Endocrine Abstracts

Luteinising hormone (LH) and the luteinising hormone receptor (LHR) have key roles in steroidogenesis and ovulation, thus are central targets for fertility treatment. The LHR is a G protein-coupled receptor that predominantly signals through Gαs, although under conditions of high ligand concentration and/or high receptor density, as occurs during the mid-cycle LH surge, can also signal via Gαq/11. Yet, how LHR delineates signal pathway activation to coordinate pleiot...

The RET receptor tyrosine kinase is an established oncogenic driver in multiple cancers. Activating RET point mutations give rise to the cancer syndrome Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma. Correlations of specific RET mutations with MEN2 disease phenotypes and severity have been well documented, however the molecular mechanisms that distinguish the functions, locations, and protein interactions of speci...

Glucocorticoids (GC) have potent anti-inflammatory effects, acting mainly through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). However GCs have debilitating side effects and a safer alternative is required. 5α-tetrahydrocorticosterone (5αTHB, a metabolite of the natural rodent glucocorticoid corticosterone) may provide a solution: 5αTHB is anti-inflammatory in vivo, effective topically to suppress irritant dermatitis, but with fewer syst...

Case: A 33 year old gentleman presented with significantly raised testosterone levels, testicular pain, erectile dysfunction and weight loss. He denied use of anabolic steroids. Upon physical examination he looked muscular and tanned. Left testicle was tender with no palpable mass. Raised androgen levels (Siemens immunoassay) were confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), ruling out assay interference. In view of his ongoing denial of substance mi...

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common co-morbidity in patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HF-REF), and is associated with adverse prognosis. Subgroup analyses of randomized controlled trials suggest patients with DM benefit prognostically from beta-adrenoreceptor blockers (BB) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi). However, it remains unclear whether escalating doses of these age...

Glucocorticoids (GC) have potent anti-inflammatory effects, acting mainly through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). However GCs have debilitating side effects and a safer alternative is required. 5α-tetrahydrocorticosterone (5αTHB, a metabolite of the natural rodent glucocorticoid corticosterone) may provide a solution: 5αTHB is anti-inflammatory in vivo, effective topically to suppress irritant dermatitis, but with fewer syst...

Case: A 33 year old gentleman presented with significantly raised testosterone levels, testicular pain, erectile dysfunction and weight loss. He denied use of anabolic steroids. Upon physical examination he looked muscular and tanned. Left testicle was tender with no palpable mass. Raised androgen levels (Siemens immunoassay) were confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), ruling out assay interference. In view of his ongoing denial of substance mi...

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common co-morbidity in patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HF-REF), and is associated with adverse prognosis. Subgroup analyses of randomized controlled trials suggest patients with DM benefit prognostically from beta-adrenoreceptor blockers (BB) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi). However, it remains unclear whether escalating doses of these age...

Background: Saliva is ideal for measuring free, biologically active hormones. Measurements of salivary androgens may be valuable in diagnosis and monitoring of adrenal disorders, however the diurnal profile and robust reference ranges in healthy children are currently undefined. We report salivary testosterone, androstenedione (A4), 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), 11-β hydroxyandrostenedione (11β-OHA4) concentrations measured throughout the day in healthy children.<...

Background: Islet transplant into the liver is a therapy for type 1 diabetes patients experiencing severe hypoglycaemia or impaired hypoglycaemic awareness. Widespread use is not currently considered due to the requirement for immunosuppression for the lifetime of the graft, and the attrition in graft function over the following 1-5 years. Following transplant into the liver, inflammation results in >60% islet loss, with few patients achieving insulin independence. The liv...