Endocrine Abstracts

Peripheral insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism are the primary features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, how insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism affect uterine function and contribute to the pathogenesis of PCOS are open questions. Rodent models of insulin and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment have provided systems in which to study ovarian insulin resistance, ovarian stromal hyperplasia, follicular cyst formation, and impaired mitochondrial fun...

The caveolin (CAV) consists of three isoforms (CAV1, CAV2, and CAV3) and contributes to insulin-regulated glucose metabolism. It has been reported that decreased caveolin-1 phosphorylation in the endometrium is linked with insulin resistant state in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Because PCOS patients often display hyperandrogenism, whether hyperandrogenism in addition to insulin resistant is involved in the regulation of caveolin expression and activation in the...

Background and aims: Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, lifelong condition. Its associated symptoms have been linked with psychological consequences, but less attention has been given to the daily implications of living with the condition. We aimed to explore women’s experiences of living with PCOS, including a specific focus on practical implications and methods of providing support such as structured group-based patient education.Method...

This study was designed to determine if prenatal exposure to oleic acid would alter testicular endocrine functions in either an estrogenic or antiandrogenic manner at puberty. Gravid dams were distributed into four groups of five rats each as follows: Control group (1 ml/kg olive oil throughout pregnancy), pre-treatment group (1000 mg/kg of oleic acid for 7 days before mating), preimplantation group (1000 mg/kg of oleic acid for the period of preimplantation), Organogenesis gr...

Introduction: Infertility affects 15% of couples worldwide. Male factors account for half of cases seeking medical care.Objectives and methods: To ascertain whether the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) guidelines regarding gonadotrophin induction of spermatogenesis in men with hypogonadism are being followed in our unit. Data were collected retrospectively from clinical records.Results: 26 couples were ident...

Introduction and aim: In the UK, 15% of couples are affected by infertility which is due to primary or secondary male factors in 30%. Induction of spermatogenesis with gonadotrophins is a long established endocrine treatment for gonadotrophin deficiency. However, there are concerns that some patient groups have very low success rates. The aim of our audit was to define success of spermatogenesis and fertility rates amongst these men.Methods: We retrospec...

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has become the most common nutritional deficiency throughout the world. 67–85% of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) patients have low serum levels of Vitamin D. Studies have reported conflicting data as to whether or not Vitamin D may play a role in human reproduction. The objective of this prospective cohort study was to investigate what effect vitamin D had on parameters within an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle in a populatio...

Background: This study was aimed at examining the association between the fertility parameters and periodontal status of men, with reference to the bacterial culture analysis of the semen and mouth swab, seminal fluid parameters and blood serum parameters.Method: 43 men consisting 30 infertile men as test subject, and 13 fertile men as control aged 30–50 years were selected for this research. Semen samples were analysed to determine microbial presen...

Background: Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and Antral Follicle Count (AFC) are both principally used as markers of ovarian reserve and available in all UK hospitals. The utility of these markers in the binary diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) by published criteria, such as Rotterdam, has been previously reported. We evaluated their utility in the evaluation of oligo/amenorrhoea in healthy young non-obese women.Methods: Women with both ov...

Endometriosis is a chronic hormone-dependent disorder, characterised by growth of ‘ectopic’ endometrial tissue outside the uterus. It has been reported that 30–40% of women who are sub/infertile have endometriosis. Infertility in women with severe endometriosis may be the result of either scarring or pelvic distortion, but in women with mild/moderate disease it is believed subfertility may result from disturbances in endometrial tissue function. Transformation o...

Background: Guidance on pubertal-induction in hypogonadal adult men is sparse. For adolescent boys, in whom delay is usually constitutional, treatment is typically initiated with pulsed low-dose IM testosterone (T); the dose being progressively increased if/when it becomes clear that endogenous gonadotrophin secretion is not being initiated. In teenagers with organic hypogonadism, the aims are to recapitulate the normal tempo of puberty over 2–3 years and optimise linear ...

