Recommendation from the Editor
The pituitary gland is a master endocrine
organ regulating diverse physiological functions via coordinated hormone
secretion. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying pituitary development
and disorders have been extensively studied in animal models, significant
species-specific differences limit the direct translation of these findings to
human biology. In this issue, Dr. Ryusaku Matsumoto at Kyoto University and his
colleagues contribute an excellent review comprehensively summarizing current
human cell-based in vitro models for investigating pituitary development and
disorders. They systematically discuss the advantages and limitations of
available experimental platforms, ranging from conventional two-dimensional
cell lines and primary tumor cultures to cutting-edge three-dimensional
organoid systems derived from pituitary tumor tissues and human pluripotent
stem cells. Our editorial team is confident that this timely and insightful
review will provide readers with up-to-date knowledge of this rapidly evolving
field and serve as a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians engaged
in pituitary biology and endocrine medicine.
Recommendation from the Editor
Establishing the cutoff values that
indicate the need for adrenal venous sampling (AVS) for accurate diagnosis of
unilateral primary aldosteronism (UPA) has been desired. In this issue, Dr Shoichiro
Izawa in Tottori University and the JPAS-II Study Group members conducted a
retrospective cohort analysis of 443 patients with PA and clearly identified
the cutoff values for AVS, based on LC–MS/MS-equivalent CLEIA-measured, as
aldosterone-to-renin ratio(ARR)of
>153 pg/mL/ng/mL/h after captopril challenge test (CCT) and plasma
aldosterone concentration (PAC) of >48 pg/mL after saline infusion test
(SIT). Our editorial team is confident that this excellent paper will be
helpful for clinicians and endocrinologists in deciding whether or not to
perform AVS.
Recommendation from the Editor
Congenital
nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (CNDI) is a rare genetic disorder characterized
by polyuria, growth retardation, and dehydration. Japanese guidelines indicate that DDAVP is
effective in some cases when used in combination with conventional therapies.
However, until now, no studies have investigated the CNDI patients who were
responsive to DDAVP. In this issue, Dr Kento Ikegawa in Tokyo Metropolitan
Children’s Medical Center and his colleagues aimed to clarify the use,
efficacy, and safety, and characteristics of the patients who were responsive
to DDAVP. They clearly demonstrated that DDAVP is effective for CNDI with
residual V2R function and the water deprivation test with vasopressin injection
and genetic testing may be useful in predicting responsiveness to DDAVP.
Our editorial team is confident that this excellent report provides readers
with the latest knowledge on the treatment of CNDI with DDAVP.
Recommendation from the Editor
The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami damaged the
reactors at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant and caused the release of
radioactive materials. In response, Fukushima Prefecture launched a
Prefectural Health Management Survey to monitor the health status of
Fukushima residents, including a thyroid ultrasound examination (TUE)
program targeting residents aged 18 or younger who were living in
Fukushima at the time of the nuclear accident. In this issue, Dr Mahiro
Asano and her colleague analyzed the survey data from 284,074
individuals and reported highly significant results regarding the
detection rate and maximum diameter of thyroid cysts, especially
association factors with appearance and disappearance of cysts. This
valuable report is expected to shed light on the mechanisms underlying
the formation and disappearance of thyroid cysts.
Recommendation from the Editor
Although alterations in maternal circadian rhythms are thought to affect the metabolic state of offspring, the mechanism linking maternal circadian disruptions to offspring remain unclear. In this issue, Drs Kenichiro Kinouchi and Hiroshi Itoh in Keio University contribute an excellent review focusing on maternal circadian rhythms, hormones, metabolism and the microbiota, all of which are involved in maternal-fetal communication. Our editorial team believes this excellent review provides all readers with up-to-date knowledge of maternal-fetal synchronization and susceptibility to metabolic diseases.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Hypoparathyroidism is a rare disease caused
by shortage of action of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Importantly, patients
affect not only circulating imbalance between calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P)
but also systemic severe complications. However, managements for
Hypoparathyroidism have long remained traditional supplementation of Ca and
active form of vitamin D without correction of considerably low level of PTH.
