Publications by authors named "Gerard Conway"

The mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome) synthesizes 13 protein subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation system encoded by the mitochondrial genome. The mitoribosome is composed of 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 82 mitoribosomal proteins encoded by nuclear genes. To date, variants in 12 genes encoding mitoribosomal proteins are associated with rare monogenic disorders and frequently show combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency.

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Article Synopsis
  • Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a major cause of secondary hypertension, and a study shows that unilateral adrenalectomy can effectively cure it, with findings from a 24-year period at a UK center.
  • The study analyzed data from 82 patients, focusing on biochemical, radiological, and surgical outcomes, and reported a high rate of clinical and biochemical success after surgery.
  • Results indicated that 88% of patients experienced clinical benefits and nearly all achieved biochemical cures, with these positive outcomes sustained for at least five years post-surgery.
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The mitoribosome synthesizes 13 protein subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation system encoded by the mitochondrial genome. The mitoribosome is composed of 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and 82 mitoribosomal proteins encoded by nuclear genes. To date, variants in 12 genes encoding mitoribosomal proteins are associated with rare monogenic disorders, and frequently show combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency.

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Female hypogonadism (FH) is a relatively common endocrine disorder in women of premenopausal age, but there are significant uncertainties and wide variation in its management. Most current guidelines are monospecialty and only address premature ovarian insufficiency (POI); some allude to management in very brief and general terms, and most rely upon the extrapolation of evidence from the studies relating to physiological estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women. The Society for Endocrinology commissioned new guidance to provide all care providers with a multidisciplinary perspective on managing patients with all forms of FH.

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  • A study investigated diabetes risk factors and glucose tolerance in 106 women with Turner Syndrome (TS), revealing that a significant portion presented with normal glucose tolerance, while a smaller percentage had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or diabetes mellitus (DM).
  • The research found no link between autoimmune markers and DM, but noted that women with IGT or DM were generally older and had higher body mass indices and insulin resistance.
  • The findings suggest that TS-related DM shares characteristics of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with weight and insulin resistance being key factors; assessing specific markers may help predict future insulin needs.
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Objective: Many women with Turner syndrome (TS) will consider fertility options and pregnancy. We wished to examine the fertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with TS undergoing oocyte donation (OD) treatment or spontaneous pregnancy in a large single-centre cohort. General population reference data or data from those with idiopathic premature ovarian insufficiency were used as comparators.

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The Y-linked SRY gene initiates mammalian testis-determination. However, how the expression of SRY is regulated remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that a conserved steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1)/NR5A1 binding enhancer is required for appropriate SRY expression to initiate testis-determination in humans.

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Background: Women with Turner syndrome (TS) (45,X and related karyotypes) have an increased prevalence of conditions such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypothyroidism, autoimmunity, hypertension, and congenital cardiovascular anomalies (CCA). Whilst the risk of developing these co-morbidities may be partly related to haploinsufficiency of key genes on the X chromosome, other mechanisms may be involved. Improving our understanding of underlying processes is important to develop personalized approaches to management.

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Objective: Optimal breast development is an essential part of exogenous oestrogen treatment in females undergoing pubertal induction. We set out to develop a novel technique using three-dimensional (3D) imaging to determine change in breast volume that is applicable when no pre-existing breast contours are present.

Design: A prospective observational study.

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A girl presenting with delayed puberty and elevated gonadotropins may have a range of conditions such as Turner syndrome (TS), primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), and 46,XY disorders of sexual development (DSD). An organized and measured approach to investigation can help reach a timely diagnosis. Management of young people often requires specialist multidisciplinary input to address the endocrine and nonendocrine features of these complex conditions, as well as the psychological challenges posed by their diagnosis.

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Objective: Induction of puberty with exogenous oestrogen results in considerable variability in final uterine and breast volumes. We set out to quantify the variability of these two outcome measures with a view to establishing monitoring methods that could be used to individualise treatment protocols.

