Publications by authors named "Flavia Costanza"

Article Synopsis
  • Hypophysitis is a rare inflammation of the pituitary gland with varied symptoms that can make diagnosis difficult.
  • A 59-year-old man developed arginine vasopressin deficiency after inhaling toluene and was effectively treated with desmopressin and corticosteroids.
  • This case is notable as the first documented instance of infundibulo-neurohypophysitis caused by toluene exposure, highlighting the need for more research on toxic substances that lead to similar endocrine issues.
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Background: Skeletal fragility is characterized by increased frequency of vertebral fractures (VFs) in acromegaly. Several trials were conducted to identify modifiable risk factors and predictors of VFs, with limited data on the prognostic role of GH receptor (GHR) isoforms. In this study, we investigated the potential role of GHR polymorphism on the occurrence of incidental VFs (i-VFs), in patients treated with second-line medical therapies.

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The evidence that pituitary hormones may bypass peripheral endocrine glands to exert remarkable effects on the skeleton is gaining ground. Both hormonal excess and deficit may determine impairment in bone structure, and they commonly result in bone loss in patients affected by pituitary and neuroendocrine disorders. Vertebral fractures are the most common skeletal alterations and may occur independently of bone mass.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI) occurs when the pituitary gland fails to secrete ACTH, impacting adrenal hormone production.
  • - Effective glucocorticoid replacement therapy is crucial for patient survival and well-being, requiring precise dose adjustments to avoid risks of hypoadrenal crisis and metabolic issues.
  • - This review evaluates current research on the causes and prevalence of SAI, along with how glucocorticoid therapy affects glucose metabolism and cardiovascular health.
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Introduction: Hypophysitis is an inflammatory disorder of the pituitary gland. It can manifest variously, with endocrinological and neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and signs, due to the compression of sellar and parasellar structures.

Case Representation: Although hypophysitis is rare, this pituitary disease can occur during pregnancy or in the postpartum period.

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Background: Hypophysitis is a rare inflammatory disorder of the pituitary gland. Symptoms and signs of hypophysitis can be various, and its recognition may be challenging. Arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D) due to exposure to a variety of drugs and toxic substances is rare, but some cases have been reported.

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Background: Acromegaly is associated with skeletal fragility and increased prevalence of vertebral fractures (VF). Two isoforms of GH receptor (GHR) have been described, which differ in the presence or absence of a transcript of exon 3 of the GHR gene. Both isoforms produce a functional receptor, but the exon 3-deleted isoforms (d3-GHR) have greater sensitivity to endogenous and recombinant GH than the full-length isoform (fl-GHR).

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Several genetic investigations were conducted to identify germline and somatic mutations in somatotropinomas, a subtype of pituitary tumors. To our knowledge, we report the first acromegaly patient carrying a pathogenic variant: c.2410G>A (rs79658334), p.

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Pituitary metastases are rare. Until now, few cases have been reported; about 50% of pituitary metastases originate from breast or lung cancers. We describe the clinical case of a primary colon carcinoma first presenting with a pituitary metastasis.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A 16-year-old female with GGS found a suspicious thyroid nodule, which was later diagnosed as papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with lymph node involvement, requiring surgery and subsequent radioiodine therapy.
  • * This case is significant as it's the first reported instance of PTC in a GGS patient, raising questions about the relationship between the PORCN gene mutation and increased cancer risk in this rare syndrome.
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Background: Despite conflicting results, considerable evidence suggests the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in MTHFR, XRCC1 and OGG1 genes and, risk of developing breast cancer. Here a case-control study is reported, including 135 breat cancer patients and 112 healthy women, all representative of Northern Sardinian population.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to determine the genotypes of five polymorphisms: MTHFR C677T (rs1801133) and A1298C (rs1801131), XRCC1 Arg194Trp (rs1799782) and Arg399Gln (rs25487) and OGG1 Ser326Cys (rs1052133).

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Background: Macular oedema tends to be a more rapid complication of diabetic retinopathy and represents the major cause of blindness. Among subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, it can be found in 15% of those who use insulin and 4% of those who do not. Use of thiazolidinediones (glitazones) has recently been associated with some cases of macular oedema.

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Objective: To evaluate the metabolic effect of buccal spray insulin compared with subcutaneous regular insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: This study compared plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels in 18 patients with type 1 diabetes treated with subcutaneous regular or buccal spray insulin on 2 consecutive mornings. On day 1, patients were treated with their usual subcutaneous regular insulin regimens.

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