Two cases of middle-aged female patients treated by gastric bypass surgery for weight loss presented to our clinic for a follow-up examination 3-6 months after the surgical procedure (a mini gastric bypass and a modified single anastomosis sleeve-ileostomy). In both patients increased ACTH levels and either high serum cortisol or an increased urinary cortisol excretion was apparent and triggered further endocrine testing. Serum cortisol could not be suppressed adequately by 2 and 4 mg dexamethasone in the standardized oral overnight suppression test while midnight salivary cortisol dropped well below the desired cut-off.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMutualistic biotic interactions as among flowering plants and their animal pollinators are a key component of biodiversity. Pollination, especially by insects, is a key element in ecosystem functioning, and hence constitutes an ecosystem service of global importance. Not only sexual reproduction of plants is ensured, but also yields are stabilized and genetic variability of crops is maintained, counteracting inbreeding depression and facilitating system resilience.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF