Cushing’s Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Brief overview Symptoms: Muscle breakdown and increased fat storage, wound healing disorders, parchment skin, increased susceptibility to infections, male pattern hair in women (hirsutism), reproductive disorders, growth disorders in children, psychological problems (such as depression), increased cholesterol, high blood pressure, osteoporosis. Causes: Excessive intake of cortisone-containing drugs (exogenous Cushing’s syndrome) or overproduction of cortisol in … Cushing’s Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Messenger Substances: Structure, Function & Diseases

Messenger substances are signaling substances that serve to transmit signals and information between organisms or between the cells of an organism. In this process, the signaling substances fulfill different functions. Disruptions in signaling within an organism can lead to significant health problems. What are second messengers? Messenger substances represent differently structured chemical substances that transmit … Messenger Substances: Structure, Function & Diseases

Platyspondyly: Causes, Treatment & Help

Platyspondyly is a generalized vetebra plana and thus corresponds to the reduction in height of vertebral bodies, as it can be acquired or congenital. The acquired form is usually due to herniated discs or tumors, and the congenital form is usually due to dysplasia. Therapy is often conservative using a brace. What is platyspondyly? The … Platyspondyly: Causes, Treatment & Help

Endocrine Secretion: Function, Role & Diseases

Endocrine secretion refers to the release of hormones or mediators (messengers) into the blood. The endocrine glands are responsible for secretion. The released agents are effective even at the lowest concentrations. What is endocrine secretion? Endocrine secretion refers to the release of hormones or mediators (messengers) into the blood. The endocrine glands, such as the … Endocrine Secretion: Function, Role & Diseases

Endocrinology: Treatment, Effects & Risks

Endocrinology deals with hormonal processes and their disorders in the organism. For this reason, it has many points of contact with other medical disciplines. For the diagnosis of endocrine diseases, a variety of endocrinological functional tests are also available in addition to the classical examination methods. What is endocrinology? Endocrinology is concerned with the study, … Endocrinology: Treatment, Effects & Risks

Inhaled Glucocorticoids

Effects Glucocorticoids (ATC R03BA02) have anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and immunosuppressive properties. The effects are based on binding to intracellular receptors, resulting in an influence on protein expression. In addition, glucocorticoids also exert extragenomic effects. All agents are lipophilic (virtually insoluble in water) and thus enter cells well across the cell membrane. Indications For the treatment of … Inhaled Glucocorticoids

Androstenedione: Function & Diseases

Androstenedione is a prohormone from which steroids such as estrone or testosterone are formed in the organism. “Andros” in Greek means “the man,” and the chemical structure is derived from the word suffix “dion.” Both word syllables refer to the fact that it is a sex hormone that has a masculinizing (i.e. androgenic) effect and … Androstenedione: Function & Diseases

Corticosterone: Function & Diseases

Corticosterone is a steroid hormone produced in the adrenal cortex. Among other things, it serves to synthesize aldosterone. What is corticosterone? Just like cortisone, corticosterone belongs to the steroid hormones. Steroid hormones are hormones that are built from a steroidal backbone. This skeleton is derived from cholesterol. Cholesterol is an alcohol that belongs to the … Corticosterone: Function & Diseases