Volume 10 Issue 2, February 2014

In 2013, considerable progress was made towards deciphering the molecular foundations of puberty. Loss of transcriptional repression was identified as a core mechanism underlying the onset of puberty, and this loss was found to be precipitated by epigenetic cues. It was also discovered that nutritional deprivation delays puberty by repressing reproductive neuroendocrine function.

Studies published in 2013 have addressed the question of whether the rising incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer is actually the result of overdiagnosis. Advances have also been made in the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer, including improvements in radioiodine therapy.

2013 has revealed interesting mechanisms that explain how glucocorticoid signalling responses can be influenced by childhood trauma, activity of other signalling molecules, glucocorticoid circadian rhythms and the sequence of DNA regulatory regions. In particular, studies this year highlight how different signalling environments can determine the molecular and physiological responses of glucocorticoids themselves, and how glucocorticoids can affect other signalling systems.

Metabolic surgery has been proven to be effective in inducing remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus prior to any significant weight reduction. Studies in 2013 have investigated the mechanisms of action of these procedures and have highlighted a central role of the small intestine in the effects on glucose homeostasis.

In 2013, studies in rodents and humans have reaffirmed the essential role of the gut microbiota in host metabolism. More importantly, several converging results have increased our knowledge regarding the taxa and functions of the gut microbiota that contribute to the management of energy homeostasis, glucose metabolism and metabolic inflammation.

2013 was a good year for adrenocortical cancer, as the new knowledge gained holds great promise for patients. Advances were made in genetics, epigenetics, the advent of related technological and bioinformatic tools, and the feasibility of massive screening of people and samples.

Enormous differences exist between human studies, which show a strong association of low vitamin D status with obesity, and mouse data, where low vitamin D signalling causes resistance to obesity. Understanding these discrepancies may provide better insight into the spectrum of activities of vitamin D and should be of interest considering the world epidemic of obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as a class of powerful gene expression regulators with a fundamental role in the onset and progression of human cancers. This Review summarizes the emerging knowledge on miRNA deregulation in thyroid neoplasias, the mechanisms through which miRNA deregulation might promote thyroid cell transformation, and how this knowledge could be harnessed for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid neoplasias.

This Review provides an overview of the diagnostic applications of various imaging modalities for intestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. The role of imaging in therapy response evaluation and controversies in neuroendocrine tumour imaging are also discussed.

With improvements in the care of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), more adults are now living with the condition. However, no consensus exists for managing adult patients with CAH, who generally have a poor health status. In this Review, investigators from the congenital adrenal hyperplasia in adults executive study discuss the treatment and health outcomes of adults with CAH.