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Background: Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a recognised complication of pituitary surgery, with diagnosis requiring clinical observation aided by plasma and urine electrolytes and osmolalities. Copeptin is a stable surrogate marker of AVP release and has potential to facilitate prompt diagnosis of post-operative DI. This assay has been shown to accurately predict which patients are likely to develop DI following pituitary surgery. Objective: To determine whether copeptin analysis can be used to predict which patients are at risk of developing DI following trans-sphenoidal surgery (TSS). Methods: Seventy-eight patients undergoing TSS had samples taken for copeptin pre-operatively and at day 1 post-TSS. The majority of patients also had samples from day 2, day 8, and week 6 post-TSS. Results from patients who developed post-operative DI (based on clinical assessment, urine and plasma biochemistry and the need for treatment with DDAVP) were compared to those who did not. Patients with any evidence of pre-operative DI were excluded. Results: Of 78 patients assessed, 11 were clinically determined to have developed DI. Differences were observed between patients with DI and those without in post-operative samples. Of note, there was a significant difference in plasma copeptin at day 1 post-operation (p= 0.010 on Kruskal–Wallis test), with copeptin levels greater than 3.4 pmol/l helping to rule out DI (91% sensitivity, 55% specificity at this cut off). Conclusion: In the post-TSS setting, copeptin is a useful rule-out test in patients with values above a defined threshold, which may facilitate earlier decision making and shorter hospital stays.

Macaques provide the most widely used nonhuman primate models for studying the immunology and pathogenesis of human diseases. Although the macaque major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region shares most features with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region, macaques have an expanded repertoire of MHC class I genes. Although a chimera of two rhesus macaque MHC haplotypes was first published in 2004, the structural diversity of MHC genomic organization in macaques remains poorly understood owing to a lack of adequate genomic reference sequences. We used ultralong Oxford Nanopore and high-accuracy Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) HiFi sequences to fully assemble the ∼5.2-Mb M3 haplotype of an MHC-homozygous, Mauritian-origin cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The MHC homozygosity allowed us to assemble a single MHC haplotype unambiguously and avoid chimeric assemblies that hampered previous efforts to characterize this exceptionally complex genomic region in macaques. The high quality of this new assembly is exemplified by the identification of an extended cluster of six Mafa-AGgenes that contains a recent duplication with a highly similar ∼48.5-kb block of sequence. The MHC class II region of this M3 haplotype is similar to the previously sequenced rhesus macaque haplotype and HLA class II haplotypes. The MHC class I region, in contrast, contains 13 MHC-Bgenes, four MHC-Agenes, and three MHC-Egenes (vs. 19 MHC-B, two MHC-A, and one MHC-Ein the previously sequenced haplotype). These results provide an unambiguously assembled single contiguous cynomolgus macaque MHC haplotype with fully curated gene annotations that will inform infectious disease and transplantation research.

Central diabetes insipidus is a rare neuroendocrine condition. Data on treatment-associated side-effects, psychological comorbidities, and incorrect management are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate patients’ perspectives on their disease.

Radiotherapy is a valuable treatment in the management algorithm of pituitary adenomas and craniopharyngiomas. However, the risk of second brain tumour following radiotherapy is a major concern. We assessed this risk using non-irradiated patients with the same primary pathology and imaging surveillance as controls.

This study evaluates the predictive value of copeptin for syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) postpituitary transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). Data from 133 consecutive patients undergoing TSS (November 2017–October 2022) at Oxford University Hospitals NHS trust are presented in this retrospective study. Logistic regression (LR) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of copeptin. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare copeptin levels between the SIAD and no SIAD groups. Fourteen patients (10.8%) developed SIAD. Copeptin was available in 121, 53 and 87 patients for Days 1, 241 and 8 post‐TSS, respectively. LR for Day 1 copeptin to predict SIAD gave an odds ratio (OR) of 1.0 (95%CI 42 0.84–1.20, p= .99), area under‐ROC curve (AUC) was 0.49; Day 2 copeptin OR was 0.65 (95%CI 0.39–1.19, 43 p= .77), AUC was 0.57 LR for Day 1 sodium to predict SIAD gave an odds ratio (OR) of 1.0 (95%CI 0.85–1.21, p= .99), AUC was 0.50. In conclusion, our data provide no evidence for copeptin as a predictive marker for post‐TSS SIAD. This study evaluates the predictive value of copeptin for syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) postpituitary transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). Data from 133 consecutive patients undergoing TSS (November 2017–October 2022) at Oxford University Hospitals NHS trust are presented in this retrospective study. Our data provide no evidence for copeptin as a predictive marker for post‐TSS SIAD.