Design: A prospective observational study.

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Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) affects 1% of women and carries significant medical and psychosocial sequelae. Approximately 10% of POI has a defined genetic cause, with most implicated genes relating to biological processes involved in early fetal ovary development and function. Recently, Ythdc2, an RNA helicase and N6-methyladenosine reader, has emerged as a regulator of meiosis in mice.

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The natural lifespan of the ovary is occasionally interrupted by pathological processes; some are known, but many are unknown. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) can be a devastating diagnosis for an adolescent or for someone who has yet to start a family. Common causes of POI include genetic and chromosomal defects, autoimmune damage, and cancer treatments.

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Background: Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) affects 1% of women and is associated with significant medical consequences. A genetic cause for POI can be found in up to 30% of women, elucidating key roles for these genes in human ovary development.

Objective: We aimed to identify the genetic mechanism underlying early-onset POI in 2 sisters from a consanguineous pedigree.

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Objective: Age at first date and sexual intercourse have been observed to be delayed in women with Turner syndrome (TS), with delayed puberty being the main factor. We sought to assess relationship and sexual experiences comparing women with TS and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

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Context: The genetic basis of human sex development is slowly being elucidated, and >40 different genetic causes of differences (or disorders) of sex development (DSDs) have now been reported. However, reaching a specific diagnosis using traditional approaches can be difficult, especially in adults where limited biochemical data may be available.

Objective: We used a targeted next-generation sequencing approach to analyze known and candidate genes for DSDs in individuals with no specific molecular diagnosis.

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Objective: Women with early-onset oestrogen deficiency are at risk of reduced bone mineral density (BMD). We sought to assess fracture history and BMD in women with Turner syndrome (TS) and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Design: A cross-sectional observational study.

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Objective: Adequate uterine growth is an essential component of pubertal induction with exogenous oestradiol in those with hypogonadism. Poor uterine development will render the individual vulnerable in the context of fertility. We assessed uterine size using ultrasound in those who had undergone pubertal induction treatment compared with a reference group who had experienced spontaneous puberty.

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Objective: To study the effects of increasingly prosperous diet content on clinical features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: A cross-sectional cohort study of 711 women with PCOS from a heterogeneous population spanning a wide spectrum of socioeconomic strata.

Setting: Independent hospital.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates genetic causes of 46,XY disorders/differences of sex development (DSD), particularly gonadal dysgenesis and testis regression syndrome (TRS), which often have unknown origins.
  • Researchers used exome and Sanger sequencing on 145 individuals, discovering pathogenic variants in the DHX37 gene that are linked to these conditions.
  • The findings suggest that DHX37 variants contribute to an autosomal dominant form of 46,XY DSD, indicating a potential connection between these conditions and ribosomopathies.
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Background: Discordance between gonadal type and gender identity has often led to an assumption of infertility in patients with differences in sex development (DSD). However, there is now greater recognition of fertility being an important issue for this group of patients. Currently, gonadal tissue that may have fertility potential is not being stored for individuals with DSD and, where gonadectomy forms part of management, is often discarded.

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Objective: The dual diagnosis of hypoplastic uterus in association with ovarian dysgenesis is regularly reported but the pathogenesis of the association is unclear. The uterus, however, may be invisible to all imaging modalities without at least six months of exogenous oestrogen exposure in complete ovarian failure. We assessed all available case reports in this category to estimate whether the apparent association between primary ovarian insufficiency or Turner syndrome and Mullerian agenesis can be largely accounted for by oestrogen deficiency.

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Context: Turner syndrome (TS) is often associated with delayed puberty. To induce puberty, estrogen is administered in incremental doses at an age determined by age of presentation. After puberty, various types of maintenance estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) are used.

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Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of ovarian stimulation and oocyte cryopreservation as a method of fertility preservation in women with Turner syndrome (TS).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Reproductive medicine clinic.

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