And It's About Time There Was Some Support For Cushing's!
January |
2Highlights: • Helpful Hints • Latest Testimonials: • First VOICE Chat • Podcasts • Adrenal Crisis Causes Death in Some People Who Were Treated With hGH • New and updated bios and Helpful Doctors • Upcoming Meetings: Austin, Texas; Pituitary Patient Education Day, Stanford, CA; UVA Pituitary Days; ENDO 08, San Francisco, CA; Endo 2009, Washington, DC; Endo 2010, San Diego, California and tentative meetings in the UK; Southern California Area and Minneapolis; Missouri; the Los Angeles area; the Midwest/midsouth (Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas); Virginia (Tidewater/Hampton Roads area) • And much more...
30Highlights: • Cushing's Awareness Day, 2008 • Cushing's Voice Chats / Internet Talk Radio and Podcasts • Classical Forms of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency in Adults • Evaluation of the Pituitary Function with Insulin Tolerance (Hypoglycaemia) Testing: Are There Any Differences Using Insulin Lispro Compared to Regular Insulin? • RxTrials Institute Drug Pipeline Alert • The Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Criteria Are Insufficiently Robust for Clinical Research • Hypothalamic-pituitary insufficiency following infectious diseases of the central nervous system • Pediatric Pituitary Adenomas • “Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome” is not subclinical: improvement after adrenalectomy in 9 patients • Expression of vasopressin receptors in ACTH-independent macronodular bilateral adrenal hyperplasia causing Cushing's syndrome: molecular, immunohistochemical and pharmacological correlates • C-Reactive Protein and Cushing's • Pituitary adenoma • FDA Accepts Samaritan's Cushing's SP-6300 IND and Clears Phase II Study • Laparoscopic surgery is safe for large adrenal lesions • New and updated bios and Helpful Doctors • Upcoming Meetings: UVA Pituitary Days; ENDO 08, San Francisco, CA; Endo 2009, Washington, DC; Endo 2010, San Diego, California and tentative meetings in the UK; Southern California Area and Minneapolis; Missouri; the Los Angeles area; the Midwest/midsouth (Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas); Virginia (Tidewater/Hampton Roads area) • And much more... |
February |
26Highlights: • This Week, Thursday February 28 at 7:30PM eastern. Jen will talk about Bilateral Adrenalectomies (BLAs) and answer your questions. The Call-In number is (646) 200-0162. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CushingsHelp • Podcasts • Endo News • Limitations of nocturnal salivary cortisol and urine free cortisol, in the diagnosis of mild Cushing’s syndrome Neither a normal UFC nor a normal NSC excludes mild Cushing's Syndrome. Multiple samples (urine/saliva) and DST are needed to make the diagnosis of mild CS... • Update in Pituitary Disease--Cedars Sinaii Publication (UPDATE WITH FULL ARTICLE), new vistas....in unraveling the challenges of pituitary disease A recent paper, for the first time, proposed the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene as predisposing to pituitary adenoma... • Stress hormone impacts memory Cortisol production is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA), a hormone-producing system involving the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain and the adrenal gland located near the kidney. People with poorly controlled diabetes often have an overactive HPA axis and excessive cortisol produced by the adrenal gland... • A Neurosurgeons Perspective on Brain Tumors (Video) Neurosurgeons at NOHC are among the region's most experienced in caring for patients with brain tumors and other cranial disorders... • Pituitary Brain Tumors - A Neurosurgeons Perspective (Video) Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery & Neuroresearch - Dr. Gail Rosseau, neurosurgeon at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago, provides an educational insight on pituitary tumors - the conditions and treatments for certain cases... • Treatment 'could cut out steroids' Extended use of steroids may result in Cushing's syndrome, a condition marked by rapid weight gain, muscle weakness and skin problems which may lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. In some cases, it can shorten life... • Surgical Treatment of Orthopedic Trauma Derived from Harvey Cushing's remarkable personal collection in the Brain Tumor Registry, “The Legacy of Harvey Cushing: Profiles of Patient Care,” by Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol, MD and Dennis D. Spencer, MD, is a stunning historical account of Cushing's surgical cases and research from 1905 to 1930. The book