Adrenal disease in pregnancy
Adrenal disorders in pregnancy are relatively rare, yet can lead to significant maternal and fetal morbidity. Making a diagnosis is challenging as pregnancy may alter the manifestation of disease, many signs and symptoms associated with pregnancy are also seen in adrenal disease, and the fetal-placental unit alters the maternal endocrine metabolism and hormonal feedback mechanisms. The most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome in pregnancy is an adrenal adenoma, followed by pituitary etiology, adrenal carcinoma, and other exceedingly rare causes. Medical therapy of Cushing’s syndrome includes metyrapone and ketoconazole, but generally surgical treatment is more effective. Exogenous corticosteroid administration is the most common cause of adrenal insufficiency, followed by the endogenous...

Drug Target Identified For Diabetes
New research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) points to the naturally produced protein apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) as a potential target for a new diabetes therapeutic. Patrick Tso, PhD, professor in the UC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, has published research on the ability of apoA-IV to reduce blood sugar levels and enhance insulin secretion. The results appear the week of May 21, 2012, in the online early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ApoA-IV is secreted by the small intestine in response to fat absorption... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)