Welcome to the latest edition of touchREVIEWS in Endocrinology. In this issue we feature a range of articles to keep you up to date with the latest discussions and developments in the field of medical endocrinology. We start with an expert interview from the Founder and CEO of the Global Liver Institute, Donna Cryer, who […]

In the USA, neck ultrasound (US) identifies thyroid nodules (TNs) in 30–50% of adult patients.1,2 Given that the risk of malignancy (ROM) for all combined thyroid nodule types ranges from 5% to 15%,2,3 current guidelines recommend US of the neck initially, to identify suspected TNs.4 Neck US is used to localize TNs, facilitate risk stratification, clarify the necessity […]

There has been an exponential increase in the global prevalence of obesity over the past few decades because of adverse lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity and overconsumption of macronutrients. The obesity pandemic has contributed to more than 50 different disorders related to excess body weight, which has substantially increased morbidity and mortality worldwide.1 Metabolic syndrome […]

Cushing’s disease (CD), or pituitary-dependent Cushing’s syndrome, is almost always caused by corticotroph tumours, a type of pituitary neuroendocrine tumour, which overproduces adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), ultimately leading to hypercortisolism and its associated clinical consequences, including increased mortality.1 The complications associated with Cushing’s syndrome must be minimized through effective treatment, ideally by rapidly normalizing hypercortisolaemia.1 The most effective […]

Acromegaly is the clinical consequence of chronic excessive exposure of the tissues to growth hormone (GH) and its second messenger, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). The excess GH secretion is almost exclusively secondary to a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma (somatotropinomas); however, excess GH also results from ectopic GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) secretion, usually from a neuroendocrine tumour, in […]

Hypertension affects up to 40% of the adult population worldwide,1 and according to the World Health Organization’s 2021 estimates, globally 1.28 billion adults between 18 and 79 years are affected.2 Of these, 85% have essential hypertension3 and the remainder have secondary hypertension, which is potentially curable with timely diagnosis and treatment.3 The prevalence of secondary hypertension is around 50% […]

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease secondary to the destruction of the insulin-producing β cells of the islets of the pancreas. Environmental factors presumably trigger the disease in genetically susceptible individuals, leading to a lifetime dependency on exogenous insulin.1 The risk of T1DM in the general population is 0.4% but increases to 1–9% […]

Highlights Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is evaluated for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes. Glycated haemoglobin reduction immediately after EECP therapy conclusion, after 2–4 weeks and after 7–12 weeks was -0.70%, 1.04% and 0.98%, respectively. EECP is associated with a significant lowering of blood pressure. EECP significantly lowers the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a measure […]