Defective Levothyroxine Response in a Patient with Dyshormonogenic Congenital Hypothyroidism Caused by a Concurrent Pathogenic Variant in Thyroid Hormone Receptor-β.

Pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone (PRTH) is often seen in congenital hypothyroidism (CH), presenting as elevated thyrotropin (TSH) values despite (high-)normal thyroid hormone (TH) values achieved by levothyroxine treatment. In this study, we describe a girl with CH who was referred because of difficulties interpreting thyroid function tests. She was thought to have PRTH associated with CH, but genetic studies discovered a pathogenic variant in , causing resistance to TH (RTH-β).

Oxidation of PTH: in vivo feature or effect of preanalytical conditions?

Background: Posttranslational oxidation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) modifies its biological activity. Measurement of non-oxidized PTH (n-oxPTH) could be an improvement in assessing PTH status, as intact PTH may rather reflect oxidative stress. However, it is debated whether oxidation of PTH occurs in vivo, or whether it is mainly an in vitro artifact.

[Specific IgE testing in food allergies].

The interpretation of specific IgE test results in patients with suspected food allergies is not always straightforward. In fact, specific IgE test results for food allergens can provide physicians with more questions than answers. Based on the description of two patient cases, we discuss the interpretation of specific IgE test results for food allergens; the description includes the diagnostic process, cross-reactivity and component-resolved diagnostics.

Mandometer treatment not superior to treatment as usual for anorexia nervosa.

Objective: A comparison of the efficacy of a novel treatment method for anorexia nervosa (AN), the Mandometer treatment (MT), with treatment as usual (TAU).

Method: During treatment data were collected to determine weight recovery and outcome as assessed by the Morgan Russell Outcome Assessment Schedule (MROAS).

Results: After treatment 63% of the MT group and 85% of the TAU group had reached a normal weight level and both MT and TAU showed a good outcome on the MROAS (75 and 71%, respectively).

Acute and chronic suppression of the central ghrelin signaling system reveals a role in food anticipatory activity.

Using the rodent activity-based anorexia (ABA) model that mimics clinical features of anorexia nervosa that include food restriction-induced hyperlocomotion, we found that plasma ghrelin levels are highly associated with food anticipatory behaviour, measured by running wheel activity in rats. Furthermore, we showed that ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1A) knockout mice do not anticipate food when exposed to the ABA model, unlike their wild type littermate controls. Likewise, food anticipatory activity in the ABA model was suppressed by a GHS-R1A antagonist administered either by acute central (ICV) injection to rats or by chronic peripheral treatment to mice.

Do leptin and insulin signal adiposity?

The physiological regulation of adiposity is supposed to depend on endocrine 'adiposity signals' that inform the brain about the mass of the adipose tissue. Basal levels of insulin and leptin are widely accepted to be adiposity signals, and amylin, ghrelin and peptide YY have been hypothesized to be. Support for these ideas comes from associations between basal hormone levels and levels of adiposity, from demonstrations of receptors for these hormones in neural circuits supposed to regulate energy homeostasis, from neuropharmacological manipulations of the hormones' actions on eating and energy expenditure, and from the effects on energy balance in animals or people bearing mutations in these endocrine signaling pathways.

Validation of computed tomographic estimates of intra-abdominal and subcutaneous adipose tissue in rats and mice.

We characterized the accuracy, sensitivity, and reliability of computed tomographic (CT) estimates of intra-abdominal (IA) and subcutaneous (S) adipose tissue (AT) in rats and mice using the Aloka rodent CT. Here, we present the first comparisons of CT estimates of the weights of AT samples ex vivo to balance weights of the same samples, of CT estimates of AT weights in vivo to the weights of resected whole-body AT, and of CT estimates of the weights of pieces of AT inserted IA or S in vivo to the weights of the same pieces ex vivo. CT underestimated AT weight ex vivo by approximately 10%, and correction of the automated categorization of IAAT and SAT by Aloka software was required.

Dopamine antagonism inhibits anorectic behavior in an animal model for anorexia nervosa.

Excessive physical activity is commonly described as symptom of Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model for AN. The ABA model mimics severe body weight loss and increased physical activity.

To eat or not to eat; regulation by the melanocortin system.

The central melanocortin (MC) system is one of the best-characterized neuropeptidergic systems involved in the regulation of energy balance. This short review describes the role of the central MC system in feeding behavior. Pharmacological, anatomical and genetic studies show that activation of the MC system reduces meal size, whereas de-activation of the MC system increases meal size.

AgRP(83-132) and SHU9119 differently affect activity-based anorexia.

Activity-based anorexia (ABA) mimics starvation and hyperactivity of anorexia nervosa patients in rats. Activation of the melanocortin (MC) system leads to hypophagia and increased energy expenditure in ad libitum fed rats. Therefore, activation of the MC system might underlie the development and propagation of ABA.

Leptin treatment in activity-based anorexia.

Background: Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model of anorexia nervosa (AN). In ABA, scheduled feeding together with voluntary access to a running wheel results in increased running wheel activity (RWA), hypophagia, and body weight loss. Previously it was shown that leptin treatment reduced semi-starvation-induced hyperactivity in rats.

Olanzapine reduces physical activity in rats exposed to activity-based anorexia: possible implications for treatment of anorexia nervosa?

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) patients often show extreme hypophagia and excessive physical activity. Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model of AN and mimics food restriction and hyperactivity in rats. This study investigated whether treatment with olanzapine (Zyprexa) reduces the development of ABA in rats.

alpha-MSH enhances activity-based anorexia.

Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model of anorexia nervosa (AN). In ABA, scheduled feeding in combination with voluntary access to running wheels, results in hyperactivity, hypophagia, body weight loss and activation of the HPA axis. Since stimulation of the melanocortin (MC) system has similar effects, this system is a candidate system involved in ABA.

Voluntary access to a warm plate reduces hyperactivity in activity-based anorexia.

Activity-based anorexia (ABA) is considered an animal model of anorexia nervosa. In ABA, scheduled feeding in combination with voluntary wheel running leads to hyperactivity, reduced food intake, severe body weight loss and hypothermia. In this study it was investigated whether hyperactivity in ABA could be reduced by introducing a warm plate (which was voluntary accessible and did not influence ambient temperature) into a part of the cage.

Mu-opioid receptor knockout mice show diminished food-anticipatory activity.

We have previously suggested that during or prior to activation of anticipatory behaviour to a coming reward, mu-opioid receptors are activated. To test this hypothesis schedule induced food-anticipatory activity in mu-opioid receptor knockout mice was measured using running wheels. We hypothesized that mu-knockout mice show little food-anticipatory activity.

Melanocortin system and eating disorders.

The melanocortin (MC) system is involved in the regulation of energy balance and in the development of obesity. Here we briefly review why we became interested in investigating whether the MC system - more particularly, the increased activity of the MC system - is also involved in disorders of negative energy balance. We provide evidence that suppression of increased MC receptor activity by treatment with the inverse agonist agouti-related peptide (AgRP) (83-132) rescues rats exposed to an animal model known as activity-based anorexia.