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Detangling gene-disease connections Many diseases are at least partially due to genetic causes that are not always understood or targetable with specific treatments. To provide insight into the biology of various human diseases as well as potential leads for therapeutic development, Pietzner et al . undertook detailed, genome-wide proteogenomic mapping. The authors analyzed thousands of connections between potential disease-associated mutations, specific proteins, and medical conditions, thereby providing a detailed map for use by future researchers. They also supplied some examples in which they applied their approach to medical contexts as varied as connective tissue disorders, gallstones, and COVID-19 infections, sometimes even identifying single genes that play roles in multiple clinical scenarios. —YN

Objective: Standard treatment in hypoparathyroidism consists of calcium and vitamin D (or vitamin D analogs) but does not employ replacement of the actual missing hormone. Only few studies have evaluated the efficacy of calcium/vitamin D treatment in hypoparathyroidism; the impact of chronic hypoparathyroid disease on well-being has not been investigated previously. Design: Cross-sectional, controlled study in 25 unselected women with postsurgical hypoparathyroidism since 6:4^8:0 years (S.D.) on stable treatment with calcium and vitamin D (or analogs) and in 25 controls with a history of thyroid surgery but intact parathyroid function, who were matched for sex, age and time since surgery. Methods: Assessment of well-being and mood using validated questionnaires (the revised version Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90-R); the Giessen Complaint List (GBB-24); and the von Zerssen Symptom List (B-L Zerssen)), serum and urinary calcium/phosphorus homeostasis, and in the hypoparathyroid patients also screening for secondary disease by kidney ultrasound, ophthalmological split lamp examination, and measurement of bone mineral density. Results: Serum calcium was in the accepted therapeutic range in the majority of hypoparathyroid patients. However, calcium/phosphorus homeostasis as a whole was clearly non-physiological. Nephrolithiasis was detected in 2 and cataracts in 11 of 25 hypoparathyroid patients. As compared with controls, hypoparathyroid patients had significantly higher global complaint scores in GBB-24 ðP ¼ 0:036Þ; B-L Zerssen ðP ¼ 0:002Þ and SCL-90-R ðP ¼ 0:020Þ with predominant increases in the subscale scores for anxiety, phobic anxiety and their physical equivalents. Conclusions: Current standard treatment in hypoparathyroidism is not only associated with an altered calcium/phosphorus homeostasis but also fails to restore well-being in these patients. Future studies need to address the impact of more physiological treatment options like parathyroid hormone(1 -34) or parathyroid transplantation on well-being and mood in these patients.

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Treatment options for idiopathic intracranial hypertension are limited. The enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 has been implicated in regulating cerebrospinal fluid secretion, and its activity is associated with alterations in intracranial pressure in idiopathic intracranial hypertension. We assessed therapeutic efficacy, safety and tolerability and investigated indicators of in vivo efficacy of the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibitor AZD4017 compared with placebo in idiopathic intracranial hypertension. A multicenter, UK, 16-week phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 12-week treatment with AZD4017 or placebo was conducted. Women aged 18–55 years with active idiopathic intracranial hypertension (>25 cmH2O lumbar puncture opening pressure and active papilledema) were included. Participants received 400 mg of oral AZD4017 twice daily compared with matching placebo over 12 weeks. The outcome measures were initial efficacy, safety and tolerability. The primary clinical outcome was lumbar puncture opening pressure at 12 weeks analysed by intention-to-treat. Secondary clinical outcomes were symptoms, visual function, papilledema, headache and anthropometric measures. In vivo efficacy was evaluated in the central nervous system and systemically. A total of 31 subjects [mean age 31.2 (SD = 6.9) years and body mass index 39.2 (SD = 12.6) kg/m2] were randomized to AZD4017 (n = 17) or placebo (n = 14). At 12 weeks, lumbar puncture pressure was lower in the AZD4017 group (29.7 cmH2O) compared with placebo (31.3 cmH2O), but the difference between groups was not statistically significant (mean difference: −2.8, 95% confidence interval: −7.1 to 1.5; P = 0.2). An exploratory analysis assessing mean change in lumbar puncture pressure within each group found a significant decrease in the AZD4017 group [mean change: −4.3 cmH2O (SD = 5.7); P = 0.009] but not in the placebo group [mean change: −0.3 cmH2O (SD = 5.9); P = 0.8]. AZD4017 was safe, with no withdrawals related to adverse effects. Nine transient drug-related adverse events were reported. One serious adverse event occurred in the placebo group (deterioration requiring shunt surgery). In vivo biomarkers of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity (urinary glucocorticoid metabolites, hepatic prednisolone generation, serum and cerebrospinal fluid cortisol:cortisone ratios) demonstrated significant enzyme inhibition with the reduction in serum cortisol:cortisone ratio correlating significantly with reduction in lumbar puncture pressure (P = 0.005, R = 0.70). This is the first phase II randomized controlled trial in idiopathic intracranial hypertension evaluating a novel therapeutic target. AZD4017 was safe and well tolerated and inhibited 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity in vivo. Reduction in serum cortisol:cortisone correlated with decreased intracranial pressure. Possible clinical benefits were noted in this small cohort. A longer, larger study would now be of interest.