Could you Shed Some Light on Cushing’s Disease?

Posted on April 14, 2014 by MaryO

Dear Dr. Roach: Could you shed some light on Cushing’s disease? Four people in the same family have it. The doctors say it has something to do with the thyroid gland.

— Anon.

A: Cushing’s syndrome, which is different from Cushing’s disease, is an excess of cortisone or similar corticosteroids. It can be caused by taking too much steroid for too long, usually as treatment for a serious medical condition. Cushing’s disease is a special case of Cushing’s syndrome, when the excess cortisone is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland, which spurs the adrenal gland to make excess amounts of hormone. Weight gain, almost exclusively in the abdomen, a striking round “moon” face, a fat pad on the back of the neck and upper back (“buffalo hump”), diabetes, pigmented stretch marks and high blood pressure are common findings in any form of Cushing’s syndrome.

It is very unusual for Cushing’s disease to run in families. Also, it does not affect the thyroid, although thyroid conditions can sometimes mimic Cushing’s (and vice versa). I suspect that what this might be is a rare condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN-1). This does run in families, and combines risk for pituitary, parathyroid and pancreatic islet cell tumors. (The parathyroid glands sit on top of the thyroid gland and secrete parathyroid hormone, responsible for calcium metabolism. The pancreatic islet cells are where insulin is made.) Not everybody with MEN-1 will have tumors in all of these glands. Parathyroid tumors are the most common.

An endocrinologist is the expert in Cushing’s and the MEN syndromes.

​Dr. Keith Roach writes for North America Syndicate. Send letters to Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475 or email ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

From http://herald-review.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/roach/dr-keith-roach-teeth-grinding-is-common-in-the-elderly/article_bef63ba4-9b5e-5bff-b66a-3530be158857.html

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Suspected case of Cushing’s Syndrome with history of taking medicines prescribed by registered Chinese medicine practitioner

Posted on February 19, 2014 by MaryO

The Department of Health (DH) today (February 18) alerted clients who have consulted a registered Chinese medicine practitioner (CMP) Mr Chan Kong-kin (CMP Chan), practising at G/F, No.25, Leung Tin Village in Tuen Mun, should consult health-care professionals for advice if they have been supplied with medicines suspected to be Western medicines.

The appeal followed the DH’s investigation into two public complaints. The first complaint involved a 23-year-old woman who consulted CMP Chan for management of eczema. She was given a type of green pills, two types of yellow pills and a type of red-yellow capsules for treatment of her disease for about one year.

She developed round face and increased facial hair which are features compatible with Cushing’s syndrome and steroid overdose can cause the syndrome. The patient was admitted to a public hospital on February 5 for investigation and was discharged on February 7.

The second complaint involved a 24-year-old woman who was recommended by the first complainant to consult CMP Chan for management of allergic rhinitis and eczema. She was given similar medicines as those for the first complainant for three days.

Her condition was stable.

Today, chemical analysis by the Government Laboratory on the patients’ drug samples showed that Western medicine Dexamethasone was detected in the red-yellow capsule.

Dexamethasone is a potent steroid. Taking dexamethasone for a long time, especially when in substantial dosage, can cause side effects such as moon face, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, muscle atrophy, peptic ulcer and even osteoporosis.

DH has set up a hotline 2125 1133 for public enquiries related to the medicines prescribed by the CMP.

It will operate from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday.

“Preliminary investigation by the DH revealed that pills and capsules were found in the CMP’s premises and all have been seized for further investigation,” the spokesman said.

“In December 31, 2012, the DH announced that CMP Chan was found in possession of Part I poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products in the same clinic which also involved medicines with steroid. The DH subsequently took enforcement action and the relevant legal proceeding is in progress.

The case has also been referred to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong for follow-up action,” the spokesman added

“On completion of our investigation, the DH will seek advice from the Department of Justice regarding possible contravention of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138) for the illegal sale or possession of Part I poisons. According to the Ordinance, the maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. Besides, the DH will also refer this case to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong for possible disciplinary action”, the spokesman remarked.

People who have been supplied with medicines by the concerned CMP and are in doubt should consult health-care professionals as soon as possible.

They should submit the medicines to the Chinese Medicine Division of DH at 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, during office hours for disposal.

Source: HKSAR Government

From http://7thspace.com/headlines/453015/suspected_case_of_cushings_syndrome_with_history_of_taking_medicines_prescribed_by_registered_chinese_medicine_practitioner.html

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Cushing’s Syndrome, Prostate Cancer and Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Posted on March 11, 2013 by MaryO

Orphagen has identified and characterized small molecule antagonists to steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1). SF-1 binds to and regulates DNA promoter elements in the major transporters and enzymes required for adrenal steroid synthesis. It is also required for development of the adrenal gland. SF-1 antagonists inhibit cortisol secretion in adrenal cells and have potential application in two orphan indications, Cushing’s syndrome and adrenocortical carcinoma. In addition, SF-1 appears to have an important role in the progression of advanced prostate cancer.

