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Soraya Puglisi Internal Medicine 1, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Paola Perotti Internal Medicine 1, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Mattia Barbot Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

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Paolo Cosio Internal Medicine 1, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Carla Scaroni Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

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Antonio Stigliano Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital University of Rome, Rome, Italy

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Pina Lardo Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital University of Rome, Rome, Italy

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Valentina Morelli Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy

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Elisa Polledri Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

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Iacopo Chiodini Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy

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Giuseppe Reimondo Internal Medicine 1, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Anna Pia Internal Medicine 1, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Massimo Terzolo Internal Medicine 1, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Objective

Metyrapone has been approved for the treatment of patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS), but only few retrospective clinical studies are available. The aim of our study was the prospective assessment of metyrapone as pre-operative treatment.

Design and methods

Before adrenalectomy, seven patients with ACTH-independent CS due to adrenal adenoma were prospectively treated with metyrapone for 3 months in three tertiary academic centers, with endocrine work-up and clinical evaluation at screening and at predefined evaluation time points (Days 14, 31, 48, 65, 82).

Results

In all patients, UFC levels decreased up to normal range from baseline to Day 82 (609 (188–1476) vs 69 (28–152) nmol/24 h, P < 0.02), with a reduction of serum and salivary cortisol levels, and no significant increase of plasma ACTH and serum DHEAS levels. Clinical improvement was reported on quality of life (+16.7 (+4.2; +52.00) points, P < 0.04) and pressure control (systolic pressure, −25 (−52; −10) mmHg, P < 0.01; diastolic pressure, −16 (−50; +2 mmHg), P < 0.03). No significant change in weight, electrolytes, glycemic and lipid profile was reported. Although in women a significant increase of testosterone and androstenedione was reported, no worsening of clinical hyperandrogenism was observed. All drug-related adverse events (nausea, fatigue, low grade fever, edema of lower limbs and facial rash) were grade 1 or 2 and generally transient.

Conclusions

This prospective pilot study demonstrated that metyrapone is effective in normalizing biochemical and clinical parameters in patients with CS due to adrenal adenoma before surgical intervention, with minimal side effects.

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Jia Liu Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Min Liu Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China

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Zhe Chen Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Yumei Jia Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Guang Wang Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Objective

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is the most common autoimmune thyroid disease. Longitudinal relaxation time mapping (T1-mapping) measured by MRI is a new technique for assessing interstitial fibrosis of some organs, such as heart and liver. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between T1-mapping value and thyroid function and determine the usefulness of T1-mapping in identifying thyroid destruction in AIT patients.

Methods

This case–control study recruited 57 drug-naïve AIT patients and 17 healthy controls. All participants were given thyroid MRI, and T1-mapping values were measured using a modified look-locker inversion-recovery sequence.

Results

AIT patients had significantly higher thyroid T1-mapping values than the healthy controls (1.077 ± 177 vs 778 ± 82.9 ms; P < 0.01). A significant increase in thyroid T1-mapping values was presented along with the increased severity of thyroid dysfunction (P < 0.01). Correlation analyses showed that increased thyroid T1-mapping values were associated with higher TSH and lower FT3 and FT4 levels (TSH: r = 0.75; FT3: r = −0.47; FT4: r = −0.72; all P < 0.01). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a high diagnostic value of T1-mapping values for the degree of thyroid destruction (area under the curve was 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90–0.99, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

AIT patients have higher thyroid T1-mapping values than the healthy controls, and the T1-mapping values increased with the progression of thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid T1-mapping value might be a new index to quantitatively evaluate the degree of thyroid destruction in AIT patients.

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Eva Olga Melin Diabetes Research Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Department of Research and Development, Region Kronoberg, Växjö, Sweden

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Magnus Hillman Diabetes Research Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

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Mona Landin-Olsson Diabetes Research Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Department of Endocrinology, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

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Objective

To explore associations between high midnight salivary cortisol (MSC) secretion and high blood pressure (BP) in type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods

Cross-sectional study of 196 adult patients with T1D (54% men). Associations between high MSC (≥9.3 nmol/L) and high systolic BP (>130 mmHg), and high diastolic BP (>80 mmHg) were explored for all patients, users and non-users of antihypertensive drugs (AHD). Adjustments were performed for age, sex, diabetes-related variables, p-creatinine, smoking, physical inactivity, depression and medication.

