| 1. |
- Goetze, Jens P, et al.
(författare)
-
Plasma chromogranin A is a marker of death in elderly patients presenting with symptoms of heart failure
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Endocrine Connections. - : Bioscientifica. - 2049-3614. ; 3:1, s. 47-56
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cardiovascular risk assessment remains difficult in elderly patients. We examined whether chromogranin A (CgA) measurement in plasma may be valuable in assessing risk of death in elderly patients with symptoms of heart failure in a primary care setting. A total of 470 patients (mean age 73 years) were followed for 10 years. For CgA plasma measurement, we used a two-step method including a screening test and a confirmative test with plasma pre-treatment with trypsin. Cox multivariable proportional regression and receiver-operating curve (ROC) analyses were used to assess mortality risk. Assessment of cardiovascular mortality during the first 3 years of observation showed that CgA measurement contained useful information with a hazard ratio (HR) of 5.4 (95% CI 1.7–16.4) (CgA confirm). In a multivariate setting, the corresponding HR was 5.9 (95% CI 1.8–19.1). When adding N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) to the model, CgA confirm still possessed prognostic information (HR: 6.1; 95% CI 1.8–20.7). The result for predicting all-cause mortality displayed the same pattern. ROC analyses in comparison to NT-proBNP to identify patients on top of clinical variables at risk of cardiovascular death within 5 years of follow-up showed significant additive value of CgA confirm measurements compared with NT-proBNP and clinical variables. CgA measurement in the plasma of elderly patients with symptoms of heart failure can identify those at increased risk of short- and long-term mortality.
|
|
| 2. |
- Imamovic, Marcus, et al.
(författare)
-
Confounding effects of liquorice, hydrocortisone, and blood contamination on salivary cortisol but not cortisone
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Endocrine Connections. - : BIOSCIENTIFICA LTD. - 2049-3614. ; 12:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To determine the effects of liquorice consumption, topical hydro cortisone, and blood contamination on salivary cortisol and cortisone concentrations. Design and methods: Thirty healthy volunteers were randomized to a low, medium, or high dose of liquorice. Late-night saliva samples were collected using a Salivette (R) collection device at baseline, during 1 week of daily liquorice consumption, and during 4 weeks washout. Saliva sampling was also performed before and after the application of topical hydrocortisone on the skin. Furthermore, in a subgroup (n = 16), saliva and venous blood were collected from each individual and mixed to achieve graded blood contamination in saliva. Salivary cortisol and cortisone were a nalyzed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Significant increases in salivary cortisol concentrations were observed during medium- (+49%) and high-dose (+97%) liquorice intake, which returned to baseline 4 days after liquorice withdrawal. Topical hydrocortisone on fingers holding the collection swab increased salivary cortisol concentrations >1000-fold with concomitant pronounced elevation of the cortisol:cortisone ratio. Salivary cortisol in creased significantly after contamination with blood >= 0.5%. Visual examination could safely detect these samples. Salivary cortisone concentrations were unaffected by liquorice consumption and blood contamination, and only marginally affected by topical hydrocortisone. Conclusion: Liquorice, topical hydrocortisone, and blood contamination may all cause elevated salivary cortisol concentrations. Improved sampling instructions and visual examination of the sample may minimize these risks. Salivary cortisone is essentially unaffected by the different preanalytical confounders and may be used as a first-line screening test for Cushings syndrome.
|
|
| 3. |
- Lundin, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
Sexual function and combined oral contraceptives : a randomised, placebo-controlled trial
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Endocrine Connections. - : Bioscientifica. - 2049-3614. ; 7:11, s. 1208-1216
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The effect of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) on female sexuality has long been a matter of discussion, but placebo-controlled studies are lacking. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate if an oestradiol-containing COC influences sexual function.Design: Investigator-initiated, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial where 202 healthy women were randomised to a combined oral contraceptive (1.5 mg oestradiol and 2.5 mg nomegestrol acetate) or placebo for three treatment cycles.Methods: Sexual function at baseline and during the last week of the final treatment cycle was evaluated by the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire. Serum and hair testosterone levels were assessed at the same time points.Results: Compared to placebo, COC use was associated with a small decrease in sexual interest (COC median change score: -2.0; interquartile range (IQR): -5.0 to 0.5 vs placebo: -1.0; IQR: -3.0 to 2.0, P=0.019), which remained following adjustment for change in self-rated depressive symptoms (B= -0.80 +/- 0.30, Wald =7.08, P=0.008). However, the proportion of women who reported a clinically relevant deterioration in sexual interest did not differ between COC or placebo users (COC 18 (22.2%) vs placebo 16 (17.8%), P=0.47). Change in other measured aspects of sexual function as well as total score of sexual function did not differ between the two treatments.Conclusions: This study suggests that use of oestradiol-based COCs is associated with reduced sexual interest. However, the changes are minute, and probably not of clinical relevance.
|
|
| 4. |
- Paschou, Stavroula A, et al.
(författare)
-
On type 1 diabetes mellitus pathogenesis
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Endocrine Connections. - : Bioscientifica. - 2049-3614. ; 7:1, s. R38-R46
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) results from the autoimmune destruction of β cells of the endocrine pancreas. Pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus is different from that of type 2 diabetes mellitus, where both insulin resistance and reduced secretion of insulin by the β cells play a synergistic role. We will present genetic, environmental and immunologic factors that destroy β cells of the endocrine pancreas and lead to insulin deficiency. The process of autoimmune destruction takes place in genetically susceptible individuals under the triggering effect of one or more environmental factors and usually progresses over a period of many months to years, during which period patients are asymptomatic and euglycemic, but positive for relevant autoantibodies. Symptomatic hyperglycemia and frank diabetes occurs after a long latency period, which reflects the large percentage of β cells that need to be destroyed before overt diabetes become evident.
|
|
| 5. |
- Quinkler, Marcus, et al.
