Medical treatment of Cushing’s disease: Overview and recent findings

Posted on October 21, 2009 by MaryO

Published Date October 2009

Journal: International Journal of General Medicine

Stephanie Smooke Praw1, Anthony P Heaney1,2

1Department of Medicine, 2Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Abstract: Cushing’s disease, due to pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) hypersecretion, is the most common etiology of spontaneous excess cortisol production. The majority of pituitary tumors causing Cushing’s disease measure <1 cm and the excess morbidity associated with these tumors is mostly due to the effects of elevated, nonsuppressible, ACTH levels leading to adrenal steroid hypersecretion. Elevated circulating cortisol levels lead to abnormal fat deposition, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, muscle weakness and psychological disturbances. At experienced centers, initial surgical remission rate via transnasal, transphenoidal resection approaches 80% for tumors less than 1 cm, but may be as low as 30% for larger lesions and long-term recurrence in all groups approaches 25%. Residual disease may be managed with more radical surgery, pituitary-directed radiation, bilateral adrenalectomy, or medical therapy. This paper addresses current and novel therapies in various stages of development for Cushing’s disease.

Keywords: Cushing’s disease, treatment, pasireotide, PPAR-γ, 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors, dopamine agonists

Download article (Free!): http://dovepress.com/getfile.php?fileID=5388

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Interview with Laura (LauraNG) October 29 at 9:00PM eastern

Posted on October 19, 2009 by MaryO

October 29 at 9:00PM eastern, Interview with Laura (LauraNG)

This interview will take place at 9:00 PM eastern – please note later time!

Laura has been struggling since 2007 with various odd things happening to her body.

In March of 2009 she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroid.

Her bio contains a long list of symptoms she has and she has been misdiagnosed with Obesity, Diabetes, Kidney stones, Depression, MS, Manic/Depressive, TIA, Anxiety – stress, Not exercising enough, Not eating properly, Abusive relationship (due to bruising).

In responding to the email confirming this interview Laura wrote:

“When I started reading the bio’s of people like myself, I started to cry tears of relief that what I may have, is actually ONE real thing. I cannot tell you how happy I was to find your website and I think it is wonderful that so many people who truly understand how frustrating it is to think we are alone, are willing to put themselves out there as beacons of hope for the rest of us. I felt so strongly, that I wanted to add my bio and offer myself for interview. If I can help one person feel a little calmer while they go through this process, I am more than willing. I don’t know if I have Cushing’s but if I do, it is important to me to reach out to others because the attacks coming from the physical and mental side of this illness, deserve to be exposed and recognized. Even though I am feeling a bit humiliated, reclusive and embarassed because of what it is doing to me.”

Read Laura’s entire bio at http://www.cushie.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=413:laura-undiagnosed-bio&catid=32:bios&Itemid=68

You can listen live at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CushingsHelp The archives are usually up about 30 minutes after the end of the show and in our podcast area of iTunes by Friday.

The Call-In number for questions or comments is (646) 200-0162.

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Round-Up, Week 1

Posted on October 17, 2009 by MaryO

Weekly post summary for the week of October 12-17, 2009, Volume 1

I’m just testing to see how this comes out on this first one!

Instant Weekly Roundup - Free WordPress Plugin

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iPhone Medical Apps

Posted on October 15, 2009 by MaryO

I just downloaded a free app from Medscape.  It looks very  nice and there are doctor and hospital finders based on location and, in the case of doctors, by specialty.  Unfortunately, there aren’t any reviews of doctors and I saw some on the endocrinology list that I would never go to but it’s a great start.

There are also drug interactions and more.

Medscape app for iPhone

Medscape app for iPhone

More info and flash preview at http://www.medscape.com/public/iphone?

WebMD Mobile offers a symptoms checker, drugs and treatments, and first aid information.

WebMD iPhone app

WebMD iPhone app

There’s more info and a flash preview here: http://www.webmd.com/mobile

What other good medical apps have you found?

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Corlux in the news again

Posted on October 13, 2009 by MaryO
Associated Press
10/13/09 8:10 AM PDT

MENLO PARK, CALIF. — Corcept Therapeutics Inc. said Tuesday it expects to raise about $18 million by selling stock and options to institutional investors.

Corcept said the money will be used to complete enrollment of patients in a late stage clinical trial of its drug candidate Corlux as a treatment for Cushing’s syndrome, and to cover the cost of filing for Food and Drug Administration marketing clearance.

The $18 million is a gross estimate and does not include expenses connected to the offering.

Corcept said it will sell 12.6 million units at $1.43 per share. The units will consist of one share of stock, and a warrant to buy 0.35 shares at an exercise price of $1.66 per share. Buyers include current Corcept investors such as Longitude Capital Management, Sutter Hill Ventures, Alta Partners and new investors including Federated Kaufmann Funds.

The sale is expected to close on Friday.

The company is testing Corlux as a treatment for Cushing’s syndrome and psychotic depression. Cushing’s syndrome occurs when the body produces to much of the hormone cortisol, or by overexposure to cortisol. Symptoms can include high blood sugar and blood pressure, fatigue, and weak muscles.

From http://www.sfexaminer.com/economy/ap/64084462.html

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