In this issue, Dr. Kenji Ashida, Dr. Yasuhiro Takeuchi and colleague provide us
with well-organized, state-of-the-art original article on phase 3 Japan trial
of palopegteriparatide, a potent pro-drug of PTH administered once daily via
subcutaneous injection. Our editorial team would greatly appreciate if readers
go over the article and enjoy the true pleasure of cutting edge clinical
endocrinology.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
As well known, the landscape of molecular pathophysiology around cortisol-producing adrenal tumors is expeditiously evolving and expanding. In this issue, the former professor of Fukuoka University, Dr. Toshihiko Yanase, a world-renowned physician scientist of adrenal gland, contributes a well-organized, cutting-edge review with a particular focus on updated understanding of Cushing’s syndrome, mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS), primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) under hypercortisolemic conditions. Our editorial team has a firm belief that all readers will definitely be fascinated by the full of academic incense contained.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Inter-relationship between body weight regulation and fertility has long fascinated researchers and clinicians in the area of endocrinology. However, an avalanche of enigmas still remains around the molecular mechanism. In this issue, Dr. Yuki Otsuka, Dr. Yoshitaka Uenoyama, Professor Hiroko Tsukamura and colleague at Nagoya University unravel a role of “orphan ligand” receptor, GPR75, in the control of appetite and reproduction in knockout rat models. Because loss of function variants of GPR75 gene is implicated in the protection of obesity in humans via the worldwide, large-scale exome sequencing, this excellent article provides all readers with fresh avenue to integrate the latest genome science and such a sophisticated basic research.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Although thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, clinicopathological features in relation to tumor aggressiveness have not been fully investigated. In this issue, Dr. Sailaubekova and colleague at Nagasaki University provide fresh insight into the expression profile of autophagy-related genes, presumably linking with genomic instability and resultant accelerated growth of cancer cells via a line of cutting-edge technique. This excellent article surely provides all endocrinologists with updated viewpoint of thyroid cancer.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Metabolic zonation in liver has been highlighted in terms of hepatic carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in both physiology and pathophysiology as well as in molecular bases for a line of intractable liver diseases. In this issue, Dr. Masanori Fujimoto and Professor Tomoaki Tanaka at Chiba University contribute a well-organized, comprehensive review article particularly focusing on recent research progress of metabolic zonation in liver enabled by single-cell and spatial omics technologies. We have a firm belief that this article gives all readers in a variety of clinical and research fields a valuable hint to expand and extend individual expertise.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Despite frequently encountered situation, the entire picture of molecular basis on hypercalcemia is not necessarily understood widely. In this issue, Dr. Noriko Makita and colleague at the University of Tokyo, world-renowned cutting-edge scientists on hypercalcemia, contribute a well-organized and sophisticated review article of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH), and acquired hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (AHH) caused by blocking antibodies against the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR). We are sure that readers will be fascinated by the updated, profound world of calcium handling and dysmetabolism.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Hypoparathyroidism is commonly caused by neck surgery for thyroid malignancy and rarely by genetic problems. Noteworthy is the observation that even when the level of circulating calcium (Ca) is within normal range, quality of life (QOL) in patents with hypothyroidism receiving conventional therapy such as oral intake of Ca and vitamin D analogs is apparently inferior, underscoring the negative impact of parathyroid hormone (PTH) deficiency per se on such a decline of QOL. In this issue, Dr. Mayuko Kano at St. Marianna University contributes an elegant, updated review article particularly focusing on how to generate parathyroid glands from pluripotent stem cells via blastocyst complementation (BC). A line of cutting-edge approach does open a fresh avenue of regenerative medicine for basic research and clinics in endocrinology.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Exactly the insightful story of incretin hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic hormone (GIP) has long attracted broad attention among basic and clinical fields of endocrinology. A series of drugs co-stimulating multiple gut hormone receptors are now applied in clinics of type 2 diabetes, obesity disease and relevant metabolic diseases. In this issue, Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University, Dr. Nobuya Inagaki and his colleague, world-renowned pioneering scientists of GIP research, contribute a sophisticated and cutting-edge review on update of physiology and clinical applications of GIP. Our editorial team has a firm belief that all readers will definitely be fascinated and moved by the full of academic incense contained.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Amazing progress in research and clinics on molecular
pathophysiology of hypopituitarism has recently attracted broad interest from
endocrinologists.
