the systemic vasculature. Mesenteric tissue was obtained from male patients (n=14, age=70+2), undergoing gast...

Testosterone reduces myocardial ischaemia in men with coronary artery disease, and improves symptoms and exercise capacity in men with heart failure, effects proposed to be due to testosterone-induced coronary, systemic and pulmonary vasodilatation. Endothelial-independent calcium channel antagonism is proposed as the effector mechanism from in vitro animal studies, but this has yet to be confirmed in humans.In the present study we have investigated the ...

There is data suggesting that puberty is starting earlier than in previous generations. However, there is minimal information on menarche and its management in UK primary schools. We present a population study, performed in Islington: a London borough with wide ethnic diversity, conducted using written questionnaires to all primary schools. Data collected included: information on menarche, provision and disposal of sanitary towels and teaching on puberty. 22 (50%) replies were...

Somatostatinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors usually arising from the pancreas and duodenum. Symptoms include hyperglycemia, cholelithiasis, diarrhea and steatorrhoea. Treatment with somatostatin (SST) analogue may appear paradoxical, but can lower SST levels and improve symptoms.Case: A 60-year-old gentleman presented with diarrhoea, opening his bowels between 12 and 13 times a day causing him to stop working and become depressed. Repeated fasting gu...

Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality of all psychiatric conditions. Sligo University Hospital (SUH) uses the MARSIPAN protocol for the (Management of Really Sick Patients with Anorexia Nervosa) for inpatient treatment.Case 1; 22-year-old lady with a BMI of 12.06 kg/m2, admitted voluntarily and reported food and bowels dominated her life, did not leave the house, consuming only nutritional ‘supplements, l...

Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality of all psychiatric conditions. Sligo University Hospital (SUH) uses the MARSIPAN protocol for the (Management of Really Sick Patients with Anorexia Nervosa) for inpatient treatment.Case 1; 22-year-old lady with a BMI of 12.06 kg/m2, admitted voluntarily and reported food and bowels dominated her life, did not leave the house, consuming only nutritional ‘supplements, l...

Sixty six year old gentleman was referred to clinic with hypercalcaemia. He suffered with low mood, “funny turns”, nocturia and loose stools with urgency to open bowels. He appeared tanned but no increase pigmentation in skin folds. There was no palpable lymphadenopathy or neck lump. The calcium levels were around three with low normal PTH of 3.7 (2.8 on repeat). He had not developed any complications like osteoporosis, fracture or renal stones secondary to hypercalc...

We describe the case of two patients who presented with non-mechanical bowel obstruction as a consequence of an underlying, undiagnosed Phaeochromocytoma. The first patient was referred in to the surgical team by his GP with signs and symptoms of small bowel obstruction. He described abdominal pain, distension and vomiting and had not opened his bowels for a week. The X-ray supported the clinical diagnosis and he went on to have an abdominal CT scan. The scan did not identify ...