Endocrine Abstracts

Peptide YY (PYY) is a satiety hormone that communicates nutritional status to the central nervous system. PYY is released postprandially from endocrine L-cells in proportion to calories consumed. It is processed to generate the principle bioactive form PYY3–36, which acts on Y2 receptors in feeding centres within the brainstem and hypothalamus to reduce appetite. Chronic intravenous infusion of PYY3–36 induces weight loss in rodents, and obese humans display low plas...

The study aims were to characterize patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTM) and to provide data on long-term outcome. About 900 patients with PTM (tumor size 1 cm or less) had treatment at our centre during 1945–2004. Follow-up extended to 54 years. Mean follow-up for 638 survivors was 13.5 years. Recurrence and mortality details were derived from a computerized database. Median tumour size was 7 mm. About 99% of tumors were grade 1; 98% were not locally inva...

Despite being identified almost two decades ago, the biological roles for C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) have remained poorly elucidated. Both CNP and GC-B are highly conserved from flies and fish to humans. Recent investigations involving the disruption of the CNP gene (Nppc) or that of its GC-B receptor (Npr2) implicate a role for CNP and GC-B in bone formation and growth. Intriguingly, CNP and GC-B knock-out mouse models also exhibited pituitary growth hormone deficiency....

Patients with craniopharyngioma have increased mortality attributed to cardiorespiratory disease, when compared to other hypopituitary populations. There is little data on the cause for excess of fatal respiratory disease in this condition. Clinical observation had identified sleep apnoea in some craniopharyngioma patients in our cohort. Sleep apnoea increases cerebrovascular and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Our hypothesis was that sleep apnoea could be a contributo...

Background: It is well established that diabetes-related complications are greatest in patients with a high HbA1c and in those who do not attend primary or secondary care clinics. For an equivalent reduction in HbA1c greater benefits are achieved in those with a high baseline.Aim: To determine if a simple action plan implemented by the Diabetes and Practice Nurse in primary care could improve glycaemic control.Methods: A primary ca...

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) acts via its specific membrane-bound guanylyl cyclase receptor, GC-B, to stimulate cGMP production. Stimulation of cGMP impinges upon PKG and PKA signalling, leading to cell proliferation and cell cycle events. In endothelial cells, CNP is thought to perform a predominantly anti-mitogenic role, but the role of CNP on cell proliferation, cell cycle and DNA synthesis in pituitary cell lines has yet to be established. Using the mouse gonadotroph-d...

The gastric hormone ghrelin stimulates feeding whereas the intestinal hormones peptide YY3-36 (PYY3-36) and oxyntomodulin inhibit feeding. In order to determine whether these gut hormones retain their effects in obesity, they were administered in vivo intraperitoneally to unanaesthetised lean and obese mice. Forty eight C57Bl/6 male mice were randomised to receive either low-fat diet (4.5% fat) or high fat diet (60% fat). After 16 weeks, mice fed o...

Kisspeptin is the peptide product of the KiSS-1 gene and endogenous agonist for the GPR54 receptor. The kisspeptin/GPR54 system has recently been suggested as a key regulator of the reproductive system. GPR54 deficient mice have abnormal sexual development and low circulating gonadotrophins and in humans, GPR54 mutations have been shown to cause hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Thus, GPR54 appears to be essential for normal gonadotrophin secretion and the regulation of puberty....

Renal resistance to vasopressin has been demonstrated in type 1 diabetes, and in type 2 diabetes with nephropathy. However, renal response to vasopressin in type 2 diabetes without nephropathy, has not been studied.We studied 10 subjects with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (PCDS, HbA1c > 9 %), 10 subjects with well-controlled type 2 diabetes (WCDS, HbA1c < 7 %), and 10 matched non-diabetic control subjects (NDCS), during a euglycaemic 8-hour wat...

Hyponatraemia is a well-recognised neurosurgical complication, but the incidence and complications are unknown.Objective : We aimed to define the incidence, pathophysiology and effects of significant hyponatraemia following neurosurgical admissions.Methods: All neurosurgical patients with significant hyponatraemia (plasma sodium <130 millimol per litre) between January 2002 and September 2003 were identified from computerised la...