US Endocrinology – Volume 16 Issue 2 – Winter 2020

Welcome to the latest edition of US Endocrinology, which features topical articles covering various areas of endocrinology. As COVID-19 continues to dominate headlines worldwide, we begin with an editorial by Kumar et al. that considers the exogenous production of steroids during severe cases of COVID-19, and evaluates the evidence for monitoring serum cortisol concentrations in patients […]

Management of patients with severe COVID-19 remains a challenge for physicians. In severe cases of COVID-19, a hyperactive innate immune response characterized by high serum levels of proinflammatory markers, known as a ‘cytokine storm’, is characteristically present. The cytokine storm induces fulminant pulmonary inflammation known as acute respiratory distress syndrome, and subsequently systemic inflammation, which […]

We read, with great interest, the editorial entitled “Can Serum Cortisol be Used to Monitor Patients with COVID-19?”.1 The authors have discussed a novel concept regarding COVID-19; however, consideration for the practical implications of this approach seemed limited. Cortisol is a stress hormone; hence, it is expected to be elevated in patients with infections.2 The greater the […]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal, lifestyle, and metabolic disorder, managed by a diverse team of doctors, such as endocrinologists, gynecologists, dermatologists, and internists, depending on the predominant clinical phenotype and the age of presentation of the individual.1 Often, there is a lack of coordination between doctors of different specialties, and often the same […]

Abnormal eating behaviors involve deliberately adjusting food intake to the point of it being insufficient or excessive, which tends to harm the physical and mental health of an individual.1 The concern often exists amongst students regarding their body image, specifically around being overweight and obese. This ideology may be influenced by societal pressures as a slim […]

In the USA, over 30 million people—about 10% of the population—have diabetes.1 Worldwide, the number of people with diabetes has risen sharply, especially in low- and middle-income countries. One in 11 adults—about 470 million people—had diabetes in the year 2019, and 700 million cases are projected worldwide by 2045.2 The vast majority of people with diabetes, >95%, […]

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of Asia and Africa, which have a high burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and malnutrition. It is epidemic in these regions being associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality.1 Though, TB incidence is declining at about 2% per year […]

World Health Organization statistics rank tuberculosis (TB) amongst the top 10 communicable diseases in the world, and it remains one of the biggest killers of mankind.1 TB is known to cause both mortality and morbidity. Pulmonary TB is the primary manifestation, but genital TB is also found in a considerable number of men and women. There […]

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, continues to be a major cause of ill health and the most common cause of death attributed to a single microbial agent, across the world.1 However, an important limitation to the efforts of World Health Organization (WHO) for ending TB is the presence of a large reservoir of latent TB infection.2 In addition […]

Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is one the oldest infectious diseases known to man. Eradication of TB has proven to be a challenge, despite the monumental efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO).1 The emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensive drug-resistant TB, in both previously-treated and new patients, particularly in high burden areas […]

The use of immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer has been revolutionary, opening a new era in the fight against cancer. The principle of immunotherapy involves using pharmacotherapy to harness the power of the body’s own immune system to destroy cancer cells.1 Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a novel form of pharmacologic immunotherapy used in the […]

Hyperthyroidism is associated with neurological symptoms, such as tremor and muscle weakness, but chorea is rare and occurs in less than 2% of patients.1 Chorea is rarely seen at presentation in Graves’ disease, and more commonly occurs with streptococcal infection. Acute rheumatic fever is a well-known sequela of streptococcal pharyngitis that is diagnosed based on the […]