 

cushings-adrenocortical-crop

 

Cushing’s syndrome:
An estimated 20,000 people in the US have Cushing’s, with more than 3,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The incidence is similar in Europe. Cushing’s syndrome disproportionately affects females, who make up about 75% of the diagnosed cases. Symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome can include obesity, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, osteoporosis and immune suppression. Cushing’s syndrome is caused by elevated secretion of cortisol from the adrenal gland, in association with pituitary, adrenal or other cancers.

Orphagen has identified small molecule antagonists to SF-1 that have the potential to suppress cortisol levels in all Cushing’s patients without serious side effects.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC):
ACC is a rare malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis (5-year overall survival: 37-47%). Complete surgical resection offers hope for long-term survival but surgery is not an option in up to two-thirds of patients because metastasis has usually occurred by the time of diagnosis.

SF-1 is recognized as a potential mechanism-based therapeutic target for control of ACC and an SF-1 antagonist could be used in the treatment of ACC.

Pediatric ACC:
Pediatric ACC is a very rare but aggressive cancer with a long-term survival rate of about 50%. Approximately 60% of children with adrenocortical tumors are diagnosed before the age of four. The SF-1 gene is amplified and SF-1 protein is overexpressed in the vast majority of childhood adrenocortical tumors strongly implicating SF-1 in pediatric adrenocortical tumorigenesis.

Castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC):
CRPC is the most common cancer in males. Surgery is not an option if the cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland, at which point patients typically receive hormonal therapy, essentially chemical castration. This course of therapy usually fails within two years, resulting in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Most patients eventually succumb to CRPC, which is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men.
SF-1 antagonists may: (1) block the adrenal androgens that circumvent chemical castration, and are a primary cause of CRPC; and (2) inhibit synthesis of androgens within the prostate tumor itself, where SF-1 may control induction of enzymes for de novo androgen synthesis in treatment-resistant cancers.

From http://www.orphagen.com/research_cushings.html

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Cushing’s FAQ

Posted on May 21, 2011 by MaryO

A FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).  Directions are in each category for adding your own question.

IMPORTANT: The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation.

Please note that there are several questions waiting to be answered at this time. Your question will be answered as soon as possible.

This is a different website than the message boards and requires a different log-in, although you may use the same log-in name and password.

 

Adrenal Insufficiency

Adrenal insufficiency is a life threatening chronic illness. An active and vigorous lifestyle with normal life expectancy is possible as long as the prescribed medications are taken regularly and adjusted when indicated. As with most chronic diseases, adrenal insufficiency demands that the patients take responsibility and develop self-management skills and techniques.

Read an article on Adrenal insufficiency

Cushing’s Types

Cushing’s Disease/ Cushing’s Syndrome: Cushing’s is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body’s tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Your adrenal glands, which are right above your kidneys, release cortisol when they receive a chemical message from your pituitary gland. The message comes in the form of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), which travels through the bloodstream.

Cushing’s Disease Is the result of a pituitary tumor which causesthe emergence of secondary male characteristics (like hair growth, acne, etc.), and ovarian failure. Other symptoms usually include high blood pressure and water retention.

Cushing’s Syndrome: Causes the same symptoms, but is a disorder marked by overproduction of adrenal hormones, which can cause a drop in LH and FSH.

An estimated 10 to 15 of every million people are affected each year. Cushing’s is an increased concentration of glucocorticoid hormone (ACTH) in the bloodstream that is being produced by an adrenal gland tumor (adenoma). Ectopic Cushing syndrome refers to the production of ACTH in a location other than the pituitary gland or adrenalgland. Examples of ectopic sites include thymoma, medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, pheochromocytoma, islet cell tumors of the pancreas, and oat cell carcinoma of the lung.Symptoms include weight gain, central obesity, moon face, weakness, fatigue, backache, headache, increased thirst, increased urination, impotence, mental status changes, and muscle atrophy.

Treatment varies with cause. If an ACTH secreting tumor is involved then it must be removed surgically.

More about Cushing’s.

Talk about Cushing’s with people who understand.

Subcategories:

Growth Hormone

Human Growth Hormone (hGH) is produced in the pituitary gland of humans, and the hormone is secreted throughout a person’s lifetime. It promotes growth in children and plays an important role in adult metabolism.

More about HgH

Where Can I Find…?

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Celebrities with Cushing’s?

Posted on January 5, 2010 by MaryO

Over the years we have talked about how “nice” (nice doesn’t really apply to Cushing’s so maybe that should be “helpful to the cause”)  it would be to have a celebrity spokesperson, someone famous who has Cushing’s.

I’ve always thought that Jerry Lewis looked like he had steroid-induced Cushing’s, Liz Taylor has looked Cushie at various times. There’s new evidence that King Henry VIII might have had Cushing’s.

Today, for the first time, I have read of a person (unknown to me, but he seems to be “someone”) who has admitted that he has Cushing’s.

Travis Michael Holder writes at http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/892/28/:

During the rehearsals for Besarab, I went through two cataract surgeries, lost another major chunk of chunk, and grabbed a cane to combat the last steroid-induced indignity to my body, a severe muscle and joint syndrome called Cushing’s disease.

What do you think?  Any other celebrities that you’ve heard of with Cushing’s?  We need  a spokesperson already!

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