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Laboratory Animals Jun 2022Mice and rats are among the most used laboratory animals. They share numerous similarities along with differences, some yet unexplored. One of them is the morphometry of...
Mice and rats are among the most used laboratory animals. They share numerous similarities along with differences, some yet unexplored. One of them is the morphometry of their adrenal glands, whose characteristics may be related to differences in energy management, immune response, drug metabolism, behaviour and temperament. The present study tries to fill this knowledge gap with the evaluation and comparison of adrenal gland anatomical/morphometric parameters of mice and rats. In groups of 10 ( = 10) adult, male and female BALB/c mice and Wistar rats, one in every 20 sections transverse to the longitudinal axis of the gland was used for measuring entire gland area, capsule, entire cortex, cortex zones and medulla with the aid of an image analysis system and subjected to statistical analysis. Quotients of the individual areas were calculated and comparison between the resulting ratios was performed. Gland length and volume were also calculated. Statistically significant differences were revealed between the rat female and male cortex area, rat and mouse medulla/cortex, medulla/gland, zona glomerulosa/cortex and cortex/gland ratios, male and female rats' medulla/cortex, medulla/gland, capsule/gland, zona glomerulosa/cortex, zona reticularis/cortex and zona glomerulosa/zona fasciculata ratios, length and volume. The correlation evaluation revealed that in male rats and in female mice the larger medulla area was accompanied by a larger cortex area and vice versa. In general, a larger cortex area was accompanied by larger areas of cortex zones. The collected data and the revealed differences can possibly contribute to the understanding of the physiology of the two species.
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Adrenal Medulla; Animals; Female; Male; Rats; Rats, Wistar
PubMed: 34541948
DOI: 10.1177/00236772211044352 -
Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography 2020Incidental adrenal lesions are found in 2% to 10% of the population. The presence and pattern of calcifications, in conjunction with other clinical and imaging features,... (Review)
Review
Incidental adrenal lesions are found in 2% to 10% of the population. The presence and pattern of calcifications, in conjunction with other clinical and imaging features, such as soft tissue attenuation, enhancement, and laterality, can aid in narrowing a differential diagnosis, thereby preventing unnecessary biopsies and avoiding delays in management. Calcified adrenal lesions can be categorized under the clinical and laboratory headings of normal adrenal function, hyperfunctioning adrenal tissue, and adrenal insufficiency. In this review, we provide an algorithmic approach to assessing calcified adrenal nodules with correlative radiologic findings.
Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenal Glands; Humans; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 32195796
DOI: 10.1097/RCT.0000000000000980 -
Clinical Endocrinology Feb 2023The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) in guiding the management of patients with corticotropin (ACTH)-independent...
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of adrenal venous sampling (AVS) in guiding the management of patients with corticotropin (ACTH)-independent glucocorticoid secretory autonomy and bilateral adrenal masses.
DESIGN AND PATIENTS
A cohort with 25 patients underwent AVS and surgical management.
MEASUREMENTS
Cortisol was measured from the adrenal veins (AVs) and inferior vena cava (IVC). AV/IVC cortisol ratio and cortisol lateralization ratio (CLR) (dominant AV cortisol concentration divided by the nondominant AV cortisol concentration) were calculated. Posthoc receiver-operating characteristic curves were generated to determine the specificity of revised AV/IVC cortisol ratio and CLR in differentiating unilateral from bilateral disease.
RESULTS
Patients underwent unilateral (n = 21) or bilateral (n = 4) adrenalectomy. The mean AV/IVC cortisol ratio for unilateral adrenalectomy was 12.1 ± 9.6 (dominant) and 4.7 ± 3.8 (contralateral) with a mean CLR of 3.6 ± 3.5. The mean AV/IVC cortisol ratio for bilateral adrenalectomy was 7.5 ± 2.1, with a mean CLR of 1.1 ± 0.6. At a mean follow-up of 22 months, one patient who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy for the predicted bilateral disease developed recurrent mild autonomous cortisol secretion. Posthoc analyses demonstrated a specificity of 95%-100% for unilateral disease with AV/IVC cortisol ratio >9 for one side, <2.0 for the opposite side and a CLR > 2.3. The specificity was 80%-90% for bilateral disease with AV/IVC cortisol ratio >5.1 bilaterally and a CLR < 1.1.
CONCLUSIONS
Among patients with bilateral adrenal masses and ACTH-independent autonomous cortisol secretion, AVS can distinguish between unilateral and bilateral disease with high specificity and may guide surgical management.
