Andrea Lobo,  —

Andrea Lobo is a Science writer at BioNews. She holds a Biology degree and a PhD in Cell Biology/Neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. She was a postdoctoral and senior researcher at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health in Porto, in drug addiction, studying neuronal plasticity induced by amphetamines. As a research scientist for 19 years, Andrea participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, from stroke, gene regulation, cancer, and rare diseases. She authored multiple research papers in peer-reviewed journals. She shifted towards a career in science writing and communication in 2022.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

Bone tissue death successfully treated in man, 71, with Cushing’s

A 71-year-old man with Cushing’s disease developed avascular necrosis in the hips and shoulders, a condition in which bone tissue dies due to lack of blood supply, a U.S. case study reports. His Cushing’s symptoms, including avascular necrosis in the hips, were successfully managed with surgery to remove the…

Cushing’s symptoms secondary to tumor ease with Isturisa

A young woman who developed Cushing’s syndrome three years after being diagnosed with a metastatic neuroendocrine tumor saw her cortisol levels decrease and Cushing’s-related symptoms ease after being treated with Isturisa (osilodrostat). The woman, 27, was started on hydrocortisone when here cortisol levels fell to lower than normal values,…

Symptoms worsen with increasing cortisol levels in Cushing’s disease

People with Cushing’s disease may have higher levels of cortisol and more severe symptoms than those with other forms of Cushing’s, according to a recent study in Turkey. “The severity of disease symptoms worsens with increasing cortisol levels,” researchers wrote. The study, “Metabolic, hormonal profiles and comorbidities in…

Minimally invasive surgery may be effective for Cushing’s: Study

Partial adrenalectomy, or the removal of only a portion of the adrenal gland containing a tumor instead of the entire gland, using a minimally invasive procedure is safe and feasible in people with Cushing’s syndrome and other conditions, according to a study in Germany. The procedure, called posterior retroperitoneoscopic partial…

Disease symptoms, surgery outcomes vary with patient age

Older Cushing’s disease patients less frequently present classical symptoms of the disease, and have more coexistent conditions and larger tumors than those who develop the disease at a younger age. That’s according to a study that analyzed patients at several sites in the U.S. who underwent surgery to…

Relacorilant found safe, effective in long-term extension study

Long-term treatment with relacorilant led to a sustained decrease in blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and body weight in people with Cushing’s syndrome, new data from an extension study shows. The extension study (NCT03604198) is assessing relacorilant’s long-term safety and efficacy in 116 people with Cushing’s who completed…

Korlym reduces blood sugar in Cushing’s patients with diabetes

Korlym (mifepristone) significantly reduced levels of hemoglobin A1c, a marker that reflects blood sugar levels over the previous months, in people with Cushing’s syndrome and difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes. That’s according to new data from a Phase 4 clinical trial, CATALYST (NCT05772169), which screened 1,057 patients with difficult-to-control…

ACTH-producing thymus tumor is ectopic Cushing’s syndrome’s cause

Ectopic Cushing’s syndrome in a 10-year-old girl that was caused by a thymus tumor was effectively managed with ketoconazole and surgery to remove the thymus, according to a case report from the Czech Republic. “This case presents some unique challenges related to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of thymic…