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Life Sci 2020 Jul 31:118174. Epub 2020 Jul 31.

Honorary Consultant Endocrinologist at Hull University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, UK; Chair in Academic Diabetes, Endocrinology and metabolism in Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, UK. Electronic address:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine disorder in females of the reproductive age. PCOS is commonly manifested as ovulatory dysfunction, clinical and biochemical excess androgen level, and polycystic ovaries. Metabolic sequelae associated with PCOS, including insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), obesity and increased cardiometabolic risk. Read More

AACE Clin Case Rep 2020 Jul-Aug;6(4):e170-e173. Epub 2020 Apr 3.

Objective: Granulosa cell ovarian tumors are known to secrete estrogen. Herein we report a patient presenting with primary amenorrhea and virilization with markedly high androgen levels, all thought to be disproportional to be attributed to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) alone. Bilateral oophorectomy revealed a rare androgen-secreting granulosa cell ovarian tumor and bilateral cysts (PCOS) both contributing to manifestations. Read More

Biol Sex Differ 2020 Jul 29;11(1):45. Epub 2020 Jul 29.

John B. Pierce Laboratory, 290 Congress Ave, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.

Sex hormones and their respective receptors affect vascular function differently in men and women, so it is reasonable to assume they play a role in the sex differences in cardiovascular disease states. This review focuses on how the effects of testosterone on arterial vessels impact the female vasculature. In women with androgen-excess polycystic ovary syndrome, and in transgender men, testosterone exposure is associated with high blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, and dyslipidemia. Read More

Endocrinology 2020 Aug;161(8)

Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, & Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

The potent androgen 5α-dihydrotestosterone irreversibly derives from testosterone via the activity of steroid 5α-reductases (5αRs). The major 5αR isoforms in most species, 5αR1 and 5αR2, have not been purified to homogeneity. We report here the heterologous expression of polyhistidine-tagged, codon-optimized human 5αR1 and 5αR2 cDNAs in Escherichia coli. Read More

Chem Biol Interact 2020 Jul 14:109188. Epub 2020 Jul 14.

Department of Endocrinology, Dr.A.L.M Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600113, India. Electronic address:

We have reported that gestational exposure to hexavalent chromium (CrVI) represses androgen receptor (Ar) and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (Fshr) in Sertoli cells (SCs) of adult rats, while the mechanism underlying remains obscure. We tested the hypothesis "transient gestational exposure to CrVI during the critical embryonic windows of testicular differentiation and growth may have adverse impact on transcription factors controlling the expression of Ar and Fshr in SCs of the F progeny". CrVI (KCrO) was given through drinking water (50 ppm, 100 ppm and 200 ppm), to pregnant rats from gestational day 9-14 (testicular differentiation) and 15 to 21 (prenatal differentiation and proliferation of SC); male progenies were sacrificed on postnatal day 30 (Completion of postnatal SC maturation). Read More

Ther Adv Reprod Health 2020 Jan-Dec;14:2633494120913032. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Homerton Fertility Centre, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London E9 6SR, UK.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common endocrinological condition which is found to be prevalent in 5-10% of women of reproductive age. Historically, a combination of anovulation and androgen excess was considered a hallmark in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Addition of ultrasound features of polycystic ovary syndrome has improved the detection of variation in the polycystic ovary syndrome phenotype. Read More

J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2020 Jul 13. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

Department of Endocrinology, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, India.

Objectives Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an autosomal recessive disorder, that could rarely be due to 17 α-hydroxylase deficiency (17αOHD) and/or 17,20 lyase deficiency. Mutation of CYP17A1 gene causes deficiency of glucocorticoids and androgens but excess of mineralocorticoids. Lack of genital ambiguity in most children causes a delay in diagnosis even until puberty. Read More

J Endocrinol Invest 2020 Jul 9. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, P.le Stefani, 1, 37126, Verona, Italy.

PCOS is a common and heterogeneous endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, frequently associated with metabolic abnormalities. It was estimated that about 75% of these subjects have an impairment of insulin action, as measured by gold standard methods. While the relationship between insulin resistance and PCOS is consistently shown by a number of studies, the mechanisms underlying its primary origin still remains an unsolved issue. Read More

Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2020 24;11:2042018820934319. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

RCSI Medical School, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, 2, Ireland.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been traditionally perceived as a reproductive disorder due to its most common presentation with menstrual dysfunction and infertility. However, it is now clear that women with PCOS are at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction, from impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. PCOS is characterised by androgen excess, with cross-sectional data showing that hyperandrogenism is directly complicit in the development of metabolic complications. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jun 29;21(13). Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-653 Poznan, Poland.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is the most common cause of primary adrenal insufficiency in children and adolescents. It comprises several clinical entities associated with mutations in genes, encoding enzymes involved in cortisol biosynthesis. The mutations lead to considerable (non-classic form) to almost complete (classic form) inhibition of enzymatic activity, reflected by different phenotypes and relevant biochemical alterations. Read More

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2020 Aug 26;115:104711. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Sir Colin Berry, Professor Emeritus, Queen Mary University, London, UK.

