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Metabolites Jun 2024Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is a condition that arises from persistent low energy availability (LEA), which affects the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and...
Development of an LC-HRMS/MS Method for Quantifying Steroids and Thyroid Hormones in Capillary Blood: A Potential Tool for Assessing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).
Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is a condition that arises from persistent low energy availability (LEA), which affects the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and results in alterations of several hormones in both male and female athletes. As frequent blood hormone status determinations using venipuncture are rare in sports practice, microsampling offers promising possibilities for preventing and assessing RED-S. Therefore, this study aimed at developing a liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) method for quantifying relevant steroids and thyroid hormones in 30 μL of capillary blood obtained using Mitra devices with volumetric absorptive microsampling technology (VAMS). The results of the study showed that all validation criteria were met, including a storage stability of more than 28 days in a frozen state (-18 °C) and 14 days at room temperature (20 °C). The validated assay provided precise (<12%) and accurate (<13%) results for all the target analytes. Furthermore, as a proof of concept, autonomously collected VAMS samples from 50 female and male, healthy, active adults were analyzed. The sensitivity of all analytes was adequate to quantify the decreased hormone concentrations in the RED-S state, as all authentic samples could be measured accordingly. These findings suggest that self-collected VAMS samples offer a practical opportunity for regular hormone measurements in athletes and can be used for early RED-S assessment and progress monitoring during RED-S recovery.
PubMed: 38921463
DOI: 10.3390/metabo14060328 -
Current Issues in Molecular Biology May 2024Sexual maturation of Atlantic salmon males is marked by dramatic endocrine changes and rapid growth of the testes, resulting in an increase in the gonad somatic index...
Sexual maturation of Atlantic salmon males is marked by dramatic endocrine changes and rapid growth of the testes, resulting in an increase in the gonad somatic index (GSI). We examined the association of gonadal growth with serum sex steroids, as well as pituitary and testicular gene expression levels, which were assessed with a DNA oligonucleotide microarray. The testes transcriptome was stable in males with a GSI < 0.08% despite the large difference between the smallest and the largest gonads. Fish with a GSI ≥ 0.23% had 7-17 times higher serum levels of five male steroids and a 2-fold increase in progesterone, without a change in cortisol and related steroids. The pituitary transcriptome showed an upregulation of the hormone-coding genes that control reproduction and behavior, and structural rearrangement was indicated by the genes involved in synaptic transmission and the differentiation of neurons. The observed changes in the abundance of testicular transcripts were caused by the regulation of transcription and/or disproportional growth, with a greater increase in the germinative compartment. As these factors could not be separated, the transcriptome results are presented as higher or lower specific activities (HSA and LSA). LSA was observed in 4268 genes, including many genes involved in various immune responses and developmental processes. LSA also included genes with roles in female reproduction, germinal cell maintenance and gonad development, responses to endocrine and neural regulation, and the biosynthesis of sex steroids. Two functional groups prevailed among HSA: structure and activity of the cilia (95 genes) and meiosis (34 genes). The puberty of A. salmon testis is marked by the predominance of spermatogenesis, which displaces other processes; masculinization; and the weakening of external regulation. Results confirmed the known roles of many genes involved in reproduction and pointed to uncharacterized genes that deserve attention as possible regulators of sexual maturation.
PubMed: 38920991
DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060319 -
JCEM Case Reports Jun 2024Chiari 1 malformation (CM1) is a rare finding that has been described with growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas and with an endothelial PAS domain protein 1...
Chiari 1 malformation (CM1) is a rare finding that has been described with growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas and with an endothelial PAS domain protein 1 gain-of-function mutation syndrome. We describe the first reported case of a patient diagnosed with CM1 and nonfunctioning pituitary and adrenal incidentalomas. Our case describes a 45-year-old female who was found to have cerebellar tonsillar ectopia consistent with CM1, a pituitary tumor, and bilateral adrenal incidentalomas. She was diagnosed after presenting with 2 weeks of upper extremity weakness and paresthesia. A comprehensive endocrine workup including insulin like growth factor (IGF-1) was normal. She underwent posterior fossa decompression without complication. Pituitary adenectomy was not pursued as there was no evidence of compression of the chiasm or the surrounding structures. In previous case reports it has been proposed that GH-secreting adenomas contribute to CM1 by causing hypertrophy of soft tissue structures in the skull base, overcrowding the posterior fossa. Given that our patient had normal IGF-1 levels, there could be a different underlying mechanism that contributed to the concomitant occurrence of CM1 with the pituitary and adrenal tumors.
