Obesity is an excessive accumulation or expansion of adipose tissue (AT) due to an increase in either the size and/or number of its characteristic cell type, the adipocyte. As one of the most significant public health problems of our time, obesity and its associated metabolic complications have demanded that attention be given to finding effective therapeutic options aimed at reducing adiposity or the metabolic dysfunction associated with its accumulation. Growth hormone (GH) has therapeutic potential due to its potent lipolytic effect and resultant ability to reduce AT mass while preserving lean body mass. Read More
More than 80% of head trauma patients suffer from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, even mTBI carries the risk of late pituitary dysfunction. A predictive biomarker at the time of injury which could identify patients who subsequently may develop permanent pituitary dysfunction would help to direct patients towards endocrine care. Read More
Objective: To investigate the occurrence of abnormally elevated values of biomarkers of growth hormone (GH) action in short children on recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy.
Methods: Sixty-three prepubertal short children were examined: 31 with GH deficiency (GHD), 25 small for gestational age (SGA), and 9 with Turner syndrome (TS). The main outcomes were the following: standard deviation score (SDS) values of IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and IGF-I/IGFBP-3 molar ratio before, at the 1st and at the 2nd year on rhGH and Δheight (Ht)-SDS to evaluate GH treatment efficacy (adequate 1st-year ΔHt SDS: >0. Read More
Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "A. Moro". Bari. Italy.
Background And Objective: The current meta-analysis aims at evaluating whether the existing clinical evidence may ascertain the effects of growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy on cardiovascular risk, both in isolated GH deficiency (GHD) and in compensated panhypopituitarism including GH deficit.
Method: Original articles published from 1991 to 2015 were searched on Medline (Pubmed). Among an overall number of 181 potentially suitable studies, 24 fulfilled the selection criteria and were included in the analysis. Read More
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a bone-derived phosphaturic hormone, are associated with a number of pathologic conditions including chronic kidney disease, cardiac hypertrophy, and congestive heart failure. Currently, there are no specific treatments available to lower plasma FGF23 levels. We have recently reported that genetic plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) deficiency provided a significant reduction in circulating FGF23 levels while simultaneously prolonging the life span of Klotho-deficient mice. Read More
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017 Sep 18. Epub 2017 Sep 18.
Nuclear Receptor Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
Retinoid X receptor (RXR) regulates several key functions in myeloid cells, including inflammatory responses, phagocytosis, chemokine secretion, and proangiogenic activity. Its importance, however, in tumor-associated myeloid cells is unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that deletion of RXR in myeloid cells enhances lung metastasis formation while not affecting primary tumor growth. Read More
Akashi Medical Center, 743-33, Yagi, Okubo-cho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0063, Japan.
Objective: Improvement of quality of life (QOL) by growth hormone (GH) therapy was not demonstrated in Japanese adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) patients by either the QOL Assessment of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults or the Questions on Life Satisfaction-Hypopituitarism, which are widely used to evaluate QOL in Western AGHD patients. We therefore evaluated QOL in Japanese AGHD patients receiving recombinant GH, Norditropin® (Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark), using the newly developed Adult Hypopituitarism Questionnaire (AHQ).
Design: This multicenter, non-interventional, observational study in Japanese patients with severe AGHD was conducted from 1 October 2009 to 30 September 2014. Read More
Background: Thalassaemia is a recessively-inherited blood disorder that leads to anaemia of varying severity. In those affected by the more severe forms, regular blood transfusions are required which may lead to iron overload. Accumulated iron from blood transfusions may be deposited in vital organs including the heart, liver and endocrine organs such as the pituitary glands which can affect growth hormone production. Read More
Geleophysic dysplasia, belonging to the group of acromelic dysplasia, is a rare genetic disease. Two genes, FBN1 and ADAMTSL2, were known to be linked to this disorder. The disorder presents as extreme short stature, short limbs, small hands and feet, stubby fingers and toes, joint stiffness, toe walking, skin thickening, progressive cardiac valvular thickening and characteristic facial features, including a round face with full cheeks. Read More
Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a relatively uncommon and heterogeneous endocrine disorder presenting in childhood with short stature. However, during the neonatal period, the metabolic effects of GHD may to require prompt replacement therapy to avoid possible life-threatening complications. An increasing amount of data suggests the importance of an early diagnosis and treatment of GHD because of its auxological, metabolic, and neurodevelopmental features with respect to the patients diagnosed and treated later in life. Read More
Background & Aims: Lamins are nuclear intermediate filament proteins that comprise the major components of the nuclear lamina. Mutations in LMNA, which encodes lamins A/C, cause laminopathies, including lipodystrophy, cardiomyopathy, and premature aging syndromes. However, the role of lamins in the liver is unknown, and it is unclear whether laminopathy-associated liver disease is caused by primary hepatocyte defects or systemic alterations. Read More
PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine the choroidal thickness measurement values in cases with isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD), to compare them with the healthy control group by using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), and to evaluate the effect of growth hormone (GH) treatment on choroid.Patients and methodsIn this study, 23 cases who were diagnosed with IGHD as a study group and 46 healthy subjects as a control group were included. All patients and controls underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including an examination with EDI-OCT. Read More
Objective: Genetic alterations in GH1 and GHRHR genes are known to cause isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD). Of these, GHRHR codon 72 mutation has been reported to be highly prevalent in the Indian subcontinent, but among Sri Lankans its prevalence was low compared to reports from neighboring countries. The present study was therefore carried out to identify genetic alterations in the GH1 gene and rest of the GHRHR gene in a cohort of Sri Lankan IGHD patients who tested negative for GHRHR codon 72 mutation. Read More
Background: Growth prediction models (GPMs) exist to support clinical management of children treated with growth hormone (GH) for growth hormone deficiency (GHD), Turner syndrome (TS) and for short children born small for gestational age (SGA). Currently, no prediction system has been widely adopted.
