eClips Consult provides evidence-graded abstracts of the most important articles in your speciality, along with expert commentary and ratings on their significance. It's the efficient way to stay current in medicine. http://eclips.consult.comen-us<![CDATA[Epac2, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small guanosine triphosphatase Rap1, is activated by adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer and binding experiments revealed that sulfonylureas, widely used antidiabetic drugs, interact directly with Epac2. Sulfonylureas activated Rap1 specifically through Epac2. Sulfonylurea-stimulated insulin secretion was reduced both in vitro and in vivo in mice lacking Epac2, and the glucose-lowering effect of the sulfonylurea tolbutamide was decreased in these mice. Epac2 thus contributes to the effect of sulfonylureas to promote insulin secretion. Because Epac2 is also required for the action of incretins, gut hormones crucial for potentiating insulin secretion, it may be a promising target for antidiabetic drug development.]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79507-X?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79507-X?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology<![CDATA[The effects of GH replacement therapy in patients who develop GH deficiency (GHD) after cure of acromegaly have not been established in a placebo-controlled study.]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79594-9?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79594-9?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology<![CDATA[The ability of combined dexamethasone-corticotropin releasing hormone (Dex-CRH) testing to distinguish pseudo-Cushing's syndrome (PCS) from Cushing's syndrome is controversial. One factor potentially impairing diagnostic efficacy is the concomitant use of commonly prescribed medications that may alter dexamethasone metabolism.]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79609-8?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79609-8?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology<![CDATA[Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex genetic disorder. Multiple functional polymorphisms have been identified in genes that regulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis that regulates ovarian function. The present study aims to examine the influence of genetic variants of the HPG-axis on the severity of clinical features of PCOS and disease susceptibility.]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(09)79423-5?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(09)79423-5?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology<![CDATA[Diagnostic tests that can accurately differentiate between benign and malignant adrenal lesions are lacking. Mass size is currently utilized as an indication for adrenalectomy in patients with adrenal masses. However, the accuracy of this criterion and the ideal size threshold are unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of using mass size as the only indication for adrenalectomy and the ideal size threshold for distinguishing malignant primary adrenal tumors from lesions that do not require surgical resection.]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79566-4?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79566-4?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology<![CDATA[Dual oxidases were initially identified as NADPH oxidases producing H2O2 necessary for thyroid hormone biosynthesis. The crucial role of Duox2 has been demonstrated in patients suffering from partial iodide organification defect caused by bi-allelic mutations in the DUOX2 gene. However, the Duox1 function in thyroid remains elusive. We optimized a functional assay by co-expressing Duox1 or Duox2 with their respective maturation factors, DuoxA1 and DuoxA2, to compare their intrinsic enzymatic activities under stimulation of the major signaling pathways active in the thyroid in relation to their membrane expression. We showed that basal activity of both Duox isoenzymes depends on calcium and functional EF-hand motifs. However, the two oxidases are differentially regulated by activation of intracellular signaling cascades. Duox1 but not Duox2 activity is stimulated by forskolin (EC50=0.1μm) via protein kinase A-mediated Duox1 phosphorylation on serine 955. In contrast, phorbol esters induce Duox2 phosphorylation via protein kinase C activation associated with high H2O2 generation (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate EC50=0.8nm). These results were confirmed in human thyroid cells, suggesting that Duox1 is also involved in thyroid hormonogenesis. Our data provide, for the first time, detailed insights into the mechanisms controlling the activation of Duox1–2 proteins and reveal additional phosphorylation-mediated regulation.]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79513-5?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79513-5?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology<![CDATA[Transcription factor steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) plays a pivotal role in the control of adrenocortical cell steroidogenesis and proliferation. SF-1 amplification and overexpression are found in most cases of childhood adrenocortical tumors (ACTs).]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79562-7?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79562-7?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology<![CDATA[Aging, low dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone are associated with increased adiposity and metabolic risk. Treatment with these hormones may improve these abnormalities.]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(09)79428-4?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(09)79428-4?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology<![CDATA[The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of 5yr of depot somatostatin analogs (SSAs) as first-line therapy in acromegaly.]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79587-1?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79587-1?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology<![CDATA[Patients in remission from Cushing's disease (CD) have many clinical features that are difficult to distinguish from concomitant GHD. In this study, we evaluated the features of GHD in a large cohort of controlled CD and assessed the effect of GH treatment.]]>http://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79614-1?source=rsshttp://eclips.consult.com/eclips/article/Endocrinology/S0084-3741(10)79614-1?source=rss12 Aug 2010Endocrinology