Coincidence or Causality: Parathyroid Carcinoma in Chronic Kidney Disease-Case Report and Literature Review.

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has been well investigated in recent years. Data regarding PC evolution in secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) are, however, scarce. Most features that raise the suspicion of PC in PHPT are part of the usual SHPT evolution in CKD, mirroring the natural changes undergone by the parathyroid glands.

The sex-dependent impact of adipose tissue and inflammation on chronic pain - A cross-sectional study from the all of us research program.

Emerging evidence suggests an association between chronic pain and elevated body fat. We sought to determine if individuals with higher body fat, measured by hip circumference (HC) and waist circumference (WC), are at risk for chronic pain when they demonstrate higher expression of inflammatory markers. We investigated the incidence and severity of pain in patients with varying WC/HC and inflammatory markers (C-Reactive Protein, IL-6, leptin) using the NIH-sponsored All of Us Database.

Thyroid, Gonadal and Adrenal Dysfunction in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Review for the Clinician.

While chronic kidney disease-associated mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD) prevail in the endocrinological assessment of CKD patients, other endocrine abnormalities are usually overlooked. CKD is associated with significant thyroid, adrenal and gonadal dysfunction, while persistent and de novo endocrinological abnormalities are frequent among kidney transplant recipients (KTR). Low T3 levels prior to transplantation may help identify those at risk for delayed graft function and are often found in KTR.

The impact of growth hormone replacement therapy on adipokines, but not upon ghrelin.

Background: Besides growth acceleration, growth hormone (GH) therapy of GH deficient (GHD) children improves body composition by decreasing body fat. This effect is due to GH interaction with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, possibly also mediated by adipokines secreted by adipose tissue, and ghrelin. This study aimed to assess the impact of one-year GH replacement therapy on the metabolic profile, adipokines, and acylated/unacylated ghrelin of prepubertal children with GHD.

Bone mineral density predictors in long-standing type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Despite the increased fracture risk, bone mineral density (BMD) is variable in type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes mellitus. We aimed at comparing independent BMD predictors in T1D, T2D and control subjects, respectively.

Methods: Cross-sectional case-control study enrolling 30 T1D, 39 T2D and 69 age, sex and body mass index (BMI) - matched controls that underwent clinical examination, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck) and serum determination of HbA1c and parameters of calcium and phosphate metabolism.

Role of copeptin in the diagnosis of traumatic neuroendocrine dysfunction.

Traumatic neuroendocrine dysfunction may present with diabetes insipidus (DI) or with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Both these pathologies involve a disturbance in the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion, causing dysnatremias. Diagnosis of posttraumatic ADH dysfunction is hampered by technical difficulties in ADH assessment, and relies mostly on non-specific serum sodium, serum and urine osmolality and diuresis, often leading to misdiagnosis in the acute care setting.

New insights into the metabolic-bone crosstalk in active acromegaly.

Introduction: Body composition (BC) and adipokines share bone active properties and display an altered profile in acromegaly. The fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)/α-Klotho system, also involved in bone metabolism, is upregulated in growth hormone (GH) excess states. Hence, we aimed to investigate their impact on bone in active acromegaly, compared to controls.

Body composition, adipokines, FGF23-Klotho and bone in kidney transplantation: Is there a link?

Background: Kidney transplantation-associated mineral and bone disorder (KT-MBD) still represents a black box on the long-term due to scarce available data. We aimed to investigate the impact of non-classical bone regulating factors (body composition, adipokines, inflammatory markers, fibroblast growth factor 23-FGF23 and α-Klotho) in long-standing kidney transplant (KT) recipients compared to the general population.

Methods: Our cross-sectional study, enrolling 59 KT patients and age, sex and body mass index-matched healthy general population volunteers, assessed the predictive role of the body composition, serum adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin), inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein) and parathyroid hormone (PTH)-FGF23/α-Klotho axis upon bone mineral density (BMD) and osteocalcin, using correlation and linear multiple regression.

Sublingual desmopressin is efficient and safe in the therapy of lithiasic renal colic.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of newer sublingual desmopressin administration in lithiasic renal colic, alone or combined with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Methods: Prospective single-blind study including an initial number of 249 patients with lithiasic renal colic was randomized as follows: group NSAID (71 patients) received ketorolac tromethamine (ketorolac) 30 mg im and sublingual placebo (vitamin C), groups D1 and D2 (57 and 62 patients) received sublingual desmopressin (Minirin Melt), 60 and 120 μg, respectively, whereas group C (59 patients) received a combination of 30 mg im ketorolac and 60 μg sublingual desmopressin. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analogue scale before and thirty minutes after drug administration.

The vitamin D receptor gene FokI polymorphism: functional impact on the immune system.

1Alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) has important effects on the growth and function of multiple cell types. These pleiotropic effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 are mediated through binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Several polymorphisms of the human VDR gene have been identified, with the FokI polymorphism resulting in VDR proteins with different structures, a long f-VDR or a shorter F-VDR.

Novel insights in the immune function of the vitamin D system: synergism with interferon-beta.

The 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) analog, TX527 (19-nor-14,20-bisepi-23-yne-1,25(OH)(2)D(3)), has an interesting dissociation profile between its potent immunomodulatory and its calcemic effects in vivo. The strong immunomodulatory potency of TX527 is reflected by its ability to attenuate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of multiple sclerosis (MS). At present most MS patients are being treated with systemic IFN-beta administration.

Hen egg white lysozyme vaccination induces acute shock in NOD mice.

To investigate whether vaccination could induce lethal shock and which mechanisms are involved in this phenomenon, we tested a panel of autoantigens or diabetes-irrelevant peptides or proteins in nonobese diabetic (NOD), Balb/c, and C57Bl/6 mice. Of the antigens tested, only nondiabetogenic hen egg white lysozyme induced a severe form of shock exclusively in NOD mice. The mechanism involved is suggestive of a Th(2)-mediated anaphylactic reaction possibly connected to activation of PAF and triggering of DIC.

Progesterone in gestational diabetes mellitus: guilty or not guilty?

Insulin resistance is one of the metabolic changes in pregnancy, but only a fraction of women develop overt impaired glucose tolerance or frank diabetes. Most women are able to compensate this altered metabolic state by increasing the amount of insulin produced by the pancreatic beta cells. Progesterone might well be the key to the development of gestational diabetes.

Acute shock induced by antigen vaccination in NOD mice.

Type 1 diabetes in NOD mice can be prevented through autoantigen vaccination by shifting lymphocyte differentiation toward a T-helper 2 (Th(2)) response. However, in other models of autoimmunity, this approach may be accompanied by unexpected triggering of Th(2)-dependent anaphylactic shock. To test the safety of vaccination therapy in the NOD mouse model, we evaluated the effects of immunization with a wide battery of antigens in NOD, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 mice.