PubMed: 38919912
DOI: 10.1210/jcemcr/luae113 -
Journal of Pregnancy 2024Thyroid hormones regulate fetal growth and differentiation of several tissues. Maternal dietary patterns may be correlated with changes in the level of neonatal...
Thyroid hormones regulate fetal growth and differentiation of several tissues. Maternal dietary patterns may be correlated with changes in the level of neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). We hypothesized that since maternal nutrition affects birth weight and offspring growth, it may also impact endocrine patterns in offspring. This study is aimed at assessing the relationship between maternal dietary phytochemical index (DPI) in the first trimester of pregnancy and neonatal cord blood thyroid hormone levels. This cross-sectional study is a substudy of a birth cohort. Overall, 216 mothers, aged 16-45 years, were recruited in their first trimester of pregnancy. To calculate DPI, the daily energy percentage of phytochemical-rich foods was divided by the total daily energy intake. At delivery time, TSH and free thyroxine (FT4) levels were measured in cord blood samples using chemiluminescence immunoassay. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of mothers was 29.56 (5.50) years, and 47% of newborns were girls. The mean (SD) of DPI in the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles was 25.03 ± 4.67, 33.87 ± 2.18, 40.64 ± 2.10, and 51.17 ± 4.98, respectively. There was not any significant correlation between DPI score with cord serum TSH and FT4 levels in crude and adjusted analysis. No significant relationship between maternal DPI with cord serum TSH and FT4 levels was shown. Limited experience exists about the effect of maternal diet quality indices on neonatal thyroid function, and further studies are needed in this regard.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Infant, Newborn; Cross-Sectional Studies; Pregnancy; Thyrotropin; Young Adult; Thyroxine; Adolescent; Fetal Blood; Male; Phytochemicals; Diet; Thyroid Gland; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Middle Aged; Thyroid Function Tests
PubMed: 38919582
DOI: 10.1155/2024/9558023 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Acromegaly is a rare endocrine disorder caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) from a pituitary adenoma. Elevated GH levels stimulate excess production of...
UNLABELLED
Acromegaly is a rare endocrine disorder caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) from a pituitary adenoma. Elevated GH levels stimulate excess production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which leads to the insidious onset of clinical manifestations. The most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, meningiomas originate from the arachnoid layer of the meninges and are typically benign and slow-growing. Meningiomas are over twice as common in women as in men, with age-adjusted incidence (per 100,000 individuals) of 10.66 and 4.75, respectively. Several reports describe co-occurrence of meningiomas and acromegaly. We aimed to determine whether patients with acromegaly are at elevated risk for meningioma. Investigation of the literature showed that co-occurrence of a pituitary adenoma and a meningioma is a rare phenomenon, and the majority of cases involve GH-secreting adenomas. To the best of our knowledge, a systematic review examining the association between meningiomas and elevated GH levels (due to GH-secreting adenomas in acromegaly or exposure to exogenous GH) has never been conducted. The nature of the observed coexistence between acromegaly and meningioma -whether it reflects causation or mere co-association -is unclear, as is the pathophysiologic etiology.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022376998.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Acromegaly; Meningeal Neoplasms; Human Growth Hormone; Risk Factors; Adenoma
PubMed: 38919490
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1407615 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Aromatherapy is a holistic healing method to promote health and well-being by using natural plant extracts. However, its precise mechanism of action and influence on the... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing method to promote health and well-being by using natural plant extracts. However, its precise mechanism of action and influence on the endocrine system remains unclear. Since recent studies reported that a neuropeptide, oxytocin, can attenuate anxiety, we hypothesized that if oxytocin secretion is promoted through aromatherapy, it may improve mood and anxiety. The present study is aimed to investigate the relationship between oxytocin and the effects of aromatherapy with lavender oil on anxiety level, by measuring salivary oxytocin levels in healthy men and women.
