Association of pre- and postoperative αKlotho levels with long-term remission after pituitary surgery for acromegaly.

Soluble αKlotho (sKl) is a disease-specific biomarker that is elevated in patients with acromegaly and declines after surgery for pituitary adenoma. Approximately 25% of patients do not achieve remission after surgery, therefore a risk stratification for patients early in the course of their disease may allow for the identification of patients requiring adjuvant treatment. Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) have been assessed as biomarker for disease activity, however the value of sKl as a predictive biomarker of surgical success has not been evaluated yet.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Virtual Reality in Awake Minor Pediatric Plastic Surgery Procedures.

Background: Virtual reality has been used to alleviate pain and anxiety in a variety of medical procedures. The authors sought to explore the effects of virtual reality in common awake minor plastic surgery procedures where children may experience discomfort.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial compared virtual reality to standard-of-care distraction among children aged 6 to 16 years undergoing awake minor plastic surgery procedures at a quaternary children's hospital.

Soluble delta-like 1 homolog decreases in patients with acromegaly following pituitary surgery: A potential mediator of adipogenesis suppression by growth hormone?

Objective: GH excess in acromegaly leads to lower fat mass and insulin resistance; both reverse following pituitary surgery. Soluble delta like-1 homolog (sDlk1) inhibits adipocyte differentiation and may mediate the antiadipogenic effects of GH. It is released into the circulation by ectodomain shedding through 'A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase domain 17' (ADAM17), which also sheds soluble α-Klotho (sKlotho).

Cystatin C in adipose tissue and stimulation of its production by growth hormone and triiodothyronine in 3T3-L1 cells.

Cystatin C (CysC) is a marker for estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). CysC levels may depend not only on clearance/GFR but possibly also on changes in production. Our studies on tissue distribution of CysC protein in mice showed that adipose tissue expresses significant amounts of CysC, suggesting that adipocytes could contribute to circulating CysC levels in vivo.