Papers by Elisabeth Van Rossum
Biological Psychology, Oct 1, 2008
A considerable variability in the sensitivity to glucocorticoids (GCs) exists between individuals... more A considerable variability in the sensitivity to glucocorticoids (GCs) exists between individuals and these differences have been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric diseases such as depression. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene polymorphisms might account in part for variability in GC responsiveness. We assessed the association between four common GR gene (NR3C1) polymorphisms (ER22/23EK, N363S, BclI, 9beta) and markers of glucocorticoid sensitivity in two target tissues (subdermal blood vessels, peripheral leukocytes) in 206 healthy individuals. The BclI GG genotype group showed the least degree of skin blanching, reflecting a lower GC sensitivity of subdermal blood vessels (p=.01). No association between GR genotype and GC sensitivity of peripheral leukocytes was observed. In the same subjects we previously observed an association between GR genotype and GC sensitivity of the pituitary. Polymorphism of the GR gene might constitute a vulnerability or protection factor for stress related disorders and altered GC sensitivity.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Aug 1, 2021
Background: Fetal exposure to cannabis and tobacco during pregnancy leads to adverse fetal and ch... more Background: Fetal exposure to cannabis and tobacco during pregnancy leads to adverse fetal and childhood outcomes. We hypothesized that fetal exposure to cannabis and tobacco have persistent programming effects on hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in childhood. Therefore, we examined the associations of parental cannabis and tobacco use during pregnancy with childhood hair cortisol and cortisone concentrations at 6 years, as biomarkers of long-term HPA-axis functioning. Method: In a population-based prospective birth cohort among 2577 mothers and their children, information of parental cannabis and tobacco use was collected by questionnaires, and maternal urine samples were additionally analyzed to detect cannabis metabolite concentrations. Cortisol and cortisone were measured in hair samples at 6 years. Linear regression analysis with adjustment for several confounders was used to test our hypothesis. Results: As compared to non-exposed children, offspring exposed to cannabis during pregnancy (in combination with tobacco) had higher childhood cortisol concentrations (log-10 transformed difference 0.16, 95 % Confidence Interval 0.04 to 0.28). This association was not mediated by birth weight. No differences in cortisone concentrations among cannabis-exposed children were observed. Maternal tobacco use during pregnancy was not associated with childhood cortisol or cortisone concentrations. Further, paternal cannabis or tobacco use was not associated with childhood cortisol or cortisone concentrations. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that maternal cannabis use, combined with tobacco, during pregnancy is associated with alterations in offspring HPA-axis functioning. Further studies need to replicate these findings, and assess the causality and long-term consequences of these associations.
Psychoneuroendocrinology, Sep 1, 2017
and (4) assess chronic psychosocial stress in adulthood. Taken together, studies of hair cortisol... more and (4) assess chronic psychosocial stress in adulthood. Taken together, studies of hair cortisol in non-human primates and other mammalian species strongly support the validity of this measure as a biomarker of long-term HPA activity that is sensitive to a variety of major life stressors.
Journal of the Endocrine Society, Nov 1, 2022
hypergeometric test and confirmed via random permutation (1×10 5-fold) and z-score analysis. Rand... more hypergeometric test and confirmed via random permutation (1×10 5-fold) and z-score analysis. Random Forest was used to determine the predictive value presented as the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic.
Psychoneuroendocrinology, Jun 1, 2017
Highlights Scalp hair analysis is increasingly used to evaluate cumulative exposure to endogeno... more Highlights Scalp hair analysis is increasingly used to evaluate cumulative exposure to endogenous glucocorticoids (cortisol and cortisone), but the influence of glucocorticoid containing medications and stressful life events are not fully unraveled We measured hair glucocorticoids in 295 participants of a population-based cohort study Hair cortisone was lower in participants who used locally administered corticosteroids such as inhaled, nasal and topical corticosteroids, indicating that these medications have systemic effects For the first time, we report that hair cortisol is increased after stressful life events in a population-based cohort
RMD Open, 2019
To cite: ince-askan H, van den akker elt, de rijke YB, et al. associations between antenatal pred... more To cite: ince-askan H, van den akker elt, de rijke YB, et al. associations between antenatal prednisone exposure and long-term cortisol and cortisone concentrations in children born to women with rheumatoid arthritis: results from a nationwide prospective cohort study. RMD Open 2019;5:e000852.
