ABSTRACT Substantial evidence highlights the pervasive nature of weight stigma, reported by people of all ages and backgrounds. Weight stigma is experienced across the life course and in many settings across society. These harmful experiences may include verbal and physical behaviours, with long-lasting effects on mental and physical health. They may also impact the patient-practitioner when weight stigma is experienced in a healthcare setting, as well as reducing health seeking behaviour and avoidance of healthcare. It is therefore essential that […]

ABSTRACT Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a major contributor to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Subclinical PA, a preclinical or early manifestation of PA, has been identified in individuals with normal blood pressure and in those with mild hypertension without signs or symptoms of overt PA, using evidence from histopathology, hormonal biochemistry, proteomic, and genetic studies. Longitudinal studies have shown that subclinical PA increases the risk for developing incident hypertension, adverse cardiovascular remodeling, major adverse cardiovascular events, and chronic kidney disease. Given […]

ABSTRACT The recently proposed cardio-kidney-metabolic (CKM) framework underscores the interconnected nature of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases and represents an important step toward preventive, integrated care. However, its application in kidney care remains limited and dependent on additional supportive evidence. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is often underrecognized in cardiovascular risk models and receives delayed attention within the CKM pathway. Nephrologists face unique challenges – including workforce shortages, late referrals, and fragmented care systems – particularly in lowand middleincome countries. Early […]

ABSTRACT Disorders of pubertal onset and progression are a common cause for referral to paediatric endocrinologists, with delayed puberty in males being particularly frequent. Pubertal development depends on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis, which is established during fetal life and undergoes distinct phases: fetal androgen production, postnatal “minipuberty”, and reactivation during adolescence. Key regulators include GnRH neurons, Sertoli and Leydig cells, and biomarkers such as AMH, inhibin B, testosterone and INSL3. Puberty is marked clinically by testicular enlargement beyond 4 mL, […]

ABSTRACT The separation of the interior from the exterior environment through the skin was fundamental for the evolutionary progression from prevertebrates into vertebrates. The development of the skin also established an internal environment controlled by hormones. The skin is influenced by different hormones; it is also the largest endocrine organ, producing several hormones. Skin inspections often save lives from skin cancer but can also diagnose potentially deadly endocrine diseases. The objectives of this review were to describe the emergence and […]

ABSTRACT Cushing’s syndrome is a chronic disorder characterized by prolonged glucocorticoid exposure, leading to significant multisystem complications. Multiple epidemiological studies have demonstrated a substantially elevated risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with Cushing’s syndrome, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, particularly during active disease, the perioperative period, but more importantly also after biochemical remission. Hypercortisolism promotes a hypercoagulable state through multiple mechanisms, including persistent endothelial dysfunction, increased procoagulant factors such as von Willebrand factor and factor VIII, impaired fibrinolysis, […]

ABSTRACT Oxytocin (OXT) is a neuropeptide hormone that plays a central role in numerous physiological and socio-emotional processes. Similar to arginine vasopressin (AVP), it is synthesized in the supraoptic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei and released both centrally and peripherally. Peripherally, OXT regulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during lactation, metabolism, bone health, and cardiovascular functions. Centrally, it modulates social behavior, influencing trust, empathy, stress regulation, and emotional processing. Despite its close connection to AVP, the clinical significance of […]

ABSTRACT Diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) is a serious and often under-recognized complication of diabetes that can affect any division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), presenting with a wide range of signs and symptoms. The pathophysiology of DAN involves a complex interplay of hyperglycemia-driven metabolic and vascular pathways, oxidative stress, inflammation, and autonomic imbalance, ultimately leading to progressive nerve dysfunction. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) has emerged as a particularly severe condition, associated with heightened risk of arrhythmia, silent myocardial ischemia, […]

ABSTRACT The thyroid-gut axis represents a dynamic interaction between the intestinal microbiota and thyroid function, with growing evidence linking gut dysbiosis to thyroid diseases. The gut microbiome, comprising over 100 trillion microorganisms, influences immune modulation, iodine metabolism, and thyroid hormone regulation. Short-chain fatty acids, produced by beneficial gut bacteria, support immune homeostasis and thyroid function, while pathogenic bacteria and lipopolysaccharides trigger inflammatory pathways that impair thyroid activity. Alterations in gut microbiota composition have been associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases, including […]

ABSTRACT The pleiotropic role of vitamin D in human health has been implicated in modulating bone metabolism and other several extraskeletal areas, including muscle and adipose tissues regulation, and in influencing general and systemic outcomes. In the elderly, vitamin D deficiency is considered as an emerging public health issue affecting 40%-70% of older adults worldwide with higher rates occurring in institutionalized individuals or patients with multiple chronic comorbidities. The pathophysiology of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly is multifactorial and […]

ABSTRACT Over the past year, three new key guidelines have been published in the area of female hypogonadism, one from the Society for Endocrinology covering the full spectrum of causes of female hypogonadism in adult life, which will form the core of this review; another solely covering premature ovarian insufficiency from a consortium comprising the International Menopause Society (IMS), the European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (ESHRE) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) that updates the 2016 […]

Abstract Bonehealth is influenced by a dynamic interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors, with nutrition playing a vital role throughout life. This review consolidates the current evidence on the roles of essential micronutrients, specifically calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium, and phosphorus, in skeletal metabolism and integrity. Calcium and vitamin D, the most extensively studied, have been shown to reduce bone loss and fracture risk, particularly in institutionalized individuals or those with deficiencies, while evidence is less consistent in […]