(författare)
-
Prednisolone is associated with a worse lipid profile than hydrocortisone in patients with adrenal insufficiency
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Endocrine Connections. - : BIOSCIENTIFICA LTD. - 2049-3614. ; 6:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Prednisolone is used as glucocorticoid replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency (AI). Recent data indicate that its use in AI is associated with low bone mineral density. Data on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with AI treated with prednisolone are scarce, despite this condition being the predominant cause of excess mortality. We aimed to address this question using real-world data from the European Adrenal Insufficiency Registry (EU-AIR). Design/methods: EU-AIR, comprising of 19 centres across Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, commenced enrolling patients with AI in August 2012. Patients receiving prednisolone (3-6 mg/day, n = 50) or hydrocortisone (15-30 mg/day, n = 909) were identified and grouped at a ratio of 1: 3 (prednisolone: hydrocortisone) by matching for gender, age, duration and type of disease. Data from baseline and follow-up visits were analysed. Data from patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia were excluded. Results: Significantly higher mean +/- s. d. total (6.3 +/- 1.6 vs 5.4 +/- 1.1 mmol/L; P = 0.003) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (3.9 +/- 1.4 vs 3.2 +/- 1.0 mmol/L; P = 0.013) were identified in 47 patients on prednisolone vs 141 receiving hydrocortisone at baseline and at follow-up (P = 0.005 and P = 0.006, respectively). HbA1c, high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and waist circumference were not significantly different. Conclusions: This is the first matched analysis of its kind. Significantly higher LDL levels in patients receiving prednisolone relative to hydrocortisone could predict a higher relative risk of cardiovascular disease in the former group.
|
|
| 6. |
- Ullsten, Sara, et al.
(författare)
-
Islet amyloid deposits preferentially in the highly functional and most blood-perfused islets.
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Endocrine Connections. - : BIOSCIENTIFICA LTD. - 2049-3614. ; 6:7, s. 458-468
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Islet amyloid and beta cell death in type 2 diabetes are heterogeneous events, where some islets are affected early in the disease process, whereas others remain visibly unaffected. This study investigated the possibility that inter-islet functional and vascular differences may explain the propensity for amyloid accumulation in certain islets. Highly blood-perfused islets were identified by microspheres in human islet amyloid polypeptide expressing mice fed a high-fat diet for three or 10 months. These highly blood-perfused islets had better glucose-stimulated insulin secretion capacity than other islets and developed more amyloid deposits after 10 months of high-fat diet. Similarly, human islets with a superior release capacity formed more amyloid in high glucose culture than islets with a lower release capacity. The amyloid formation in mouse islets was associated with a higher amount of prohormone convertase 1/3 and with a decreased expression of its inhibitor proSAAS when compared to islets with less amyloid. In contrast, levels of prohormone convertase 2 and expression of its inhibitor neuroendocrine protein 7B2 were unaltered. A misbalance in prohormone convertase levels may interrupt the normal processing of islet amyloid polypeptide and induce amyloid formation. Preferential amyloid load in the most blood-perfused and functional islets may accelerate the progression of type 2 diabetes.
|
|
| 7. |
- van Dijk, P R, et al.
(författare)
-
Effect of i.p. insulin administration on IGF1 and IGFBP1 in type 1 diabetes.
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Endocrine Connections. - 2049-3614. ; 3:1, s. 17-23
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), low concentrations of IGF1 and high concentrations of IGF-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) have been reported. It has been suggested that these abnormalities in the GH-IGF1 axis are due to low insulin concentrations in the portal vein. We hypothesized that the i.p. route of insulin administration increases IGF1 concentrations when compared with the s.c. route of insulin administration. IGF1 and IGFBP1 concentrations in samples derived from an open-label, randomized cross-over trial comparing the effects of s.c. and i.p. insulin delivery on glycaemia were determined. T1DM patients were randomized to receive either 6 months of continuous i.p. insulin infusion (CIPII) through an implantable pump (MIP 2007C, Medtronic) followed by 6 months of s.c. insulin infusion or vice versa with a washout phase in between. Data from 16 patients who had complete measurements during both treatment phases were analysed. The change in IGF1 concentrations during CIPII treatment was 10.4 μg/l (95% CI -0.94, 21.7 μg/l; P=0.06) and during s.c. insulin treatment was -2.2 μg/l (95% CI -13.5, 9.2 μg/l; P=0.69). When taking the effect of treatment order into account, the estimated change in IGF1 concentrations was found to be 12.6 μg/l (95% CI -3.1, 28.5 μg/l; P=0.11) with CIPII treatment compared with that with s.c. insulin treatment. IGFBP1 concentrations decreased to -100.7 μg/l (95% CI -143.0, -58.3 μg/l; P<0.01) with CIPII treatment. During CIPII treatment, parts of the GH-IGF1 axis changed compared with that observed during s.c. insulin treatment. This supports the hypothesis that the i.p. route of insulin administration is of importance in the IGF1 system.
|
|