Results

The prevalence of high MSC differed between patients with high and low systolic BP in all 196 patients: 39 vs 13% (P = 0.001); in 60 users of AHD: 37 vs 12% (P = 0.039), and in 136 non-users of AHD: 43 vs 13% (P = 0.012). Significant associations with high systolic BP were for all patients: physical inactivity (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 6.5), high MSC (AOR 3.9), abdominal obesity (AOR 3.7), AHD (AOR 2.9), age (per year) (AOR 1.07), and p-creatinine (per µmol/L) (AOR 1.03); for 60 users of AHD: high MSC (AOR 4.1) and age (per year) (AOR 1.11); for 136 non-users of AHD: abdominal obesity (AOR 27.4), physical inactivity (AOR 14.7), male sex (AOR 9.0), smoking (AOR 7.9), and age (per year) (AOR 1.08). High MSC was not associated with high DBP.

Conclusions

In adult patients with T1D, high systolic BP was associated with physical inactivity, high MSC secretion, abdominal obesity, p-creatinine, age, and AHD, the latter indicating treatment failure.

Open access
Carina Ankarberg-Lindgren Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

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Aneta Gawlik Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology, Medical University of Silesia, School of Medicine, Katowice, Poland

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Berit Kriström Department of Clinical Sciences/Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

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Laura Mazzanti Pediatric Endocrinology and Rare Disease Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

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Elisabeth J Ruijgrok Department of Pharmacy, Erasmus Medical Center – Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Theo C J Sas Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Diabeter, National Diabetes Care and Research Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

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Objective

Transdermal estradiol patches are primarily designed for adult women. No low-dose patches are licensed for pubertal induction in hypogonadal girls. Low doses can be achieved by cutting a matrix patch into smaller pieces. However, the manufacturers do not guarantee stability or utility of cut estradiol patches. The aim of the study was to assess 1-month stability of cut estradiol patches from four different manufacturers in the laboratory at room temperature (+21°C) and at an elevated temperature (+35°C).

Design and methods

Estraderm MX 50 µg, Systen 50 µg and Oesclim 25 µg matrix patches were cut into eight pieces while Estradot 50 µg small patches were cut in half. The cut patches were stored in their respective pouches at +21°C or at +35°C for up to 1 month. The estradiol drug was extracted from the patch by ethyl acetate n-hexane and determined by radioimmunoassay.

Results

Storage at +21°C or +35°C up to 1 month did not reduce the estradiol concentration in Estraderm MX, Systen and Oesclim patches. However, although the estradiol in Estradot patches was not affected by storage at +21°C, at +35°C, estradiol decreased by 57% (±1%) in cut pieces.

Conclusions

Unused Estraderm MX, Systen and Oesclim patch pieces may be stored for at least 1 month at ≤+35°C. Where estradiol patches for children are not available, cut pieces of these or similar patches can be used for pubertal induction. The Estradot patch was too small to properly cut into low doses and not stable in elevated temperatures.

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Monia Cito Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

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Silvia Pellegrini Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

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Lorenzo Piemonti Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy

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Valeria Sordi Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

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The experience in the field of islet transplantation shows that it is possible to replace β cells in a patient with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but this cell therapy is limited by the scarcity of organ donors and by the danger associated to the immunosuppressive drugs. Stem cell therapy is becoming a concrete opportunity to treat various diseases. In particular, for a disease like T1D, caused by the loss of a single specific cell type that does not need to be transplanted back in its originating site to perform its function, a stem cell-based cell replacement therapy seems to be the ideal cure. New and infinite sources of β cells are strongly required. In this review, we make an overview of the most promising and advanced β cell production strategies. Particular hope is placed in pluripotent stem cells (PSC), both embryonic (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). The first phase 1/2 clinical trials with ESC-derived pancreatic progenitor cells are ongoing in the United States and Canada, but a successful strategy for the use of PSC in patients with diabetes has still to overcome several important hurdles. Another promising strategy of generation of new β cells is the transdifferentiation of adult cells, both intra-pancreatic, such as alpha, exocrine and ductal cells or extra-pancreatic, in particular liver cells. Finally, new advances in gene editing technologies have given impetus to research on the production of human organs in chimeric animals and on in situ reprogramming of adult cells through in vivo target gene activation.

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Martin Zweifel Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland

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Beat Thürlimann Breast Centre St. Gallen, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland

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Salome Riniker Breast Centre St. Gallen, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland

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Patrik Weder Breast Centre St. Gallen, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland

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Roger von Moos Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland

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Olivia Pagani Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland

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Martin Bigler SAKK Coordinating Centre, Bern, Switzerland

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Karin M Rothgiesser SAKK Coordinating Centre, Bern, Switzerland

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Christiane Pilop SAKK Coordinating Centre, Bern, Switzerland

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Hanne Hawle SAKK Coordinating Centre, Bern, Switzerland

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Peter Brauchli SAKK Coordinating Centre, Bern, Switzerland

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Coya Tapia Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

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Wolfgang Schoenfeld CURADIS GmbH, Erlangen, Germany

