Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: We determined the prevalence of abnormal secretion of dopamine and other catecholamines in relation to clinical symptoms in patients with head and neck paragangliomas (PGL). The association of catecholamine production with nuclear imaging was also assessed.Methods: Thirty-six consecutive patients with head and neck PGLs, who were referred for follow-up and/or treatment between 1993 and 2009, were included. Clinical symptoms, dopamine excess (u...

Objective: A potential role for the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) has received increasing interest in the study of metabolic disease, but the association of β-OHB with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) risk remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the association of β-OHB with incident T2D in a prospective population-based cohort.Methods: We measured plasma concentrations of β-OHB using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscop...

ObjectiveDue to the increasing prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), it has become a global health challenge by being the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Recently, the microbiota has been linked to NAFLD, via altered bile acid and lipid metabolism. Whether serum Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota-dependent metabolite, is associated with NAFLD and NAFLD health outcomes remains unclear. The aim was to investigate...

Context: Germline mutations of the gene encoding succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) predispose to head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL), sympathetic PGL, phaeochromocytoma and renal cell carcinoma for which regular surveillance is required. SDHB-associated tumors harbor germline and somatic mutations, consistent with Knudson’s two-hit hypothesis stating that the combination of an inactivating germline mutation as a first hit and somatic loss of funct...

Background: Patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency show increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Higher doses of glucocorticoid replacement are related to an unfavourable metabolic profile. In the absence of randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of hydrocortisone dose on haemodynamics and blood pressure regulation, we determined effects of a higher vs a lower glucocorticoid replacement dose on blood pressure, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) ...

Introduction: There is growing evidence that quality of life (QoL) in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) is impaired. Undertreatment with glucocorticoids is associated with symptoms such as fatigue and gastrointestinal complaints whereas overtreatment is associated with impaired QoL. However, evidence for this is derived from observational studies which are prone to bias. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare two different physiological doses of hydrocor...

Introduction: A wide variety in hydrocortisone substitution dose-regimens are considered physiological for patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency. However, it is likely that cognition is negatively influenced by higher cortisol exposure to the brain. So far, no studies have been performed to assess the effects of treatment regimens administered for a substantial period of time with a low physiological hydrocortisone dose in comparison to a high physiological hydrocortis...

Background and Objective: Thyroid function reference ranges are statistically defined by the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles, which do not account for potential risk of clinical outcomes. We aimed to define the optimal ranges of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4), based on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.Methods: We performed an individual-participant data analysis and identified prospecti...