Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis/hyponatremia in COVID-19.

Hyponatremia is the most frequent electrolyte alteration among hospitalized patients and it has been reported in 20-40% of patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. Multiple causes of hyponatremia have been hypothesized in these patients. The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) has been considered one of the main reasons leading to hyponatremia in this condition.

Effects of Reduced Extracellular Sodium Concentrations on Cisplatin Treatment in Human Tumor Cells: The Role of Autophagy.

Hyponatremia is the prevalent electrolyte imbalance in cancer patients, and it is associated with a worse outcome. Notably, emerging clinical evidence suggests that hyponatremia adversely influences the response to anticancer treatments. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how reduced extracellular [Na] affects the responsiveness of different cancer cell lines (from human colon adenocarcinoma, neuroblastoma, and small cell lung cancer) to cisplatin and the underlying potential mechanisms.

Hyponatremia Promotes Cancer Growth in a Murine Xenograft Model of Neuroblastoma.

In cancer patients, hyponatremia is detected in about 40% of cases at hospital admission and has been associated to a worse outcome. We have previously observed that cancer cells from different tissues show a significantly increased proliferation rate and invasion potential, when cultured in low extracellular [Na]. We have recently developed an animal model of hyponatremia using Foxn1nu/nu mice.

Improving the TIR3B oncological stratification: try to bridge the gap through a comprehensive presurgical algorithm.

Purpose: Indeterminate cytology still puzzles clinicians, due to its wide range of oncological risks. According to the Italian SIAPEC-IAP classification, TIR3B cytology holds up to 30% of thyroid cancer, which justifies the surgical indication, even if more than half of cases do not result in a positive histology. The study aim is to identify potential clinical, ultrasound or cytological features able to improve the surgical indication.

The Yin and Yang Effect of the Apelinergic System in Oxidative Stress.

Apelin is an endogenous ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor APJ and has multiple biological activities in human tissues and organs, including the heart, blood vessels, adipose tissue, central nervous system, lungs, kidneys, and liver. This article reviews the crucial role of apelin in regulating oxidative stress-related processes by promoting prooxidant or antioxidant mechanisms. Following the binding of APJ to different active apelin isoforms and the interaction with several G proteins according to cell types, the apelin/APJ system is able to modulate different intracellular signaling pathways and biological functions, such as vascular tone, platelet aggregation and leukocytes adhesion, myocardial activity, ischemia/reperfusion injury, insulin resistance, inflammation, and cell proliferation and invasion.

Hyponatremia and Cancer: From Bedside to Benchside.

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder encountered in hospitalized patients. This applies also to cancer patients. Multiple causes can lead to hyponatremia, but most frequently this electrolyte disorder is due to the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis.

Hyponatremia-related liver steatofibrosis and impaired spermatogenesis: evidence from a mouse model of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis.

Purpose: Hyponatremia is the most frequent electrolytic disorder in clinical practice. In addition to neurological symptoms, hyponatremia, even when mild/moderate and chronic, has been related to other manifestations, such as bone demineralization and increased risk of fractures. To better elucidate tissue alterations associated with reduced serum sodium concentration [Na], we developed an in vivo model of hyponatremia secondary to the Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuresis.

Relationship between hyponatremia at hospital admission and cardiopulmonary profile at follow-up in patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection.

Purpose: Hyponatremia occurs in about 30% of patients with pneumonia, including those with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. Hyponatremia predicts a worse outcome in several pathologic conditions and in COVID-19 has been associated with a higher risk of non-invasive ventilation, ICU transfer and death. The main objective of this study was to determine whether early hyponatremia is also a predictor of long-term sequelae at follow-up.

The V receptor antagonist tolvaptan counteracts proliferation and invasivity in human cancer cells.

Purpose: Hyponatremia, the most frequent electrolyte alteration in clinical practice, has been associated with a worse prognosis in cancer patients. On the other hand, a better outcome has been related to serum sodium normalization. In vitro studies have shown that low extracellular sodium promotes cancer cells proliferation and invasiveness.

Hyponatremia and Oxidative Stress.

Hyponatremia, i.e., the presence of a serum sodium concentration ([Na]) < 136 mEq/L, is the most frequent electrolyte imbalance in the elderly and in hospitalized patients.

Serum sodium alterations in SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection: impact on patient outcome.

Objective: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder in hospitalized patients and occurs in about 30% of patients with pneumonia. Hyponatremia has been associated with a worse outcome in several pathologic conditions The main objective of this study was to determine whether serum sodium alterations may be independent predictors of the outcome of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Design And Methods: In this observational study, data from 441 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to a University Hospital were collected.

A unique neuroendocrine cell model derived from the human foetal neural crest.

Purpose: Nowadays, no human neuroendocrine cell models derived from the neural crest are available. In this study, we present non-transformed long-term primary Neural Crest Cells (NCCs) isolated from the trunk region of the neural crest at VIII-XII gestational weeks of human foetuses obtained from voluntary legal abortion.

Methods And Results: In NCC, quantitative real-time RT PCR demonstrated the expression of neural crest specifier genes, such as Snail1, Snail2/SLUG, Sox10, FoxD3, c-Myc, and p75NTR.

Effects of low extracellular sodium on proliferation and invasive activity of cancer cells in vitro.

