Publications by authors named "A Turcu"
Background: Primary aldosteronism can be treated medically but there is no standardised method to evaluate treatment outcomes. We aimed to develop criteria for assessing the outcomes of targeted medical treatment of primary aldosteronism, analyse outcomes across an international cohort, and identify factors associated with a complete treatment response.
Methods: An international panel of 31 primary aldosteronism experts used the Delphi method to reach consensus on the definition of complete, partial, or absent biochemical and clinical outcomes of medical treatment of primary aldosteronism.
Exploring the Predictive Role of 11-Oxyandrogens in Diagnosing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
Endocrinol Diabetes Metab
January 2025
Context: Hyperandrogenism is a hallmark of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), yet the androgen(s) responsible remain ambiguous. Recent studies have suggested that 11-oxygenated C steroids (11-oxyandrogens), specifically 11-ketotestosterone, may be a good marker for hyperandrogenism in PCOS.
Objective: To investigate the utility of 11-oxyandrogens to differentiate women with and without PCOS relative to classical androgens.
Article Synopsis
- Primary aldosteronism is a condition marked by excessive aldosterone production due to adrenal gland lesions, primarily characterized by disrupted regulation of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2).
- In a study of aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs) without known mutations, researchers discovered specific mutations in the gene for mucolipin-3 (TRPML3) associated with increased calcium activity and aldosterone production.
- These findings suggest that mutations in TRPML3 may contribute to hormone excess in primary aldosteronism, highlighting the disease's underlying genetic factors and their impact on hypertension.
Context: Adipose steroid metabolism modifies body fat development in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Objective: To determine whether subcutaneous (SC) abdominal adipose aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3; a marker of testosterone generation) is increased in normal-weight women with PCOS vs age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched normoandrogenic ovulatory women (controls) and is related to SC abdominal adipose activator protein-1 (AP-1; a marker of adipocyte differentiation) and/or androgen receptor (AR) protein expression in predicting fat accretion.
Design: Prospective cohort study.
The steroid hormone aldosterone, produced by the zona glomerulosa (zG) of the adrenal gland, is a master regulator of plasma electrolytes and blood pressure. While aldosterone control by the renin-angiotensin system is well understood, other key regulatory factors have remained elusive. Here, we replicated a prior association between a non-coding variant in and an increased risk of primary aldosteronism, a prevalent and debilitating disease caused by excessive aldosterone production.
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