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder, affecting 5–10% of women of reproductive age, and is the major cause of anovulatory infertility. Aberrant secretion and/or action of gonadotropins are implicated but, to date, we have only limited knowledge about the precise mechanisms involved. Recent genome wide association studies have discovered signals at loci close to the genes coding for gonadotropin receptors. The functional significanc...

Background: Hyperprolactinaemia accounts for 1 in 7 patients presenting with amenorrhoea. Recent data suggests that prolactin acts at the hypothalamus to reduce GnRH-pulsatility. Conditions in which GnRH-pulsatility is reduced, such as hypothalamic amenorrhoea, favour FSH over LH secretion from the pituitary gland. We examined gonadotrophin secretion in hyperprolactinaemic patients as a surrogate marker of GnRH-pulsatility.Methods: A retrospective analys...

Introduction: There is a link between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here, we analyzed transaminazes and their relation to insulin resistance (IR) in PCOS women.Methods: We analyzed 600 women with PCOS diagnosed using ESHRE/ASRM criteria (age:25.6±5.9 years, BMI: 30.6±6.9 kg/m2), and 125 BMI-matched healthy controls (age: 31.4±5.3 years, BMI: 29.6±6.8 kg/m2). IR was...

The intrauterine foetal environment is crucial for foetal survival and long term health. The insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-I and -II have a predominant role in fetal growth and development. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is an anabolic hormone with several biological activities, such as proliferation, mitochondrial protection, cell survival, tissue growth and development.Aims & Objectives: To find the association of Maternal insulin Growth ...

Surprisingly, up to 50% of cases of infertility among couples worldwide are male-related. But despite this alarming prevalence of male infertility, most studies continue to focus on analysis of infertility from female perspective. Curcumin (CUM), a food additive with international numbering code E100 has been shown to exhibit therapeutic potential against some illnesses (cancer, diabetes, testicular damage) in which free radicals plays a crucial role (Aggarwal and Harikumar 20...

Objective: Androsterone glucuronide (ADTG) concentrations have been suggested as a more reliable marker of the effects of androgens at the target tissue level and they are significantly elevated in hirsute compared to non-hirsute women with PCOS. This study compared the different precursors of testosterone, including dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), ADTG and androstenedione in non-obese compared to obese women with PCOS, and in normal subjects and their implications on...

Background: Endocrine Disrupting Agents (EDAs) are external substances that have the potential to interfere with the natural endocrine pathways such as the reproductive axis. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine condition resulting in, hyperinsulinaemia, hyperandrogenaemia and subfertility. This study was conducted to see whether there was any association between EDAs and PCOS.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 59 women (29 PCOS...

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are a collection of rare congenital conditions with diverse features and pathophysiology. Patients usually present at birth with atypical genitalia or with delayed puberty in adolescence. Biochemical and cytogenetic investigations may provide guidance on the underlying cause, however molecular genetic analysis is usually required to provide a definitive diagnosis and allows for personalised management of the patient. The current diagnostic se...

Introduction: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) become upregulated very early on in pregnancy and is crucial in maintaining blood pressure. In addition to the peripheral RAS there is a uteroplacental RAS, which is also important in regulating placental function and development. Recent work has shown extra-renal sodium storage in the skin; it is suggested that the placenta may also function as a salt sensing organ and is important in regulating maternal blood pressure.<p c...

Introduction: Liver involvement is frequent in Turner’s syndrome (TS). We have shown that 35% TS women have elevated liver function tests (↑LFTs). Most common hepatic changes include steatosis and steatohepatitis; however, progression to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis is reported. This study assessed a simple noninvasive test for liver fibrosis, FIB-4, which combines standard biochemical values (platelets, ALT, AST) and age in order to evaluate its diagnostic perfo...

Aims: Elevated liver function tests (↑LFTs) are frequent in Turner’s Syndrome (TS). The cause and clinical significance are unclear. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between ↑LFTs and a comprehensive panel of TS-related conditions, focusing on metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in order to further elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this condition.Methods: We reviewed our adult TS cohort. LFTs we...