showcases the extraordinary contribution that Cushing made to the advancement of neurological surgery in the twentieth century. The perfectly preserved material, that was housed at the Yale University Library for over 60 years, is the oldest catalog of neurological and neuropathological disease. In particular, the book features extraordinary photographs of patients which were painstakingly digitized from glass slides... • Diagnosis of adult GH deficiency The current guidelines for the diagnosis of adult GHD are mainly based on the statements from the GH Research Society Consensus from Port Stevens in 1997. It is stated that diagnosis of adult GHD must be shown biochemically by provocative tests within the appropriate clinical context. The insulin tolerance test (ITT) was indicated as that of choice and severe GHD defined by a GH peak lower than 3 ?g/L... • Warning over illegal skin bleach, illegal skin bleach caused Cushing's Doctors diagnosed her with Cushing's syndrome, which is caused by high levels of steroid hormones such as cortisol in the blood. It is usually caused by a problem with the adrenal glands, which make the hormones, or with the pituitary gland sending too high a signal to the adrenal glands. But blood tests on the patient showed very low levels of cortisol and of corticotropin, the signalling hormone in the pituitary gland... • Life's hard times are an important part of who Linda Miller is today. (pituitary tumor) At that time, it was a healing thing for me," said Miller, who suffered through a year of painful symptoms before doctors discovered that she had a tumor on her pituitary gland, and Cushing's disease as a result of that... • The girl, 10, who could die from shock just by watching a scary film ~ Polyglandular Addison's disease/Jenny's Pennies Jennifer is one of just six known sufferers of polyglandular Addison's disease, which causes her to become ill whenever she is surprised or shocked. The condition means she is unable to produce adrenaline in response to alarm or any sudden form of emotional or physical stress... • New and updated bios • Upcoming Meetings: Santa Monica, CA; Charlotte, NC; UVA Pituitary Days; DC Metro area; ENDO 08, San Francisco, CA; Endo 2009, Washington, DC; Endo 2010, San Diego, California and tentative meetings in the UK; Southern California Area; Minneapolis; Missouri; the Los Angeles area; the Midwest/midsouth (Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas); Virginia (Tidewater/Hampton Roads area) • And much more... |
March |
26Highlights: • This Week, Thursday March 27 at 7:30PM eastern. Monica (Monicaroni) and Crystal (Vinesqueen), March 27, 2008. The Call-In number is (646) 200-0162. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CushingsHelp • Podcasts • Endo News • Cyclical Cushing's Syndrome Due to Bronchial Carcinoid: Early Diagnosis and Prompt Treatment. We hereby describe a patient with cyclical Cushing's syndrome due to ectopic production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by a bronchial carcinoid tumor, accurately diagnosed and treated within a short period of time. In addition we describe for the first time careful assessment of cortisol levels in the postoperative period without hormone replacement demonstrating limited need for steroid replacement... • High prevalence of central adrenal insufficiency in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome Strikingly, 60% of our PWS patients had central adrenal insufficiency. The high percentage of CAI in PWS patients might explain the high rate of sudden death in these patients, particularly during infection-related stress. Based on our data, one should consider treatment with hydrocortisone during acute illness in PWS patients, unless CAI has recently been ruled out with a metyrapone test... • Woman Beats Rare Disease Cushing's disease (CD) is rare in the paediatric age range, but may present a difficult therapeutic challenge. Most paediatric endocrinologists have limited experience managing children or adolescents with CD and thus benefit from close consultation with adult colleagues. Prior to definitive treatment, a diagnostic protocol for investigation is required which broadly follows the model for adult patients. Treatment strategies for CD are described and critically appraised. The management of paediatric CD patients after cure also presents challenges for optimizing growth, bone health, reproduction and body composition from childhood into and during adult life... • 40% of patients with CD will have a normal MRI Forty percent of patients with CD will have a normal pituitary magnetic resonance image, whereas conversely there is a 10% prevalence