IntroductionPituitary gigantism is a rare but significant paediatric condition with complexities surrounding diagnosis and management. Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is the treatment of choice; however, medical treatment is often considered as adjuvant therapy.CaseA 10½ -year-old boy presented with tall stature and a height velocity of 11 cm/year. His height was 178.7 cm (+5.8 SD above mean) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was elevated. An oral glucose tolerance test demonstrated non-suppression of growth hormone (GH). Initial contrast MRI was inconclusive, but C-11 methionine functional positron emission tomography CT identified a 6 mm pituitary microadenoma. A multidisciplinary team clinic held with the family allowed discussion about medical and surgical treatment options. Due to a number of factors including the patient’s young age, prepubertal status, a wish to allow him to settle into his new high school and his desire to reach a final height taller than his father’s height, it was decided to try medical therapy first with a somatostatin analogue. Pubertal induction was also commenced and bilateral epiphysiodesis surgery performed. Initial response to octreotide was positive; however, 4 months into therapy his IGF-1 was climbing and a repeat GH profile was not fully suppressed. The patient therefore proceeded to have successful TSS excision of the adenoma.ConclusionRare cases such as this require sharing of knowledge and expertise, so the best possible care is offered. It is often necessary to work across sites and disciplines. Each case requires an individual approach tailored to the patient and their family.

Secondary adrenal insufficiency is a potential complication of transsphenoidal adenomectomy (TSA). Most centers test recovery of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis after TSA, but, to our knowledge, there are no data predicting likelihood of recovery or the frequency of later recovery of HPA function.

Several new gene mutations have been reported in recent years to be associated with a risk of familial pheochromocytoma. However, it is unclear as to whether extensive genetic testing is required in all patients. The clinical data of consecutive patients operated for pheochromocytoma over a decade in a tertiary referral center were reviewed. Genetic screening was performed using a 10-gene panel: RET, VHL, SDHB, SDHD, SDHA, SDHC, SDHAF2, MAX, TMEM127and FH. A total of 166 patients were analyzed: 87 of them had genetic screening performed (39 M: 44.8%, 48 F: 55.2%, age range 6–81 years, mean 45±16.8 years). In total, 22/87 (25.3%) patients had germline mutations, while 65/87 (74.7%) patients presented with apparently sporadic tumors. Germline VHLmutations were identified in 11.7% of patients, RETin 6.8% (five MEN2A/MEN2 and one MEN2B/MEN3), SDHDin 2.3%, MAXin 2.3%, SDHBin 1.1%, and TMEM127in 1.1% of patients. At diagnosis, 15.1% of patients with unilateral non-syndromic pheochromocytoma showed germline mutations. We identified 19.7% of mutations in patients with unilateral-non-recurrent pheochromocytomas within 5 years vs. 50% in the recurrent-bilateral-metastatic group (p= 0.01). Germline mutations were more frequently seen with bilateral pheochromocytomas (p= 0.001): 80% of patients with bilateral disease had germline mutations (4 VHL, 3 RET, 1 MAX). The advent of rapid genetic screening using a gene-panel makes it feasible to screen large cohorts of patients and provides a valuable tool to contribute to the prediction of bilateral and malignant disease and to screen family members.

BackgroundEpidemiological evidence and genetic evidence link type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The tumour suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) has roles in both cellular growth and metabolic signalling. Germline PTENmutations cause Cowden syndrome, a cancer predisposition syndrome, providing an opportunity to study the metabolic effects of PTENhaploinsufficiency in human beings. We investigated insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function in patients with Cowden syndrome.