Obesity as determined by BMI is a confounder in clinical evaluations of the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Validated regulatory tests are used to determine whether a chemical acts via a mode of action (MOA) that affects estrogen, androgen, thyroid or steroidogenic pathways. Test batteries for evaluating EDCs include QSAR, in vitro assays, and animal testing. Read More

Reprod Toxicol 2020 Jun 25;96:128-140. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Division of Endocrinology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh -226031, India. Electronic address:

Approximately 2 billion people worldwide are susceptible to iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency has largely been tackled by iodine fortification in salt; however indiscriminate use of iodine raises the risk of iodine toxicity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying adverse effect of excess iodine on spermatogenesis. Read More

J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep 2020 Jan-Dec;8:2324709620933416

Tidelands Health Group, Myrtle Beach, SC, USA.

To characterize the expression of steroidogenic enzymes implicated in the development of ovarian steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified (SCT-NOS). We present 4 ovarian SCT-NOS evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of steroidogenic enzymes as an approach to define this entity pathologically. All 4 ovarian SCT-NOS showed increased expression for cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD17B1), aldo-ketoreductase type 1 C3 (AKR1C3), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (HSD3B2), 5α-reductase type 2 (SRD5A2), steroid sulfatase (SULT2A1), estrogen sulfotransferase (EST), and aromatase (CYP19A1). Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020 Aug;105(8)

Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Context: Patients with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) often require supraphysiologic glucocorticoid doses to suppress adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and control androgen excess. Nevanimibe hydrochloride (ATR-101), which selectively inhibits adrenal cortex function, might reduce androgen excess independent of ACTH and thus allow for lower glucocorticoid dosing in CAH. 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstenedione are CAH biomarkers used to monitor androgen excess. Read More

Endocr Connect 2020 Jul;9(7):587-598

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Grosse Steinstrasse, Halle (Saale), Germany.

The rapid increase of obesity during the last decades and its future prospects are alarming. Besides the general discussed causes of obesity, the 'Developmental Origins of Health and Disease' (DOHaD) hypothesis received more attention in recent years. This hypothesis postulates an adverse influence during early development that programs the unborn child for metabolic dysfunctions later in life. Read More

Cancer Metab 2020 19;8:11. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Princess Alexandra Hospital, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.

Background: Metabolic reprograming, non-mutational epigenetic changes, increased cell plasticity, and multidrug tolerance are early hallmarks of therapy resistance in cancer. In this temporary, therapy-tolerant state, cancer cells are highly sensitive to ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death that is caused by oxidative stress through excess levels of iron-dependent peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). However, mechanisms underpinning therapy-induced ferroptosis hypersensitivity remain to be elucidated. Read More

Endocr Pract 2020 Jun 23. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

From: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 160 Pujian road, Shanghai, 200127, China.

Androgen has a controversial effect on liver fat content (LFC) in androgen-excess females and androgen-deficient males. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is often associated with hyperandrogenism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of this study was to explore the association between hyperandrogenemia and increased liver fat content in women with PCOS, independent of other metabolic parameters. Read More

Turk J Pediatr 2020 ;62(3):359-366

Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara.

Background And Objectives: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is characterized by androgen excess which should be treated with life-long glucocorticoid therapy, thus can affect bone mineralization. We aimed to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) and determine the factors affecting bone mineralization in patients with CAH.

Method: This prospective case-control study was conducted in children, adolescents and young adults with classical 21-hydroxylase CAH, and age-, sex-, and pubertal stage matched healthy controls. Read More

J Endocrinol Invest 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Warsaw Medical University, 1a Banacha street, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.

Purpose: We compared the sexual function in women with classic forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to find if the cause of androgen excess determines sexual functioning.

