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Xuechao Jiang Scientific Research Center, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Yonghui Wang Department of Endocrinology, Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Xiaoying Li Department of Endocrinology, Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Leqi He Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Qian Yang Department of Endocrinology, Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Wei Wang Department of Endocrinology, Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Jun Liu Department of Endocrinology, Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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Bingbing Zha Department of Endocrinology, Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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B lymphocytes are the source of autoantibodies against the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) in Graves’ disease (GD). Characterization of autoimmune B-cell expression profiles might enable a better understanding of GD pathogenesis. To reveal this, the expression levels of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs (genes) in purified B cells from patients with newly diagnosed GD and healthy individuals were compared using microarrays, which elucidated 604 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs) and 410 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO and pathway analyses revealed that the DEGs are mainly involved in immune response. A protein–protein interaction network presented experimentally validated interactions among the DEGs. Two independent algorithms were used to identify the DE-lncRNAs that regulate the DEGs. Functional annotation of the deregulated lncRNA–mRNA pairs identified 14 pairs with mRNAs involved in cell proliferation. The lncRNAs TCONS_00022357-XLOC_010919 and n335641 were predicted to regulate TCL1 family AKT coactivator A (TCL1A), and the lncRNA n337845 was predicted to regulate SH2 domain containing 1A (SH2D1A). TCL1A and SH2D1A are highly involved in B-cell proliferation. The differential expression of both genes was validated by qRT-PCR. In conclusion, lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles of B cells from patients with GD indicated that the lncRNA–mRNA pairs n335641–TCL1A, TCONS_00022357-XLOC_010919–TCL1A, and n337845–SH2D1A may participate in GD pathogenesis by modulating B-cell proliferation and survival. Therefore, the identified lncRNA and mRNA may represent novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for GD.

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Thabiso R P Mofokeng Department of Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

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Salem A Beshyah Department of Medicine, Dubai Medical College, Duabi, United Arab Emirates
Department of Endocrinology, Mediclinic Airport Road Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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Fazleh Mahomed Department of Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

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Kwazi C Z Ndlovu Department of Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

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Ian L Ross Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

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Background

The burden and management of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) in Africa have not been well documented. We aimed to identify specific disease characteristics, patient demographics, and patterns of clinical management in established PAI in Africa.

Methods

An online survey of physicians’ experience relating to PAI.

Results

There were 1334 responses received, 589 were complete, and 332 respondents reported managing patients with hypoadrenalism. The described responses were related to a calculated pool of 5787 patients with hypoadrenalism (2746 females, 3041 males), of whom 2302 had PAI. The likely causes of PAI in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) vs the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions included autoimmune disease (20% vs 60.3%; P < 0.001), tuberculosis (34% vs 4.1%; P < 0.001), AIDS (29.8% vs 1%; P < 0.001), malignancy, and genetic conditions. Sixteen percent of AD patients (376/2302) presented in an adrenal crisis. Medical emergency identification was not used by 1233 (83.6%) SSA vs 330 (40.4%) MENA patients (P < 0.001), respectively. Relative non-availability of diagnostic tests across both regions included adrenal antibodies 63% vs 69.6% (P = 0.328), s-cortisol 49.4 % vs 26.7% (P = 0.004), s-ACTH 55.7% vs 53.3% (P = 0.217), and adrenal CT scans 52.4% vs 31.8% (P = 0.017) in the SSA and MENA region, respectively. Across the entire cohort, the overall hydrocortisone use and extrapolated proportion of synacthen use were 59.4% and 50.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

Through the perception and practice of healthcare professionals, we identified significant challenges in the diagnosis and management of PAI which may herald high mortality. Differences between regions may reflect the allocation of healthcare resources.