Purpose: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder in hospitalized patients, and its etiopathogenesis is related to an underlying tumor in 14% of cases. Hyponatremia has been associated with a worse outcome in several pathologies, including cancer, in which the leading cause of this electrolyte alteration is the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis. The aim of this study was to analyze in vitro the effects of low extracellular [Na] in cancer progression.

The effects of Exendin-4 on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells.

Purpose: GLP-1 receptor agonists are antidiabetic drugs currently used in the therapy of type 2 diabetes. Despite several in vitro and in vivo animal studies suggesting a beneficial effect of GLP-1 analogues on bone, in humans their skeletal effects are not clear and clinical studies report conflicting results.

Methods: We differentiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) toward the adipogenic and the osteoblastic lineages, analysing the effect of Exendin-4 (EXE) before, during and after specific differentiations.

Hyponatraemia alters the biophysical properties of neuronal cells independently of osmolarity: a study on Ni(2+) -sensitive current involvement.

What is the central question of this study? Hyponatraemia, an electrolyte disorder encountered in hospitalized patients, can cause neurological symptoms usually attributed to a reduction in plasma osmolarity. Here, we investigated whether low [Na(+) ] per se can cause neuronal changes independent of osmolarity, focusing on involvement of the Na(+) -Ca(2+) exchanger. What is the main finding and its importance? We show that hyponatraemia per se causes alterations of neuronal properties.

Neuronal distress induced by low extracellular sodium in vitro is partially reverted by the return to normal sodium.

Background: Hyponatremia is associated with negative clinical outcomes even when chronic and mild. It is also known that hyponatremia treatment should be appropriately performed, to avoid dramatic consequences possibly leading to death. We have previously demonstrated that chronically low extracellular [Na(+)], independently of reduced osmolality, is associated with signs of neuronal cell distress, possibly involving oxidative stress.

Low extracellular sodium promotes adipogenic commitment of human mesenchymal stromal cells: a novel mechanism for chronic hyponatremia-induced bone loss.

Hyponatremia represents an independent risk factor for osteoporosis and fractures, affecting both bone density and quality. A direct stimulation of bone resorption in the presence of reduced extracellular sodium concentrations ([Na(+)]) has been shown, but the effects of low [Na(+)] on osteoblasts have not been elucidated. We investigated the effects of a chronic reduction of extracellular [Na(+)], independently of osmotic stress, on human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) from bone marrow, the common progenitor for osteoblasts and adipocytes.

Synchronous occurrence of medullary and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid in a patient with cutaneous melanoma: determination of BRAFV600E in peripheral blood and tissues. Report of a case and review of the literature.

The purpose of this study is to describe a case of concurrent medullary and papillary thyroid carcinoma (MTC and PTC) and cutaneous melanoma and to analyze BRAF(V600E) mutation in plasma and tissues. We report the clinical history and the laboratory, imaging, and histopathological findings of a 47-year-old man affected by multinodular goiter. BRAF(V600E)-mutated DNA was quantified in plasma samples and in cancer sections by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Exendin-4 induces cell adhesion and differentiation and counteracts the invasive potential of human neuroblastoma cells.

Exendin-4 is a molecule currently used, in its synthetic form exenatide, for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Exendin-4 binds and activates the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor (GLP-1R), thus inducing insulin release. More recently, additional biological properties have been associated to molecules that belong to the GLP-1 family.

Circulating BRAFV600E in the diagnosis and follow-up of differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Context: Cell-free nucleic acids circulating in plasma are considered a promising noninvasive tool for cancer monitoring. BRAF(V600E) mutation in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) could represent an appropriate marker for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Objective: Our aim is to investigate the role of BRAF(V600E)-mutated allele in cfDNA as a marker for the diagnosis and follow-up of PTC.

Low extracellular sodium causes neuronal distress independently of reduced osmolality in an experimental model of chronic hyponatremia.

There is evidence that chronic hyponatremia, even when mild, may cause neurological signs and symptoms. These have been traditionally associated with water movement into nervous cells, as a result of the hypotonic state. The aim of the present study was to determine whether low extracellular sodium directly exerts negative effects on human neuronal cells, independently of reduced osmolality.

Relationship between the neuroprotective effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 and 17β-oestradiol in human neuroblasts.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and oestrogens interact with each other as neuroprotective factors. We have previously demonstrated that 17β-oestradiol protects against β-amyloid and oxidative stress toxicity and increases the amount of cell cholesterol in human foetal neuroblasts (FNC). The present study aimed: (i) to assess the protective effects of IGF-1 in FNC cells; (ii) to investigate the relationship between IGF-1 and 17β-oestradiol; and (iii) to determine whether cholesterol was a major mediator of the effects of IGF-1, similarly to 17β-oestradiol.

Prostate autoimmunity: from experimental models to clinical counterparts.

Different murine models of autoimmune prostatitis have been developed and characterized, proving the autoimmune origin of this pathology. Autoimmune prostatitis models have also provided a wealth of information on the mechanisms involved in disease development, shedding light on inciting autoantigens, regulatory and pathogenic T cells, and mediators of prostatic autoimmunity. Unfortunately, the clinical counterparts of experimental autoimmune prostatitis are still poorly defined.