Content: The objective was to develop a stand-alone web-based system to enable the widespread use of an 'individualised growth response optimisation' (iGRO) tool across European endocrinology clinics. Read More
Background: α-Klotho is a transmembrane protein that can be cleaved and act as a circulating hormone (s-klotho). s-Klotho serum levels seem to reflect growth hormone (GH) secretory status. We investigated the role of s-klotho as a reliable marker of GH secretion in short children and the factors influencing its secretion. Read More
Prostate cancer significantly affects the overall morbidity and mortality of malignant tumours in highly developed countries. Important risk factors include family predisposition and regional, racial and dietary determinants. The scientific literature contains a great deal of data on the role of calcium and dairy products in general in the process of neoplastic transformation of the prostate. Read More
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) ultimately leads to heart failure in conditions of increased cardiac pre- or afterload. The bone-derived phosphaturic and sodium-conserving hormone fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) and its co-receptor Klotho have been implicated in the development of uremic LVH. Using transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in gene-targeted mouse models, we examine the role of Fgf23 and Klotho in cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction induced by pressure overload. Read More
Growth hormone deficiency results in growth retardation in children and the GH deficiency syndrome in adults and they need to receive recombinant-GH in order to rectify the GH deficiency symptoms. Mammalian cells have become the favorite system for production of recombinant proteins for clinical application compared to prokaryotic systems because of their capability for appropriate protein folding, assembly, post-translational modification and proper signal. However, production level in mammalian cells is generally low compared to prokaryotic hosts. Read More
Background: We identified two boys with type 3 renal tubular acidosis (RTA) and growth hormone deficiency and we sought to differentiate them from children with classic type 1 distal RTA.
Methods: We reviewed all children <6 years of age with RTA referred over a 13-year period and compared the growth response to alkali therapy in these two boys and in 28 children with only type 1 distal RTA.
Results: All children with type 1 RTA reached the 5th percentile or higher on CDC growth charts within 2 years of alkali therapy. Read More
Background: In our U.S. Department of Defense hospital system, pediatric endocrinology and radiology resources to evaluate bone age radiographs are limited. Read More
Department of Medical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, National University Hospital, Copenhagen University, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem with potentially debilitating consequences for the individual. Hypopituitarism after TBI has received increasing attention over the past decade; development of the condition as a consequence of TBI was previously hardly mentioned in textbooks on the subject. Hypopituitarism has been reported in more than 25% of patients with TBI and is now thought to be one of the most important causes of treatable morbidity in TBI survivors. Read More
Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) production is upregulated by iron deficiency and hypoxia. However, the influence of acute blood loss, and the resulting increases in circulating erythropoietin, on FGF23 production is unknown. Using wild-type C57BL/6 mice, we show that acute loss of 10% total blood volume leads to an increase in plasma C-terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) levels within six hours, while plasma levels of intact FGF23, phosphate, calcium, parathyroid hormone, iron, and ferritin remain similar to control mice without acute blood loss. Read More
Purpose: To evaluate glucose homeostasis in children with growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) receiving long-term replacement therapy.