Topics: Humans; Hydrocortisone; Adrenal Gland Diseases; Adrenal Glands; Adrenalectomy; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Hyperaldosteronism; Retrospective Studies; Aldosterone
PubMed: 36263687
DOI: 10.1111/cen.14833 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2021Cytokines play a huge role in many biological processes. Their production, release and interactions are subject to a very complex mechanism. Cytokines are produced by... (Review)
Review
Cytokines play a huge role in many biological processes. Their production, release and interactions are subject to a very complex mechanism. Cytokines are produced by all types of cells, they function very differently and they are characterized by synergism in action, antagonism, and aggregation activity, opposing action of one cytokine, overlapping activity, induction of another cytokine, inhibition of cytokine synthesis at the mRNA level as well as autoregulation-stimulation or inhibition of own production. The predominance of pro-inflammatory cytokines leads to a systemic inflammatory response, and anti-inflammatory-to an anti-inflammatory response. They regulate the organism's immune response and protect it against sudden disturbances in homeostasis. The synthesis and activity of cytokines are influenced by the central nervous system through the endocrine system (pituitary gland, adrenal glands).
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Cytokines; Female; Homeostasis; Humans; Milk, Human; Pituitary Gland
PubMed: 34207900
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126238 -
Problemy Endokrinologii Dec 2021Our current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms in tissues and organs during normal and pathological conditions opens up substantial prospects for the... (Review)
Review
Our current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms in tissues and organs during normal and pathological conditions opens up substantial prospects for the development of novel approaches to treatment of various diseases. For instance, lifelong replacement therapy is no longer mandatory for the management of some monogenic hereditary diseases. Genome editing techniques that have emerged in the last decade are being actively investigated as tools for correcting mutations in affected organs. Furthermore, new protocols for obtaining various types of human and animal cells and cellular systems are evolving, increasingly reflecting the real structures in vivo. These methods, together with the accompanying gene and cell therapy, are being actively developed and several approaches are already undergoing clinical trials. Adrenal insufficiency caused by a variety of factors can potentially be the target of such therapeutic strategies. The adrenal gland is a highly organized organ, with multiple structural components interacting with each other via a complex network of endocrine and paracrine signals. This review summarizes the findings of studies in the field of structural organization and functioning of the adrenal gland at the molecular level, as well as the modern approaches to the treatment of adrenal pathologies.
Topics: Adrenal Glands; Animals; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Endocrine System; Gene Editing
PubMed: 35018764
DOI: 10.14341/probl12818 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 202311-ketotestosterone (11KT), which is derived by the bioconversion of testosterone 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT), is a potent agonist of the human androgen receptor....
INTRODUCTION
11-ketotestosterone (11KT), which is derived by the bioconversion of testosterone 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT), is a potent agonist of the human androgen receptor. The adrenal gland is considered an important organ in 11KT production because CYP11B1, which catalyzes testosterone to 11OHT, is expressed in the adrenal glands. The present study aimed to demonstrate adrenal gland involvement in 11KT production in prepubertal children, a topic which has not yet been addressed by any previous studies.
METHODS
Three, retrospective, observational studies were performed. Study 1 enrolled patients aged 8 months to 7 years with severe Kawasaki disease (KD) who were treated with mPSL pulse. Studies 2 and 3 included patients who had received a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation test and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test, respectively. Samples were collected before and after treatment or drug administration, and serum 11KT, 11OHT, and other 11-oxygenated androgens were measured by LC-MS/MS. Steroid hormone values before and after medication were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.
RESULTS
Studies 1, 2, and 3 included twenty patients with severe KD, eight patients with a CRH stimulation test, and eight patients with an ACTH stimulation test, respectively. Study 1 demonstrated that the median (IQR) 11KT level was significantly higher before, than after, mPSL pulse (0.39 (0.28-0.47) nmol/L versus 0.064 (0.012-0.075) nmol/L; P < 0.001). Studies 2 and 3 indicated no significant difference in the median 11KT value before and after the CRH or ACTH stimulation test while the 11OHT value was significantly higher after the test.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the mediation of 11KT production by ACTH demonstrated the importance of the adrenal glands in the synthesis of this androgen in prepubertal children.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adrenal Glands; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Androgens; Chromatography, Liquid; Retrospective Studies; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Testosterone; Infant; Child, Preschool
PubMed: 36742384
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1051195 -
Updates in Surgery Dec 2020Lateral retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (LRA) is performed mostly by urologists. It is gaining popularity among general surgeons because of the direct access to the...
