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  • Abstract: Hypoparathyroidism x
  • Abstract: Menopause x
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Eva Novoa Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinic of Endocrinology, Head and Neck Surgery

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Marcel Gärtner Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinic of Endocrinology, Head and Neck Surgery

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Christoph Henzen Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinic of Endocrinology, Head and Neck Surgery

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Objective

The study aimed to assess the possible systemic effects of intratympanic dexamethasone (IT-Dex) on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, inflammation, and bone metabolism.

Design

A prospective cohort study including 30 adult patients of a tertiary referral ENT clinic treated with 9.6 mg IT-Dex over a period of 10 days was carried out.

Methods

Effects on plasma and salivary cortisol concentrations (basal and after low-dose (1 μg) ACTH stimulation), peripheral white blood cell count, and biomarkers for bone turnover were measured before (day 0) and after IT-Dex (day 16). Additional measurements for bone turnover were performed 5 months after therapy. Clinical information and medication with possible dexamethasone interaction were recorded.

Results

IT-Dex was well tolerated, and no effect was detected on the HPA axis (stimulated plasma and salivary cortisol concentration on day 0: 758±184 and 44.5±22.0 nmol/l; day 16: 718±154 and 39.8±12.4 nmol/l; P=0.58 and 0.24 respectively). Concentrations of osteocalcin (OC) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) did not differ after dexamethasone (OC on days 0 and 16 respectively: 24.1±10.5 and 23.6±8.8 μg/l; BSAP on day 0, 16, and after 5 months respectively: 11.5±4.2, 10.3±3.4, and 12.6±5.06 μg/l); similarly, there was no difference in the peripheral white blood cell count (5.7×1012/l and 6.1×1012/l on days 0 and 16 respectively).

Conclusions

IT-Dex therapy did not interfere with endogenous cortisol secretion or bone metabolism.

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Sylvia Thiele Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Center for Healthy Aging, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Anke Hannemann Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

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Maria Winzer Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Center for Healthy Aging, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Ulrike Baschant Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Center for Healthy Aging, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Heike Weidner Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Center for Healthy Aging, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Matthias Nauck Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

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Rajesh V Thakker Academic Endocrine Unit, Radcliffe Department of Medicine University of Oxford, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK

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Martin Bornhäuser Department of Medicine I, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
DFG Research Center and Cluster of Excellence for Regenerative Therapies, Technical University, Dresden, Germany

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Lorenz C Hofbauer Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Center for Healthy Aging, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
DFG Research Center and Cluster of Excellence for Regenerative Therapies, Technical University, Dresden, Germany

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Martina Rauner Department of Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Center for Healthy Aging, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

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Glucocorticoids (GC) are used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including various forms of arthritis. However, their use is limited, amongst others, by adverse effects on bone. The Wnt and bone formation inhibitor sclerostin was recently implicated in the pathogenesis of GC-induced osteoporosis. However, data are ambiguous. The aim of this study was to assess the regulation of sclerostin by GC using several mouse models with high GC levels and two independent cohorts of patients treated with GC. Male 24-week-old C57BL/6 and 18-week-old DBA/1 mice exposed to GC and 12-week-old mice with endogenous hypercortisolism displayed reduced bone formation as indicated by reduced levels of P1NP and increased serum sclerostin levels. The expression of sclerostin in femoral bone tissue and GC-treated bone marrow stromal cells, however, was not consistently altered. In contrast, GC dose- and time-dependently suppressed sclerostin at mRNA and protein levels in human mesenchymal stromal cells, and this effect was GC receptor dependent. In line with the human cell culture data, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 101) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR, n = 21) who were exposed to GC had lower serum levels of sclerostin than healthy age- and sex-matched controls (−40%, P < 0.01 and −26.5%, P < 0.001, respectively). In summary, sclerostin appears to be differentially regulated by GC in mice and humans as it is suppressed by GCs in humans but is not consistently altered in mice. Further studies are required to delineate the differences between GC regulation of sclerostin in mice and humans and assess whether sclerostin mediates GC-induced osteoporosis in humans.

