Kisspeptin-mediated improvement of sensitivity to BRAF inhibitors in vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells.

Metastatic dissemination is still one of the major causes of death of melanoma's patients. KiSS1 is a metastasis suppressor originally identified in melanoma cells, known to play an important physiological role in mammals' development and puberty. It has been previously shown that expression of KiSS1 could be increased in lung cancer cells using epigenetic agents, and that KiSS1 could have a pro-apoptotic action in combination with cisplatin.

Expanded Newborn Screening in Italy Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Two Years of National Experience.

Newborn screening (NBS) for inborn errors of metabolism is one of the most advanced tools for secondary prevention in medicine, as it allows early diagnosis and prompt treatment initiation. The expanded newborn screening was introduced in Italy between 2016 and 2017 (Law 167/2016; DM 13 October 2016; DPCM 12-1-2017). A total of 1,586,578 infants born in Italy were screened between January 2017 and December 2020.

Isolated childhood growth hormone deficiency: a 30-year experience on final height and a new prediction model.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the near-final height (nFHt) in a large cohort of pediatricpatients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and to elaborate a new predictive method of nFHt.

Methods: We recruited GHD patients diagnosed between 1987 and 2014 and followed-up until nFHt. To predict the values of nFHt, each predictor was run in a univariable spline.

Sedentary lifestyle and precocious puberty in girls during the COVID-19 pandemic: an Italian experience.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate children observed for suspected precocious puberty in five Italian centers of Pediatric Endocrinology during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (March-September 2020), compared to subjects observed in the same period of the previous year.

Design: The study population (490 children) was divided according to the year of observation and final diagnosis: transient thelarche, non-progressive precocious puberty, central precocious puberty (CPP), or early puberty.

Results: Between March and September 2020, 338 subjects were referred for suspected precocious puberty, compared to 152 subjects in the same period of 2019 (+122%).

Management of Childhood-onset Craniopharyngioma in Italy: A Multicenter, 7-Year Follow-up Study of 145 Patients.

Context: Nationwide data on children diagnosed with craniopharyngioma (CP) are not available in Italy.

Objective: This work aimed to identify patients' characteristics, type of surgical approach, complications and recurrences, number of pituitary deficits, and number of patients starting growth hormone (GH) treatment.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter collection took place of 145 patients aged 0 to 18 years who underwent surgery for CP between 2000 and 2018, and followed up in 17 Italian centers of pediatric endocrinology.