Endocrine Abstracts

T3 is essential for normal skeletal development. Childhood hypothyroidism causes delayed bone formation, whereas T3-excess accelerates growth and epiphyseal closure. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) act via receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFRs) to inhibit chondrocyte proliferation, matrix production and skeletal maturation. Dimerisation of FGFRs and their functional interaction with FGFs requires heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs). We recently showed that T3 induces FGFR-1 exp...

Objective: Despite being the most common endocrine malignancy, the management of thyroid cancer in the UK remains sub-optimal, with reduced survival rates compared with Western Europe. The British Thyroid association published national guidelines in March 2002 to help standardize and improve the management and survival of thyroid cancer in the UK. We have audited the management of thyroid cancer in a large district hospital comparing the results to the standards set by the Bri...

Objective: Despite being the most common endocrine malignancy, the management of thyroid cancer in the UK remains sub-optimal, with reduced survival rates compared with Western Europe. The British Thyroid association published national guidelines in March 2002 to help standardize and improve the management and survival of thyroid cancer in the UK. We have audited the management of thyroid cancer in a large district hospital comparing the results to the standards set by the Bri...

The thyroid hormones, L-thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), are essential for skeletal development and regulate bone mineralisation in the adult. T4 is a pro-hormone that is converted to active T3 by the type I and II 5'-iodothyronine deiodinase enzymes (D1 and D2). T4 and T3 are substrates for the type III 5-deiodinase enzyme (D3) which catalyses the irreversible production of inactive metabolites. The deiodinases are expressed widely in T3-target tissues and the...

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a form of endocrine hypertension characterized by autonomous aldosterone secretion. Aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) are a significant cause of unilateral PA, where aldosterone overproduction is driven by a somatic mutation in an ion pump or channel. Multiple studies have shown that mutations in the KCNJ5 gene are the most prevalent in PA patients suffering from the unilateral subtype, and unilateral laparoscopic total adrenalectomy ...

Introduction: Clinical practice guidelines advocate testing the aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) in specific circumstances only. Tests should be taken following abstinence from drugs associated with false results. We aimed to determine the appropriateness of testing locally and any associated wasted healthcare costs.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated ARR requests taken July-October 2019 and July-October 2021 in Swansea Bay University Health Board to dete...

The transcription factor HIF-1α regulates hypoxia-mediated gene expression which promotes tumour growth, metastasis and desensitisation to chemo-and radiotherapy. HIF-1 is functional in a range of thyroid-carcinoma cells and is regulated by hypoxia and the PI3K and MAPK-signalling pathways.We aimed to determine if HIF-1 and PI3K were important in the development of a metastatic phenotype and play a role in desensitisation to radiotherapy in thyroid ...

Recent studies suggest TSH inhibits bone remodeling, indicating that TSH deficiency rather than thyroid hormone excess could cause bone loss in thyrotoxicosis. The findings predict that TSH receptor (TSHR) stimulating antibodies (TSHRAb) should inhibit bone turnover, whereas Graves’ disease patients exhibit high bone turnover with increased fracture susceptibility. We characterized TSH-action in primary human and mouse osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and explored whether a p...

The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) occurs in 10-45% of patients and secretion of ectopic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (EAS) in 2.5% of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Simultaneous secretion of ADH and ACTH is rare with only 10 cases being reported. The varying biochemical data leads to misdiagnosis as this case demonstrates. A 67 year old male presented with a 2 week history of falls attributed to alcohol abuse. Physical signs ...

Case history: A 35-year-old woman with known hypertriglyceridaemia presented with a one day history of abdominal pain, vomiting and fever. She was 14 weeks pregnant having conceived spontaneously following a period of infertility. She had discontinued her lipid-lowering medication and was managed with diet alone. On examination, she was pyrexial, tachycardic (HR=100 bpm), normotensive (BP=111/71 mmHg), oxygen saturation was 96% on air and she had a tender distended abdomen. A ...