Methods: Hundred and four women (21 with CAH, 63 with PCOS and 20 healthy controls) aged 18-40 years were included into the study. All participants completed a questionnaire regarding their sociodemographic background and underwent anthropometric and basic biochemical measurements. Read More

J Drugs Dermatol 2020 Mar;19(3):28

Of the four primary pathogenic factors that drive acne vulgaris—androgen excess, increased sebum production, faulty keratinization, and overgrowth of C. acnes—androgen excess has been the most elusive therapeutic target. Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) have direct effect on circulating hormones, but their potential use is limited to a subset of women. Read More

Integr Med (Encinitas) 2019 Oct;18(5):36-39

Medical Director UF Health Integrative Medicine Program and Associate Professor Division of General Internal Medicine and Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at University of Florida College of Medicine, located in Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of menstrual irregularity and hyperandrogenism in women of reproductive age. Conventional treatment is centered around the use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) to regulate menstrual cycles, protect against endometrial hyperplasia, and manage clinically evident androgen excess. Many women prefer to avoid OCPs due to concerns about risks and adverse effects, or simply because they desire a non-pharmacologic approach. Read More

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2020 May 30;58(225):297-300. Epub 2020 May 30.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is considered to be one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age. Characterized by a triad of androgen excess, anovulation, infertility, and obesity the disease can lead to several complications like infertility, endometrial carcinoma. This study aims to find out its prevalence among female medical undergraduates. Read More

Obes Surg 2020 Jun 13. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.

Background: In severe obesity, hypogonadism in men and androgen excess in women are frequently observed. Sex hormones play an important role in body composition and glucose and lipid metabolism. However, whether pre-operative gonadal dysfunction impacts weight loss after bariatric surgery is not fully known. Read More

Andrology 2020 Jun 11. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine - Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.

Background: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease 2019 (COVID-19) seems to have a worse clinical course among infected men compared with women, thus highlighting concerns about gender predisposition to serious prognosis. Therefore, androgens, particularly testosterone (T), could be suspected as playing a critical role in driving this excess of risk. However, gonadal function in critically ill men is actually unknown, mainly because serum T concentration is not routinely measured in clinical practice, even more in this clinical context. Read More

Ther Adv Reprod Health 2020 Jan-Dec;14:2633494120911038. Epub 2020 Mar 18.

Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It is a complex disease in which genetic, endocrine, environmental, and behavioral factors are intertwined, giving rise to a heterogeneous phenotype with reproductive, metabolic, and psychological characteristics. Polycystic ovary syndrome affects women's health and their quality of life across the life course. Read More

Prz Menopauzalny 2020 Mar 27;19(1):1-5. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 1, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan.

Introduction: A genetic variation at the level of aromatase enzyme and/or androgen receptors was suggested in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Aim Of The Study: To determine the androgens elevated and diagnostic for PCOS.

Material And Methods: A total of 120 PCOS women were compared to non-PCOS controls in this study. Read More

Exp Mol Pathol 2020 Jun 3;116:104482. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. Electronic address:

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women, is correlated with obesity and insulin resistance (IR), androgens excess, chronic anovulation, and infertility. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, noncoding RNA molecules that participate in inflammation, reproduction and metabolism, may contribute to PCOS. Current study aiming to manifest the correlation of body mass index (BMI) and testosterone (T) with miR-103 expression before and after fat loss. Read More

World J Urol 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Univ Paris Est Creteil, TRePCa, 94010, Creteil, France.

Eur J Endocrinol 2020 Jul;183(1):63-71

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Objectives: The clinical presentation of patients with nonclassic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (N21OHD) is similar with that for other disorders of androgen excess. The diagnosis of N21OHD typically requires cosyntropin stimulation. Additionally, the management of such patients is limited by the lack of reliable biomarkers of androgen excess. Read More

Fertil Steril 2020 Jun;113(6):1299-1307.e2

Department of Endocrinology, Sheri-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Electronic address:

Objective: To quantitate left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and correlate it with inflammation, insulin resistance (IR) and serum androgen levels among nonobese normotensive women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Cross-sectional study SETTING: Tertiary care institute in North India PATIENTS: A total of 260 drug-naive women qualifying the Rotterdam 2003 criteria for diagnosis of PCOS and 250 apparently healthy women matched for age and body mass index (BMI).

Interventions: Clinical, biochemical, hormonal, and inflammatory marker assessment was followed by estimation of LVM and LVMI by 2-dimensional echocardiography. Read More

Gynecol Endocrinol 2020 May 27:1-5. Epub 2020 May 27.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a complex reproductive as well as endocrinological disorder characterized by anovulatory dysfunction, androgen excess and polycystic ovarian morphology. Hyperandrogenism is regarded as a cardinal feature of the disease. It is believed that the excess androgens are produced due to abnormality in steroid biosynthesis pathway wherein cytochrome P450, 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17) plays an imperative role. Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.

