Steroid hormones interrelationships in the metabolic syndrome: An introduction to the ponderostat hypothesis

Marià Alemany

Download PDF

The clairvoyant early implication of sex hormones in the characterization of the metabolic syndrome (MS) was detected early, and in accordance with the well-known sex-related main patterns of fat deposition in obesity: gynoid and android …

Glucocorticoids and bone: cellular, metabolic and endocrine effects

Mauro Doga, Stefania Bonadonna, Andrea Giustina

Download PDF

Chronic exposure to excessive concentrations of endogenous cortisol or to pharmacologic doses of glucocorticoids (GCs) causes multiple deleterious effects on body structure and function. Osteopenia, osteoporosis and bone fractures are well recognized consequences of excessive GC exposure, with fractures being a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly. In particular, GCs have profound effects on bone metabolism, acting at many sites…

Recent advances in the molecular mechanisms causing primary generalized glucocorticoid resistance

Nicolas C. Nicolaides, Agaristi Lamprokostopoulou, Amalia Sertedaki, Evangelia Charmandari

Download PDF

Primary Generalized Glucocorticoid Resistance is a rare condition characterized by generalized, partial, target tissue insensitivity to glucocorticoids owing to inactivating mutations, insertions or deletions in the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) gene (NR3C1). Recent advances in molecular and structural biology have enabled us to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of action of the mutant receptors and to understand how certain conformational alterations …

Efficacy and safety of combined parenteral and oral steroid therapy in Graves’ orbitopathy

Biljana Nedeljkovic Beleslin, Jasmina Ciric, Milos Zarkovic, Mirjana Stojkovic, Slavica Savic, Miroslav Knezevic, Branislav Stankovic, Bozo Trbojevic

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: Glucocorticoids (GC) are the treatment of choice for moderate-to-severe and active Graves’ orbitopathy (GO), but optimal treatment is still . The aim of the present study was to analyze the efficacy and tolerability of combined parenteral GC pulse therapy followed by oral GC in the interpulse period …

Insulin-like growth factor-1 restores dexamethasone-induced heart growth arrest in rats: the role of the ubiquitin pathway

Dionisios Chrysis, Andrei S. Chagin, Lars Savendahl

Download PDF

OBJECTIVE: In skeletal muscle, glucocorticoids induce catabolism and proteolysis which is accomplished via the ubiquitin (Ub) proteolytic pathway. Cardiac muscle is a striated muscle which, compared to skeletal muscle, more abundantly expresses components of the Ub pathway, thus suggesting an important role for this pathway in heart physiology …

Novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying generalized glucocorticoid resistance and hypersensitivity syndromes

Nicolas C. Nicolaides, Evangelia Charmandari

Download PDF

Glucocorticoids play a fundamental role in many physiologic functions and contribute substantially to the achievement of homeostasis. These pleiotropic glucocorticoid actions are mediated by a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor, the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR), which may influence the transcription …

Hypokalemic paralysis following administration of intravenous methylprednisolone in a patient with Graves’ thyrotoxicosis and ophthalmopathy

Stelios Tigas, Petros Papachilleos, Nikolaos Ligkros, Maria Andrikoula, Agathocles Tsatsoulis

Download PDF

Glucocorticoids are commonly used in the treatment of patients with thyroid disorders, in particular Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis (TPP) is an infrequent but potentially serious condition characterised by recurrent episodes of weakness associated with hypokalemia …