ACTH

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of escitalopram on the peripheral expression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-related genes (FKBP51, HSP90, NR3C1 and POMC) and HPA-axis hormones in patients with panic disorder (PD). METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with PD were treated with escitalopram for 12 weeks. All participants were assessed for the severity of panic symptoms using the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS). The expression of HPA-axis genes was measured using real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR, and ACTH and cortisol levels were measured using chemiluminescence at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment...

BACKGROUND: In the domain of functional gastrointestinal disorders, Functional Dyspepsia (FD) stands out due to its widespread occurrence internationally. Historically, electroacupuncture (EA) has been employed as a therapeutic modality for FD, demonstrating notable clinical efficacy. OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to delve into the impact of EA on stress responses, minor duodenal inflammatory processes, and the integrity of the intestinal barrier within FD-affected rodent models while also elucidating the underlying mechanisms...

BACKGROUND: The tumor microenvironment (TME) includes diverse cellular components such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and immune cells among others. MSC have been isolated from different tumors and they favor tumor cell growth, however, their role in pituitary tumors (PT) remains unknown. Herein we report the presence of MSCs in 2 ACTH-secreting PT causing Cushing disease (MCU), 2 nonfunctioning adenomas of gonadotrope differentiation (MNF) and 2 non tumoral pituitary glands (MS). METHODS: We have analyzed their transcriptomic profiles by RNAseq and compared MSC in terms of their immunosuppressive effects against lymphoid T cell and macrophage populations by means of co-cultures and flow cytometry...

OBJECTIVE: Glucocorticoid resistance is a rare endocrine disease caused by variants of the NR3C1 gene encoding the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We identified a novel heterozygous variant (GRR569Q) in a patient with uncommon reversible glucocorticoid resistance syndrome. METHODS: We performed ex vivo functional characterization of the variant in patient fibroblasts and in vitro through transient transfection in undifferentiated HEK 293T cells to assess transcriptional activity, affinity, and nuclear translocation...

Serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and patterns of urinary protein separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate agarose gel electrophoresis (SDS-AGE) have not been investigated as biomarkers in dogs with ACTH-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (ADHAC). This exploratory prospective study aimed to evaluate SDMA, serum creatinine (sCR), and SDS-AGE in dogs with ADHAC with and without proteinuria (ADHAC-P and ADHAC-nP, respectively). Thirty-five pet dogs classified as ADHAC-P (n=16), ADHAC-nP (n=6) and healthy (n=13) were included...

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation is linked to the pathophysiology of depression. Although exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is associated with a depressive-like phenotype in rodents, comprehensive neurobehavioral and mechanistic evidence to support these findings are lacking. Sprague-Dawley rats (male, n = 30; female, n = 10) were randomly assigned to the control (male, n = 10) or ACTH (male, n = 20; female n = 10) groups that received saline (0...

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in female reproductive system in the world, and the choice of its treatment is very important for the survival rate and prognosis of patients. Traditional open surgery is the main treatment for ovarian cancer, but it has the disadvantages of big trauma and slow recovery. With the continuous development of minimally invasive technology, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia has been gradually applied to the treatment of ovarian cancer because of its advantages of less trauma and quick recovery...

Cushing's Syndrome (CS) is a rare disease due to chronic endogenous cortisol secretion. In the last years, new acquisitions enlarged the spectrum of differential diagnosis, historically divided into ACTH-dependent and ACTH-independent forms. Moreover, the increased awareness of the detrimental cortisol effects on cardiometabolic health and the risk of cardiovascular events lead to increased diagnosis of mild forms, especially in the context of adrenal incidentalomas. We provide and up-to-date narrative review of the most recent literature regarding the challenges of CS diagnosis...

Environmental enrichment (EE) is a paradigm that offers the animal a plethora of stimuli, including physical, cognitive, sensory, and social enrichment. Exposure to EE can modulate both anxiety responses and plasma corticosterone. In this study, our objective was to explore how chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) impacts anxiety-related behaviors in male Swiss mice raised in EE conditions. Additionally, we investigated corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels to assess the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in mediating these responses...

The liver plays pivotal roles in nutrient metabolism, and correct hepatic adaptations are required in maternal nutrient metabolism during pregnancy. In this review, hepatic nutrient metabolism, including glucose metabolism, lipid and cholesterol metabolism, and protein and amino acid metabolism, is first addressed. In addition, recent progress on maternal hepatic adaptations in nutrient metabolism during pregnancy is discussed. Finally, the factors that regulate hepatic nutrient metabolism during pregnancy are highlighted, and the factors include follicle-stimulating hormone, estrogen, progesterone, insulin-like growth factor 1, prostaglandins fibroblast growth factor 21, serotonin, growth hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, melatonin, adrenal hormone, leptin, glucagon-like peptide-1, insulin glucagon and thyroid hormone...