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Lizhi Zhang Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Department of Endocrinology, Jiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Jinwei He Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China

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Xiang Sun Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai, China

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Dongyue Pang Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Jingjing Hu Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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Bo Feng Department of Endocrinology, Jiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

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We demonstrated previously that there is a correlation between glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Both GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide are incretins. The glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide receptor (GIPR) SNP rs10423928 has been extensively studied. However, it is not clear whether GIPR gene mutations affect bone metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between rs10423928 and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women in Shanghai. rs10423928 was detected in 884 postmenopausal women in Shanghai, and the correlation between the GIPR SNP and bone mineral density was assessed. The dominant T/T genotype of rs10423928 was found to be related to the bone mineral density of the femoral neck (P = 0.035). Overall, our findings indicate that the dominant T/T genotype of rs10423928 in postmenopausal women is significantly associated with a higher bone mineral density and that the T/T genotype exerts a bone-protective effect.

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Martine Cohen-Solal Department of Skeletal Diseases, INSERM U1132 & Université de Paris, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France

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Thomas Funck-Brentano Department of Skeletal Diseases, INSERM U1132 & Université de Paris, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France

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Pablo Ureña Torres AURA Nord, Saint Ouen, France
Department of Renal Physiology, Necker Hospital, Université de Paris, Paris, France

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Mineral and bone diseases (MBD) are predominant in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and lead to several bone manifestations, from pain to skeletal fractures. Cumulative traditional clinical risk factors, such as age and gender, in addition to those related to CKD, enhance the risk of comorbidity and mortality related to fractures. Despite great advances in understanding MBD in CKD, clinical and biological targets are lacking, which leads to under-management of fractures. Optimal PTH control results in a net improvement in defining the levels of bone remodeling. In addition, circulating biomarkers such as bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and cross-linked collagen type I peptide will also provide additional information about remodeling rate, bone mineralization and the evaluation of fracture risk. Imaging techniques identify patients at risk by measurement of bone mineral density by DEXA or by high peripheral QCT, which allow the discrimination of trabecular and cortical bone. Here, we have reviewed the literature related to epidemiology and the pathophysiological role of mineral and biochemical factors involved in CKD-MBD with a special focus on fracture risk. We also provide an algorithm that could be used for the management of bone diseases and to guide treatment decisions. Finally, the combined expertise of clinicians from various disciplines is crucial for the best prevention of fractures.

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Frederic Schrøder Arendrup Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

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Severine Mazaud-Guittot Inserm (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale), Irset – Inserm, UMR 1085, Rennes, France

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Bernard Jégou Inserm (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale), Irset – Inserm, UMR 1085, Rennes, France
EHESP-School of Public Health, Rennes, France

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David Møbjerg Kristensen Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Inserm (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale), Irset – Inserm, UMR 1085, Rennes, France

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Concern has been raised over chemical-induced disruption of ovary development during fetal life resulting in long-lasting consequences only manifesting themselves much later during adulthood. A growing body of evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to the mild analgesic acetaminophen/paracetamol can cause such a scenario. Therefore, in this review, we discuss three recent reports that collectively indicate that prenatal exposure in a period of 13.5 days post coitum in both rats and mouse can result in reduced female reproductive health. The combined data show that the exposure results in the reduction of primordial follicles, irregular menstrual cycle, premature absence of corpus luteum, as well as reduced fertility, resembling premature ovarian insufficiency syndrome in humans that is linked to premature menopause. This could especially affect the Western parts of the world, where the age for childbirth is continuously being increased and acetaminophen is recommended during pregnancy for pain and fever. We therefore highlight an urgent need for more studies to verify these data including both experimental and epidemiological approaches.

