ScienceDaily: Hormone Disorder News

Potential therapeutic target for Cushing's disease

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:42:42 EDT

Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have identified a protein that drives the formation of pituitary tumors in Cushing's disease, a development that may give clinicians a therapeutic target to treat this potentially life-threatening disorder.

Identification of gene variants affecting fertility offers new treatment possibility

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:08:08 EDT

Identification of genetic variations in the genes coding for the hormone FSH may provide new treatments for male and female infertility, according to new work. Scientists have characterized gene variations which may improve treatment for almost half of infertile men, as well as allowing tailored treatment for women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Subclinical thyroid condition associated with increased cardiovascular mortality

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:03:03 EDT

Having high thyroid activity, and even “high-normal” levels, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, according to new work.

Obesity may influence heart function through sex hormones

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:48:48 EDT

New research suggests that changes in sex hormones as seen in obesity may have possible effects on the heart. The study suggests effects on heart function in healthy men with artificially raised estrogen levels and artificially lowered testosterone levels to mimic an obese state.

Hormone levels and sexual motivation among young women

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:02:02 EDT

Feeling frisky? If so, chances are greater your estrogen level -- and, perhaps, fertility -- are hitting their monthly peak. If not, you're more likely experiencing a profusion of desire-deadening progesterone, and the less fertile time in your cycle. Oh, the power of hormones.

Researchers discover new explanation for diabetes and poor growth

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:27:27 EDT

A group of researchers has taken a significant step towards understanding the reasons for both diabetes and growth hormone deficiency. Their new discoveries center on the body's ability to regulate certain hormones.

Nearly half of U.S. veterans found with blast concussions might have hormone deficiencies

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:20:20 EDT

Up to 20 percent of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have experienced at least one blast concussion. A new study finds about 42% of screened veterans with blast injuries have irregular hormone levels indicative of hypopituitarism. Many conditions associated with hypopituitarism mimic other common problems that veterans can suffer, such as PTSD and depression.

Hair analysis reveals elevated stress hormone levels raise cardiovascular risk

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Hair strands contain valuable information about senior citizens' stress levels that can be used to determine an individual's cardiovascular disease risk, according to a recent stud.

Shedding light on a gene mutation that causes signs of premature aging

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:34:34 EDT

Researchers found that mice developed without the ATRX gene had problems in in the forebrain, the part of the brain associated with learning and memory, and in the anterior pituitary which has a direct effect on body growth and metabolism. The mice, unexpectedly, also displayed many of the symptoms associated with aging.

New drug target companion prognostic test for hormone therapy resistance

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:10:10 EDT

A team of international cancer researchers has identified the signalling pathway that is over-activated in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells that are resistant to hormone therapies such as tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant.

Estrogen plus progestin use linked with increased breast cancer incidence and mortality

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:12:12 EDT

Estrogen plus progestin use is linked with increased breast cancer incidence. In addition, prognosis is similar for both users and nonusers of combined hormone therapy, suggesting that mortality from breast cancer may be higher for hormone therapy users as well, according to a new study.

Mixed signals: Combinations of estrogen-mimicking chemicals strongly distort hormone action

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

What happens when -- as in the real world -- an individual is exposed to multiple estrogen-mimicking chemicals at the same time? Researchers have used new techniques to study exposure to low doses of multiple xenoestrogens, and they've come to some disturbing conclusions.

Surgical menopause may prime brain for stroke, Alzheimer's

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Removing the ovaries before menopause, appears to leave more of the brain vulnerable to stroke and increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, researchers report.

Certain breast cancers have a trait that could be attacked by new therapies

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:32:32 EDT

The odds of developing breast cancer increase for women taking hormone replacement therapy to avoid the effects of menopause. New research may lead to treatments for breast cancers associated with taking these synthetic hormones. Scientists found that hormone-therapy-related breast cancer cells have a physical feature that could be attacked by therapies.

Functional ovarian tissue engineered in lab

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

A proof-of-concept study suggests the possibility of engineering artificial ovaries in the lab to provide a more natural option for hormone replacement therapy for women.

