Therapy of Type 2 Diabetes

Landgraf R et al.

The Clinical Practice Guidelines of the German Diabetes Society/Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft (DDG) together with the German Society for Internal Medicine/Deutschen Gesellschaft für Innere Medizin (DGIM) are based on the contents of the National Treatment Guideline (Nationale Versorgungsleitlinie (NVL)) “Type 2 Diabetes”. The modifications in therapy and their justifications made in the present Clinical Practice Guidelines were updated on the basis of new randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses.

Hypoxia-inducible Factor 2α: A Key Player in Tumorigenesis and Metastasis of Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma?

Bechmann N et al.

Germline or somatic driver mutations linked to specific phenotypic features are identified in approximately 70% of all catecholamine-producing pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). Mutations leading to stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF2α) and downstream pseudohypoxic signaling are associated with a higher risk of metastatic disease. Patients with metastatic PPGLs have a variable prognosis and treatment options are limited. 

This review addresses the potential clinical relevance of a blood bacterial signature pertinent to cardiometabolic diseases and outcomes and new avenues for translational approaches. It discusses pitfalls related to research in low bacterial biomass while proposing mitigation strategies for future research and application approaches.

Obesity - A Matter of Motivation?

Hanssen R et al.

In this mini-review, Hanssen et al provide a comprehensive overview of incentive motivation, its neural encoding in the dopaminergic mesolimbic system as well as its metabolic modulation with a focus on derangements of incentive motivation in obesity. The authors further discuss the emerging field of metabolic interventions to counteract motivational deficits and their potential clinical implications.

What is the Role of Thyroid Hormone Receptor Alpha 2 (TRα2) in Human Physiology?

Paisdzior S et al.

Thyroid hormone receptors are nuclear receptors that function as transcription factors and are regulated by thyroid hormones. To date, a number of variants and isoforms are known. This review focuses on the thyroid hormone receptor α (TRα), in particular TRα2, an isoform that arises from alternative splicing of the THRA mRNA transcript.

‘That Time of the Month’ – Investigating the Influence of the Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptives on the Brain Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Verena Schuster, Andreas Jansen

The stereotypic and oversimplified relationship between female sex hormones and undesirable behavior dates to the earliest days of human society, as already the ancient Greek word for the uterus, “hystera” indicated an aversive connection. Remaining and evolving throughout the centuries, transcending across cultures and various aspects of everyday life, its perception was only recently reframed. Contemporarily, the complex interaction of hormonal phases (i. e., the menstrual cycle), hormonal medication (i. e., oral contraceptives), women’s psychological well-being, and behavior is the subject of multifaceted and more reflected discussions.