Combined pituitary hormone deficiency due to gross deletions in the POU1F1 (PIT-1) and PROP1 genes.

Pituitary development depends on a complex cascade of interacting transcription factors and signaling molecules. Lesions in this cascade lead to isolated or combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD). The aim of this study was to identify copy number variants (CNVs) in genes known to cause CPHD and to determine their structure.

Hypercortisolism caused by ritonavir associated inhibition of CYP 3A4 under inhalative glucocorticoid therapy. 2 case reports and a review of the literature.

Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have shown a potent inhibition of cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 through human immune deficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors (PIs). The PI ritonavir is described as the most potent compound within these CYP3A4 inhibitors. We present 2 cases who developed the sequelae of glucocorticoid excess following ritonavir therapy and inhalative glucocorticoid treatment: A 60-year-old HIV positive man developed the typical symptoms of Cushing's syndrome and a 52-year-old HIV positive man developed severe osteoporosis.

Fatal bleeding due to a heparin-like anticoagulant in a 37-year-old woman suffering from systemic mastocytosis.

A 37-year-old female patient with systemic mastocytosis who was admitted with severe unexplained bleeding symptoms is studied. Laboratory procedures established the diagnosis of a patient-derived-heparin-like anticoagulant as a very rare hemostatic abnormality predisposing to bleeding. The patient died from refractory disease despite therapy with protamine, initiation of chemotherapy, and supportive measures.

A randomized, placebo-controlled study of the use of filgrastim in non neutropenic patients with nosocomial pneumonia.

Pneumonia remains the number one cause of death from infectious diseases in Western Europe and the United States despite the introduction of potent broad-spectrum antibiotics. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is considered to improve host defense during infection and may be an effective adjunctive in the treatment of severe infections. We examined the efficacy of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (r-metHUG-CSF, filgrastim) with regard to clinical response in non-neutropenic ICU patients with nosocomial pneumonia in a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Perioperative granulocyte colony-stimulating factor does not prevent severe infections in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Objective: Esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is associated with substantial postoperative morbidity as a result of infectious complications. In a prior phase II study, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was shown to improve leukocyte function and to reduce infection rates after esophagectomy. The aim of the current randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase III trial was to investigate the clinical efficacy of perioperative G-CSF administration in reducing infection and mortality after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.