Effect of treatment modality on the hypothalamic-pituitary function of patients treated with radiation therapy for pituitary adenomas: hypothalamic dose and endocrine outcomes.

Background: Both fractionated external beam radiotherapy and single fraction radiosurgery for pituitary adenomas are associated with the risk of hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) axis dysfunction.

Objective: To analyze the effect of treatment modality (Linac, TomoTherapy, or gamma knife) on hypothalamic dose and correlate these with HP-axis deficits after radiotherapy.

Methods: Radiation plans of patients treated post-operatively for pituitary adenomas using Linac-based 3D-conformal radiotherapy (CRT) (n = 11), TomoTherapy-based intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) (n = 10), or gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (n = 12) were retrospectively reviewed.

Reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus from viral latency by an S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase/14-3-3 zeta/PLA2-dependent pathway.

The S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAH) and 14-3-3 zeta/phospholipase A2 (PLA2) are transcriptionally activated in parallel to the induction of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic cycle by the ganglioside IV(3)NeuAc-nLcOse(4)Cer. For analysis of the initiation of the viral reactivation, SAH and 14-3-3 zeta/PLA2 were overexpressed. Expression of EA-D, BZLF1, and BHRF1 was increased in response to both, SAH- and 14-3-3 zeta/PLA2 overexpression indicating the initiation of the EBV lytic cycle.

Time to ambulation after hip fracture surgery: relation to hospitalization outcomes.

Objective: To test the hypothesis: Time to ambulation (walking) after hip fracture surgery impacts the frequency of postoperative complications and length of hospital stay.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of a cohort of all patients admitted to a university teaching hospital with a principal International Classification of Diseases-9 diagnosis of a hip fracture during 3 calendar years.

Results: A total of 131 participants were identified (68% were aged 65 years or older).

Role of hormones in the pathogenesis and management of sarcopenia.

There is growing evidence to indicate that age-related declines in growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and androgen and estrogen production play a role in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia (an age-related decline in muscle mass and quality). Although GH supplementation has been reported to increase lean body mass in elderly individuals, the high incidence of adverse effects combined with a very high cost has limited the applicability of this form of therapy. The assessment of an alternative approach to enhance the GH/IGF-1 axis in the elderly by using GH-releasing hormone and other secretagogues is currently under way and is showing some promise.