Effect of day-to-day variations in adrenal cortex hormone levels on abdominal symptoms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is known to be related to abdominal symptoms, and the relationship between abdominal pain and cortisol secretory patterns has been previously investigated using a cross-sectional approach. Here, we investigated the effect of day-to-day variations in salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate levels on abdominal symptoms in healthy individuals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eleven college students (4 males and 7 females) participated in this study. The participants were asked to collect their saliva immediately after awakening and before bedtime for eight consecutive days. They also completed a questionnaire about abdominal symptoms before bedtime. The linear mixed model was applied to analyze the effects of the day-by-day variability or the 8-day average adrenal hormone level (at awakening, before bedtime, slope from awakening to bedtime) on abdominal symptoms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The day-to-day variability of cortisol levels before bedtime was negatively related with loose stool, while the day-to-day variability of the cortisol slope was positively correlated with loose stool. A low 8-day average dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate level at awakening was positively related with frequent bowel movements, loose stool, and long bouts of severe abdominal pain. Likewise, a low 8-day average dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate slope was positively related with long bouts of abdominal pain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Low cortisol levels before bedtime and a steeper diurnal cortisol slope during the day may be related to bouts of diarrhea during the day.</p

Steroids-producing nodules: a two-layered adrenocortical nodular structure as a precursor lesion of cortisol-producing adenoma

コルチゾール産生腫瘍の前駆病変を世界で初めて発見--副腎腫瘍の発生メカニズムの解明と副腎皮質疾患の治療への応用に期--京都大学プレスリリース. 2024-04-03.Background: The human adrenal cortex consists of three functionally and structurally distinct layers; zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata (zF), and zona reticularis (zR), and produces adrenal steroid hormones in a layer-specific manner; aldosterone, cortisol, and adrenal androgens, respectively. Cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs) occur mostly as a result of somatic mutations associated with the protein kinase A pathway. However, how CPAs develop after adrenocortical cells acquire genetic mutations, remains poorly understood. Methods: We conducted integrated approaches combining the detailed histopathologic studies with genetic, RNA-sequencing, and spatially resolved transcriptome (SRT) analyses for the adrenal cortices adjacent to human adrenocortical tumours. Findings: Histopathological analysis revealed an adrenocortical nodular structure that exhibits the two-layered zF- and zR-like structure. The nodular structures harbour GNAS somatic mutations, known as a driver mutation of CPAs, and confer cell proliferative and autonomous steroidogenic capacities, which we termed steroids-producing nodules (SPNs). RNA-sequencing coupled with SRT analysis suggests that the expansion of the zF-like structure contributes to the formation of CPAs, whereas the zR-like structure is characterised by a macrophage-mediated immune response. Interpretation: We postulate that CPAs arise from a precursor lesion, SPNs, where two distinct cell populations might contribute differently to adrenocortical tumorigenesis. Our data also provide clues to the molecular mechanisms underlying the layered structures of human adrenocortical tissues. Funding: KAKENHI, The Uehara Memorial Foundation, Daiwa Securities Health Foundation, Kaibara Morikazu Medical Science Promotion Foundation, Secom Science and Technology Foundation, ONO Medical Research Foundation, and Japan Foundation for Applied Enzymology

マルコフ連鎖モンテカルロ法による高次元積分

要旨なし研究ノー

Feasibility of pupillary light reflex analysis to identify vitamin A deficiency in Japanese black cattle

To produce beef with a higher marbling standard, Japanese black cattle farmers usually actively attempt to lower the serum vitamin A level in the fattening period to a minimum desired level (about 30 IU/dL). However, early identification of suboptimal vitamin A deficiency in the cattle is important to prevent them from becoming susceptible to contracting serious diseases. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using Pupillary Light Reflex (PLR) analysis to identify vitamin A deficient cattle during this fattening period. PLRs of 43 cattle were recorded monthly from June 2012 to February 2013 using a 2CCD camera based handheld machine vision system. A new image processing algorithm to segment the pupil from the background was developed. Compared with manually selected results, the root mean square error associated with the constriction amplitude (CA) acquired by the image processing algorithm was only 2.3%, indicating the effectiveness of this algorithm. No significant differences were found between results of CA from fattening cattle in the high (>60 IU/dL) and low (<30 IU/dL) vitamin A period. However, two fattening cattle were identified with severe vitamin A deficiency, because of their weak PLR (CA < 10%). Initial Pupil Roundness (IPR) results showed cattle in a dark environment possessed less-dilated pupils during the vitamin A deficient period (p < 0.05). These results highlight the potential, as well as the limitations of this method. Due to the natural variation of PLR in healthy cattle, monthly measurements are not sufficient to make accurate identification. To realize early identification of severe vitamin A deficiency in fattening cattle, a more frequent PLR measurements regime needs to be explored