Endocrine Abstracts

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs), although reported with increasing frequency through increased use of abdominal imaging, are rare and uncommon tumours (1 per 100,000 population) representing 1–2% of all pancreatic neoplasms. Preoperative diagnosis is important since a solitary small tumour without evidence of metastatic spread may be suitable for pancreatic preserving surgery such as enucleation or middle segment resection rather than more extensive resection. H...

Paget’s disease of bone is the second most common metabolic bone disease after osteoporosis. It is a condition characterised by abnormal bone cellular activity resulting in the formation of disorganised (and weaker) bone. Paget’s disease can affect single or multiple bones. In many cases it may be asymptomatic, however it can often be associated with pain affecting the pagetic bone or there may be ‘peri-pagetic’ pain related to altered biomechanics due to c...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest cause of anovulatory infertility, menstrual disturbances and hirsutism. PCOS is also associated with a metabolic disturbance characterised by hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance. Women with PCOS are at increased long-term risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and carry a significant risk factor profile for cardiovascular disease. Obesity amplifies both reproductive and metabolic dysfunction. A growing body of evidence ...

Attempts at restoring endogenous insulin secretion by the transplantation of human islet tissue, initially using whole pancreas transplantation, was first reported in 1966. Although there is also a long history surrounding the transplantation of isolated human islets, it was the development and subsequent publication of the Edmonton, glucocorticoid free immunospressive regimen, in 2000, that transformed the use and availability of islet cell transplantation for people with dif...

The SOCS3 gene encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase component that targets inflammatory cytokine receptor components for proteolytic degradation. Our research in this area is aimed at determining the molecular control of SOCS3 gene induction by cyclic AMP in vascular endothelial cells (VECs) as a new route for anti-inflammatory drug action. We found initially that cyclic AMP activates the guanine nucleotide exchange factor, EPAC1, to mobilise C/EBP transcription factors to induce SO...

Hyponatraemia (serum Na+<135 mmol/l) is common. It is associated with increased mortality and morbidity across a range of clinical contexts. Despite this, it remains an area in which there is diverse practice. There are centre and speciality-specific approaches to diagnosis and management that reflect both the apparent absence of a clear evidence-base and differences in perceived clinical priorities.This presentation will focus on a number of key the...

The process of learning is an order-dependent process. It can be broken down into functional components: accessing information; assimilating that information as knowledge within a theoretical framework; and then being able to apply that knowledge in an appropriate context. There is nothing new in this. Indeed, the process of learning is part of our very nature. Generations of doctors have learned and taught; learned and taught some more; and learned and taught some more after ...

Preparing and submitting a paper is a lot of work: designing the study; collecting the data; analysing the results; writing the manuscript. Then, depending on your supervisor or co-workers, writing the manuscript again. The last thing anyone wants is rejection. Even when accompanied by positive comments and useful steers on how best to improve things, it can feel as though the peer review process is not fair. Put simply, the world does not understand. While this may be true, i...

In adults severe GH deficiency has been a registered indication for the use of GH replacement since 1996. The UK prescribing policy has focused on a single biological endpoint, quality of life, whilst other European countries have adopted a holistic approach. How did this come about, why does the UK differ from its European neighbours, and is the UK practice satisfactory from an Endocrinologist's perspective ?Declaration of interest: There is no conflict...

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is the commonest of the autoimmune disorders. Strong familial clustering supports a hereditary component to the development of disease. However, the pattern of inheritance suggests that many genes with relatively small effect size are contributing to the genetic architecture of both Graves’ disease and autoimmune hypothyroidism. Whilst early candidate gene studies helped to identify some of the major effects conferring risk to AITD, inclu...