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Salman Razvi Translational and Clinical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK

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Sanaa Mrabeti Medical Affairs EMEA, Merck Serono Middle East FZ-LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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Markus Luster Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany

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The current standard of care for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine (LT4) monotherapy to reduce levels of thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH) within its reference range and amelioration of any symptoms. A substantial minority continues to report hypothyroid-like symptoms despite optimized TSH, however. These symptoms are not specific to thyroid dysfunction and are frequent among the euthyroid population, creating a therapeutic dilemma for the treating clinician as well as the patient. We present a concise, narrative review of the clinical research and evidence-based guidance on the management of this challenging population. The clinician may endeavor to ensure that the serum TSH is within the target range. However, the symptomatic patient may turn to alternative non-evidence-based therapies in the hope of obtaining relief. Accordingly, it is important for the clinician to check for conditions unrelated to the thyroid that could account for the ongoing symptoms such as other autoimmune conditions, anemia or mental health disorders. Systematic and thorough investigation of the potential causes of persistent symptoms while receiving LT4 therapy will resolve the problem for most patients. There may be some patients that may benefit from additional treatment with liothyronine (LT3), although it is unclear as yet as to which patient group may benefit the most from combined LT4 + LT3 therapy. In the future, personalized treatment with LT4 + LT3 may be of benefit for some patients with persistent symptoms of hypothyroidism such as those with polymorphisms in the deiodinase enzyme 2 (DIO2). For now, this remains a subject for research.

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Earn H Gan Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Endocrine Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Wendy Robson Urology Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Peter Murphy Urology Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Robert Pickard Urology Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Simon Pearce Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Endocrine Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Rachel Oldershaw Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

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Background

The highly plastic nature of adrenal cortex suggests the presence of adrenocortical stem cells (ACSC), but the exact in vivo identity of ACSC remains elusive. A few studies have demonstrated the differentiation of adipose or bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) into steroid-producing cells. We therefore investigated the isolation of multipotent MSC from human adrenal cortex.

Methods

Human adrenals were obtained as discarded surgical material. Single-cell suspensions from human adrenal cortex (n = 3) were cultured onto either complete growth medium (CM) or MSC growth promotion medium (MGPM) in hypoxic condition. Following ex vivo expansion, their multilineage differentiation capacity was evaluated. Phenotype markers were analysed by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry for cell-surface antigens associated with bone marrow MSCs and adrenocortical-specific phenotype. Expression of mRNAs for pluripotency markers was assessed by q-PCR.

Results

The formation of colony-forming unit fibroblasts comprising adherent cells with fibroblast-like morphology were observed from the monolayer cell culture, in both CM and MGPM. Cells derived from MGPM revealed differentiation towards osteogenic and adipogenic cell lineages. These cells expressed cell-surface MSC markers (CD44, CD90, CD105 and CD166) but did not express the haematopoietic, lymphocytic or HLA-DR markers. Flow cytometry demonstrated significantly higher expression of GLI1 in cell population harvested from MGPM, which were highly proliferative. They also exhibited increased expression of the pluripotency markers.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that human adrenal cortex harbours a mesenchymal stem cell-like population. Understanding the cell biology of adrenal cortex- derived MSCs will inform regenerative medicine approaches in autoimmune Addison’s disease.

Open access
Hanna Karhapää Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

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Siru Mäkelä Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

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Hanna Laurén Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Radiology, HUS Medical Imaging Centre, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

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Marjut Jaakkola Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Radiology, HUS Medical Imaging Centre, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

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Camilla Schalin-Jäntti Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Endocrinology, Abdominal Centre, University of Helsinki and HUS, Helsinki, Finland

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Micaela Hernberg Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

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Objective

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) can cause endocrine adverse events. However, endocrine AEs could be related to better treatment outcomes. Our aim was to investigate whether this holds true in a real-world setting of metastatic melanoma patients.

Design

A retrospective single-institution study.

Methods

We included 140 consecutive metastatic melanoma patients treated with ICI between January 2012 and May 2019. We assessed the endocrine toxicity and the best possible treatment outcomes from electronic patient records, including laboratory parameters and radiological images.

