Endocrine Abstracts

Background and AimIt is known that the variability of testosterone concentrations is predictive of both truncal and peripheral obesity in healthy men. The aim of this study was to establish the nature of the relationship between testosterone and fat mass in young male cancer survivors compared with healthy controls.Subjects176 male cancer survivors (mean age 37.3 years SD 5.8) who previously received gonadoto...

Background: Anecdotally patients with chronic pain on opioid analgesia have functional hypopituitarism, and studies in opioid addicts show suppressed pituitary function. We conducted a prospective observational study to determine the endocrine status of patients with chronic pain on opioid analgesia. Methods: 37 consecutive patients with chronic back pain attending the pain clinic were enrolled. 22 patients (age 45+/-9 years) were on long-term opioid analgesia and 15 (age 53 +...

Background: The 250microgram synacthen test may give false negative responses, and will not allow easy discrimination between primary and secondary dysfunction. Furthermore, the use of synacthen is contra-indicated on the data sheet in certain common conditions such as asthma, and may not easily be interpreted in women taking oral oestrogen. Some patients with incipient adrenal failure may have elevated plasma ACTH, whilst passing the synacthen test. We have routinely measured...

Phosphorylation of the Androgen Receptor (AR), has been shown to play an important role in directly modulating AR activity. However, the full extent of which protein kinases are involved in the regulation of the AR remains unknown. In order to address which kinases are important in the regulation of AR activity in both androgen sensitive and independent prostate cancer (PCa), a comprehensive siRNA kinome screen was performed. AR transcriptional regulation was evaluated using a...

There is a paucity of information regarding the genetic and somatic mutation events that lead to the production of pathogenic thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) in Graves’ disease. We have previously isolated two murine monoclonal antibodies (KSAb1 and KSAb2) with potent TSAb activity that demonstrate subtle differences in their interaction with the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR). Analyses of the variable region genes of the heavy and light chains of these TSAbs were per...

AIM: To assess efficacy of GH replacement and safety of stopping treatment in patients aged over 60 years.METHODS: GH-deficient patients were started on GH 0.13 miligram per day and the dose titrated over 4 months to a serum IGF-1 in the upper half of the age-related normal range. After 4 months titration, patients were randomised to either continuing GH or placebo in a double-blind, cross-over study with 2 x 4 month periods of either GH or placebo treatment.RESULTS: 1...

This is a brief reflection on how the role of the children’s endocrine nurse specialist has evolved over the past 24 years and discussion around what the next 24 years may look like. What have we achieved; what is there still to do and what are the major challenges for the future? When days are filled with phone calls, clinics, paper/ computer work, supporting colleagues and caring for patients- we often forget what we have actually achieved and how much our roles have de...

Although Endocrinologists have focused for decades on circulating concentrations of cortisol, arguably the important concentrations are those within tissues which are available at corticosteroid receptors. Tissue concentrations are influenced by plasma proteins binding cortisol, by physicochemical characteristics of the steroid, by active transport across cell membranes, and by steroid metabolism within target tissues. Many of these factors vary between individuals, and within...

An overview of current understanding of bone biology. Including new innovations in therapy,bone growth and vitamin D metabolism. An update on bone health for the specialist nurse working in paediatric endocrinology....

Similarities between the metabolic syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome, and reversibility of the features of Cushing’s syndrome, suggest that cortisol may contribute to pathophysiology in both conditions and that reducing cortisol action may provide a novel therapeutic approach in metabolic syndrome.There is substantial evidence that circulating cortisol concentrations are higher in people with hypertension and glucose intolerance. The basis for th...