Particularly noteworthy is the great contribution of
Japanese scientists to such an accomplishment. In the June issue, Dr. Hironori
Bando and colleague at Kobe University provide us with cutting-edge, comprehensive
review article on the update of hypopituitarism with a specific emphasis on
paraneoplastic autoimmune hypopituitarism.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
As well known, Cushing’s disease is a symbolic endocrine disorder in which a variety of basic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic insights are crystallized. Unexpectedly, however, there have still been unsolved issues in early diagnosis, interpretation for endocrinologic testing, and preoperative management. To better understand the latest situation around the clinics on Cushing’s disease, Dr. Hidenori Fukuoka seasonably provides a fascinating and comprehensive overview in the May Issue. Our editorial team has a firm belief that all readers will definitely be satisfied by the empirical knowledge of an expert endocrinologist.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
There are examples
where distinct two peptide ligands respectively act as
an agonist and antagonist on the same receptor. To my knowledge, the
best-known one is related with the story that alpha-MSH and agouti-related
peptide (AgRP) act on the melanocrtin-4 receptor (MC4R) as an agonist and
antagonist, thereby minutely regulating appetite and body weight. In this
issue, Dr. Katsuya Sakai and Professor Masamitsu Nakazato, a world-renowned
physician scientist on research of orexigenic hormone ghrelin, provide us with
well-organized, fabulous review article focusing on the dynamic interaction
between ghrelin and LEAP-2 (liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2) in terms
of stomach-liver axis-driven appetite control. Indeed, ghrelin and LEAP-2
respectively act as an agonist and antagonist on the same receptor, GHSR
(growth hormone secretagogue receptor). Our editorial team has
a firm belief that all readers are surely motivated by the real deal of
authentic endocrinology and cutting-edge medicine on GPCR signal transduction
in this article.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Reflecting an expeditious increase in elder patients with sarcopenia notably in industrialized countries, endocrinologic research on molecular basis of muscle mass and strength has attracted great attention in both academic and clinical fields. In this issue, Dr. Tomoya Onishi, Professor Yuuki Imai and colleague provide fresh insight into unexpected interplay between androgens and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) EGFR in the molecular pathophysiology of shrinkage of muscle mass. This excellent article provides all endocrinologists with updated viewpoint of sarcopenia science.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Radiographic diagnosis and therapeutic approach are
requisite for clinics of endocrinology, especially for a series of adrenal
diseases. From the unique standpoint of proficient radiologist, Dr. Oguro and
colleague contribute a comprehensive and extensive review article focusing on
this issue with a particular emphasis on segmental adrenal venous sampling
(SAVS) and radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of unilateral primary aldosteronism
(PA), shedding light on the importance of collaborative approach toward intractable
endocrine diseases.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
It has been well recognized that inorganic iodine persistently suppresses thyroid function in some cases with Graves’ disease, and can be introduced as an alternative for patients with adverse events on antithyroid drugs. However, scientific bases are not fully elucidated and still remains empirical. In this issue, Dr. Natsuko Watanabe, an editorial board member of Endocrine Journal (EJ), contributes a well-organized, insightful narrative review focusing on this issue. The editorial team of EJ has a firm belief that all readers will be fascinated by an implicative “historical tale” around the relation between iodine and thyroid.
Recommendation from the Editor in Chief
Ethnicity-dependent differences in drug responsiveness have attracted
broad attention also in endocrinological science. In this issue, Dr.
Akira Shimatsu and Professor Beverly MK Biller at Massachusetts General
Hospital, an active member of international honorary editors of
Endocrine Journal, contribute an insightful original article focusing on
ethnicity-related impact of oral 11beta-hydroxylase inhibitor,
Osilodrostat between patients with Cushing’s disease of Asian and
non-Asian origin. In comparison with non-Asians, Asian patients required
apparently-lower doses of the drug to achieve clinical benefits,
whereas adverse events related with hypocortisolism were manifested in
Asians. As authors stated, this study is the first to compare the impact
of drug therapy for patients with Cushing’s disease between Asian and
non-Asian origin. Although ethnicity-dependent differences in
bioavailability of the drug would be involved, elucidation of the entire
picture is strongly anticipated.