Impact of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Gut Microbiome and Hormonal Regulation.

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in human health by influencing various physiological functions through complex interactions with the endocrine system. These interactions involve the production of metabolites, signaling molecules, and direct communication with endocrine cells, which modulate hormone secretion and activity. As a result, the microbiome can exert neuroendocrine effects and contribute to metabolic regulation, adiposity, and appetite control.

Cross-Sex Hormone Therapy Is Associated With Loss of Circadian Rhythm in the Male Rat.

Background: Transgender women are individuals born male but identify as female. Many transgender women undergo gender-affirming hormone therapy to alleviate the distress that can occur due to gender incongruence. For transgender women, gender-affirming hormone therapy includes 17β-estradiol (E2) combined with an antiandrogen therapy (AA) or surgical intervention.

MicroRNA-21 modulates brown adipose tissue adipogenesis and thermogenesis in a mouse model of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women, is associated with increased obesity, hyperandrogenism, and altered brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. MicroRNAs play critical functions in brown adipocyte differentiation and maintenance. We aim to study the role of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in altered energy homeostasis and BAT thermogenesis in a PCOS mouse model of peripubertal androgen exposure.

Insights Into the Cardiomodulatory Effects of Sex Hormones: Implications in Transgender Care.

Transgender individuals that undergo gender-affirming hormone therapy may experience discrimination in the health care setting with a lack of access to medical personnel competent in transgender medicine. Recent evidence suggests that gender-affirming hormone therapy is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular risk factors. A recent statement from the American Heart Association reinforces the importance of cardiovascular-focused clinical management and the necessity for more research into the impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Testosterone-associated blood pressure dysregulation in women with androgen excess polycystic ovary syndrome.

We tested the hypothesis that hyperandrogenemia in androgen excess polycystic ovary syndrome (AE-PCOS) is a primary driver in blood pressure (BP) dysregulation via altered sympathetic nervous system activity (SNSA), reduced integrated baroreflex gain and increased renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation. We measured resting SNSA (microneurography), integrated baroreflex gain, and RAS with lower body negative pressure in obese insulin-resistant (IR) women with AE-PCOS [ = 8, 23 ± 4 yr; body mass index (BMI) = 36.3 ± 6.

Loss of microRNA-21 protects against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced Acute Liver Failure (ALF) is recognized as the most common cause of ALF in Western societies. APAP-induced ALF is characterized by coagulopathy, hepatic encephalopathy, multi-organ failure, and death. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.

Obesity-associated cardiometabolic complications in polycystic ovary syndrome: The potential role of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women. PCOS is characterized by androgen excess, oligo/anovulation, and polycystic appearance of the ovaries. Women with PCOS have an increased prevalence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors such as insulin resistance, hypertension, renal injury, and obesity.

Predictors of Metformin Failure: Repurposing Electronic Health Record Data to Identify High-Risk Patients.

Context: Metformin is the first-line drug for treating diabetes but has a high failure rate.

Objective: To identify demographic and clinical factors available in the electronic health record (EHR) that predict metformin failure.

Methods: A cohort of patients with at least 1 abnormal diabetes screening test that initiated metformin was identified at 3 sites (Arizona, Mississippi, and Minnesota).

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibition Benefits in Cardiorenal Risk in Men and Women.

Introduction: In addition to their antihyperglycemic action, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are used in patients with type 2 diabetes due to their cardioprotective effects. Meta-analyses of large clinical trials have reported mixed results when examining sex differences in their cardioprotective effects. For example, some studies reported that, compared to women, men had a greater reduction in cardiovascular risk with SGLT2 inhibition.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Insights from Preclinical Research.

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Mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in white adipose tissue in a rat model of PCOS: effect of SGLT2 inhibition.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by androgen excess and ovulatory dysfunction, is associated with a high prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance (IR) in women. We demonstrated that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) administration decreases fat mass without affecting IR in the PCOS model. In male models of IR, administration of SGLT2i decreases oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial function in white adipose tissue (WAT).

Eradicating Racism: An Endocrine Society Policy Perspective.

