Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 51-year-old woman with Cushing's disease associated with adrenal myelolipoma is reported. A further characteristic feature was the coexistence of bilateral adrenal calcification and thyroid cancer. Previously several cases of adrenal myelolipoma associated with endocrine dysfunction were reported. The combination of Cushing's disease and adrenal myelolipoma has only been described in two cases of recurrent Cushing's disease but never in an initial occurrence of Cushing's disease. Continued stimulation by excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) not only developed adrenal hyperplasia but also might be involved in the pathogenesis of adrenal myelolipoma.
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PMID:Cushing's disease associated with adrenal myelolipoma, adrenal calcification and thyroid cancer. 852 63

Eutopic corticotroph pituitary adenomas and adrenal cortisol-producing adenomas do not usually express somatostatin receptors. However, ectopic corticotropin (ACTH)-producing tumors often express somatostatin receptors. Thus, the octreoscan can detect and localize tumors in 80% of patients with ectopic ACTH syndrome, and so it can be used to differentiate between eutopic and ectopic ACTH-dependent bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Octreotide therapy can produce a rapid and sustained reduction of ACTH and cortisol levels in patients with ectopic ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome and, in some, may be the only long-term therapy possible. Although no large series have been reported, a review of the literature reveals a large number of case reports that have demonstrated the effectiveness of octreotide.
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PMID:Somatostatin analogs in ectopic corticotropin production. 876 7

1. In familial hyperaldosteronism type I (FH-I), expression of an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent hybrid 11 beta-hydroxylase/aldosterone synthase gene causes excessive 'hybrid steroid' (18-hydroxy- and 18-oxo-cortisol) production. In order to study the mechanism of elevated 'hybrid steroid' levels in angiotensin-unresponsive (AII-U) aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), we compared responses of 24 h urinary 18-oxo-cortisol, aldosterone and cortisol to dexamethasone (0.5 mg q6h for 4 days) in 11 FH-I patients, 11 patients with AII-U APA, 11 patients with AII-responsive (AII-R) APA and 10 patients with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH). 2. Consistent, marked suppression (by at least 60%) of 18-oxo-cortisol levels by dexamethasone was seen in all groups except AII-U APA. Aldosterone levels were consistently suppressed to undetectable levels only in FH-I. Cortisol levels were suppressed to undetectable levels in all patients except two with AII-U APA. 3. Production of both 18-oxo-cortisol and aldosterone (and occasionally cortisol) in AII-U APA appears relatively ACTH-independent, consistent with a common mechanism involved in the formation of these two steroids from their respective precursors, which differs from that in FH-I. 4. In AII-R APA and BAH, 18-oxo-cortisol production appears markedly ACTH-dependent, but aldosterone production is not.
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PMID:Production of 18-oxo-cortisol in subtypes of primary aldosteronism. 880 May 94

Twenty-one hydroxylase (21-OH)-deficient classic adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) are two of the most common genetic disorders known to man, yet the mechanism(s) resulting in steroid excess remains unclear. Overactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increased ACTH secretion appear to be important mechanisms resulting in steroid excess in untreated patients, at least in the classic forms of the disorder. Nonetheless, most NCAH patients do not demonstrate overactivity of the HPA axis. A few of these patients may demonstrate a mild degree of ACTH hyper-responsiveness to corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation, and up to 40% have radiologic evidence of adrenocortical hyperplasia and/or isolated adenomas, suggesting that some degree of chronic ACTH excess is present. Another mechanism resulting in adrenocortical excess in adrenal hyperplasia, and primarily in NCAH, follows the alteration in enzyme kinetics resulting from the mutation of 21-OH. The mutated enzyme product is less efficient than the wild type, resulting in an increased precursor to product ratio, independent of ACTH levels. Hence, progesterone (P4) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP) levels in these patients may remain above normal even in the presence of excess glucocorticoid administration. Overactivity of the renin-angiotensin system may also be important in stimulating adrenocortical steroidogenesis in patients with salt-wasting and in some with simple virilizing CAH. Alterations in ovarian and gonadotropic function, with the appearance of a polycystic ovary-like picture, also contribute to the androgen excess of these patients. Functional ovarian abnormalities in patients with CAH or NCAH may relate to a number of causes, including prenatal masculinization of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis by adrenal androgens, continued disruption of the HPO axis by persistently elevated P4 or androgen levels, and/or a direct glucocorticoid effect. Finally, these data suggest that the measurement of P4 or 17-HP may not be the most accurate marker of therapeutic efficacy, and suppression of both the ovaries and adrenals may be necessary for optimum steroidogenic control.
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PMID:The 21-hydroxylase-deficient adrenal hyperplasias: more than ACTH oversecretion. 892 12

Congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (CLAH) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by impaired synthesis of all adrenal and gonadal steroid hormones. It has recently been reported that mutations in the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) gene cause CLAH. We analyzed the nucleotide sequences of exon 7 of the StAR gene in a Japanese CLAH patient with a karyotype of 47,XYY, and her parents. The patient was homozygous for a nonsense mutation Q258X, which changed codon 258 (CAG) encoding Gln to the stop codon TAG, and the her parents were heterozygous for the Q258X mutation. Since the Q258X mutation destroys a MvaI site normally present in the StAR gene sequence, we confirmed the Q258X mutation by means of the restriction endonuclease MvaI digestion of the PCR products. Endocrinological examinations of the parents revealed normal responses of adrenal steroid hormones to exogenous adrenocorticotropin administration, confirming the failure to detect the heterozygous carriers of CLAH by hormonal evaluation.
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PMID:Homozygous Q258X mutation in the steroidogenic acute regulatory gene in a Japanese patient with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia. 927 22

A 49-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome due to unilateral adrenal hyperplasia is presented. She had developed obesity and menopause for 2 years, but no hypertension or hypertrichosis was observed. Although plasma adrenocorticotropin and serum cortisol levels were within normal ranges, the circadian rhythm has completely disappeared. Free thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels were decreased. Adrenocorticotropin did not respond to corticotropin-releasing hormone, and urinary excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids was not suppressed by dexamethasone. Abdominal computed tomography and 131I-Adosterol scintigraphy demonstrated a unilateral functioning mass in the left adrenal gland. The resected left adrenal mass was pathologically diagnosed as the rare condition of adrenocortical nodular hyperplasia.
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PMID:Cushing's syndrome due to unilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia. 963 Jan 99

A norepinephrine producing right adrenal pheochromocytoma was associated with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and clinically and biochemically evident Cushing's syndrome. Ectopic adrenocorticotropin production was suspected, but the six criteria for proof of ectopic adrenocorticotropin production could not be demonstrated. The diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome from ectopic hormone production by a pheochromocytoma requires a high index of suspicion and extensive biochemical and radiographic testing to confirm Cushing's syndrome, identify the cause of Cushing's syndrome, and localize the pheochromocytoma.
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PMID:Cushing's syndrome associated with a pheochromocytoma. 969 8

A case of unilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia is presented. A 46-year-old woman with a 7-year history of hypertension and a 1-year-history of hypokalemia was diagnosed with primary aldosteronism. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, venous sampling and adosterol scintigraphy exhibited a functioning left adrenal mass. The plasma aldosterone concentration increased markedly when furosemide with upright posture and either captopril or adrenocorticotropin were administered. Plasma renin activity was suppressed below the detectable range. Aldosterone secretion displayed a circadian rhythm and was not suppressed by dexamethasone administration. The resected left adrenal mass was pathologically diagnosed as adrenocortical nodular hyperplasia. Unilateral adrenal hyperplasia involving the zona glomerulosa rarely has been reported, with varying and incompletely characterized hormonal characteristics. This case report and literature review suggest unilateral adrenal hyperplasia as a rare cause of hyperaldosteronism with characteristics intermediate between idiopathic hyperaldosteronism and aldosterone-producing adrenocortical adenoma, resembling the functional features of the adenoma more closely.
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PMID:Hormonal characteristics of primary aldosteronism due to unilateral adrenal hyperplasia. 980 95

We report a case of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-independent macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (AIMAH). A 54-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital for further examination of obesity and hypertension. Endocrinological studies showed that plasma cortisol was high (22.5 micrograms/dl) without diurnal rhythm, and plasma ACTH was low. Two or 8 mg of dexamethasone did not suppress the plasma cortisol levels. Abdominal computed tomography revealed nodular hyperplasia of bilateral adrenal glands. Adrenal scintigraphy showed the positive uptake of 131I-adosterol to bilateral adrenal glands. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed no abnormalities. He was diagnosed as having Cushing's syndrome with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, and bilateral adrenalectomy was performed. Left and right adrenal glands were 52 g and 35 g, respectively, and were occupied by yellow nodular lesions. Histologically, hyperplastic lesions were composed of clear cells. Finally he was diagnosed with AIMAH.
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PMID:[ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (AIMAH): a case report]. 1036 43

A 63-year-old man with bilateral adrenal tumors was treated for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Endocrinologic examination during follow-up revealed the production of cortisol to be independent of the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Therefore, he was diagnosed as having subclinical Cushing syndrome, and these tumors were removed. Adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH) was endocrinologically and histopathologically diagnosed. This is the first report demonstrating that endocrinologic changes of AIMAH can be observed during long-term follow-up.
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PMID:Subclinical Cushing syndrome due to adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia: changes in plasma cortisol levels during long-term follow-up. 1075 62


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