Note by Hormones' new editor: metabolic syndrome plus obesity and COVID-19, the two concurrent pandemics and the field of endocrinology.

This is my first editorial note as editor of our journal Hormones, the official journal of the Hellenic Endocrine Society. I am honored to have been selected by the Society to be the new Editor-in-Chief of our two-decade-old, thriving and successful journal—which came at such a propitious moment for all of us, that is, on the eve of the announcement of our new impact factor (IF): 3.419. Who would have thought? And yet, the evidence was there from early on, as Hormones virtually doubled its IF with each decade of its life. That this was possible was due to its having at its helm world-renowned endocrinologists and physician-scientists, the latest being Prof. Andrew N. Margioris, whom I have the honor of succeeding in this role. Therefore, at this point, I would like to most sincerely thank both Prof. Margioris and the Hellenic Endocrine Society for demonstrating their confidence in me as well as the outstanding editorial team that we have put together to continue our journey in academic publishing (and rankings!). Meanwhile, I do encourage you also to follow us on social media, coordinated by Prof. Stavroula (Lina) Paschou, as we expand our presence by taking advantage of new information tools and means of access to the public on the following social media platforms:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hormones-journal-211152244

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hormonesj?s=21&t=6vW5iWZDoW41vDwiSKx3vA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HormonesJournal

The first global pandemic of the 21st century caused by a novel, coronavirus termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2) caused havoc worldwide in healthcare, the economy, and society. Crucially, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, which was dubbed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), disproportionately affects persons with preexisting conditions, among them obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, which are endocrine-related disorders [1]. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Hormones has continued to publish extensively on both COVID-19 and the vaccines developed to help fight the pandemic, as well as on their after-effects, as this issue illustrates [2-4]. Our intention is to attract more articles on long COVID while reporting further data concerning possible effects of the vaccines and information on their endocrine correlates.

Alongside COVID-19, obesity related to metabolic syndrome (MS) constitutes the other as yet undeclared but perhaps even more threatening pandemic of our century. While it is hard not to become involved in the treatment of this urgent health issue, it is all too easy to be overwhelmed by the ever accumulating data. In Hormones, as this issue demonstrates [5-10], we make a consistent effort to be at the forefront of dissemination of the most up-to-date information on obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, and MS. The Hellenic Endocrine Society, like other medical societies around the world, strives to be proactive and exercise maximum foresight, advocating for the prevention of obesity so as to effectively preclude its often hazardous consequences, these including MS, as well as to prevent, recognize, and treat another obesity-related disorder, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [5]. Certainly, we will continue to publish the best science in all other areas of endocrinology and related fields. Thus, please check us out regularly on social media, and spread the word: Hormones is thriving but it can only do so with your continuing support.

On behalf of the new editorial team, we want to thank all our contributors and readers for your continuing support of Hormones and truly hope you will enjoy this issue and take pleasure in our new format.