Articles tagged with Glucocorticoids
A new UCSF-led study reveals that premature infants exposed to steroids after birth have 10% smaller cerebellar volumes, associated with impaired brain growth and motor development. The findings challenge the American Academy of Pediatrics' policy statement on low-dose glucocorticoids.
Researchers have found that short-term glucocorticoid treatment can reduce degenerative changes in cartilage and prevent osteoarthritis after joint injury. This innovative approach may provide hope for preventing irreversible joint damage.
Researchers discovered that chloroquine represses inflammation by activating glucocorticoid signaling, providing a blueprint for new strategies to treat autoimmune diseases. Lysosomal functioning also plays a role in regulating glucocorticoid signaling.
Research at Queen's University found that stressed birds have higher reproductive success and offer better care to their young. Female tree swallows with increased stress hormones fed their nestlings more frequently.
A new animal study suggests that fetal programming of disease risk to the next generation depends on parental gender. The study found that exposure to stress hormones in the womb can program potential health effects, but the effects differ between mothers and fathers.
A team of researchers found that the protein LXR-beta is necessary for glucocorticoid drugs to cause severe side effects. In mice lacking LXR-beta, high blood glucose and fatty liver were avoided but immunosuppression remained.
Researchers found that young birds with higher levels of glucocorticoid hormones tend to be more curious and proactive, but also more stressed. Stress causes a significant increase in glucocorticoids in fast nestlings compared to slow ones.
A meta-analysis of 70 randomized trials found that disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and glucocorticoids significantly reduced radiographic joint destruction, similar to biologic agents. Combination therapies also showed promise in reducing structural damage.
Chronic drinking increases levels of stress hormones called glucocorticoids, associated with neurotoxicity during abstinence after withdrawal from alcohol dependence. Glucocorticoid receptor antagonism may represent a pharmacological option for recovery.
Researchers found that emodin from Chinese herbs can lower blood glucose and serum insulin levels in mice with diet-induced obesity. The herb's active compound effectively limits the effect of glucocorticoids, which contribute to insulin resistance.
Scientists at University of Zurich, Switzerland discover approach to resensitize multidrug-resistant ALL cells to glucocorticoids and other cytotoxic agents. Treatment with obatoclax induces autophagy-dependent necroptosis, bypassing mitochondrial apoptosis block.
New research shows that daily fluctuations in glucocorticoids directly synchronize the biological clock and regulate blood sugar levels. This finding may help doctors reduce debilitating side effects of glucocorticoid drugs and aid diabetics in controlling their blood sugar levels.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have found a critical piece in the puzzle about how stress causes sexual dysfunction and infertility. Stress hormones, such as glucocorticoids like cortisol, inhibit the body's main sex hormone GnRH, while also increasing another hormone GnIH, which directly inhibits GnRH.
Researchers have identified a molecular link between sleep and weight gain, suggesting that targeting T-type calcium channels could be beneficial for weight loss. Additionally, studies on glucocorticoid hormones have revealed their protective effects on the heart during ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Researchers found that glucocorticoids induce production of PGD2, which protects rodent hearts from ischemia/reperfusion injury. Synthetic glucocorticoids may be more beneficial for humans following a heart attack than traditional ones.
A randomised controlled trial found that a single annual infusion of zoledronic acid improved bone mineral density by 4.1% compared to daily risedronate's 2.7%. This increase in BMD is associated with reduced fracture risk and acceptable safety and tolerability profiles.
New data suggests that certain glucocorticoids, such as corticosterone, may be less harmful to fetal brain development than others like dexamethasone. This finding has significant implications for treating preterm infants and reducing the risk of cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment.
New research reveals that commonly used drugs to treat chronic lung damage in premature infants can cause brain cell damage, potentially leading to cognitive and motor-control issues. Synthetic glucocorticoids like dexamethasone and betamethasone were found to be toxic to neural progenitor cells in mice.
Researchers have identified a short-acting protein GILZ that may disrupt the fat production pathway, leading to increased bone formation and decreased fat accumulation. Dr. Xingming Shi believes sustained GILZ action could be used to develop targeted therapies for osteoporosis and obesity.
Researchers found that combining ursodeoxycholic acid and glucocorticoids increases bicarbonate production in the bile, improving liver function. This discovery could lead to more effective treatments with fewer transplants, saving lives.
