Digital quantification of somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 and 5 in growth hormone-secreting pituitary tumors.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of somatostatin receptor subtype 2 can predict response to first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs) in acromegaly. Recently, we validated an open-source digital image analysis (DIA) to quantify somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) expression. We aimed to validate the DIA also on somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SSTR5) in a new cohort of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors, with IHC performed in a different laboratory, and to correlate fg-SRL response with SSTs expression.

Temporal and masseter muscle evaluation by MRI provides information on muscle mass and quality in acromegaly patients.

Purpose: The impact of GH/IGF-1 levels on skeletal muscle in acromegaly is still controversial. Temporal (TMT) and masseter muscle (MMT) thickness has been recently demonstrated as a reliable measure of muscle mass. We aimed to investigate the relationship between TMT, MMT and clinical/biochemical characteristics in patients with acromegaly.

Skeletal Muscle Evaluation in Patients With Acromegaly.

Context: Patients with acromegaly are characterized by chronic exposure to high growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, known for their anabolic effect on skeletal muscle. Therefore, an increased skeletal muscle mass could be hypothesized in these individuals. Herein, we have performed a systematic revision of published evidence regarding skeletal muscle mass, quality, and performance in patients with acromegaly.

Pasireotide effects on biochemical control and glycometabolic profile in acromegaly patients switched from combination therapies or unconventional dosages of somatostatin analogs.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of pasireotide (PAS) therapy on hormonal and glycometabolic outcome in patients with acromegaly previously treated with combination medical therapies or unconventional dosages of first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs).

Methods: Retrospective study carried out in two referral centers for pituitary diseases. Twenty-one acromegalic patients were switched to PAS (12 had biochemical control, 9 were uncontrolled).

Trabecular Bone Score as a Reliable Measure of Lumbar Spine Bone Microarchitecture in Acromegalic Patients.

Although GH and IGF-1 excess has a controversial impact on bone mineral density (BMD), acromegalic patients display variable degrees of bone structure impairment. In this study, we aim to investigate the usefulness of trabecular bone score (TBS), compared to BMD, in identifying acromegalic patients with impaired lumbar spine trabecular microarchitecture. Forty-four acromegalic patients were investigated for disease control, metabolic and gonadal status, bone metabolism parameters, and the presence of vertebral fractures (VFs).

Clinical and radiological presentation of parasellar ectopic pituitary adenomas: case series and systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: Parasellar ectopic pituitary adenomas (pEPAs) are extremely rare tumors located out of the sella turcica. PEPAs are heterogeneous entities in terms of anatomical localization and secretion of anterior pituitary hormones.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective study.

The effect of sodium restriction on iodine prophylaxis: a review.

Purpose: Sodium is essential to life. However, its dietary excess is detrimental to the cardiovascular system, and sodium restriction is a crucial step in cardiovascular prevention. Iodine deficiency has been fought worldwide for decades, and substantial success has been achieved introducing the use of iodine-enriched salt.

Evaluation of acromegaly treatment direct costs with respect to biochemical control and follow-up length.

Purpose: Acromegaly is a severe chronic endocrine disease. Achieving biochemical control often needs a multimodal treatment approach, including prolonged medical treatment. Aim of the study is to evaluate the burden of treatment direct costs with respect to the different therapeutic strategies, disease control, and follow-up length.

Clinical and Radiological Predictors of Biochemical Response to First-Line Treatment With Somatostatin Receptor Ligands in Acromegaly: A Real-Life Perspective.

Background: First-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs) represent the first-line medical treatment for acromegaly, recommended in patients with persistent disease after neurosurgery, or when surgical approach is not feasible. Despite the lack of strong recommendations from guidelines and consensus statements, data from national Registries report an increasing use of medical therapy as first-line treatment in acromegaly.

Objective: We retrospectively evaluated the potential role of a large number of clinical and radiological parameters in predicting the biochemical response to 6-month treatment with fg-SRLs, in a cohort of naïve acromegaly patients referred to a single tertiary center for pituitary diseases.

Octreotide and Pasireotide Combination Treatment in Somatotroph Tumor Cells: Predominant Role of SST in Mediating Ligand Effects.

First-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fg-SRLs), such as octreotide (OCT), represent the first-line medical therapy in acromegaly. Fg-SRLs show a preferential binding affinity for somatostatin receptor subtype-2 (SST), while the second-generation ligand, pasireotide (PAS), has high affinity for multiple SSTs (SST > SST > SST > SST). Whether PAS acts via SST in somatotroph tumors, or through other SSTs (e.

"Present and future of immunotherapy in Neuroendocrine Tumors".

Immunotherapy, so promising in many neoplasms, still does not have a precise role in the treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). In this article, we provide an overview on the current knowledge about immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) applied to NENs, evaluating future perspectives in this setting of tumors.Evidence so far available for ICIs in gastroenteropancreatic (GEP)-NENs is definitively not as robust as for other tumors such as Small Cell Lung Cancer or Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Left Ventricular Mass Reduction by a Low-Sodium Diet in Treated Hypertensive Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the left ventricular mass (LVM) reduction induced by dietary sodium restriction.

Patients And Methods: A simple sodium-restricted diet was advised in 138 treated hypertensives. They had to avoid common salt loads, such as cheese and salt-preserved meat, and were switched from regular to salt-free bread.

Discordant GH and IGF-1 Results in Treated Acromegaly: Impact of GH Cutoffs and Mean Values Assessment.

Context: Discordant growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) values are frequent in acromegaly.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of different GH cutoffs on discordance rate. To investigate whether the mean of consecutive GH measurements impacts discordance rate when matched to the last available IGF-1 value.

Emerging drugs for the treatment of acromegaly.

Introduction: Acromegaly is a disease characterized by elevated growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels. Surgery is the only curative treatment, while medical therapies are administered life-long. To date, almost 30% of patients treated with the currently available medical therapies do not achieve biochemical control.

Octreotide-Resistant Acromegaly: Challenges and Solutions.

Acromegaly is a rare and severe disease caused by an increased and autonomous secretion of growth hormone (GH), thus resulting in high circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Comorbidities and mortality rate are closely related to the disease duration. However, in most cases achieving biochemical control means reducing or even normalizing mortality and restoring normal life expectancy.

Sodium Intake and Target Organ Damage in Hypertension-An Update about the Role of a Real Villain.

Salt intake is too high for safety nowadays. The main active ion in salt is sodium. The vast majority of scientific evidence points out the importance of sodium restriction for decreasing cardiovascular risk.