Methods: We evaluated glucose, insulin, HOmeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR), and HbA1c in 100 GHD children at diagnosis and during 5 years of therapy. One hundred healthy children comparable to patients were evaluated at baseline and after 1 and 5 years. Read More
Ghrelin is a pleiotropic hormone, whose effect on growth hormone secretion, through the growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) receptor, is one of its many actions. Relationships between GHS receptor gene variants and human height, both in healthy individuals and in patients with growth disorders have been identified. These include constitutional delay in growth and puberty, idiopathic short stature, and isolated growth hormone deficiency. Read More
Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a very rare genetic disorder characterized by intrauterine growth retardation, short stature, and typical craniofacial abnormalities including micrognathia. While growth hormone (GH) therapy in children with SRS significantly improves somatic growth, functional orthopedic treatment can also be effective in adolescents with mandibular deficiency. We report the effects of Phase 1 functional orthopedic treatment of a twin-block appliance in conjunction with GH administration in a 9-year-old boy with GH deficiency and SRS, and the result of the subsequent Phase 2 orthodontic treatment. Read More
Division of Nephrology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Iseharashi, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan.
Currently, nivolumab (an anti-programmed cell death-1 receptor monoclonal antibody) is available for many types of advanced cancers in Japan. However, there have been few detailed case reports about endocrine-related adverse events of this therapy. Here, we report a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who presented with secondary adrenal insufficiency following nivolumab therapy. Read More
H Storr, Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, EC1M 6BQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
GH insensitivity (GHI) is characterised by short stature, IGF-1 deficiency and normal/elevated serum GH. IGF-1 insensitivity results in pre- and post-natal growth failure with normal/high IGF-1 levels. The prevalence of genetic defects is unknown. Read More
Department of internal neurology, Henan women and children health Hospital, Affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, PR China. Electronic address:
Leptin has been found to be involved in the ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis and steroidogenesis. Loss of neuropeptide Y (NPY) can correct the obesity syndrome of mutant mice lacking of leptin (ob/ob). However, the association of NPY and leptin in ovarian granulosa cells and ovarian steroidogenesis has not been investigated. Read More
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2017 Sep;152(3):402-412
Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Institute and School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; private practice, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address:
The purpose of this study was to illustrate the effects of growth hormone (GH) therapy and fixed functional appliance treatment in a 13-year-old Class II malocclusion patient without GH deficiency. GH has been shown to effectively increase endochondral growth and induce a more prognathic skeletal pattern. Although a major concern in Class II retrognathic patients is chin deficiency, long-term studies have shown that the mandibular growth enhancement effects of functional appliances are clinically insignificant. Read More
Background: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of additional calcium carbonate treatment on fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels in patients treated with calcitriol.
Methods: In this randomized, open-labeled, and parallel-group study, a total of 30 patients with early chronic kidney disease (CKD) and vitamin D deficiency were randomly assigned to two groups and received interventions for 8 weeks: 1) a combination of calcium carbonate and calcitriol group; and 2) calcitriol only group. The primary outcome was the difference in percentage change of serum FGF23 levels from baseline between the two groups. Read More
Objective Epidemiological studies suggest that adult-onset growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) might increase the risk of death from cardiovascular causes. Methods This was a 6-month double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, cross-over trial followed by a 6-month open-label phase. Seventeen patients with AGHD received either recombinant human growth hormone (rGH) (0. Read More
Musculoskeletal Physiology Research Group, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, UK. Electronic address:
Background: The short-term effects of low energy availability (EA) on bone metabolism in physically active women and men are currently unknown.
Purpose: We evaluated the effects of low EA on bone turnover markers (BTMs) in a cohort of women and a cohort of men, and compared effects between sexes.
Methods: These studies were performed using a randomised, counterbalanced, crossover design. Read More
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, 6701 Fannin St, Suite 1020, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency, elevated fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) have each been associated with increased mortality in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Previous studies have focused on the effects of FGF23 in relatively advanced CKD. This study aims to assess whether FGF23 is similarly a risk factor in people with early CKD, and how this risk compares to that associated with vitamin D deficiency or elevated PTH. Read More
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder characterized by infantile hypotonia, hyperphagia, hypogonadism, growth hormone deficiency, intellectual disability, and severe emotional and behavioral problems. The brain mechanisms that underpin these disturbances are unknown. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) enables in vivo investigation of the microstructural integrity of white matter pathways. Read More
Molecular Plant Nutrition, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Corrensstraße 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany.
Plant hormones (PH) adjust plant growth to environmental conditions such as nutrient availability. Although responses of individual PHs to growth-determining nutrient supplies have been reported, little is known about simultaneous dynamics in the metabolism of different PH species. Brassica napus seedlings were grown under increasing supply of B, and LC-MS/MS was used to characterize bioactive forms of different PH species together with several of their precursors, storage and inactivated forms. Read More
Background: Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy improves hypercholesterolemia in patients with GH deficiency, suggesting that GH modulates cholesterol metabolism.