Results

Of the treated patients, 21 patients (15%) were treated with ipilimumab, 46 (33%) with nivolumab, 67 (48%) with pembrolizumab, and 6 (4%) with combination therapy (ipilimumab + nivolumab). Endocrine AEs appeared in 29% (41/140) patients. Three patients had two different endocrine AEs. Thyroid disorders were the most common: 26% (36/140), followed by hypophysitis: 4% (5/140). Three subjects (2%, 3/140) were diagnosed with autoimmune diabetes. Three patients had to terminate treatment due to endocrine toxicity. Radiological manifestations of endocrine AEs were found in 16 patients (39%, 16/41). Endocrine toxicity was associated with significantly better treatment outcomes. Median progression-free survival (8.1 months, range 5.1–11.1 months vs 2.7 months, range 2.4–3.0 months, P < 0.001), and median overall survival (47.5 months, range 15.5–79.5 months vs 23.7 months, range 15.3–32.1 months, P = 0.035) were longer for patients experiencing endocrine AEs.

Conclusions

The higher number of endocrine AEs suggest that regular laboratory monitoring aids in AE detection. Endocrine AEs in metastatic melanoma may correlate with better treatment outcomes.

Open access
Natacha Driessens Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, Department of Endocrinology, Route de Lennik, Brussels, Belgium

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Madhu Prasai Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, Department of Endocrinology, Route de Lennik, Brussels, Belgium

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Orsalia Alexopoulou Department of Endocrinology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium

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Christophe De Block Department of Endocrinology-Diabetology-Metabolism, Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen & University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat, Edegem, Belgium

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Eva Van Caenegem Department of Endocrinology, Academisch Ziekenhuis Sint-Jan Brugge – Oostende AV, Ruddershove, Brugge, Belgium

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Guy T’Sjoen Department of Endocrinology, Ghent Universitary Hospital, C. Heymanslaan, Gent, Belgium

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Frank Nobels Department of Endocrinology, Onze-Lieve Vrouw Ziekenhuis, Moorselbaan, Aalst, Belgium

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Christophe Ghys Department of Endocrinology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan, Brussels, Belgium

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Laurent Vroonen Department of Endocrinology, Cliniques Universitaires de Liège, Avenue de l’hôpital, Liège, Belgium

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Corinne Jonas Department of Endocrinology, CHU UCL Namur - Godinne, Avenue Docteur Gaston Thérasse, Yvoir, Belgium

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Bernard Corvilain Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, Department of Endocrinology, Route de Lennik, Brussels, Belgium

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Dominique Maiter Department of Endocrinology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium

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Objective

Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is a rare disease with an increasing prevalence, which may be complicated by life-threatening adrenal crisis (AC). Good quality epidemiological data remain scarce. We performed a Belgian survey to describe the aetiology, clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, comorbidities and frequency of AC in PAI.

Methods

A nationwide multicentre study involving 10 major university hospitals in Belgium collected data from adult patients with known PAI.

Results

Two hundred patients were included in this survey. The median age at diagnosis was 38 years (IQR 25–48) with a higher female prevalence (F/M sex ratio = 1.53). The median disease duration was 13 years (IQR 7–25). Autoimmune disease was the most common aetiology (62.5%) followed by bilateral adrenalectomy (23.5%) and genetic variations (8.5%). The majority (96%) of patients were treated with hydrocortisone at a mean daily dose of 24.5 ± 7.0 mg, whereas 87.5% of patients also received fludrocortisone. About one-third of patients experienced one or more AC over the follow-up period, giving an incidence of 3.2 crises per 100 patient-years. There was no association between the incidence of AC and the maintenance dose of hydrocortisone. As high as 27.5% of patients were hypertensive, 17.5% had diabetes and 17.5% had a diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Conclusion

This study provides the first information on the management of PAI in large clinical centres in Belgium, showing an increased frequency of postsurgical PAI, a nearly normal prevalence of several comorbidities and an overall good quality of care with a low incidence of adrenal crises, compared with data from other registries.

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Yi Chen Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Wen Zhang Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Chi Chen Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Yuying Wang Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Ningjian Wang Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Yingli Lu Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Objective

We aimed to evaluate whether thyroid hormones, autoimmune and thyroid homeostasis status were related to bone turnover in type 2 diabetes.