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Marianne C Astor Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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Kristian Løvås Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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Anette S B Wolff Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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Bjørn Nedrebø Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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Eirik Bratland Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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Jon Steen-Johnsen Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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Eystein S Husebye Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pediatric Department, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

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Primary hypomagnesemia with secondary hypocalcemia (HSH) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by neuromuscular symptoms in infancy due to extremely low levels of serum magnesium and moderate to severe hypocalcemia. Homozygous mutations in the magnesium transporter gene transient receptor potential cation channel member 6 (TRPM6) cause the disease. HSH can be misdiagnosed as primary hypoparathyroidism. The aim of this study was to describe the genetic, clinical and biochemical features of patients clinically diagnosed with HSH in a Norwegian cohort. Five patients in four families with clinical features of HSH were identified, including one during a national survey of hypoparathyroidism. The clinical history of the patients and their families were reviewed and gene analyses of TRPM6 performed. Four of five patients presented with generalized seizures in infancy and extremely low levels of serum magnesium accompanied by moderate hypocalcemia. Two of the patients had an older sibling who died in infancy. Four novel mutations and one large deletion in TRPM6 were identified. In one patient two linked homozygous mutations were located in exon 22 (p.F978L) and exon 23 (p.G1042V). Two families had an identical mutation in exon 25 (p.E1155X). The fourth patient had a missense mutation in exon 4 (p.H61N) combined with a large deletion in the C-terminal end of the gene. HSH is a potentially lethal condition that can be misdiagnosed as primary hypoparathyroidism. The diagnosis is easily made if serum magnesium is measured. When treated appropriately with high doses of oral magnesium supplementation, severe hypomagnesemia is uncommon and the long-term prognosis seems to be good.

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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.

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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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Paal Methlie Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway

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Steinar Hustad Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway

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Ralf Kellman Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway

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Bjørg Almås Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway

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Martina M Erichsen Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway

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Eystein S Husebye Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway

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Kristian Løvås Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway
Department of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway

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Objective

Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) offers superior analytical specificity compared with immunoassays, but it is not available in many regions and hospitals due to expensive instrumentation and tedious sample preparation. Thus, we developed an automated, high-throughput LC–MS/MS assay for simultaneous quantification of ten endogenous and synthetic steroids targeting diseases of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and gonads.

Methods

Deuterated internal standards were added to 85 μl serum and processed by liquid–liquid extraction. Cortisol, cortisone, prednisolone, prednisone, 11-deoxycortisol, dexamethasone, testosterone, androstenedione and progesterone were resolved by ultra-high-pressure chromatography on a reversed-phase column in 6.1 min and detected by triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. The method was used to assess steroid profiles in women with Addison's disease (AD, n=156) and blood donors (BDs, n=102).

Results

Precisions ranged from 4.5 to 10.1% relative standard deviations (RSD), accuracies from 95 to 108% and extraction recoveries from 60 to 84%. The method was practically free of matrix effects and robust to individual differences in serum composition. Most postmenopausal AD women had extremely low androstenedione concentrations, below 0.14 nmol/l, and median testosterone concentrations of 0.15 nmol/l (interquartile range 0.00–0.41), considerably lower than those of postmenopausal BDs (1.28 nmol/l (0.96–1.64) and 0.65 nmol/l (0.56–1.10) respectively). AD women in fertile years had androstenedione concentrations of 1.18 nmol/l (0.71–1.76) and testosterone concentrations of 0.44 nmol/l (0.22–0.63), approximately half of those found in BDs of corresponding age.

Conclusion

This LC–MS/MS assay provides highly sensitive and specific assessments of glucocorticoids and androgens with low sample volumes and is suitable for endocrine laboratories and research. Its utility has been demonstrated in a large cohort of women with AD, and the data suggest that women with AD are particularly androgen deficient after menopause.