METHODS
We conducted a randomized open crossover trial in 15 men and 10 women. Each participant received a placebo intervention (control group) and aromatherapy with lavender oil (aromatherapy group). For the aromatherapy group, each participant spent a 30-min session in a room with diffused lavender essential oil, followed by a 10-min hand massage using a carrier oil containing lavender oil. Anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before the intervention, 30-min after the start of intervention, and after hand massage, in both groups. Saliva samples were collected at the same time points of the STAI.
RESULTS
In women, either aromatherapy or hand massage was associated with a reduction in anxiety levels, independently. Moreover, salivary oxytocin levels were increased after aromatherapy. On the other hand, in men, anxiety levels were decreased after aromatherapy, as well as after hand massage, regardless of the use of lavender oil. However, there were no significant differences in changes of salivary oxytocin levels between the control and aromatherapy groups during the intervention period. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between anxiety levels and salivary oxytocin levels before the intervention, but a negative correlation was observed after hand massage with lavender oil.
CONCLUSION
The results of the present study indicate that in women, aromatherapy with lavender oil attenuated anxiety with increase in oxytocin level in women, whereas in men, there was no clear relationship of aromatherapy with anxiety or oxytocin levels but, there was a change in correlation between anxiety and oxytocin. The results of the present study suggest that the effect of aromatherapy can vary depending on sex.
Topics: Humans; Oxytocin; Aromatherapy; Female; Male; Saliva; Anxiety; Adult; Oils, Volatile; Lavandula; Plant Oils; Young Adult; Cross-Over Studies; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 38919481
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1380779 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Visfatin (VIS) is a hormone belonging to the adipokines' group secreted mainly by the adipose tissue. VIS plays a crucial role in the control of energy homeostasis,...
Visfatin (VIS) is a hormone belonging to the adipokines' group secreted mainly by the adipose tissue. VIS plays a crucial role in the control of energy homeostasis, inflammation, cell differentiation, and angiogenesis. VIS expression was confirmed in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis structures, as well as in the uterus, placenta, and conceptuses. We hypothesised that VIS may affect the abundance of proteins involved in the regulation of key processes occurring in the corpus luteum (CL) during the implantation process in pigs. In the present study, we performed the high-throughput proteomic analysis (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS) to examine the in vitro influence of VIS (100 ng/mL) on differentially regulated proteins (DRPs) in the porcine luteal cells (LCs) on days 15-16 of pregnancy (implantation period). We have identified 511 DRPs, 276 of them were up-regulated, and 235 down-regulated in the presence of VIS. Revealed DRPs were assigned to 162 gene ontology terms. Western blot analysis of five chosen DRPs, ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 1 (ADAMTS1), lanosterol 14-α demethylase (CYP51A1), inhibin subunit beta A (INHBA), notch receptor 3 (NOTCH3), and prostaglandin E synthase 2 (mPGES2) confirmed the veracity and accuracy of LC-MS/MS method. We indicated that VIS modulates the expression of proteins connected with the regulation of lipogenesis and cholesterologenesis, and, in consequence, may be involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones, as well as prostaglandins' metabolism. Moreover, we revealed that VIS affects the abundance of protein associated with ovarian cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as CL new vessel formation and tissue remodelling. Our results suggest important roles for VIS in the regulation of ovarian functions during the peri-implantation period.
Topics: Animals; Female; Swine; Embryo Implantation; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; Proteome; Luteal Cells; Pregnancy; Proteomics; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Chromatography, Liquid; Inhibin-beta Subunits
PubMed: 38918475
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65577-1 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Spexin (SPX, NPQ) is a 14-amino acid neuroactive peptide identified using bioinformatics. This amino acid sequence of the mature spexin peptide has been highly conserved... (Review)
Review
Spexin (SPX, NPQ) is a 14-amino acid neuroactive peptide identified using bioinformatics. This amino acid sequence of the mature spexin peptide has been highly conserved during species evolution and is widely distributed in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues and organs. Therefore, spexin may play a role in various biological functions. Spexin, the cognate ligand for GALR2/3, acting as a neuromodulator or endocrine signaling factor, can inhibit reproductive performance. However, controversies and gaps in knowledge persist regarding spexin-mediated regulation of animal reproductive functions. This review focuses on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of spexin on reproduction. Through this review, we aim to enhance understanding and obtain in-depth insights into the regulation of reproduction by spexin peptides, thereby providing a scientific basis for future investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying the influence of spexin on reproductive function. Such investigations hold potential benefits for optimizing farming practices in livestock, poultry, and fish industries.
