Marta Figueiredo, PhD, science writer —

The levels of an enzyme that activates glucocorticoids, including cortisol, from their inactive forms, are increased in abdominal fat tissue — abdominal obesity is a hallmark of Cushing’s syndrome — in two mouse models of glucocorticoid excess. Importantly, the enzyme, called 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD-1), also was found…

People with Cushing’s disease have structural and functional changes in the hippocampus — a brain region involved in memory, emotions, and stress responses — relative to healthy individuals, a small study shows. All four hippocampus subregions were smaller in Cushing’s patients and the connectivity to brain networks involved in…

Nearly 1.5 years of treatment with Isturisa (osilodrostat) rapidly and sustainably eased — and in many cases completely eliminated — disease-associated physical features in people with Cushing’s disease, according to data from the Phase 3 LINC 3 trial. Improvements were noted from early on, consistent with the…

Pituitary tumors producing excessive amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) — the most common cause of Cushing’s disease — carry more genetic abnormalities than those not generating excess ACTH levels, also called non-functioning tumors, a small study shows. The data also identified two genes that may be involved in the…

Researchers reported a case of Cushing’s disease in a 33-year-old man caused by a rare, large pituitary gland tumor with regional bleeding and cell death. Its removal resolved the disease, but resulted in adrenal insufficiency and the need for hormone replacement therapy. This case adds to previous reports suggesting that…

The levels of a small number of microRNAs (miRNAs) — small RNA molecules that regulate the activity of other genes — are significantly different between tumors in the brain’s pituitary gland that cause Cushing’s disease and those not associated with the disease, a study shows. Notably, hsa-miR-124-3p, an miRNA…

A team of researchers in China have identified, for the first time, a tumor cell that produces both adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) — two hormones that promote excess cortisol levels and the development of Cushing’s syndrome. Specifically, this unique cell type was found in a rare…

Scientists have decoded molecular processes of a gene whose defects are implicated in Cushing’s disease and some cancers. Their study found that mutations in the ubiquitin-specific protease 8 (USP8) gene prevent a self-suppressing mechanism of the resulting enzyme, leading to its overactivation. Overactivation of this enzyme has been shown…

For years before and after their diagnosis, people with Cushing’s disease use more psychotropic medications — those that affect mood, thoughts, or perception — for mental health problems than their healthy peers, a study in Sweden found. Notably, patients experiencing long-term disease remission still showed higher use of antidepressants…

People with rare disorders have a worse healthcare experience than those affected by chronic diseases, according to the results of an international survey conducted by Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. Indeed, rare disease patients overall give their healthcare experience a medium-low rating, of 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5,…