Endocrine Abstracts

The reproductive system is controlled by (GnRH) secretion from the brain, which is finely modulated by a number of factors, including gonadal sex steroids and inhibins. It was recently claimed that kisspeptin (KP) and gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH) neurons are regulators of GnRH secretion. Therefore, we have developed highly specific and sensitive fluoro-immunoassays (FIAs) using Eu-labeled antigens for KP 10 and GnIH. In this study, the distributions of KP 10 and GnIH...

Background: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), which is one of the most aggressive endocrine tumors. Primary thyroid carcinoma typically does not interfere with thyroid function and presentation of ATC with thyrotoxic state is extremely rare. We present here an ATC patient who is complicated with thyrotoxicosis.Case: A 69-year-old man presented with neck swelling and pointed out thyroid tumor with calcification two years ago. He appeared general fatigue...

Context: Osilodrostat (Osi), a potent inhibitor of 11β-hydroxylase, blocks the conversion of 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol and improves hypercortisolism in patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Here, we report a study evaluating the efficacy of Osi in five non-Cushing’s disease (CD) CS patients treated with Osi in Japan.Subjects and Results: Five patients with non-CD CS were treated with Osi at Chiba University [primary disease breakdown: ...

Background: Nodular goiter (NOD) is one of the most common disease (69% in our thyroid clinic). Although the nodular growth is generally slow, it may be influenced by thyroid hormones, autoimmunity or other factors. The analysis may contribute to predict the outcomes.Patients and methods: 2,213 Japanese patients (2007–2018; Fukushima coast area) with NOD were enrolled in this study. Mean observation period was 6.4 years with 7 visits (1–50). Th...

Nodular goiter (ND) is increasingly found by image analysis. The long-term course of ND, however, is not necessarily clear and may differ in locality. The present study analyzed the changes of ND in Japanese, taking iodine-rich foods, during follow-up periods.Patients and methods: Patients (n=4,229) were followed up to 28 years (3.4±5.8 years). Volume of nodules (VOL) by ultrasonography (US) and laboratory data, including thyroid hormones (...

Background: Aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) is the gold standard for screening of primary aldosteronism (PA). However, the lower value of ARR cannot rule out the possibility of PA. In this study, we evaluated the change of plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in ACTH stimulation among hypertensive patients and explored whether it improved the sensitivity of ARR for detecting PA.Method: Eighty-five patients with hypertension with plasma renin activity ...

Introduction: Prostate cancer is hormone dependent and regulated by a balance of androgens as well as estrogens. Regulatory control is also exerted by the tumor microenvironment including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and immune cells. Although patient derived xenografts (PDX) commonly used to study the functional effects of CAFs, the method is not quantitative, is lengthy, technically challenging and the xenografts are placed in immune suppressed hosts excluding immun...

Background: Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is the gold standard test for identification of unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA) which is curable by surgery, but is a difficult procedure with low success rates. Rapid cortisol assays during AVS improved AVS success rates.Methods: We have developed a gold nanoparticles based immunochromatographic quick cortisol assay (QCA) in which cortisol concentration could be measured both quantitatively and semi-quantita...

Background: Primary aldosteronism (PA) has been reported to affect about 10% of patients with essential hypertension. In Western countries, about one third of them have aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA), and mutations of the KCNJ5 gene have recently been identified in approximately 30% of APAs. In contrast, most Japanese (~80%) with PA have APA. Therefore, Japanese PA may have different characteristics from patients in Western countries, and those with mutations of the KCNJ...