Methods

The data were obtained from a cross-sectional study, the METAL study. In this study, 4209 participants (2059 men and 2150 postmenopausal women) with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. Thyroid function, thyroid antibodies and three bone turnover markers (BTMs), including a large N-mid fragment of osteocalcin (N-MID osteocalcin), β-C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTX) and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), were measured. Thyroid homeostasis parameters, including the sum activity of step-up deiodinases (SPINA-GD), thyroid secretory capacity (SPINA-GT), Jostel’s TSH index (TSHI) and the thyrotroph thyroid hormone resistance index (TTSI), were calculated. The associations of thyroid parameters with BTMs were analyzed using linear regression.

Results

Free and total triiodothyronine were positively associated with N-MID osteocalcin and P1NP in both sexes and positively associated with β-CTX in postmenopausal women. Thyroid-stimulating hormone was negatively associated with β-CTX in postmenopausal women, and free thyroxine was negatively associated with N-MID osteocalcin and P1NP in men. SPINA-GD was positively associated with N-MID osteocalcin and P1NP in both sexes. There was a positive relationship of SPINA-GT with β-CTX, a negative relationship of TTSI with β-CTX, and a negative relationship of TSHI with β-CTX and P1NP in postmenopausal women.

Conclusions

Among men and postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, significant associations were observed between N-MID osteocalcin, β-CTX and P1NP with thyroid function and thyroid homeostasis. Further prospective studies are warranted to understand the causal relationship and underlying mechanism.

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Zhengrong Jiang Department of Endocrinology, The Second affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

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Linghong Huang Department of Endocrinology, The Second affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

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Lijun Chen Department of Endocrinology, The Second affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

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Jingxiong Zhou Department of Endocrinology, The Second affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

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Bo Liang Department of Endocrinology, The Second affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

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Xuefeng Bai Department of Endocrinology, The Second affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

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Lizhen Wu Department of Endocrinology, The Second affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

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Huibin Huang Department of Endocrinology, The Second affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

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Background

Graves’ disease is a common autoimmune disease. Cytokines and their signalling pathways play a major part in the pathogenesis of Graves’ disease; however, the underlying mechanism needs to be clarified.

Aims

The aim of this study was to explore whether circular RNAs participate in the immunological pathology of Graves’ disease via cytokine-related signalling pathways.

Methods

Bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed circular RNAs and their targets and associated pathways. A total of three patients with Graves’ disease and three sex- and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled for validation with microarray analysis and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). An additional 24 patients with Graves’ disease and 24 gender- and age-matched controls were included for validation by real-time fluorescent qPCR. Flow cytometry and CCK8 assays were used to detect the apoptotic and proliferative levels of Jurkat cells (T lymphocytes) with the silenced expression of circRNA. ELISA was performed to detect the growth and apoptosis-related proteins. The competition mechanism of endogenous RNA was explored by real-time fluorescence qPCR.

Results

A total of 366 significantly differentially expressed circular RNAs were identified in the Graves’ disease group compared to healthy controls. The level of hsa_circ_0090364 was elevated in Graves’ disease patients and positively correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies. Further analyses suggested that hsa_circ_0090364 may regulate the JAK-STAT pathway via the hsa-miR-378a-3p/IL-6ST/IL21R axis to promote cell growth.

Conclusions

These results provide novel clues into the pathophysiological mechanisms of Graves’ disease and potential targets for drug treatment.