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Emanuelle Nunes-Souza Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Água Verde, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Rebouças, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Centro de Genética Molecular e Pesquisa do Câncer em Crianças (CEGEMPAC) at Universidade Federal do Paraná, Agostinho Leão Jr., Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Mônica Evelise Silveira Laboratório Central de Análises Clínicas, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

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Monalisa Castilho Mendes Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Água Verde, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Rebouças, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Centro de Genética Molecular e Pesquisa do Câncer em Crianças (CEGEMPAC) at Universidade Federal do Paraná, Agostinho Leão Jr., Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Seigo Nagashima Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, General Carneiro, Alto da Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Departamento de Medicina, PUC-PR, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Caroline Busatta Vaz de Paula Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, General Carneiro, Alto da Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Departamento de Medicina, PUC-PR, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Guilherme Guilherme Vieira Cavalcante da Silva Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, General Carneiro, Alto da Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Departamento de Medicina, PUC-PR, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Giovanna Silva Barbosa Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, General Carneiro, Alto da Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Departamento de Medicina, PUC-PR, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Julia Belgrowicz Martins Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Água Verde, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Rebouças, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Lúcia de Noronha Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, General Carneiro, Alto da Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Departamento de Medicina, PUC-PR, Prado Velho, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Luana Lenzi Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

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José Renato Sales Barbosa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Água Verde, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Centro de Genética Molecular e Pesquisa do Câncer em Crianças (CEGEMPAC) at Universidade Federal do Paraná, Agostinho Leão Jr., Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Rayssa Danilow Fachin Donin Centro de Genética Molecular e Pesquisa do Câncer em Crianças (CEGEMPAC) at Universidade Federal do Paraná, Agostinho Leão Jr., Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Juliana Ferreira de Moura Pós Graduação em Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Departamento de Patologia Básica – UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil

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Gislaine Custódio Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Rebouças, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Laboratório Central de Análises Clínicas, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

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Cleber Machado-Souza Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Água Verde, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Rebouças, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Centro de Genética Molecular e Pesquisa do Câncer em Crianças (CEGEMPAC) at Universidade Federal do Paraná, Agostinho Leão Jr., Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Enzo Lalli Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire CNRS, Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne, France

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Bonald Cavalcante de Figueiredo Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Água Verde, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Rebouças, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Centro de Genética Molecular e Pesquisa do Câncer em Crianças (CEGEMPAC) at Universidade Federal do Paraná, Agostinho Leão Jr., Glória, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

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Objective

Adaptive changes in DHEA and sulfated-DHEA (DHEAS) production from adrenal zona reticularis (ZR) have been observed in normal and pathological conditions. Here we used three different cohorts to assess timing differences in DHEAS blood level changes and characterize the relationship between early blood DHEAS reduction and cell number changes in women ZR.

Materials and methods

DHEAS plasma samples (n = 463) were analyzed in 166 healthy prepubertal girls before pubarche (<9 years) and 324 serum samples from 268 adult females (31.9–83.8 years) without conditions affecting steroidogenesis. Guided by DHEAS blood levels reduction rate, we selected the age range for ZR cell counting using DHEA/DHEAS and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), tumor suppressor and cell stress marker, immunostaining, and hematoxylin stained nuclei of 14 post-mortem adrenal glands.

Results

We confirmed that overweight girls exhibited higher and earlier DHEAS levels and no difference was found compared with the average European and South American girls with a similar body mass index (BMI). Adrenopause onset threshold (AOT) defined as DHEAS blood levels <2040 nmol/L was identified in >35% of the females >40 years old and associated with significantly reduced ZR cell number (based on PTEN and hematoxylin signals). ZR cell loss may in part account for lower DHEA/DHEAS expression, but most cells remain alive with lower DHEA/DHEAS biosynthesis.

Conclusion

The timely relation between significant reduction of blood DHEAS levels and decreased ZR cell number at the beginning of the 40s suggests that adrenopause is an additional burden for a significant number of middle-aged women, and may become an emergent problem associated with further sex steroids reduction during the menopausal transition.

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