Objectives: We examined GH effects on lipid profiles and cholesterol-related markers reflecting hepatic and cerebral cholesterol metabolism in small-for-gestational age (SGA) children without catch-up growth.
Methods: This study examined SGA children without catch-up growth (n = 22) and healthy children (controls, n = 11). Read More
Drought is one of the major stress factors reducing cereal production worldwide. There is ample evidence that the mineral nutrient status of plants plays a critical role in increasing plant tolerance to different biotic and abiotic stresses. In this regard, the important role of various nutrients e. Read More
Fermented milk products like yogurt or soft cheese provide calcium, phosphorus, and protein. All these nutrients influence bone growth and bone loss. In addition, fermented milk products may contain prebiotics like inulin which may be added to yogurt, and provide probiotics which are capable of modifying intestinal calcium absorption and/or bone metabolism. Read More
J Dairy Sci 2017 Oct 17;100(10):8072-8086. Epub 2017 Aug 17.
Institute of Animal Nutrition, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Centre for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address:
The aim of this study was to investigate how controlled UVB irradiation in combination with reduced nutritional vitamin D (vitD) supply affects vitD status and Ca metabolism of growing goats and sheep. The hypothesis was that, like dairy cows, goats and sheep are able to compensate for the missing nutritional supply of vitD through endogenous production in the skin, with the consequence of a high vitD status and a balanced Ca homeostasis. Sixteen lambs and 14 goat kids aged 3 and a half months were housed in an UVB free environment and fed hay and a vitD-free concentrate over a period of 13 wk. Read More
Objective: The variation in reported prevalence of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) post subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is mainly due to methodological heterogeneity. We report on the prevalence of GHD in a large cohort of patients following SAH, when dynamic and confirmatory pituitary hormone testing methods are systematically employed.
Design: In this cross-sectional study, pituitary function was assessed in 100 patients following SAH. Read More
J Endocrinol Invest 2017 Aug 18. Epub 2017 Aug 18.
Section of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, Biomedical Department of Internal and Specialist Medicine (DIBIMIS), University of Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche 2, 90127, Palermo, Italy.
Purpose: Patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) demonstrate an increased cortisol/cortisone ratio which could potentially explain the metabolic features of GHD, while GH treatment (GHT) could increase the cortisol metabolism.
Methods: In 35 children (27 M, mean age 10.1 years) with idiopathic GHD at baseline and after 12 months of GHT and in 25 controls, in addition to metabolic parameters, we assessed adrenal function by morning serum cortisol, its peak, and its area under the curve (AUCCOR) during insulin tolerance test (ITT). Read More
Objective Growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) is commonly treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH). Individual response to rhGH therapy varies widely and there is evidence that variations in growth-related genes, e. g. Read More
1Department of Endocrinology,Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Objective To evaluate physicians' attitude and knowledge about the management of adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and impact factors associated with better decision-making.Methods A 21-question anonymous survey was distributed and collected at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, a major teaching hospital in Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Data of physicians' educational background, clinical training, patient workload per year and continuing medical education in AGHD were collected. Read More
Objective: Although insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has been shown to be important for inner-ear development in animal models, little is known about the otologic and audiologic findings of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). The goal of this study is to evaluate the prevalence, type, and severity of hearing impairment in children with GHD.
Methods: Audiologic, otologic, and demographic data were recorded for children with a diagnosis of GHD in the AudGen database. Read More
Growth and development are dominated by gene-environment interactions. Many approaches have been proposed to model growth, but most are either descriptive or describe population level phenomena. We present a random walk-based growth model capable of predicting individual height, in which the growth increments are taken from time varying distributions mimicking the bursting behaviour of observed saltatory growth. Read More
Introduction: Fibroblast growth factor-23 plays an important role in regulating systemic phosphate homeostasis, and vitamin D metabolism. However, the effect of Cholecalciferol therapy on FGF23 serum level in patients with vitamin D deficiency has not been studied, yet.
Materials And Methods: This is a double-blind, randomized clinical trial on 119 vitamin D deficient patients in 2016. Read More
Background/aims: Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic malformation syndrome, resulting in characteristic features such as short stature. We investigate whether growth hormone (GH) treatment increases linear height and influences body proportions in KS children.
Methods: In this prospective study, 18 genetically confirmed prepubertal KS children (9 females and 9 males) aged from 3. Read More