Endocrine Abstracts

Glucocorticoids (GCs) exert a wide variety of functions throughout the human body, including mediation of the stress response, regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory actions, vascular effects, increase of bone resorption, as well as effects on the development and function of numerous organs. The immuno-suppressive effects of GCs are routinely used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory or immune diseases (e.g. inflammatory bowel d...

Background: Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is caused by overproduction of cortisol. Current first-line screening tests for CS can produce false positive results due to medication use and stress, rely heavily on patient adherence to sampling instructions, and only measure short-term cortisol exposure which limits sensitivity. In general multiple tests are required to establish a diagnosis. Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) offer a minimally invasive way to measure lon...

Background: Childhood obesity is an increasing health problem, affecting over 40 million children aged 0–5 years worldwide. It is associated with premature onset of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Pathologically elevated cortisol is known to induce obesity and cardio-metabolic complications, suggesting cortisol is implicated in the onset of obesity. Indeed, recent pilot-studies showed an increase in hair cortisol concentrations in obese adults and adoles...