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

Dismissing symptoms, lack of care may delay Cushing’s diagnosis

Lack of patient-centered care, dismissing symptoms, and negative experiences related to changes in weight may delay recognizing and diagnosing Cushing’s syndrome by primary healthcare providers, a study that gathered the experiences and perceptions of seven women in Canada suggests. “Overall, the results of our study highlight the importance of…

Fat deposits around heart increase risk of heart disease in Cushing’s

A higher volume of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) — meaning more fat accumulated near the heart muscle and arteries that supply the heart — significantly increases the risk for early heart disease in people with Cushing’s syndrome. That’s according to a study from China that assessed risk factors for left…

Ectopic Cushing’s secondary to rare lung disease seen in 2 women

A new report from researchers at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York details the cases of two women with ectopic Cushing’s secondary to diffuse idiopathic neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia, or DIPNECH — a rare lung disease that may lead to the development of tumors that in extremely rare cases may…

Dexamethasone test can detect Cushing’s in people with obesity

A low-dose dexamethasone test, which is commonly used to diagnose Cushing’s syndrome, can effectively detect the rare condition in people with obesity, according to a new study. However, despite the test’s effectiveness, the proportion of patients who ultimately were diagnosed with Cushing’s was low, at 0.2%. Given that finding,…

ACTH-producing advanced adrenal cancer is Cushing’s cause in woman

In what researchers describe as an “exceedingly rare” case, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing advanced adrenal gland cancer was determined to be the cause of Cushing’s syndrome in a 26-year-old woman in Portugal. Adrenocortical carcinoma is typically associated with ACTH-independent Cushing’s — forms of the syndrome in which excessive cortisol production is…