Impaired 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 activity in kidney disease disrupts 11-oxygenated androgen biosynthesis.

Context: 11-oxygenated androgens are a group of adrenal-derived steroids that require peripheral activation. In vitro data highlight a putative role for 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD11B2) in 11-oxygenated androgen biosynthesis, converting 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4) to 11-ketoandrostenedione (11KA4), the direct precursor of the potent androgen 11-ketotestosterone (11KT). As the kidney is the major site of HSD11B2 expression, we hypothesized that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) would have reduced 11-oxygenated androgen biosynthesis due to impaired HSD11B2 activity.

Case Series of Akathisia in Palliative Medicine: Patient Perspective and Efficacy of Procyclidine in Diagnosis and Management.

Aims: Akathisia is a disturbing, reversible but under-diagnosed extrapyramidal side effect of medications used in palliative medicine. We assessed patients' subjective experience of akathisia and response to procyclidine, an anticholinergic used to treat extrapyramidal effects. We also aimed to discuss future areas of research and alternatives to akathisia-causing medications.

Clinical Utility of GnRH Analogues in Female Androgen Excess: Highlighting Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications.

Female androgen excess typically presents with hirsutism, acne, and frontotemporal alopecia. Although the majority of cases are due to underlying polycystic ovary syndrome, non-polycystic ovary syndrome pathology can present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We present 3 cases highlighting the utility of GnRH analogues in diagnosis and treatment of ovarian hyperandrogenism.

Characterizing skeletal muscle dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine condition affecting women. It has traditionally been viewed as a primarily reproductive disorder; however, it is increasingly recognized as a lifelong metabolic disease. Women with PCOS are at increased risk of insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.

Approach to androgen excess in women: Clinical and biochemical insights.

Androgen excess in women typically presents clinically with hirsutism, acne or androgenic alopecia. In the vast majority of cases, the underlying aetiology is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common chronic condition that affects up to 10% of all women. Identification of women with non-PCOS pathology within large cohorts of patients presenting with androgen excess represents a diagnostic challenge for the endocrinologist, and rare pathology including nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, severe insulin resistance syndromes, Cushing's disease or androgen-secreting tumours of the ovary or adrenal gland may be missed in the absence of a pragmatic screening approach.

HIST1H1E syndrome with type 2 diabetes.

A 20-year-old woman was referred to the diabetes clinic with type 2 diabetes diagnosed at the age of 19. Her body mass index was 31.4 kg/m, HbA1C was 76 mmol/mol, GAD antibodies were negative with a detectable C-peptide.

NO Releasing and Anticancer Properties of Octahedral Ruthenium-Nitrosyl Complexes with Equatorial 1 H-Indazole Ligands.

With the aim of enhancing the biological activity of ruthenium-nitrosyl complexes, new compounds with four equatorially bound indazole ligands, namely, trans-[RuCl(Hind)(NO)]Cl·HO ([3]Cl·HO) and trans-[RuOH(Hind)(NO)]Cl·HO ([4]Cl·HO), have been prepared from trans-[Ru(NO)(Hind)] ([2]). When the pH-dependent solution behavior of [3]Cl·HO and [4]Cl·HO was studied, two new complexes with two deprotonated indazole ligands were isolated, namely [RuCl(ind)(Hind)(NO)] ([5]) and [RuOH(ind)(Hind)(NO)] ([6]). All prepared compounds were comprehensively characterized by spectroscopic (IR, UV-vis, H NMR) techniques.

A PET study examining pharmacokinetics and dopamine transporter occupancy of two long-acting formulations of methylphenidate in adults.

The delivery systems of two long-acting formulations of methylphenidate (MPH) were designed for different durations. Diffucaps bead-delivery system (DBDS)-MPH was designed to last 8 h and osmotically controlled-release oral delivery system (OROS)-MPH was designed to last 12 h. While the plasma pharmacokinetics and timing of efficacy have been studied, the corresponding central nervous system dopamine transporter (DAT) occupancies are unknown.

An exploratory study of palliative care in bone marrow transplant patients.

Quality of life - as opposed to quantity of life - raises important issues for all concerned. The legal and moral issues surrounding death, and our new abilities to delay it, are discussed frequently in the press and in professional journals. It was therefore felt important within an acute bone marrow transplant unit to identify the factors which would be considered important in palliative care for post bone marrow transplant patients, with specific reference to quality of life.