Research Hub
The living record of
peptide science.
PubMed studies synced daily. Active clinical trials. Evidence updates when the science materially changes. Monthly synthesis for practitioners.
Layer 1
Study feed
Mechanistic effects of percutaneous needle fasciotomy combined with stretching on early-stage skeletal muscle fibrosis in rats: focus on the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.
J Orthop Surg Res
Han Zhang, Wanrong Li, Hanyu Zhang +5 more
To investigate the effects of combination combining Percutaneous Needle Fasciotomy (PNF) with stretching(Str) on early-stage skeletal muscle fibrosis in rats, focusing on the transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway.
Dopaminergic and Opioid Systems Interact to Produce Peripheral Antinociception in Mice.
J Integr Neurosci
Bárbara F G Queiroz, Walace C P Barra, Flávia C S Fonseca +3 more
The overall pain experience results from the balance between the nociceptive pathway and the body's endogenous modulation of nociception. The interaction of these systems reduces nociception. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate how the opioid and dopaminergic systems collaborate to inhibit pain at the peripheral level.
Mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of dry eye disease: narrative review of experimental studies.
Int Ophthalmol
Yuanchao Fu, Chengzhi Liu, Guzhi Xu
Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a common ocular disorder characterized by tear film instability, ocular inflammation, and discomfort, which significantly affects the quality of life. Traditional treatments primarily address the symptoms but do not always target the underlying pathophysiology of DED. Acupuncture, a complementary therapy in traditional Chinese medicine, has shown the potential to improve DED symptoms through multiple mechanisms. This review aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on DED, focusing on its role in enhancing lacrimal gland function, modulating inflammatory pathways, and alleviating ocular pain.
Appetite, eating attitudes, and eating behaviours during treatment with retatrutide in adults with type 2 diabetes: Results of a phase 2 study.
Diabetes Obes Metab
Chisom Kanu, Kristina S Boye, Jiat Ling Poon +6 more
To determine whether adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with retatrutide report greater changes in self-reported appetite, dietary restraint, and disinhibition compared to placebo or dulaglutide and to examine associations with weight change.
Shared mechanistic pathways of glucagon signalling: Unlocking its potential for treating obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and other cardio-kidney-metabolic conditions.
Diabetes Obes Metab
Guy W Neff
Glucagon is a pancreatic peptide hormone whose receptor (GCGR) is expressed in the liver, kidney, and, to a lesser extent, various other tissues. Glucagon is well known as the counterpart to insulin in glucose homeostasis. However, recent evidence has revealed other potential roles of glucagon, which include the regulation of amino acid metabolism via a liver-pancreatic alpha cell axis, stimulation of lipolysis and mitochondrial fat oxidation in the liver (and possibly in other tissues), reduction of caloric intake, and an increase in energy expenditure (at least in animal models). These advances in basic science-together with clinical trials that found GCGR antagonists increased body weight, hepatic fat, and serum lipids in people with type 2 diabetes-are driving the development of GCGR-based agonists for the treatment of obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and other cardio-kidney-metabolic diseases. Due to the hyperglycaemic effects of glucagon, these unimolecular compounds also incorporate moieties that activate the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor, which stimulates insulin secretion to lower blood glucose levels. In early clinical trials, several GCGR-based multi-agonists (mazdutide, survodutide [being developed by the sponsor of this review], retatrutide) demonstrated substantial efficacy for eliciting weight loss in people with obesity while improving liver health in those with MASLD. However, the physiological and molecular pathways modulated by chronic pharmacological activation of the GCGR in humans remain to be delineated, as do its potential risks. Thus, there is great interest in the ongoing phase 3 clinical trials of these compounds. As data for their safety and efficacy emerge, glucagon's role in energy regulation and lipid metabolism will become clearer, along with warranting a potential new therapeutic option for obesity and MASLD.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor analogues and beyond: emerging obesity pharmacotherapies.
Panminerva Med
Kaivalya Abburi, Eka Melson, Alexander D Miras +1 more
Obesity is a chronic disease associated with multiple health risks. Multimodal treatments including lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapies and bariatric surgery should be the standard of care for obesity management. Bariatric surgery remains the most effective treatment yielding to sustainable weight loss (WL) of about 20-30%. Having understood better the role of the gut-brain axis on appetite, the field of obesity pharmacotherapy has been advancing rapidly. The recent approvals for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) semaglutide 2.4 mg and the dual GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonist tirzepatide as treatments for obesity have raised the bar for WL efficacy for the emerging obesity pharmacotherapies. Combining GLP-1 RA and other entero-pancreatic hormones including GIP, glucagon or amylin receptor agonists (RAs) as well as GIP receptor antagonists have shown promising data in early phases of clinical trials, with some progressing to phase III clinical trials. Notably, the combinations of GLP-1 RA, GIP and glucagon RA (retatrutide) have shown WL efficacy closing on to that observed in bariatric surgery. While entero-pancreatic hormone-based therapies have been the centre of attention for obesity pharmacotherapies, non- entero-pancreatic hormone treatments also hold promise. In this review, we present the future pharmacotherapies for weight management in people with obesity, focusing on entero-pancreatic hormone-based molecules.
Effect of ACTH4-10Pro8-Gly9-Pro10 on anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13) expression in acute spinal cord injury models (male Sprague Dawley rats).
F1000Res
Asadullah Asadullah, Abdul Hafid Bajamal, Muhammad Arifin Parenrengi +4 more
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a damage to the spinal cord caused mainly by trauma resulting in major motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunctions. Its final neurological outcome is determined by both primary and secondary injury processes. A key component of secondary injury mechanisms after initial trauma is neuroinflammation. A neuroprotective compound, ACTH 4-10Pro 8-Gly 9-Pro 10 (ACTH 4-10) also known as semax, has shown neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. ACTH 4-10 has also been actively used in the treatment of brain ischemia without serious complication reported. Here, we analyzed the effects of ACTH 4-10 at regulating the inflammatory cascade in SCI by looking at anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13) levels after acute SCI.
Publisher Correction: Investigation of the relationship between COVID-19 disease and semen parameters in idiopathic male infertility patients.
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci
M B Can Balcı, N Can Çilesiz
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2023; 27 (1): 378-383-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202301_30891-PMID: 36647886, published online on January 13, 2023. This erratum addresses errors in the reference list of the published PDF version. Due to an internal error during layout finalization, incorrect references from another article were inadvertently inserted into the final PDF. The error was not detected by the authors prior to publication, and the PDF file was approved for publication. The corrected list of references is provided below: 1.         Chen J, Jiang Q, Xia X, Liu K, Yu Z, Tao W, Gong W, Han JJ. Individual variation of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 gene expression and regulation. Aging Cell 2020; 19: e13168. 2.         Atlas SA. The renin-angiotensin aldosterone system: pathophysiological role and pharmacologic inhibition. J Manag Care Pharm 2007; 13: 9-20. 3.         Stanley KE, Thomas E, Leaver M, Wells D. Coronavirus disease-19 and fertility: viral host entry protein expression in male and female reproductive tissues. Fertil Steril 2020; 114: 33-43. 4.         Younis JS, Abassi Z, Skorecki K. Is there an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on male fertility? The ACE2 connection. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2020; 318: E878-E880. 5.         Reis AB, Araújo FC, Pereira VM, Dos Reis AM, Santos RA, Reis FM. Angiotensin (1-7) and its receptor Mas are expressed in the human testis: implications for male infertility. J Mol Histol 2010; 41: 75-80. 6.         Tiwari S, