The Year in Basic Science: nuclear receptors and coregulators

This article highlights the most significant scientific achievements of June 2007 to June 2008 in nuclear receptors (NRs) and coregulators. These molecules are the subjects of nine studies in three key areas of endocrinology: molecular endocrinology, endocrine metabolism, and endocrine pathology. In each case, the relevant NR or coregulator was found to play an integral role in the study, whether in elucidating a formerly unknown pathway or in initiating or facilitating a disease process. As more NRs and coregulators are researched, more therapeutic approaches to human disease can potentially be developed.     

A View of Comparative Endocrinology and Aubrey Gorbman

Analyses of papers published in General and Comparative Endocrinologyfrom 1961 to 1981 were made from several aspects. Number ofpapers published has increased year after year. Molluscan endocrinologypapers have increased and overtaken annelid publications. Duringthe past 20 yr studies using crustaceans and insects have comprised25–50% of all endocrine research on invertebrate groups.Papers on protochordates, elasmobranchs, and cyclostomes arefew but constant in number, indicating that these three groupsare important from phylogenic aspects. Studies on birds andteleosts have increased, while those on amphibians have decreased.Biochemical techniques were employed in 50% of all publicationsin this journal. Radioimmunoassay has replaced autoradiography.Immunohistochemistry increased in popularity. Studies on thepars distalis and gonads are predominant among all endocrineorgans. Research at the molecular level is decreasing, but isincreasing at the organismal level. Research at the organismallevel may be characteristic of comparative endocrinology. Largelythrough the initiative of Aubrey Gorbman, General and ComparativeEndocrinology was first published in 1961, and the InternationalCommittee of the Symposium on Comparative Endocrinology wasformed in 1957. Gorbman has produced many students. His originaland important contributions are in diversified areas: thyroidphysiology and its evolution, hormones and the brain and behavior,cyclostome endocrinology and neurosecretory systems in lowervertebrates. In addition, he has influenced investigators throughhis ideas of evolution. He has had particular impact on thedevelopment of comparative endocrinology in Japan.     

Endocrine relationships between nematodes and their insect hosts--a review

This paper reviews the evidence for a possible endocrine basis for the remarkable synchrony often observed between the development of entomophilic nematodes and that of their hosts. Although some suggestive observations have been made by various workers, there is no rigorous evidence which points to such an association. In those few cases which have been rigorously examined, there is some evidence that the synchrony is not based upon endocrine signals passing between host and parasite. The possibility that the parasite may manipulate the endocrinology of the insect in order to alter the metabolism and physiology of the host to favour the parasite has received less attention, but is nevertheless thought to constitute a promising areas of research.     

Endocrinology Fellows' Perception of Their Confidence and Skill Level in Providing Transgender Healthcare

Objective: Both educational content and hours devoted to transgender health training of endocrinology fellows are suboptimal. The objective of this study was to assess the perspectives of endocrinology fellows on their training in transgender health.Methods: We evaluated the state of comfort and knowledge of transgender healthcare among endocrinology fellows attending Endocrine University. Surveys were administered to fellows before and after their participation in a case-based session on transgender health.Results: The majority of fellows felt that training in transgender health is important (95.9%, 189/197); however, only 58.9% reported inclusion of dedicated transgender content in their training programs. Fellows who had received transgender healthcare education, and those who had seen more transgender patients in their training, were more likely to be confident in treating patients with hormone therapy (P<.001 and P<.0001, respectively). Following the case-based session, 62.4 % of fellows reported that they would change their practice, 72.8% felt that their comfort level with transgender care had improved, and 91% felt that transgender content such as that provided in the educational session should be mandatory in endocrinology training programs. Methods most desired by fellows to improve their education included lectures from visiting professors (70.3%), participation in elective rotations (62.1%), online training modules (57.9%), and attendance at meetings with transgender topics (57.4%).Conclusion: Transgender health education of U.S. endocrinology fellows is suboptimal. Participation in a case-based session significantly increased the comfort level of endocrinology fellows in key areas of transgender health.Abbreviation: ACGME = Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education     

Endocrine mechanisms in marine invertebrates

The objective of this minireview is to summarize the recent advances made in the area of marine invertebrate endocrinology, with special emphasis on the literature published in 1972 and 1973. Most of the pertinent publications in these two years have dealt with crustaceans. Nevertheless, significant contributions have also been made with representatives of other groups of marine invertebrates.     

昆虫内分泌研究简况和中国的成就

<正> 昆虫内分泌学是昆虫生理学的重要分支之一。它研究昆虫的内分泌器官以及由相关器官组成的系统、昆虫的激素、昆虫激素的生理作用等。昆虫内分泌是20世纪中进展最快、成果较丰的领域之一。这个势头将要延续到21世纪。中国学者将沿着已往的成果前进。     

The biology of triploid fish

This review deals with major areas of triploidy research in fish. It includes not only methods for induction and detection of triploidy but also the impact of triploidy on morphology, anatomy, growth, haematology, energetics, behaviour, endocrinology and gonads in various species of fish, studied so far. The future prospects of research on triploid fish are discussed inviting researchers with diverse areas of interest in fish biology.     

Integration of neuroscience and endocrinology in hybrid PBL curriculum

At the University of Missouri-Columbia, the medical school employs a problem-based learning curriculum that began in 1993. Since the curriculum was changed, student performance on step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination has significantly increased from slightly below the national average to almost one-half a standard deviation above the national mean. In the first and second years, classes for students are organized in classes or blocks that are 8 wk long, followed by 1 wk for evaluation. Initially, basic science endocrinology was taught in the fourth block of the first year with immunology and molecular biology. Student and faculty evaluations of the curriculum indicated that endocrinology did not integrate well with the rest of the material taught in that block. To address these issues, basic science endocrinology was moved into another block with neurosciences. We integrate endocrinology with neurosciences by using the hypothalamus and its role in neuroendocrinology as a springboard for endocrinology. This is accomplished by using clinical cases with clear neuroscience and endocrinology aspects such as Cushing's disease and multiple endocrine neoplastic syndrome type 1.     

Multi-analyte capillary immunosensor for the determination of hormones in human serum samples

In this work we present the development of a multi-analyte immunosensor for the determination of follitropin, human chorionic gonadotropin and prolactin in human serum. The immunosensor is based on plastic capillaries. According to the methodology, discrete areas of the internal capillary surface are coated with different antibodies, which are highly specific for each one of the analytes to be determined. The sample that will be analyzed along with a mixture of analyte-specific biotinylated antibodies is introduced into the capillary. The coated and the detection antibodies react with different epitopes of the analytes in the sample to form a 'sandwich'. The detection is based on reaction of the immobilized biotinylated antibody with streptavidin labeled with R-phycoerythrin. The fluorescent areas formed were quantified by scanning the capillary with a light beam of appropriate wavelength. A light sensor placed at the end of the capillary detects the emitted photons, that are trapped and waveguided into the capillary walls. The multi-analyte immunosensor assays were characterized by high specificity and short analysis time. In addition, the results obtained by the multi-analyte optical capillary immunosensor were comparable to those obtained by immunofluorimetric assays performed in microtitration wells. Potential applications of the proposed immunosensor include determination of several analyte panels in a broad spectrum of disciplines such as endocrinology, hematology, and oncology.     

Evolutionary endocrinology: a pending matter

Twenty years have passed since the foundational article of what is now known as evolutionary medicine (EM) was published. This young medical discipline examines, following Darwinian principles, susceptibility to certain diseases and how we react to them. In short, EM analyzes the final cause of the disease from a historical perspective. Over the years, EM has been introduced in various medical areas in very different ways. While it has found a role in some fields such as infectious diseases and oncology, its contribution in other areas has been quite limited. In endocrinology, EM has only gained prominence as a basis for the so-called "diseases of civilization", including diabetes mellitus and obesity. However, many experts suggest that it may have a much higher potential. The aim of this paper is to provide a view about what evolutionary medicine is. Some examples of how EM may contribute to progress of our specialty are also given. There is no doubt that evolution enriches medicine, but medicine also offers knowledge to evolution.     

Suivi au long cours du traitement freinateur des cancers thyroïdiens différenciés

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is the most frequent cancer in endocrinology. The patients are treated by total thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine ablation. Biological follow-up is performed by thyroglobulin measurement and TSH evaluation after levothyroxine suppression at doses depending on cancer prognostic. The deleterious effects of this therapy on bone turnover has been demonstrated in menopaused women. The aim of this review is to report all the studies of the literature that have been made on this subject these last decades.     

Endocrinology,energetics, and human life history: A synthetic model

Human life histories are shaped by the allocation of metabolic energy to competing physiological domains. A model framework of the pathways of energy allocation is described and hormonal regulators of allocation along the pathways of the framework are discussed in the light of evidence from field studies of the endocrinology of human energetics. The framework is then used to generate simple models of two important life history transitions in humans, puberty and the postpartum return to full fecundity in females. The results of the models correspond very closely to observations made in the field.     

Microbial endocrinology: how stress influences susceptibility to infection

A holistic approach to understanding the mechanisms by which stress influences the pathogenesis of infectious disease has resulted in the development of the field of microbial endocrinology. This transdisciplinary field represents the intersection of microbiology with mammalian endocrinology and neurophysiology, and is based on the tenet that microorganisms have evolved systems for using neurohormones, which are widely distributed throughout nature, as environmental cues to initiate growth and pathogenic processes. This review reveals that responsiveness to human stress hormones is widespread in the microbial world and documents recent advances in microbial endocrinology.     

昆虫滞育的研究进展

对于大多数昆虫种群,滞育是一个生长发育过程中的选择,生物体具有识别周围环境改变的能力,通过调节昆虫自身内分泌机制,进而决定是否进入滞育状态。滞育可以发生在昆虫生命过程中的任何时期,其中卵期是最适昆虫滞育的时期之一。本文综述昆虫滞育,特别是卵滞育的研究,主要集中在以下方面：个体生态学、环境生理学、内分泌学、生物化学和分子生物学。     

Impact of Electronic Consultation on Timeliness and Guideline Concordance of Workups Leading to Thyroid Nodule Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy

ObjectiveElectronic consultations (e-consults) are commonly used to obtain endocrinology input on clinical questions without a face-to-face visit, but sparse data exist on the resultant quality of care for specific conditions. We examined workups resulting in a thyroid nodule fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy to investigate whether endocrinology e-consults were more timely and similarly guideline-concordant compared with endocrinology face-to-face visits and whether endocrinology e-consults were more guideline-concordant compared with workups without endocrinology input.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed charts of 302 thyroid FNA biopsies conducted in the Veterans Affairs health system between May 1, 2017, and February 4, 2020 (e-consult, n = 99; face-to-face visit, n = 100; no endocrinology input, n = 103). We used t tests to compare timeliness, χ² tests to compare the proportion of guideline-concordant workups, and multivariable linear and logistic models to control for demographic factors.ResultsFNAs preceded by an endocrinology e-consult had more timely workups compared with those preceded by endocrinology face-to-face visits in terms of days elapsed between referral and FNA biopsy (geometric mean 44.7 days vs 61.7 days, P = .01). The difference in the summary measure of guideline concordance across groups was not statistically significant (P =.38).ConclusionE-consults were faster than face-to-face consults and similarly guideline-concordant compared with both face-to-face consults and no endocrinology input for workups resulting in FNA. Decisions about the appropriate use of e-consults for thyroid nodules should take into account these data while also considering the potential benefits of direct patient-endocrinologist interaction for complex situations.     

Pediatric Endocrinology: Perspectives of Pediatric Endocrinologists Regarding Career Choice and Recruitment of Trainees

ObjectivesTo examine main factors that influence the decision to choose pediatric endocrinology as a career among pediatric endocrinologists and assess their work satisfaction or stress level and suggested strategies to increase interest in subspecialty training in pediatric endocrinology.MethodsA workforce survey was distributed among 1470 members of the Pediatric Endocrine Society.ResultsThe response rate was 37.4%, with 550 members responding. The most common reasons for the respondents choosing pediatric endocrinology were intellectual stimulation (79%), exposure to endocrinology during residency (57%) or medical school (43%), and ability to establish relationships with patients with chronic disorders (54%). Of the respondents, 97% considered intellectual stimulation as the most favorable aspect of the specialty, and 84% considered financial compensation as the most unfavorable aspect of pediatric endocrinology. Majority (77%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their work environment. The mean work-related stress score (0 [none] to 10 [worst]) was 5.7, standard deviation was 2.1, and median was 6 (Q1, Q3: 4, 7). Increased financial compensation for the services and loan payment or forgiveness option were the top strategies suggested to enhance interest among residents for training in the subspecialty. One third (37%) felt that reducing the duration of the fellowship to 2 years would increase interest in training in pediatric endocrinology.ConclusionThe pediatric endocrinologists reported overall excellent career satisfaction, indicating the potential to attract high-quality doctors to the specialty. Improving reimbursement and loan forgiveness were the top strategies suggested for increasing interest in subspecialty training in pediatric endocrinology.     

Endocrine-related reproductive effects in molluscs

Research on endocrine disruption has been a major topic of the past decade. Although most studies concentrated on vertebrate species, invertebrates are now gaining more attention. In particular, data on molluscs is increasing. One of the best-documented and more relevant examples of endocrine disruption is the imposex phenomenon affecting some gastropod species. But the increasing interest is also due to the fact that molluscs, especially bivalves, are good bioindicators used for decades in environmental studies and that progress have been made in the understanding of the physiology and endocrinology of some mollusc species. Recent results suggest that molluscs can be adversely affected by compounds that alter their reproduction and that vertebrate-type sex-steroids metabolism or mechanism of action could be involved in these effects. Nevertheless, the endocrine system of molluscs appears to be dissimilar in many aspects to those of vertebrates and sex-steroids might not have the same importance in all mollusc species. This diversity constitutes an important opportunity to examine and understand new and alternative mechanisms for endocrine disruption.     

Field endocrinology and conservation biology

Field endocrinology techniques allow the collection of samples(i.e., blood, urine, feces, tissues) from free-living animalsfor analysis of hormones, receptors, enzymes, etc. These datareveal mechanisms by which individuals respond to environmentalchallenges, breed, migrate and regulate all aspects of theirlife cycles. Field endocrinology techniques can also be usedto address many issues in conservation biology. We briefly reviewpast and current ways in which endocrine methods are used tomonitor threatened species, identify potential stressors andrecord responses to environmental disturbance. We then focuson one important aspect of conservation: how free-living populationsrespond to human disturbance, particularly in relation to ecotourism.Breeding adult Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus,appear to habituate well to tourists, and breed in an area whereabout 70,000 people visit during the season. Baseline levelsof corticosterone return to normal after exposure of naïvebirds to humans. However, penguin chicks appear to show a heightenedadrenocortical response to handling stress in nests exposedto tourists, compared to chicks living in areas isolated fromhuman intrusions. Given that developmental exposure to stresscan have profound influences on how individuals cope with stressas adults, this potential effect of tourists on chicks couldhave long-term consequences. This field endocrine approach identifieda stressor not observed through monitoring behavior alone.     

The use of hormone-supplemented serum-free media in primary cultures.

Recent advances in tissue culture and endocrinology have made possible the growth of established cell lines in hormone-supplemented serum-free media. The hormone requirements differ for different cell types but are similar or identical for the same cell types. The hormone supplements derived for four different cell types, a melanoma, GH3 pituitary tumor, and testicular cell lines TM3 and TM4 are used in preparing primary cultures for organs to detect melanoma metastasis, and grow normal pituitary and normal Leydig and Sertoli cells, respectively. This hormone supplementation and the concomitant elimination or reduction of the serum requirement is shown to have several advantages in the preparation of primary cultures including prolonged viability and function, partial or total selection of the desired cell type and inhibition of fibroblast overgrowth.It is felt that such culture systems will significantly expand the range of problems which can be approached using primary culture systems.