Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: It is established practice to localise parathyroid lesions preoperatively using ultrasound (US) and sestaMIBI (MIBI). Whilst these imaging techniques have good sensitivity/specify, there are patients in which imaging does not localise a parathyroid lesion. 11C-Methionine PET (MET PET) is an imaging modality where 11C-methionine, a radioactive tracer, is taken up at sites of protein/peptide synthesis and has been demonstrated to be effective ...

Whether high glycaemic index/glycaemic load (GI/GL) diets increase low-grade inflammation leading to changes in body composition and risk for chronic illness remains uncertain. We recently completed a randomised, double-blind study comparing the effects of a 45 g whey protein supplement (PRO) and an isocaloric maltodextrin supplement (CHO) on bone density and body composition in older adults. The study afforded an opportunity to evaluate the impact of a calibrated increase in ...

Aims: MEN1 is characterised by parathyroid, pituitary and pancreatic tumours in association with neoplasia of intra-thoracic endocrine tissue, adrenal glands and cutaneous manifestations. Mutations of the tumour suppressor Menin are causative and affected patients possess heterozygous germline mutations in MEN1, with acquisition of a second hit in the wild-type allele initiating tumourigenesis. Phenotype–genotype correlations can provide insights into the molecular functi...

Estrogen excess is a major contributing factor to the development and progression of post-menopausal Estrogen Receptor positive (ER+) breast cancers. Increased activity of aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens to estrogens, and upregulation of its encoding gene CYP19A1 is often observed in breast adipose fibroblasts (BAFs) surrounding ER+ tumours. Understanding the process by which CYP19A1 is regulated between normal and diseased breast stroma may help to improve outco...

Background: GH replacement during the childhood-adult transition period is important for somatic maturation. The aim of the study was to explore the factors influencing IGF1 response to GH during transition.Methods: KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Study) database in UK was interrogated, and 98 patients (55 male, median age 20.7 years (15.7–25.8)) with childhood-onset GH deficiency (Co-GHD), who were started on adult dose of GH during transition...

Background: GH therapy during the transition period is important for somatic maturation. Identification of factors associated with low IGF-I levels may be useful in optimising GH replacement therapy.Objectives: To explore the prevalence and determinants of insufficient GH replacement during transitionMethods: Childhood-onset GH deficient (CO-GHD) patients (n=65) who stopped therapy, and were started on adult GH dose during t...

Introduction: Most paediatric medicines have not undergone extensive clinical trials in children and as a necessity are frequently prescribed off-label, a practice which is recognised to be associated with an increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs).Aims: To assess the use of routinely acquired healthcare data to identify medication utilisation and specifically drug discontinuation, as a signal for possible ADR occurrence in children: using orlist...

Glucagon is released from α-cells in the pancreatic islets and is best known for its role in glucose homeostasis. Glucagon/GLP-1 receptor co-agonists have recently been shown to improve glucose homeostasis and reduce body weight in diet-induced obese mice. Glucagon receptor agonism increases energy expenditure while the GLP-1 receptor agonism prevents glucagon-induced hyperglycemia. Peripherally administered glucagon is also capable of reducing food intake, and glucagon n...

As thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) are a well recognised cause of interference in thyroglobulin (Tg) immunoassays current guidelines recommend that TgAb should be measured concurrently with Tg when monitoring thyroidectomised thyroid cancer patients. However the concordance between different TgAb assays has been questioned despite the availability of an International TgAb Reference Preparation (MRC 65/93).Four commonly used TgAb assays were tested in 145...

Metyrapone (MT) is used in the medical management of Cushing’s syndrome as it decreases serum cortisol (CT) levels by inhibiting adrenal β-hydroxylation of 11-deoxycortisol, the final step in CT synthesis. CT precursors, in particular 11-deoxycortisol (DOC), increase following MT therapy. Monitoring glucocorticoid replacement in patients taking MT could therefore be confounded as DOC cross-reacts in commonly used immunoassays (IA) for serum CT. Serum CT results from ...