The factors responsible for regulating primordial follicle activation and early preantral follicle growth remain poorly understood, despite their importance in determining a female’s reproductive lifespan. The essential role of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of receptors (ErbBs) during ovulation is well established; however there is emerging evidence that ErbBs may also be important regulators of early follicle development. This study aimed to investigate the ro...

Approximately 20% of women with Turner syndrome (TS) proceed normally through puberty with spontaneous menstruation. An increasing number of women with TS are taking advantage of oocyte cryopreservation which is becoming widely available. It may be expected however, that controlled ovarian stimulation would result in fewer than expected number of oocytes compared to women without TS. We report our initial results from women with TS undergoing this procedure.<p class="abste...

Introduction: 46,XX disorder of sexual development (DSD) is a rare cause of sex reversal. Only a few hundred cases have been described. The clinical spectrum can be divided into 3 groups of males according to genital appearance: normal male, atypical variants such as hypospadias or cryptorchidism, and those with both male and female genitalia.Subcategories of 46,XX DSD include ovotesticular DSD, which is characterised by the presence of both testicular a...

Aims: Spontaneous pregnancy (SP) in Turner’s syndrome (TS) has been reported, with a prevalence of 2 to 7%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the outcome from spontaneous pregnancies (SPs) in a cohort of women with TS from a single centre, in order to give realistic counselling regarding options for fertility.Methods: We considered the following data: karyotype, age at diagnosis of TS, age at the time of the study, cardiac, an...

Aims: Turner’s syndrome (TS) is associated with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), ascending aortic dilatation (AD), aortic coarctation, and hypertension. Pregnancy in TS is associated with increased risk of aortic dissection (2%), gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia and a 2% risk of maternal mortality.This retrospective study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) comprising endocrinologist, cardiologist and maternal medi...

Aims: Oocyte donation (OD) is increasingly utilised in women with Turner’s syndrome (TS). However, guidelines state TS a ‘relative contraindication’ for pregnancy, due to increased risk of aortic dissection (AD 2%) and maternal mortality (2%). Recent data on OD-related morbidity and mortality in TS has raised further concern. We aimed to analyse cardiovascular risk profiles of TS women undergoing OD and those with spontaneous pregnancy (SP), and determine outcom...

Introduction: Primary amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menses at age 15 years in the presence of normal growth and secondary sexual characteristics, or at 13 years, if there is no breast development. We retrospectively assessed the causes of primary amenorrhea in a series from an academic center of adult endocrinology.Patients and methods: We retrieved data from the files of 111 consecutive patients with primary amenorrhea evaluated in our center ...

Maternal stress is commonly cited as a potential cause for idiopathic pregnancy loss (Knackstedt et al., 2005). However, the mechanisms through which stress affects implantation and pregnancy are yet to be totally deciphered. This study was designed to determine the effect of predator-induced psychosocial stress on implantation and pregnancy in rat. Cycling rats (n=48) at proestrus phase were paired overnight with sexually experienced male in ratio 2:1. Following conf...

Buffalo is a major dairy animal in many countries of the world, including Pakistan. However, the productive and reproductive performance of this species is affected by many physiological problems such as anestrous. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare serum total cholesterol, thyroid hormone concentrations and haematological variables in cyclic and acyclic Nili-Ravi buffaloes. For this purpose, 60 adult Nili-Ravi buffaloes were divided into two equal groups i.e. cycl...

Activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, from the third trimester of pregnancy to the first post-natal months in males, results in serum concentrations of gonadotrophins and testosterone approaching adult levels. This phase, known as male mini-puberty, represents a key window of opportunity to identify congenital GnRH deficiency in early childhood.We present a case to illustrate the diagnostic efficiency of screening for mini-puberty in a ma...

Background: Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of primary male infertility. Some studies suggest that administration of the amino acid derivative anti-oxidant, L-carnitine, may improve sperm quality. No previous study has investigated whether the anti-oxidant effects of L-carnitine relate to changes in sperm quality in men with infertility.Aim: Investigate whether L-carnetine significantly improves sperm function, and whether baseline lev...