The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · Mar 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of vitamin D supplementation in older African American women.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) is lower in women with darker skin color. Is it due to lower skin production, lower absorption, or different metabolism of vitamin D? ⋯ Vitamin D3 800 IU increased serum 25OHD greater than 20 ng/mL (>50 nmol/L) in 97.5% of the African American women just as it did in the Caucasian women, and therefore, the RDA is the same for both groups. Because absorption and metabolism of oral vitamin D absorption is similar in both groups, lower levels of serum 25OHD in African Americans must be due to lower production of vitamin D in skin.
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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · Mar 2013
Elevated anandamide and related N-acylethanolamine levels occur in the peripheral blood of women with ectopic pregnancy and are mirrored by changes in peripheral fatty acid amide hydrolase activity.
Studies from knockout mice suggest that perturbations in oviductal endocannabinoid levels, endocannabinoid receptors, or endocannabinoid degrading enzyme [fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH)] expression result in infertility secondary to physical trapping of embryos. Similar observations have been made in ectopic pregnant women together with a suggestion that the endocannabinoid receptor gene polymorphism 1359G/A (rs1049353) is associated with ectopic pregnancy. These observations led to the hypothesis that ectopic pregnancy is associated with a perturbation in levels of endocannabinoids and FAAH activity and that such changes are associated with impaired tubal function. ⋯ Elevated endocannabinoid levels and reduced FAAH activity are associated with ectopic pregnancy and may modulate tubal function, suggesting dysfunctional endocannabinoid action in ectopic implantation. Oleoylethanolamide may play a critical role in embryo-tubal transport.
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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · Feb 2013
Case ReportsFull penetrance of Morgagni-Stewart-Morel syndrome in a 75-year-old woman: case report and review of the literature.
Morgagni-Stewart-Morel syndrome is defined as the presence of hyperostosis frontalis interna, variably associated with metabolic, endocrine, and neuropsychiatric disorders. The possible cause-effect relationship of these associations remains uncertain. ⋯ A case of full penetrance of Morgagni-Stewart-Morel syndrome is reported, presenting many of the clinical features described in the literature. Metabolic and endocrine dysfunctions should be interpreted not only as isolated components of the syndrome, but also as the reason behind its pathogenesis. Endocrine or nutritional disorders may have led to an altered bone metabolism with frontal bone apposition. On the other hand, the severity of our patient's neurological and psychiatric symptoms correlates well with the severity of her hyperostosis frontalis interna and the cortical atrophy.
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Pheochromocytoma crisis is a feared and potentially lethal complication of pheochromocytoma. ⋯ Management of patients presenting with pheochromocytoma crisis should include initial stabilization of the acute crisis followed by sufficient α-blockade before surgery. Emergency resection of pheochromocytoma is associated with high surgical morbidity and mortality.