The Endocrine Society recognizes racism as a root cause of the health disparities that affect racial/ethnic minority communities in the United States and throughout the world. In this policy perspective, we review the sources and impact of racism on endocrine health disparities and propose interventions aimed at promoting an equitable, diverse, and just healthcare system. Racism in the healthcare system perpetuates health disparities through unequal access and quality of health services, inadequate representation of health professionals from racial/ethnic minority groups, and the propagation of the erroneous belief that socially constructed racial/ethnic groups constitute genetically and biologically distinct populations.

Management of cardiometabolic complications in polycystic ovary syndrome: Unmet needs.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder and the most common cause of androgen excess in reproductive-age women. The heterogeneity of the clinical presentation in PCOS patients suggests the involvement of multiples abnormal physiological pathways. In addition, women with PCOS have a high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors.

Cardiac and Renal SARS-CoV-2 Viral Entry Protein Regulation by Androgens and Diet: Implications for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and COVID-19.

The susceptibility and the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are associated with hyperandrogenism, obesity, and preexisting pulmonary, metabolic, renal, and cardiac conditions. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women, is associated with obesity, hyperandrogenism, and cardiometabolic dysregulations. We analyzed cardiac, renal, circulatory, and urinary SARS-CoV-2 viral entry proteins (ACE2, TMPRSS2, TMPRSS4, furin, cathepsin L, and ADAM17) and androgen receptor (AR) expression, in a peripubertal androgen exposure model of PCOS.

SARS-CoV-2 Viral Entry Proteins in Hyperandrogenemic Female Mice: Implications for Women with PCOS and COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, infects host cells using the angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as its receptor after priming by host proteases, including TMPRSS2. COVID-19 affects multiple organ systems, and male patients suffer increased severity and mortality. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women and is characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian morphology.

Novel biomarkers of childhood and adolescent obesity.

Regulation of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) and the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) by obesity in adolescents. [Image: see text]

Impact of SGLT-2 Inhibition on Cardiometabolic Abnormalities in a Rat Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women. PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction. Women with PCOS have a high prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance (IR), increased blood pressure (BP), and activation of the renin angiotensin system (RAS).

Androgens, the kidney, and COVID-19: an opportunity for translational research.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has reached pandemic proportions, affecting millions of people worldwide. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of COVID-19. Epidemiological reports have shown that the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with preexisting comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney diseases, all of which are also risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI).

Effect of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in the Cardiometabolic Complications in a Rat Model of Postmenopausal PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction. Women with PCOS have an elevated prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors that worsen after menopause. Liraglutide (Lira), a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, has shown beneficial metabolic effects in small clinic trials in reproductive-age women with PCOS.

MicroRNA-21 ablation exacerbates aldosterone-mediated cardiac injury, remodeling, and dysfunction.

Primary aldosteronism is characterized by excess aldosterone secretion by the adrenal gland independent of the renin-angiotensin system and accounts for ~10% of hypertensive patients. Excess aldosterone causes cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammation, and hypertension. The molecular mechanisms that trigger the onset and progression of aldosterone-mediated cardiac injury remain incompletely understood.

Long-Lasting Androgen-Induced Cardiometabolic Effects in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, is characterized by androgen excess and ovarian dysfunction and presents with increased cardiometabolic risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance, and elevated blood pressure (BP). We previously reported that administration of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to female rats elicits cardiometabolic derangements similar to those found in women with PCOS. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the DHT-mediated cardiometabolic derangements observed in PCOS are long lasting despite DHT withdrawal.

Pancytopenia: a rare complication of Graves' disease.

A 27-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency room with complaints of sweating, palpitations, heat intolerance, insomnia and weight loss for the last 3 months. His medical history was significant for hypertension. On examination, he was tachycardic, hypertensive, had tremors of the upper extremities and a smooth goitre with a thyroid bruit.

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Consequences of Testosterone Supplements in Young and Old Male Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Implications for Testosterone Supplements in Men.

Background: The safety of testosterone supplements in men remains unclear. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that in young and old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), long-term testosterone supplements increase blood pressure and that the mechanism is mediated in part by activation of the renin-angiotensin system.

Methods And Results: In untreated males, serum testosterone exhibited a sustained decrease after 5 months of age, reaching a nadir by 18 to 22 months of age.