Gene profile may help identify risk for hormone-sensitive, hormone-insensitive breast cancer

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:41:41 EDT

The overexpression or underexpression of a newly identified set of genes related to lipid metabolism may help physicians identify whether or not a woman is at risk for hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-negative breast cancer and to subsequently tailor prevention strategies appropriately, according to new data.

Oral estrogen hormone therapy linked to increased risk of gallbladder surgery in menopausal women

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Oral estrogen therapy for menopausal women is associated with an increased risk of gallbladder surgery, according to a large-scale study of more than 70 000 women in France).

How some prostate tumors resist treatment, and how it might be fixed

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Researchers have discovered that the protein Siah2 keeps a portion of androgen receptors constantly active, allowing prostate cancer cells to resist treatment. Based on this new information, Siah2 could make a promising biomarker for tracking a prostate cancer patient's response to therapy. Inhibiting Siah2's interaction with the androgen receptor complex might also provide a new method for re-sensitizing castration-resistant prostate tumors to hormone therapy.

Series of studies first to examine acupuncture's mechanisms of action

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:55:55 EDT

While acupuncture is used widely to treat chronic stress, the mechanism of action leading to reported health benefits are not understood. In a series of studies, researchers are demonstrating how acupuncture can significantly reduce the stress hormone response in an animal model of chronic stress.

Polycystic ovary syndrome puts glucose control in double jeopardy

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:04:04 EDT

Polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition affecting about 10 percent of women and characterized by excess male hormone and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, appears to cause a sort of double jeopardy for those struggling the hardest to control blood sugar levels, researchers report.

Exercise shields children from stress, research indicates

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:15:15 EST

Exercise may play a key role in helping children cope with stressful situations, according to a recent study.

Thyroid hormones reduce damage and improve heart function after myocardial infarction in rats

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:58:58 EST

A new study shows that thyroid hormones administered to rats at the time of a heart attack improved their heart function and significantly reduced their loss of heart muscle cells. Researchers believe the study prepares them to pursue studies on human patients, which could lead to breakthroughs in cardiac failure treatment.

Bariatric surgery restores pancreatic function by targeting belly fat

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:12:12 EST

Researchers have found that gastric bypass surgery reverses diabetes by uniquely restoring pancreatic function in moderately obese patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Cortisone can increase risk of acute pancreatitis

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:03:03 EST

A new study shows that cortisone -- a hormone used in certain medicines -- increases the risk of acute pancreatitis. According to the researchers, they suggest that patients treated with cortisone in some forms should be informed of the risks and advised to refrain from alcohol and smoking.

Pancreatitis doubles for those taking new class of diabetes drugs, scientists say

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:11:11 EST

People who take the newest class of diabetes drugs to control blood sugar are twice as likely as those on other forms of sugar-control medication to be hospitalized with pancreatitis, researchers report.

New advances in the molecular study of diabetes

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:25:25 EST

A new study describes for the first time the pharmacological action of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) -- anti-diabetic drugs -- directly on the pancreas, the organ which produces insulin.

Cardiovascular risk may remain for treated Cushing's disease patients

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 07:51:51 EST

Even after successful treatment, patients with Cushing's disease who were older when diagnosed or had prolonged exposure to excess cortisol face a greater risk of dying or developing cardiovascular disease, according to a recent study.

Anti-Müllerian hormone predicts IVF success

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 07:51:51 EST

Women with a high concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone stand a better chance of giving birth after in vitro fertilization, according to a recent study.

Personalized medicine eliminates need for drug in two children

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:07:07 EST

The risk of hypertension was eliminated with $10K savings per patient through genomics.

Link found between insulin sensitivity, cells' powerhouses: Mice with mitochondrial mutation live longer, have less fat

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:02:02 EST

Mice with decreased activity of a protein complex involved in mitochondrial function exhibit reduced body weight and decreased fat mass, and their media life span is 20 percent longer. This intrigues scientists.

Artificial pancreas: The way of the future for treating type 1 diabetes

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:19:19 EST

Researchers have conducted a trial comparing a dual-hormone artificial pancreas with conventional diabetes treatment using an insulin pump and showed improved glucose levels and lower risks of hypoglycemia. Their results can have a great impact on the treatment of type 1 diabetes by accelerating the development of the external artificial pancreas.

BPA substitute could spell trouble: Experiments show bisphenol S also disrupts hormone activity

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:14:14 EST

Researchers found that like BPA, BPS disrupts cellular responses to the hormone estrogen, changing patterns of cell growth and death and hormone release. Also like BPA, it does so at extremely low levels of exposure.

Early surgical menopause linked to declines in memory and thinking skills

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:13:13 EST

Women who undergo surgical menopause at an earlier age may have an increased risk of decline in memory and thinking skills, according to a new study. Early surgical menopause is the removal of both ovaries before natural menopause and often accompanies a hysterectomy.

Scientists unlock how insulin interacts with cells

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:15:15 EST

An international research group has described how insulin binds to the cell to allow the cell to transform sugar into energy —- and also how the insulin itself changes shape as a result of this connection. This discovery could lead to dramatic improvements in the lives of people managing diabetes.

A new type of nerve cell found in the brain

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:35:35 EST

An international team of scientists has identified a previously unknown group of nerve cells in the brain. The nerve cells regulate cardiovascular functions such as heart rhythm and blood pressure. It is hoped that the discovery will be significant in the long term in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in humans.

Critical need for iodine supplements during pregnancy and while nursing

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:18:18 EST

A new article discusses the issue of iodine deficiency in pregnant women in the U.S. and the potential negative health implications for both mothers and their children from this deficiency.

New culprit in castration-resistant prostate cancer

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:23:23 EST

Scientists have discovered a molecular switch that enables advanced prostate cancers to spread without stimulation by male hormones, which normally are needed to spur the cancer's growth. They say that identifying the previously unknown protein function could serve as a treatment target for prostate cancers that are no longer controlled by hormone-blocking drugs.

New findings on glucagon synthesis

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 08:12:12 EST

Researchers in Sweden have shown that the cells that produce glucagon are stimulated by the hormone itself. A previous study by the same group demonstrated that this principle also applies to insulin. This means that a feedback system is at work in the body, whereby hormone secreting cells receive an immediate signal to produce more of the hormone.

Thyroid problems linked to irregular heart rhythm

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:03:03 EST

People with an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) carry a greater risk of developing irregular heart rhythm (known as atrial fibrillation) than those with normal thyroid function, finds a new study.

Scatter radiation from mammography presents no cancer risk, study finds

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:33:33 EST

The radiation dose to areas of the body near the breast during mammography is negligible, or very low, and does not result in an increased risk of cancer, according to a new study. The results suggest that the use of thyroid shields during mammography is unnecessary.

Menopause: Relaxation good therapy for hot flushes

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:28:28 EST

Women who have undergone group therapy and learned to relax have reduced their menopausal troubles by half, according to new results.

Pancreas stem cell discovery may lead to new diabetes treatments

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:34:34 EST

Stem cells in the adult pancreas have been identified that can be turned into insulin producing cells, a finding that means people with type 1 diabetes might one day be able to regenerate their own insulin-producing cells.

BPA shown to disrupt thyroid function in pregnant animals and offspring

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:32:32 EST

In utero exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) can be associated with decreased thyroid function in newborn sheep, according to a recent study.

Turbo-charged gut hormones: Doubling down against diabetes

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:20:20 EST

Researchers may have overcome one of the major challenges drug makers have struggled with for years: Delivering powerful nuclear hormones to specific tissues, while keeping them away from others.

Hormone combination effective and safe for treating obesity in mice

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:19:19 EST

Scientists have found a way to link two hormones into a single molecule, producing a more effective therapy with fewer side effects for potential use as treatment for obesity and related medical conditions.

New cause of thyroid hormone deficiency discovered

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:56:56 EST

Researchers have discovered a new cause for thyroid hormone deficiency, or hypothyroidism. The scientists identified a new hereditary form of hypothyroidism that is more prevalent in males than in females. This sex bias shone a light on where to look for the underlying cause.