Open access
Sílvia Santos Monteiro Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Department of Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Largo Professor Abel Salazar Porto, Portugal

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Tiago Silva Santos Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Department of Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Largo Professor Abel Salazar Porto, Portugal

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Ana Martins Lopes Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Department of Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Largo Professor Abel Salazar Porto, Portugal

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José Carlos Oliveira Department of Clinical Pathology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Largo Professor Abel Salazar Porto, Portugal

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Cláudia Freitas Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Department of Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Largo Professor Abel Salazar Porto, Portugal

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André Couto Carvalho Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Department of Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Largo Professor Abel Salazar Porto, Portugal

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Purpose

The levothyroxine absorption test (LT4AT) is an important tool for distinguishing hypothyroidism due to malabsorption from ‘pseudomalabsorption’ conditions. Our aim was to review our institution’s LT4AT results and assess its role in the management of patients with refractory hypothyroidism.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of all patients evaluated for refractory hypothyroidism who underwent LT4AT in our tertiary center between 2014 and 2020. Its results and the impact on thyroid function management during follow-up were assessed.

Results

Ten female patients were included with a mean age of 40 years (min-max: 26–62). Mean weight was 72 kg (min–max: 43–88) and baseline LT4 dosage ranged from 2.5 to 5.3 µg/kg/day. The most common causes of hypothyroidism were postsurgical in 50% (n  = 5) and autoimmune in 20% (n  = 2). During LT4AT, normal LT4 absorption was found in all but one individual (mean FT4 increase of 231%, min–max: 85–668). The only patient with objective LT4 absorption impairment (maximal increase of 48% by hour 5) presented also Helicobacter pylori gastritis and prior history of ‘intestinal surgery’ during childhood. No adverse events were reported during any of the LT4ATs. During follow-up (median 11.5 months (IQR 23)), three patients obtained euthyroidism and six had improved their hypothyroidism state.

Conclusions

The LT4AT is an effective and safe way to assess refractory hypothyroidism and provides valuable information to distinguish LT4 malabsorption from ‘pseudomalabsorption’. Our data suggest that most patients with suspicious LT4 malabsorption perform normally during LT4AT. This test provides relevant information for better management of patients with refractory hypothyroidism.

Open access
Bushra Shahida Department of Clinical Sciences, Genomics, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden

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Tereza Planck Department of Clinical Sciences, Genomics, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden

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Tania Singh Department of Clinical Sciences, Genomics, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

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Peter Åsman Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Ophthalmology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
Department of Ophthalmology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden

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Mikael Lantz Department of Clinical Sciences, Genomics, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden

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Graves’ disease (GD) and Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) are complex autoimmune diseases. This study delved into the impact of cigarette smoke extract (CSE), simvastatin, and/or diclofenac on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Specifically, we explored alterations in IL-1B, IL-6, PTGS2 expression, B- and T-lymphocyte proliferation, and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) production. We also assessed IGF1’s influence on B- and T-lymphocyte proliferation. PBMCs from Graves’ patients were exposed to CSE with/without simvastatin and/or diclofenac. Gene and protein expression was compared with untreated PBMCs. B- and T-lymphocyte proliferation was assessed following IGF1 treatment. PBMCs exposed to CSE exhibited increased expression of IL-1B (6-fold), IL-6 (10-fold), and PTGS2 (5.6-fold), and protein levels of IL-1B (4-fold), IL-6 (16-fold) and PGE2 (3.7-fold) compared with untreated PBMCs. Simvastatin and/or diclofenac downregulated the expression of PTGS2 (0.5-fold), IL-6 (0.4-fold), and IL-1B (0.6-fold), and the protein levels of IL-1B (0.6-fold), IL-6 (0.6-fold), and PGE2 (0.6-fold) compared with untreated PBMCs. CSE exposure in PBMCs increased the proliferation of B and T lymphocytes by 1.3-fold and 1.4-fold, respectively, compared with untreated. CSE exposure increased IgG (1.5-fold) in supernatant from PBMCs isolated from Graves’ patients. IGF1 treatment increased the proliferation of B and T lymphocytes by 1.6-fold. Simvastatin downregulated the proliferation of B and T lymphocytes by 0.7-fold. Our study shows that CSE significantly upregulated the expression and release of the inflammatory markers PTGS2, IL-6 and IL-1B,the IgG levels, and the proliferation of B and T lymphocytes. Additionally, IGF1 increased the proliferation of B and T lymphocytes. Finally, these effects were decreased by diclofenac and/or simvastatin treatment.

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