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Cristiana Sessa Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland

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for the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK)
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CR1447 (4-hydroxytestosterone, 4-OHT) binds to the androgen receptor and has antiproliferative activity in both ER-positive and ER-negative/AR-positive breast cancer cells in preclinical studies. The objective of this first-in man trial was to evaluate the safety and to determine the dose of CR1447, administered as an ointment, for Phase II. Escalating doses (100, 200, 400 mg) of CR1447 were administered topically on a daily basis to patients with ER-positive/AR-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer pretreated with several lines of therapy. 14 patients have been treated for a total of 42 cycles. Two patients, one at dose level 100 mg and one at dose level 200 mg, showed early tumour progression and were replaced. Related adverse events were all ≤ grade 2 and included fatigue, bone and joint pain, stiffness, dry skin and mouth, nausea, sweating, urinary tract infection, rash, headache and distress. No drug-related dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were seen. Two patients (17%) achieved stable disease at 3 months. Pharmacokinetic analysis confirmed dose-dependent transdermal uptake of CR1447. 4-OH-androstenedione (4-OHA), a key metabolite of 4-OHT, was undetectable in most of the plasma samples. Urine metabolites of 4-OHT and 4-OHA indicate high exposure of 4-OHT after topical administration. Oestradiol serum concentrations did not increase, confirming preclinical data that CR1447 is not converted to estrogens in vivo. In conclusion, CR1447 administered transdermally as an ointment is well tolerated and appears to have single-agent activity in heavily pretreated ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer patients. The recommended phase II dose is 400 mg/day.

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L Bahler Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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H J Verberne Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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E Brakema Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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R Tepaske Intensive Care Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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J Booij Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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J B Hoekstra Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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F Holleman Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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Bromocriptine is a glucose-lowering drug, which was shown to be effective in obese subjects with insulin resistance. It is usually administered in the morning. The exact working mechanism of bromocriptine still has to be elucidated. Therefore, in this open-label randomized prospective cross-over mechanistic study, we assessed whether the timing of bromocriptine administration (morning vs evening) results in different effects and whether these effects differ between lean and obese subjects. We studied the effect of bromocriptine on insulin sensitivity in 8 lean and 8 overweight subjects using an oral glucose tolerance test. The subjects used bromocriptine in randomized cross-over order for 2 weeks in the morning and 2 weeks in the evening. We found that in lean subjects, bromocriptine administration in the evening resulted in a significantly higher post-prandial insulin sensitivity as compared with the pre-exposure visit (glucose area under the curve (AUC) 742 mmol/L * 120 min (695–818) vs 641 (504–750), P = 0.036, AUC for insulin did not change, P = 0.575). In obese subjects, both morning and evening administration of bromocriptine resulted in a significantly higher insulin sensitivity: morning administration in obese: insulin AUC (55,900 mmol/L * 120 min (43,236–96,831) vs 36,448 (25,213–57,711), P = 0.012) and glucose AUC P = 0.069; evening administration in obese: glucose AUC (735 mmol/L * 120 min (614–988) vs 644 (568–829), P = 0.017) and insulin AUC, P = 0.208. In conclusion, bromocriptine increases insulin sensitivity in both lean and obese subjects. In lean subjects, this effect only occurred when bromocriptine was administrated in the evening, whereas in the obese, insulin sensitivity increased independent of the timing of bromocriptine administration.

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Sarah J Delforce School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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Eugenie R Lumbers School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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Celine Corbisier de Meaultsart School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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Yu Wang Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

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Anthony Proietto Hunter Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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Geoffrey Otton Hunter Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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Jim Scurry Hunter Area Pathology Service, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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Nicole M Verrills School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Priority Research Centre for Cancer, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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Rodney J Scott School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Hunter Area Pathology Service, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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Kirsty G Pringle School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

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A dysfunctional endometrial renin–angiotensin system (RAS) could aid the growth and spread of endometrial cancer. To determine if the RAS is altered in endometrial cancer, we measured RAS gene expression and protein levels in 30 human formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) endometrioid carcinomas and their adjacent endometrium. All components of the RAS were expressed in most tumours and in adjacent endometrium; mRNA levels of (pro)renin receptor (ATP6AP2), angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE1) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) mRNA levels were greater in tumour tissue than adjacent non-cancerous endometrium (P = 0.023, 0.008, 0.004 and 0.046, respectively). Prorenin, ATP6AP2, AGTR1, AGTR2 and ACE2 proteins were abundantly expressed in both cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous endometrium. Staining was most intense in cancerous glandular epithelium. One potential target of the endometrial RAS, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFB1), which is essential for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, was also upregulated in endometrial cancer tissue (P = 0.001). Interestingly, TGFB1 was strongly correlated with RAS expression and was upregulated in tumour tissue. This study is the first to characterise the mRNA and protein expression of all RAS components in cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous endometrium. The greater expression of ATP6AP2, AGTR1 and ACE1, key elements of the pro-angiogenic/proliferative arm of the RAS, suggests that the RAS plays a role in the growth and spread of endometrial cancer. Therefore, existing drugs that inhibit the RAS and which are used to treat hypertension may have potential as treatments for endometrial cancer.