A study found that prazosin, an alpha-1 receptor antagonist, can block the increase of steroid hormones in the brain, which are associated with brain damage and cognitive impairment. This may provide a neuroprotective effect against post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and schizophrenia.
Researchers found that a gene deficiency in CalDAG-GEFI may explain the loss of platelet function leading to recurrent bleeding in patients with leukocyte adhesion deficiency III. Additionally, IL-33 and ST2 signaling was identified as a critical mechanism for protecting the heart from stress, suggesting potential new therapeutic targets.
Triple-negative breast cancer cells are sensitive to cisplatin, a common chemotherapeutic drug that can be effective in treating the disease. Researchers also found that delta-Np63 and TAp73 proteins play a crucial role in mediating chemosensitivity to cisplatin.
Research suggests that prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids can have deleterious effects on newborns, impairing growth, glucose regulation, and cortisol production. High levels of dexamethasone impaired postnatal development, leading to increased blood pressure and changes in cardiometabolic function.
Prenatal glucocorticoid exposure has been shown to have long-lasting deleterious effects on cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuroendocrine function in offspring. Additionally, research has identified a protein implicated in both autism and leukemia, with aberrant splicing detected in individuals with these conditions.
A new study reveals that inhibiting glucocorticoids can prevent skin abnormalities caused by psychological stress, which could worsen conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Glucocorticoid blockade reversed psychological stress-induced abnormalities in epidermal structure and function.
Scientists studied mice lacking POMC gene to understand obesity and fat distribution. The research shows that cortisol levels are not the sole factor, but rather part of a chain of hormonal signals associated with obesity. Glucocorticoids were found to accelerate weight gain and diabetes in treated mice.
Researchers reviewed 35 patients taking glucocorticoids for chronic skin diseases. The study found that only 20% were taking bisphosphonates, a medication proven to prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. The authors recommend prescribing bisphosphonates concomitantly with corticosteroid therapy in certain cases.
Researchers found that consuming sugar snacks reduces glucocorticoid levels in rats, which can help alleviate physical and psychological stress. The study suggests that sweets made from natural sugar may be a healthy 'self-medication' option for managing stress.
Researchers engineered mice to lose glucocorticoid receptors, showing an increase in depression-like behaviors and impaired regulation of stress response. This study suggests that genetic makeup may play a role in triggering depression by affecting the brain's ability to regulate adrenal hormones.
Researchers discovered that glucocorticoid steroid hormone promotes pleasure-seeking behaviors, including eating high-energy foods, in response to chronic stress. This finding suggests that comfort food could be a natural way to curb chronic stress and its negative effects on the body.
A protein called PPAR-alpha is critical to this process, and the liver plays a key role in explaining the high incidence of diabetes and hypertension in obese individuals. The study suggests that understanding how steroids cause side effects may help prevent these disorders.
Researchers evaluated 83 children with repeated short courses of oral glucocorticoids and found no detectable cumulative negative effect on bone formation. The study also showed no impact on the children's weight or height.
Postmenopausal women taking glucocorticoids are at a significantly increased risk of spinal fractures, with nearly six-fold higher odds compared to those not using the medication. Long-term use for chronic diseases can lead to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO), which increases the risk of fracture.
A study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology meeting found that Actonel 5mg daily significantly reduced vertebral fracture risk by 70% in patients on chronic glucocorticoid therapy. Patients who received calcium supplementation and vitamin D also experienced significant reductions in bone loss.
Using nebulizers to deliver glucocorticoid medication is effective in treating asthma in children, but long-term use can suppress growth, recommends Dr. Stanley J. Szefler of National Jewish Health. A new study suggests caution when prescribing glucocorticoids for children under 5 years old.
Research by Matthew Hardy and colleagues found that stress hormones overpower the enzymes responsible for producing testosterone in testes, leading to a suppression of sperm formation. The study provides insight into male reproduction and may aid the design of new male contraceptives.
Scientists at the University of Illinois are investigating how glucocorticoids help regulate the body's response to infection, including changes in behavior. Glucocorticoids appear to modulate cytokine production and reduce behavioral effects, providing a protective mechanism against immune overreaction.
Studies using high-resolution MRI scans show that long-term stress can cause a crucial part of the human brain to shrink. Research has found links between stress hormones and atrophy in regions responsible for memory and learning, such as the hippocampus.