Context: Epidemiologic studies of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are limited, especially in populations where diagnostic resources are less available. In these setting, an accurate, low-cost screening tool would be invaluable.

Objective: To test the use of a simple questionnaire to identify women at increased risk for PCOS and androgen excess (AE) disorders. Read More

Reprod Sci 2020 08;27(8):1637-1647

Fertility Center of CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.

Purpose: Subfertility associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mainly originates from oligoovulation/anovulation. Although insulin resistance and androgen excess are known to cause PCOS-associated implantation failure, the consequences of PCOS on endometrial homeostasis and pathophysiology have not been comprehensively understood. In this study, we examined whether the pathophysiologic milieu of PCOS intrinsically affects expression profiles of genes related to insulin signaling and facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) in the human endometrium and/or during in vitro decidualization. Read More

Clin Cancer Res 2020 Jul 4;26(14):3517-3524. Epub 2020 May 4.

Department of Surgery, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Purpose: Apalutamide is a next-generation androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor approved for patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. We evaluated the pharmacokinetics, safety, and antitumor activity of apalutamide combined with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AA-P) in patients with metastatic CRPC (mCRPC).

Patients And Methods: Multicenter, open-label, phase Ib drug-drug interaction study conducted in 57 patients with mCRPC treated with 1,000 mg abiraterone acetate plus 10 mg prednisone daily beginning on cycle 1 day 1 (C1D1) and 240 mg apalutamide daily starting on C1D8 in 28-day cycles. Read More

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2020 Jun 28;200:105684. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Metformin is recommended as one of the first-line drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. In addition to its insulin sensitizing effects, it has been shown to attenuate androgen excess in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), as well as to ameliorate obesity. The mechanisms of metformin action seem manifold. Read More

Clin Genitourin Cancer 2020 Apr 7. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Department of Cancer Medicine, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. Electronic address:

Introduction: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel and estramustine (DE) significantly improved relapse-free survival in patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for 3 years and a local treatment in the GETUG-12 phase III trial. We sought to explore whether the addition of DE impacts long-term treatment-related side effects.

Patients And Methods: Patients randomized within the UNICANCER GETUG-12 trial at Gustave Roussy who were alive when ADT was discontinued were followed-up prospectively. Read More

J Endocr Soc 2020 May 14;4(5):bvaa032. Epub 2020 Mar 14.

Department of Development & Regeneration, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by androgen excess and oligomenorrhea, and commonly driven by hepato-visceral fat excess ("central obesity") ensuing from a mismatch between prenatal and postnatal nutrition, on a background of genetic susceptibility. There is no approved treatment for adolescent PCOS. We report the pooled results of 2 pilot studies in nonobese girls with PCOS (N = 62, age 15. Read More

Hum Reprod 2020 May;35(5):1168-1177

Dept. of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.

Study Question: What is the effect of saturated fat ingestion on mononuclear cell (MNC) TNFα, IL-6 and IL-1β secretion and circulating IL-6 levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

Summary Answer: Women with PCOS exhibit increases in MNC-derived TNFα, IL-6 and IL-1β secretion and circulating IL-6 following saturated fat ingestion even in the absence of obesity, and these increases are linked to metabolic aberration and androgen excess.

What Is Known Already: Cytokine excess and metabolic aberration is often present in PCOS.

Study Design, Size, Duration: A cross-sectional design was used in this study of 38 reproductive-age women. Read More

J Endocr Soc 2020 Apr 10;4(4):bvaa030. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism University Children's Hospital Bern, Switzerland, and Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Context: The steroidogenic enzyme aromatase (CYP19A1) is required for estrogen biosynthesis from androgen precursors in the ovary and extragonadal tissues. The role of aromatase, and thus estrogens, is best illustrated by genetic variations of the gene leading to aromatase deficiency or excess.

Objective: The objective of this work is to characterize novel variants. Read More

Reprod Biomed Online 2020 Jun 7;40(6):765-767. Epub 2020 Mar 7.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU Medical Centre, 1201 E. Marshall St, #4-100, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.

'Androgenized' rodent models are widely used to explore the pathophysiology underlying human polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), including reproductive and metabolic dysfunction. Based on a recent study using a dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated murine model, it has been proposed that prenatal androgen excess alone can predispose to transgenerational transmission of PCOS. From RNA sequencing analysis of metaphase II (MII) oocytes of androgenized lineages, the authors speculated that oocyte factors, including up-regulation of cytotoxic granulosa-associated RNA binding protein-like 1 (TiaL1), are sufficient to promote disease transfer across generations. Read More

Endocr Rev 2020 Jul;41(4)

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.