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Charlotte Höybye Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetology, Karolinska University Hospital and Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

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Andreas F H Pfeiffer Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Klinik für Endokrinologie & Stoffwechselmedizin, Berlin, Germany

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Diego Ferone IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Università di Genova – Endocrinologia DiMI, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, & CEBR, Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica, Genova, Italy

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Jens Sandahl Christiansen Medicinsk Endokrinologist Afd., MEA, NBG, Århus Sygehus, Århus, Denmark

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David Gilfoyle Ascendis Pharma A/S, Hellerup, Denmark

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Eva Dam Christoffersen Ascendis Pharma A/S, Hellerup, Denmark

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Eva Mortensen Ascendis Pharma Inc., Palo Alto, California, USA

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Jonathan A Leff Ascendis Pharma Inc., Palo Alto, California, USA

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Michael Beckert Ascendis Pharma A/S, Hellerup, Denmark

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TransCon growth hormone is a sustained-release human growth hormone prodrug under development in which unmodified growth hormone is transiently linked to a carrier molecule. It is intended as an alternative to daily growth hormone in the treatment of growth hormone deficiency. This was a multi-center, randomized, open-label, active-controlled trial designed to compare the safety (including tolerability and immunogenicity), pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of three doses of weekly TransCon GH to daily growth hormone (Omnitrope). Thirty-seven adult males and females diagnosed with adult growth hormone deficiency and stable on growth hormone replacement therapy for at least 3 months were, following a wash-out period, randomized (regardless of their pre-study dose) to one of three TransCon GH doses (0.02, 0.04 and 0.08 mg GH/kg/week) or Omnitrope 0.04 mg GH/kg/week (divided into 7 equal daily doses) for 4 weeks. Main outcomes evaluated were adverse events, immunogenicity and growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. TransCon GH was well tolerated; fatigue and headache were the most frequent drug-related adverse events and reported in all groups. No lipoatrophy or nodule formation was reported. No anti-growth hormone-binding antibodies were detected. TransCon GH demonstrated a linear, dose-dependent increase in growth hormone exposure without accumulation. Growth hormone maximum serum concentration and insulin-like growth factor 1 exposure were similar after TransCon GH or Omnitrope administered at comparable doses. The results suggest that long-acting TransCon GH has a profile similar to daily growth hormone but with a more convenient dosing regimen. These findings support further TransCon GH development.

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Jan Calissendorff Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

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Henrik Falhammar Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

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Background

Graves’ disease is a common cause of hyperthyroidism. Three therapies have been used for decades: pharmacologic therapy, surgery and radioiodine. In case of adverse events, especially agranulocytosis or hepatotoxicity, pre-treatment with Lugol’s solution containing iodine/potassium iodide to induce euthyroidism before surgery could be advocated, but this has rarely been reported.

Methods

All patients hospitalised due to uncontrolled hyperthyroidism at the Karolinska University Hospital 2005–2015 and treated with Lugol’s solution were included. All electronic files were carefully reviewed manually, with focus on the cause of treatment and admission, demographic data, and effects of iodine on thyroid hormone levels and pulse frequency.

Results

Twenty-seven patients were included. Lugol’s solution had been chosen due to agranulocytosis in 9 (33%), hepatotoxicity in 2 (7%), other side effects in 11 (41%) and poor adherence to medication in 5 (19%). Levels of free T4, free T3 and heart rate decreased significantly after 5–9 days of iodine therapy (free T4 53–20 pmol/L, P = 0.0002; free T3 20–6.5 pmol/L, P = 0.04; heart rate 87–76 beats/min P = 0.0007), whereas TSH remained unchanged. Side effects were noted in 4 (15%) (rash n = 2, rash and vomiting n = 1, swelling of fingers n = 1). Thyroidectomy was performed in 26 patients (96%) and one was treated with radioiodine; all treatments were without serious complications.

Conclusion

Treatment of uncontrolled hyperthyroidism with Lugol’s solution before definitive treatment is safe and it decreases thyroid hormone levels and heart rate. Side effects were limited. Lugol’s solution could be recommended pre-operatively in Graves’ disease with failed medical treatment, especially if side effects to anti-thyroid drugs have occurred.

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