of pituitary incidentalomas in the age range in which CD typically presents (1). It is, therefore, clear that magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary cannot be relied on and weight should be given to the biochemical evaluation of a given patient... • Three years prospective investigation of anterior pituitary function after traumatic brain injury: a pilot study GH deficiency is the most common pituitary deficit 1 and 3 years after TBI (traumatic brain injury). In patients with mild and moderate TBI, pituitary function improves over time in a considerable number of patients, but it may also worsen rarely over the 3-year period. In patients with severe TBI, ACTH and GH deficiencies at 1st year evaluation persist at 3rd year... • Advances in the Management of Paediatric Cushing's Disease Cushing's disease (CD) is rare in the paediatric age range, but may present a difficult therapeutic challenge. Most paediatric endocrinologists have limited experience managing children or adolescents with CD and thus benefit from close consultation with adult colleagues. Prior to definitive treatment, a diagnostic protocol for investigation is required which broadly follows the model for adult patients. Treatment strategies for CD are described and critically appraised. The management of paediatric CD patients after cure also presents challenges for optimizing growth, bone health, reproduction and body composition from childhood into and during adult life... • The Diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline After excluding exogenous glucocorticoid use, we recommend testing for Cushing's syndrome in (a) patients with multiple and progressive features compatible with the syndrome, particularly those with a high discriminatory value, and (b) patients with adrenal incidentaloma. We recommend initial use of one test with high diagnostic accuracy (urine cortisol, late night salivary cortisol, 1-mg overnight or 2-mg 48-hour dexamethasone suppression test). We recommend that patients with an abnormal result see an endocrinologist and undergo a second test, either one of the above or, in some cases, a serum midnight cortisol or dexamethasone-CRH test. Patients with concordant abnormal results should undergo testing for the cause of Cushing's syndrome. Patients with concordant normal results should not undergo further evaluation. We recommend additional testing in patients with (a) discordant results, (b) normal responses suspected of cyclic hypercortisolism, or (c) initially normal responses who accumulate additional features over time... • DHEAS Levels Linked to Cognitive Function in Women "Possible explanations for our findings include direct actions of DHEA/DHEAS via a putative DHEA receptor, via the androgen receptor, or as neurosteroids and endogenous ligands for sigma-1 receptors," Dr. Davis' team suggests. DHEAS may also be a "marker of overall potential for tissue intracrine androgen and estrogen production in women but not the actual mediator of the effect." • Pituitary Disease / Disorder Affects 1 In 5 = 20% Of The U.S. Population "1 in 5 individuals may have an abnormal growth on their pituitary gland, causing significant health complications. If left undiagnosed and untreated, this can impair normal hormone function resulting in a reduced lifespan," explains Dr. Shereen Ezzat, Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto and member of the Board of Directors of the Pituitary Network Association... • The Role of Sex Steroids in Controlling Pubertal Growth In summary, there is ample evidence to suggest that sex steroids, particularly, oestrogen play a vital role in modulating linear growth through the systemic GH-IGF-I axis, as well as, at the level of the growth plate. Clinical disorders of sex steroid synthesis and action lead to an abnormal pattern of growth. An improved understanding of this effect of sex steroids on growth requires a combination of clinical and basic experimental studies... • New and updated bios • Upcoming Meetings: Santa Monica, CA; UVA Pituitary Days; DC Metro area; ENDO 08, San Francisco, CA; Endo 2009, Washington, DC; Endo 2010, San Diego, California and tentative meetings in the UK; Southern California Area; Minneapolis; Missouri; the Los Angeles area; the Midwest/midsouth (Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas); Virginia (Tidewater/Hampton Roads area) • And much more... |
April |
|
May |
|
June |
|
July |
|
August |
|
September |
|
October |
|
November |
|
December |
All site features are available free of charge.
But donations are gratefully accepted!
Site Design and Maintenance: Mary O'Connor, Founder and Webmaster