More than 1 out of 10 women worldwide are diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the leading cause of female reproductive and metabolic dysfunction. Despite its high prevalence, PCOS and its accompanying morbidities are likely underdiagnosed, averaging > 2 years and 3 physicians before women are diagnosed. Although it has been intensively researched, the underlying cause(s) of PCOS have yet to be defined. Read More

Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2020 Jun;27(3):155-161

Unidade de Adrenal, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular/LIM42, Disciplina de Endocrinologia e Metabologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, Brasil.

Purpose Of Review: Data on the long-term cardio-metabolic outcomes classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) patients have been published with controversial results. Conventional treatment recommends hydrocortisone during childhood; and short and/or long-acting glucocorticoid during adulthood, associated or not with mineralocorticoid, in an attempt to simulate normal cortisol secretion and to normalize androgen excess. However, the balance between glucocorticoid over or undertreatment is very challenging, and patients frequently oscillate between hypercortisolism or hyperandrogenism. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2020 Aug;44(8):1040-1049

Departments of Pathology.

Prostatic-type differentiation in the lower female genital tract is encountered rarely and its causes and clinical associations are not well established. Within the vagina, reports to date have invariably described ectopic prostatic-type differentiation as restricted to the lamina propria. We recently encountered a patient receiving testosterone for gender dysphoria whose vaginectomy specimen showed a prostatic glandular proliferation within the surface epithelium. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 Apr 6;21(7). Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.

The locus is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a disorder characterized by androgen excess. Theca cells from ovaries of PCOS women have elevated levels of a splice variant (DENND1A.V2). Read More

Turk J Pediatr 2020 ;62(1):146-151

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.

Adrenocortical tumors are rare in children. Most of these tumors present with endocrinological manifestations, majority of which with virilizing features alone or in combination with over production of other adrenal hormones. However, it is uncommon of an adrenocortical tumor to present solely with Cushing`s syndrome. Read More

Environ Pollut 2020 Aug 6;263(Pt A):114326. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, Geoffrey Pope Building, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK; Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK. Electronic address:

Hypoxia is a major stressor in aquatic environments and it is frequently linked with excess nutrients resulting from sewage effluent discharges and agricultural runoff, which often also contain complex mixtures of chemicals. Despite this, interactions between hypoxia and chemical toxicity are poorly understood. We exposed male three-spined stickleback during the onset of sexual maturation to a model anti-androgen (flutamide; 250 μg/L) and a pesticide with anti-androgenic activity (linuron; 250 μg/L), under either 97% or 56% air saturation (AS). Read More

Mol Metab 2020 05 5;35:100937. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Cordoba (IMIBIC), Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Cordoba, Spain; Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Cordoba, Spain; CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III Cordoba, Spain; FiDiPro Program, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among reproductive age women. Although its cardinal manifestations include hyperandrogenism, oligo/anovulation, and/or polycystic ovarian morphology, PCOS women often display also notable metabolic comorbidities. An array of pathogenic mechanisms have been implicated in the etiology of this heterogeneous endocrine disorder; hyperandrogenism at various developmental periods is proposed as a major driver of the metabolic and reproductive perturbations associated with PCOS. Read More

Front Behav Neurosci 2020 13;14:38. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a genetic condition of the steroidogenic enzymes in the adrenal cortex normally leading to variable degrees of cortisol and aldosterone deficiency as well as androgen excess. Exposure to androgens prenatally might lead to ambiguous genitalia. The fetal brain develops in traditional male direction through a direct action of androgens on the developing nerve cells, or in the traditional female direction in the absence of androgens. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020 May 6;248:137-143. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Concord Street, Boston MA 02118, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Objective: Hirsutism, the presence of excess terminal hair in a male pattern, is a clinical marker of androgen excess in women. We used cross-sectional data from a North American preconception cohort study to evaluate the association between menstrual cycle characteristics and hirsutism.

Study Design: Women aged 21-45 years were recruited to a North American cohort of pregnancy planners. Read More

Nat Rev Endocrinol 2020 05 16;16(5):284-296. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.

The adrenal gland is a source of sex steroid precursors, and its activity is particularly relevant during fetal development and adrenarche. Following puberty, the synthesis of androgens by the adrenal gland has been considered of little physiologic importance. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate, DHEAS, are the major adrenal androgen precursors, but they are biologically inactive. Read More