CONTEXT: During bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS), the side-to-side adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) ratio, referred to as sampling lateralization , was used to predict pituitary adenoma localization. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential different diagnostic accuracy of BIPSS for differentiating Cushing disease (CD) and ectopic ACTH secretory syndrome (EAS) patients with low lateralization (inferior petrosal sinus [IPS]:IPS ≤ 1.4) and high lateralization (IPS:IPS > 1...

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) are most commonly found in post-menopausal women and men above the age of 50. They are mainly revealed by a tumor syndrome. The incidence of symptomatic NFPA during pregnancy is rare, with only nine documented cases in the literature. The patient was 39 years old with no previous medical or surgical history and was 17 weeks pregnant. A large pituitary macroadenoma measuring 17 x 18 x 19 mm was discovered radiologically in the presence of a pituitary tumor syndrome...

CONTEXT: Women with hypopituitarism remain at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Insufficient replacement of sex steroids has been suggested as a contributing factor, but sex steroid levels in women with hypopituitarism have not been comprehensively mapped. OBJECTIVE: To quantify sex steroids in women with hypopituitarism by a high-sensitivity assay. METHODS: Using a combination of clinical and biochemical criteria, women with hypopituitarism (n = 104) who started growth hormone replacement 1995-2014 at a single center were categorized as eugonadal or having hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH)...

INTRODUCTION: When children with head and neck cancer receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment, a considerable frequency of hypopituitarism has been recognised. However, in adults, it has been little studied and it is possible that patients may be inadvertently affected. The objective is to estimate the incidence of anterior pituitary dysfunction in adults undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A total of five databases will be used to perform the document search: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (Core Collection), Ovid-MEDLINE and Embase...

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of pituitary adenomas (PA) in adult Omani patients and describe its epidemiological, clinical, and radiological characteristics. METHODS: In this longitudinal, descriptive study, we reviewed the records of all PA patients from January 2015 to January 2020 who presented at the endocrinology facilities at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat. RESULTS: The participants comprised of 112 Omani patients with PA...

Production of the high-molecular-weight forms of adrenocorticotropic hormone (big-ACTH) has been reported in a small number of ectopic ACTH syndrome and ACTH-producing pituitary macroadenoma. However, perioperative changes in big-ACTH in patients with subclinical Cushing's disease have not been reported. A 63-year-old woman presented 25 × 20 × 20-mm-sized macroadenoma in the pituitary gland. Her early morning plasma ACTH and cortisol levels were 111 pg/mL and 11...

PURPOSE: The ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (oCRH) stimulation test has been routinely used in the diagnostic work-up of ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome (CS). With oCRH currently being out-of-stock in Europe, we aimed at evaluating the diagnostic performance of inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) without oCRH stimulation. METHODS: We compared the values of 40 patients with ACTH-dependent CS and negative MRI findings in whom ACTH was measured before and after oCRH stimulation...

The vertebrate stress response (SR) is mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and contributes to generating context appropriate physiological and behavioral changes. Although the HPA axis plays vital roles both in stressful and basal conditions, research has focused on the response under stress. To understand broader roles of the HPA axis in a changing environment, we characterized an adaptive behavior of larval zebrafish during ambient illumination changes. Genetic abrogation of glucocorticoid receptor (nr3c1) decreased basal locomotor activity in light and darkness...

INTRODUCTION: Epileptic spasms without hypsarrhythmia occur when patients do not display hypsarrhythmia on EEG at the onset and throughout the clinical course. We report three patients of epileptic spasms in patients with early onset, all of whom experienced other types of seizures. CASE REPORTS: We detail three patients (two boys and one girl) of epileptic spasms without hypsarrhythmia, occurring between one and three months of age, with no abnormalities detected on neurometabolic analysis and brain MRI...

OBJECTIVE: To characterize concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin, and thyroxine (T4) at 2 times of the year in healthy horses in Saskatchewan. ANIMALS AND PROCEDURE: A prospective, observational study was carried out in 52 healthy, client-owned horses. Inclusion criteria were no recent travel outside of Saskatchewan, normal physical examination findings, and no history or evidence of ongoing illness. Blood concentrations of ACTH, insulin and T4 were determined by chemiluminescence...