Clinical Endocrinology, Aug 7, 2014
Background Glucocorticoid replacement therapy in patients with adrenal insufficiency needs to be ... more Background Glucocorticoid replacement therapy in patients with adrenal insufficiency needs to be tailored to the individual patient based on body composition and clinical signs and symptoms as no objective method for assessment of treatment adequacy is available. Current treatment regimens are often not satisfactory, which is shown by the adverse metabolic profile and doubled mortality rates in treated adrenal insufficiency patients. Measurement of cortisol concentrations in hair reflect the longterm systemic cortisol exposure and may be of use in refinement of hydrocortisone treatment. Objective We aimed to study whether long-term cortisol (hydrocortisone) levels, as measured in scalp hair, are similar in children with adrenal insufficiency and healthy children. Material and methods We set up a case control study, measuring anthropometric characteristics and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in 54 hydrocortisone substituted children with adrenal insufficiency (AI patients) in the age of 4-18 years and 54 healthy children matched for gender and age. Results Mean HCC were significantly higher in AI patients compared with healthy controls (mean 13Á3 vs 8Á2 pg/mg, P = 0Á02). AI patients also had a higher BMI (P < 0Á001) and waist circumference (WC) (P = 0Á02). HCC was significantly associated with BMI (P = 0Á002) and WC (P = 0Á002). HCC explained 13% of the difference in BMI and 29% of the difference in WC between AI patients and controls. Conclusion Hydrocortisone-treated AI patients have increased HCC and adverse anthropometric characteristics compared with healthy controls. HCC measurement may be of value in identifying overtreatment and thereby improve hydrocortisone replacement therapy.
Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology
Journal of the Endocrine Society
Background Pediatric obesity is a multifactorial disease characterized by a prolonged imbalance b... more Background Pediatric obesity is a multifactorial disease characterized by a prolonged imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. In rare cases, it is caused by underlying medical disorders arising from disruptions in the leptin-melanocortin pathway which regulates satiety and energy expenditure. Aim To investigate and compare resting energy expenditure (REE) and body composition characteristics of children and adolescents with severe obesity with and without underlying medical causes. Methods This prospective observational study included pediatric patients who underwent an extensive diagnostic workup in our academic center in which endocrine, non-syndromic and syndromic genetic, hypothalamic, and medication-induced causes of obesity were evaluated. Patients in whom no underlying medical cause was identified were classified as multifactorial obesity. REE was assessed by indirect calorimetry; body composition by air displacement plethysmography. The ratio measured REE (mREE) vs ...
Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2021
Introduction: Obesity is highly prevalent, comes with serious health burden and is difficult to t... more Introduction: Obesity is highly prevalent, comes with serious health burden and is difficult to treat. In a minority, there is a genetic cause for the obesity. In these patients, therapy-resistant obesity is often observed despite intensive lifestyle treatment. Moreover, it is still unclear whether bariatric surgery is less successful in genetic obesity. Liraglutide is a Glucagon-Like-Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist or GLP-1 analogue, showing positive effects on metabolic parameters, satiety and weight loss in lifestyle-induced obesity. We present our experiences of GLP-1 analogue treatment in patients with genetic obesity disorders. Methods: Adults with overweight or severe obesity and a molecularly proven genetic cause were treated with liraglutide 3,0 mg daily, in addition to ongoing intensive supportive lifestyle treatment. Anthropometrics, metabolic parameters, resting energy expenditure (REE), side effects, and subjectively reported satiety and quality of life were assessed...
Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2021
Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown measures were implemented with large impact ... more Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown measures were implemented with large impact on lifestyle behaviors and well-being of children (including adolescents). The impact on children with severe obesity, who plausibly are at even larger risk, has not yet been described. Aim of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on eating behaviors, physical activity, screen time and quality of life (QoL) of children with severe obesity. Methods: In this mixed-methods study, questionnaires and semi-structured telephone interviews were used to investigate impact of COVID-19 during the first wave in the Netherlands (April 2020) on children with severe obesity (adult BMI-equivalent ≥35kg/m2) treated at our obesity center. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire - Child, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and Dutch Physical Activity Questionnaire were filled out by their families pre-pandemic and during lockdown. Changes over time in percentile scores, weekly phys...
