Published in Critical Care
Background Sepsis is typically hallmarked by high plasma (free) cortisol and suppressed cortisol breakdown, while plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is not increased, referred to as ‘ACTH–cortisol dissociation.’ We hypothesized that sepsis acutely activates the hypothalamus to generate, via corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and vasopress...
Published in Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
Background A new harmful respiratory disease, called COVID-19 emerged in China in December 2019 due to the infection of a novel coronavirus, called SARS-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which belongs to the betacoronavirus genus, including SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 shares almost 80% of the genome with SARS-CoV-1 and 50% with MERS-CoV. Moreover...
Published in Acta neurochirurgica
The outcome for pituitary endocrine function following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate endocrine outcomes following endoscopic surgery in order to provide a benchmark to assist in the counselling of patients perioperatively. A prospectively held pituitary database was retrospectively analysed for all ...
Published in Acta neurochirurgica
The evolution of pituitary surgery has made it a safe and effective form of treatment; however, risks of inadequate tumor resection, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, pituitary dysfunction, and vascular injury still exist. The use of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) in pituitary surgery has been well described. Recent advancements in ultrasound ...
Published in Cell journal
As a consequence of global warming, the increase in the average annual temperature is observed, while the living organisms actively adapt to these changes. High environmental temperature initiates numerous physiological, autonomic, and behavioral responses, and activates the stress response. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate effect of a...
Published in Molecular and cellular endocrinology
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is an ancestral molecule that was isolated from sheep hypothalamic extracts based on its action to stimulate cAMP production by pituitary cell cultures. PACAP is one of a number of ligands that coordinate with GnRH to control reproduction. While initially viewed as a hypothalamic releasing ...
Published in Molecular and cellular endocrinology
Puberty is programmed through a multifactorial gene network which works to activate the pulsatile secretion of the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), and subsequently elevate circulating levels of the pituitary gonadotropins that stimulate gonadal activity. Although this developmental transition normally occurs at a limited age-range in individ...
Spexin (SPX) is a recently identified peptide hormone of 14 amino acids. Interestingly, Spx and Kiss1 genes share a common ancestor gene. Considering that KISS1 peptides are key controllers of breeding in mammals and circumstantial evidence that SPX regulates gonadotropins in some fish species, we hypothesized that SPX may play a KISS1-related role...
Published in Pituitary
Purpose The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is widely believed to have had a major impact on the care of patients with pituitary disease. The virus itself may directly result in death, and patients with adrenal insufficiency, often a part of hypopituitarism, are thought to represent a particularly susceptible subgroup. Moreover, even i...
Published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
BackgroundPrenatal testosterone (T) excess results in reproductive and metabolic perturbations in female sheep that closely recapitulate those seen in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). At the neuroendocrine level, prenatal T-treated sheep manifest increased pituitary sensitivity to GnRH and subsequent LH hypersecretion. In this study, we...
