Endocrine Abstracts

Advances in the understanding of hypophosphatemic disorders have identified a novel group of molecules (FGF23, PHEX, MEPE, DMP1) that have been implicated in osteoblast mineralisation directly.The specific binding of PHEX to MEPE regulates the release of ASARM peptides which have an inhibitory role. Current concepts are speculative and the functional role of MEPE in chondrocyte mineralisation remains largely undefined.Proximal tibiae from 3-week old wild...

Background: In adults, hypoparathyroidism is a rare, but recognised complication of radioactive Iodine therapy. Hypothyroidism has been reported in neonates who have been exposed to Iodine131 in-utero, however, only one case of neonatal hypoparathyroidism secondary to maternal Iodine131 therapy has been described in the literature. To our knowledge this is the first case in the UK.Case presentation: A 27-year-old woman received two ...

Intermittent PTH therapy is currently the only anabolic therapy for osteoporosis. As the mineralisation of the extracellular matrix of bone is essential for normal function it is vital that the effects of PTH on key regulators of mineralisation are uncovered. Ablation of Alpl, Phospho1 or Smpd3 results in skeletal hypomineralisation and as such this study examined the effects of bovine (b)PTH 1–34 on their expression. MC3T3 (clone-14) osteoblast-like cells display tempora...

Despite the relative absence of iodised salt (only ∼4% of table salt is iodised), Ireland has not been regarded as a region with a high prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders. However a recent and worrying decline in urinary iodine (UI) excretion, most marked in the summer months, was observed with median UI of 61–83 ug/L between 1988 and 1999; falling to 45.0 ug/L in 2004 and to 42.5 ug/L in 2005 with UI values <50 ug/L (64.5% and 73.9% respectively in summe...

Most SGA infants show rapid catch-up growth in the first year of life such that height is in the normal range by 2 years. However, around 10% fail to catch-up and remain short. This latter group generally presents to specialist growth clinics at school age. Earlier identification would facilitate monitoring of growth and timely intervention.A 3-year, prospective population-based study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of identifying SGA babies ...