Lateral retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (LRA) is performed mostly by urologists. It is gaining popularity among general surgeons because of the direct access to the adrenal gland. However, the management of large tumors remains controversial. We report our experience and discuss the advantages and the drawbacks of this approach. Between December 2011 and April 2015, 89 consecutive patients underwent LRA for adrenal tumors. Conversion to open surgery, operative time, blood loss, hospital stay, intra-operative complications, early and late postoperative complications, and mortality were analyzed. The entire group was divided into patients with large tumors (> 5 cm) and patients with small tumors (≤ 5 cm), which were further compared. The conversion rate was 1.1%. The mean operative time was 107.4 ± 27.95 min, the mean blood loss 33.15 ± 25.45 ml. The mean hospital stay was 4.7 ± 2.05 days. Most of the complications were minor. There was zero mortality. Concerning the size of the tumor, we found statistically significant difference in operative time (p = 0.001), hospital stay (p = 0.020), incidence of early postoperative complications (p = 0.049), and conversion rate to open surgery (p = 0.037). LRA is a feasible, effective and safe procedure that offers additional advantages over the standard transabdominal approach because of its direct access to the adrenal gland. However, malignancy, large tumor size, bilateral pathology, and concomitant intra-abdominal pathology may represent a potential setback for this approach.
Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenal Glands; Adrenalectomy; Adult; Aged; Blood Loss, Surgical; Conversion to Open Surgery; Endoscopy; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Operative Time; Patient Positioning; Preoperative Care; Retroperitoneal Space; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32162272
DOI: 10.1007/s13304-020-00741-6 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Jan 2021
Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenal Glands; Aged, 80 and over; Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Male; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 33497550
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm2017821 -
American Journal of Clinical Pathology Apr 2022Although primary adrenal lesions and metastases are most commonly encountered, de novo cysts of the adrenal gland can occasionally occur. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Although primary adrenal lesions and metastases are most commonly encountered, de novo cysts of the adrenal gland can occasionally occur.
METHODS
We analyzed the pathology archives at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for diagnoses of cystic lesions of the adrenal gland between 1998 and 2020. Patient demographics and clinical information were extracted, and pathology slides and stains, as appropriate, were analyzed. The literature between 1998 and 2020 was also searched for large case series involving cystic adrenal lesions.
RESULTS
We found 18 cystic lesions of the adrenal gland in our archives, categorized as pseudocysts (7), endothelial cysts (5), mesothelial cysts (2), mature teratoma (1), cystic adrenal cortical adenoma (1), cystic pheochromocytoma (1), and cystic metastasis (1). The mean age at time of diagnosis was 52.3 years, and the mean size of the cysts was 6.0 cm. There was a slight female predilection, and cysts were more likely to be found on the left side. All lesions were incidental findings. The cystic metastasis was clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Our findings were also compared with those found in the literature published within the same timeframe.
CONCLUSIONS
Adrenal cysts are rare entities. Our findings are concordant with other large studies and provide additional cases to the existing literature. In addition, our literature search expands the possible differential diagnoses for cystic lesions arising in the adrenal gland.
Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Adrenal Glands; Cysts; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Pheochromocytoma
PubMed: 34596217
DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqab156 -
Journal of Perinatal Medicine Mar 2023The subject of current work was to determine the relationship of fetal ultrasonographic biomarkers, including anogenital distance (AGD), adrenal gland volume, and penile...
OBJECTIVES
The subject of current work was to determine the relationship of fetal ultrasonographic biomarkers, including anogenital distance (AGD), adrenal gland volume, and penile length and width in mothers with male fetuses at 22-36 weeks of gestation for the assessment of the effect of fetal adrenal gland producing androgens on the male anogenital structures that are exposed to androgen effects as anogenital region and penis.
METHODS
This study is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in our hospital's outpatient perinatal care unit. One hundred and seventy pregnant women with a male fetus aged 22-36 weeks of gestation were included in the study. The fetal adrenal gland length, width, and depth for the calculation of adrenal volume, AGD, and penile length and width were measured for each participant. The Pearson coefficients were calculated to assess the correlation among these parameters.
RESULTS
The adrenal gland volume had a meaningful, positive moderate relationship with both the AGD (r=0.60) and penile length and width (r=0.57 and r=0.59, respectively; p<0.001). The AGD had a positive, strong correlation with the penile length and width (r=0.74 and r=0.76, respectively; p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The fetal adrenal gland as one of the androgen sources of the fetus is an influencer of the development of the anogenital and penile region. The findings of the current study support that the adrenal gland considerably affects the masculinization of male fetuses, since there were remarkable correlations among the AGD, adrenal gland volume, and penile length and width.
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; Male; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prospective Studies; Penis; Fetus; Adrenal Glands; Anal Canal
PubMed: 35985035
DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2022-0239