Endocrine Abstracts

Disparities in the quality of care for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) undergoing transition from children’s to adult services are well recognised. Poor planning and ill-defined care pathways promote patient disengagement with many becoming ‘lost’ to specialist follow-up for years. This study sought to obtain the views of young people’s experiences of transition to identify perceived barriers to an effective and rewarding transition experience. A qualit...

Background: Obesity is associated with complex multisystem pathology and significant psychosocial burden. Yet, despite its increasing prevalence, the commissioning of Specialist Weight Management Services remains limited.Methods: Retrospective service evaluation of a proportion of patients (n=179) engaging with the Central London Community Healthcare Specialist Weight Management Service for at least 6-months from 2012 onwards. Outcome measures, ...

Background: Endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery is a technical advance for treatment of pituitary tumours. We present the outcomes of patients with Acromegaly or Cushing’s disease undergoing selective pituitary adenomectomy in a regional neurosurgical centre.Methods: Retrospective cohort study August 2010-August 2017. Imaging, histology and pituitary hormone assessments were collated pre and post-operatively to...

Background: Endoscopic trans-sphenoidal surgery is a technical advance for treatment of pituitary tumours. We present the outcomes of patients with Acromegaly or Cushing’s disease undergoing selective pituitary adenomectomy in a regional neurosurgical centre.Methods: Retrospective cohort study August 2010-August 2017. Imaging, histology and pituitary hormone assessments were collated pre and post-operatively to...

Women with Turners Syndrome (TS) have been shown to have reduced bone mineral density (BMD) but there is uncertainty about how this relates to fracture risk. The little data that does exist is conflicting, with one case series finding no difference compared to controls and one survey suggesting an increased risk of fracture particularly of the forearm. Proposed mechanisms for reduced BMD include short stature, oestrogen deficiency and bone dysplasia. In addition, fracture risk...

Objectives: Tri-iodothyronine (T3) can improve cardiovascular performance following cardiac surgery. Its effects on myocardial protection are unknown.Methods: We performed two consecutive randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trials (identical management protocols) on patients undergoing first time isolated elective or urgent on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Between January 2000 and September 2004, 440 patients were re...

Background: The action of a steroid in any physiological process is dependent on the bioavailable (free) fraction. Direct measurements of free cortisol are expensive, labour intensive and require a significant volume of plasma and as a consequence are not feasible in the neonate. One alternative is to calculate free cortisol from the Cortisol Binding Capacity (CBC) and the total plasma cortisol. The aim of the present study was to develop an assay for the measurement of CBC in...

ObjectivesBoth glucose insulin potassium (GIK) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) may improve cardiovascular performance following cardiac surgery. The effects of combined treatment are unknown.MethodsAfter obtaining local research ethics committee approval, we performed a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial on patients undergoing first time elective/urgent isolated CABG. Between January 2000 ...

Cell autonomous sex identity (CASI) of birds is the concept that sex-steroids have little or no effect on the development of secondary sexual characteristics in birds, and that sexual dimorphisms are determined by the sex-chromosome content of cells in individual tissues. In avian species males have a ZZ sex chromosome, while females are ZW. Sexual dimorphisms in chickens, such as muscle mass, comb and wattle size and hackles and spur development are believed to be determined ...

Background: Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) account for 30-35% of pituitary adenomas. They can lead to hypopituitarism and visual field defects. Trans-sphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma remains the treatment of choice.Methods: We compared clinical, biochemical, and imaging characteristics of NFPAs at presentation with post-surgical outcomes in a retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent end...