Topics: Animals; Reproduction; Peptide Hormones; Vertebrates; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
PubMed: 38915898
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1422711 -
ENeuro Jun 2024Epilepsy is often comorbid with psychiatric illnesses, including anxiety and depression. Despite the high incidence of psychiatric comorbidities in people with epilepsy,...
Epilepsy is often comorbid with psychiatric illnesses, including anxiety and depression. Despite the high incidence of psychiatric comorbidities in people with epilepsy, few studies address the underlying mechanisms. Stress can trigger epilepsy and depression. Evidence from human and animal studies support that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction may contribute to both disorders as well as their comorbidity (Kanner, 2003). Here, we investigate if HPA axis dysfunction may influence epilepsy outcomes and psychiatric comorbidities. We generated a novel mouse model (/ KO mice) lacking the K/Cl co-transporter, KCC2, in corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons, which exhibit stress- and seizure-induced HPA axis hyperactivation (Melon et al., 2018). We used the / KO mice to examine the impact on epilepsy outcomes, including seizure frequency/burden, comorbid behavioral deficits, and SUDEP risk. We found sex differences in HPA axis dysfunction's effect on chronically epileptic KCC2/Crh KO mice seizure burden, vulnerability to comorbid behavioral deficits, and SUDEP. Suppressing HPA axis hyperexcitability in this model using pharmacological or chemogenetic approaches decreased SUDEP incidence, suggesting that HPA axis dysfunction may contribute to SUDEP. Altered neuroendocrine markers were present in SUDEP cases compared to people with epilepsy or individuals without epilepsy. Together, these findings implicate HPA axis dysfunction in the pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy and SUDEP. Our work provides new insight into a potential novel pathophysiological mechanism contributing to psychiatric illnesses and SUDEP in epilepsy patients, implicating HPA axis dysfunction in negative outcomes associated with epilepsy. This study is the first to link HPA axis dysfunction to SUDEP risk. Chronically epileptic male mice with exaggerated HPA axis dysfunction had increased SUDEP incidence. The translational relevance of these findings is supported by neuroendocrine abnormalities observed in postmortem samples from individuals that died of SUDEP. These data suggest that neuroendocrine mechanisms should be further explored in psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy and SUDEP risk. Further, neuroendocrine markers may be a biomarker for SUDEP risk.
PubMed: 38914464
DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0162-24.2024 -
Cureus May 2024Destructive thyroiditis and secondary adrenal insufficiency are major endocrinological immune-related adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, the...
Destructive thyroiditis and secondary adrenal insufficiency are major endocrinological immune-related adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, the timing at which each event occurs most frequently after drug administration varies, and cases where multiple events occur simultaneously are rare. We encountered a patient who concurrently suffered from thyrotoxicosis and adrenal insufficiency. An 80-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) was diagnosed with stage IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs. Treatment with a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab was initiated. Although she tested positive for thyroglobulin antibody and transient subclinical hyperthyroidism was observed after two courses, treatment with ICIs was continued. Four months later, treatment was discontinued due to drug-induced lung disease. One month after the last administration, the patient became unconscious and was admitted to another hospital, diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, urinary tract infection, and sepsis. After acute-phase treatment, she was transferred to our hospital due to persistent fever and tachycardia. Thyrotoxicosis and adrenal insufficiency were observed, with high levels of free thyroxine, low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and cortisol levels. Treatment with extracellular fluids, potassium iodide, beta-blockers, and hydrocortisone was initiated, and the patient's condition improved. No other pituitary hormone deficiencies were observed. She was diagnosed with painless thyroiditis and secondary adrenal insufficiency based on the positive thyroglobulin antibody, negative TSH receptor antibody, decreased Doppler flow in thyroid ultrasonography, low adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and low response of ACTH and cortisol to corticotropin-releasing hormone loading test. MRI revealed no abnormalities. We report a case of thyrotoxicosis and secondary adrenal insufficiency five months after the first administration of nivolumab and ipilimumab. Careful follow-up and early detection of endocrine disorders are critical in patients treated with a combination of ICIs.
PubMed: 38910605
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60850