{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T20:06:45Z","timestamp":1792786005701,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787270400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":51,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Faculty Clinical Research Platform (FCRP) of the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern"},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100008494","name":"Vontobel Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["1315\/2024"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1315\/2024"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100008494","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Internal Research Fund of the Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Bern, Switzerland","award":["33-890"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["33-890"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/018h60391","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Limited published data exist regarding the diagnostic utility of beta-endorphin (\u03b2-END) for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), either compared with or in combination with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Hypothesis\/Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To evaluate \u03b2-END as a potential diagnostic test for PPID in comparison with ACTH and to explore the diagnostic performance of combined tests.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Animals<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Ninety-eight equids aged 19-32\u00a0years, owned by the foundation \u201cStiftung f\u00fcr das Pferd,\u201d were included.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2025. Haircoat abnormalities were scored as absent, mild, or pronounced, and plasma \u03b2-END and ACTH concentrations were measured. Horses were classified based on haircoat abnormalities, with pronounced haircoat abnormalities defining the PPID group (n\u00a0=\u00a039) and absence of haircoat abnormalities defining the control group (n\u00a0=\u00a059). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed for individual and combined diagnostic tests. Previously established ACTH cut-offs were combined with study-derived maximum Youden-Index cut-offs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Beta-endorphin showed an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.88 for PPID diagnosis, with a sensitivity of 76.9% and specificity of 93.2%. Corresponding AUROCs, sensitivities, and specificities were 0.87, 71.8%, and 88.1% for ACTH measured by chemiluminescent assay (CLA), and 0.83, 79.5%, and 69.5% for ACTH measured by immunofluorescent assay (IFA). Combining \u03b2-END at 115\u00a0pg\/mL with ACTH (CLA) at 24.3\u00a0pg\/mL yielded 88% sensitivity and 89% specificity.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions and clinical importance<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>These preliminary findings support further evaluation of \u03b2-END as an adjunct diagnostic test for PPID.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/jvimsj\/aalag182","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T16:54:06Z","timestamp":1787331246000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Preliminary evaluation of beta-endorphin alone and in combination with adrenocorticotropic hormone for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in equids"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"40","author":[{"given":"Paula","family":"Billmann","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern , Bern ,","place":["Switzerland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andy E","family":"Durham","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Liphook Equine Hospital , Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7JG ,","place":["United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Garance","family":"Christen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern , Bern ,","place":["Switzerland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vinzenz","family":"Gerber","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern , Bern ,","place":["Switzerland"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Josef","family":"Gross","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern , Bern 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