59th ESPE Annual Meeting (ESPE 2021 Online), 2021
European Journal of Human Genetics, 2019
Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2021
Introduction: Recently, cross-sectional studies report associations between long-term glucocortic... more Introduction: Recently, cross-sectional studies report associations between long-term glucocorticoid levels in scalp hair (HairGC) and obesity. However, there is a wide variation in studied outcomes and associations, possibly caused by differences in population characteristics, e.g. age, sex, dispersion of adiposity, and used laboratory methods. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the relation between HairGC and anthropometrics and to explore possible moderators of this association. Methods: We searched the Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, Cinahl, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar databases for articles that relate HairGC to measures of adiposity (date 11-16-2020). Primary outcomes were correlations between hair cortisol (HairF) and cortisone (HairE), and anthropometrics: BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip-ratio (WHR). Authors were contacted to provide missing outcome information. Pooled correlation coefficients were calculate...
Obesity Facts, 2021
Introduction: COVID-19 lockdown measures have large impact on lifestyle behaviors and well-being ... more Introduction: COVID-19 lockdown measures have large impact on lifestyle behaviors and well-being of children. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on eating styles and behaviors, physical activity (PA), screen time, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children (0–18 years) with severe obesity. Methods: During the first COVID-19 wave (April 2020), validated questionnaires were completed and semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with parents of children with severe obesity (adult body mass index [BMI]-equivalent ≥35 kg/m2) and/or with the children themselves. Changes in pre-pandemic versus lockdown scores of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire Children, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and Dutch PA Questionnaire were assessed. Qualitative analyses were performed according to the Grounded Theory. Results: Ninety families were approached of which 83 families were included. Characteristics of the i...
BJPsych Open, 2021
Background Maternal psychopathology during pregnancy is associated with negative outcomes in offs... more Background Maternal psychopathology during pregnancy is associated with negative outcomes in offspring. Increased placental transfer of maternal cortisol may contribute to mediate this association. Hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) appear to be a good biomarker of long-term prenatal stress exposure. Little is known about the associations between severe maternal psychopathology and perinatal infant HCCs. Aims We assessed HCCs in the perinatal period in mother–infant dyads with and without severe psychiatric disorders. Method We examined group differences in HCCs of mother–infant dyads (n = 18) subjected to severe maternal psychiatric disorders versus healthy control dyads (n = 27). We assessed the correlation of HCCs between mother and infant within both groups, and the association between current maternal symptoms and HCCs in patient dyads. Results Median (interquartile range) and distribution of HCC differed in patients compared with control mothers (U = 468.5, P = 0.03). HCCs in...
Clinical Obesity, 2021
SummaryObesity is highly prevalent and comes with serious health burden. In a minority, a genetic... more SummaryObesity is highly prevalent and comes with serious health burden. In a minority, a genetic cause is present which often results in therapy‐resistant obesity. Liraglutide is a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogue, which has beneficial effects on satiety and weight in common obesity. We present the effects of GLP‐1 analogues in adults with a molecularly proven genetic cause of their overweight or obesity. All patients were treated with liraglutide 3.0 mg daily, in addition to intensive supportive lifestyle treatment. Anthropometrics, metabolic parameters, resting energy expenditure (REE), side effects, and subjectively reported satiety and quality of life were assessed. Two patients with 16p11.2 deletion syndrome and two patients with heterozygous pathogenic melanocortin‐4 receptor variants were treated. At baseline, their age ranged between 21 and 32 years and body mass index (BMI) ranged between 28.1 and 55.7 kg/m2. At follow‐up (ranges 43 weeks–12 years), a mean change i...
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2021
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The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2020
Context Stress may lead to an adverse body fat distribution from childhood onwards. Objective To ... more Context Stress may lead to an adverse body fat distribution from childhood onwards. Objective To examine the associations of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) at 6 years with general and organ fat measures, risk of overweight, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) at 10 years and to assess whether these were independent of adiposity measures at 6 years. Design, Setting and participants HCCs were measured in hair of 6-year-old children (n = 2042) participating in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study. Main Outcome Measures Body mass index (BMI), fat mass index measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, and visceral fat index, pericardial fat index, liver fat fraction measured by magnetic resonance imaging and risk of overweight and NAFLD were obtained at 10 years. Results The associations of higher HCC at 6 years, with higher BMI, fat mass index, and increased risk of overweight at age 10 years are explained by the relationships observed a...
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Papers by Elisabeth Van Rossum