New finding gives clues for overcoming tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:53:53 EDT

A cancer biology team reports breakthrough findings about specific cellular mechanisms that may help overcome endocrine (hormone) therapy-resistance in patients with estrogen-positive breast cancers, combating a widespread problem in effective medical management of the disease. The team has identified a specific estrogen receptor co-activator -- known as MED1 -- as playing a central role in mediating tamoxifen resistance in human breast cancer.

Scientists unravel resistance to breast cancer treatment

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:50:50 EDT

Scientists have identified a molecular 'flag' in women with breast cancer who do not respond or have become resistant to the hormone drug tamoxifen.

Metabolic syndrome makes a difference in hormone therapy risk, analysis suggests

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:05:05 EDT

A new analysis of the Women's Health Initiative trials show that women who had metabolic syndrome before they started hormone therapy had a greatly increased risk of heart attack or dying of heart disease. Women who didn't have metabolic syndrome beforehand showed no increased risk.

Timing is everything: Hormone use may reduce or increase Alzheimer's disease risk in women

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:47:47 EDT

A new study suggests that women who begin taking hormone therapy within five years of menopause may reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Flame retardant 'Firemaster 550' is an endocrine disruptor, study finds

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:29:29 EDT

The flame-retardant mixture known as "Firemaster 550" is an endocrine disruptor that causes extreme weight gain, early onset of puberty and cardiovascular health effects in lab animals, according to a new study.

Gene polymorphisms identified that are responsible for breast density and cancer risk

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 20:46:46 EDT

It has long been known that breast density, or mammographic density, is a strong risk factor for breast cancer, and that estrogen and progestin hormone therapy increases dense breast tissue. Now, a study has identified several gene variants in hormone metabolism and growth factor pathways that may be associated with breast density and, hence, breast cancer risk.

Low calcium diet linked to higher risk of hormone condition in women

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:59:59 EDT

A low calcium diet is associated with a higher risk of developing a common hormone condition in women, known as primary hyperparathyroidism, a new study suggests.

Blood hormone levels predicted long-term breast cancer risk for postmenopausal women

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:19:19 EDT

Blood hormone tests predicted a woman's risk for developing postmenopausal breast cancer for up to 20 years, according to new research.

Reprogramming cell identity in the pituitary gland: Discovery could lead to new treatments for Cushing's disease

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:16:16 EDT

A team of researchers reprogrammed the identity of cells in the pituitary gland and identified critical mechanisms of epigenetic cell programming. The discovery could eventually lead to new pharmacological targets for the treatment of Cushing's disease.

Generation of functional thyroid tissue from stem cells

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 08:52:52 EDT

The generation of functional thyroid tissue from stem cells could allow the treatment of patients, which suffer from thyroid hormone deficiency due to defective function, or abnormal development of the thyroid gland. Researchers recently developed a protocol that allowed for the first time the efficient generation of functional thyroid tissue from stem cells in mice.

Secondary osteoporosis: More than what meets the eye!

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:16:16 EDT

A new study has revealed that considering all osteoporotic patients as having simple osteoporosis and treating all of them alike by putting them on potent long term medication without finding out the cause of their osteoporosis may be ineffective and in most cases downright harmful.

BPA linked to thyroid hormone changes in pregnant women, newborns

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:35:35 EDT

A new study adds to growing concerns about the health effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound commonly found in the lining of tin cans, hard plastics and certain store receipts. Researchers have linked prenatal exposure to BPA to changes in thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women and newborn boys.

New study sheds light on bone marrow stem cell therapy for pancreatic recovery

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:16:16 EDT

Researchers have found that a blood vessel-building gene boosts the ability of human bone marrow stem cells to sustain pancreatic recovery in a laboratory mouse model of insulin-dependent diabetes.

Breast cancer recurrence defined by hormone receptor status

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 08:36:36 EDT

Human epidermal growth factor (HER2) positive breast cancers are often treated with the same therapy regardless of hormone receptor status. New research shows that women whose HER2 positive cancer was also hormone (estrogen and progesterone) receptor (HR) negative had an increased risk of early death, and that their cancer was less likely to recur in bone than those whose cancer retained hormone sensitivity.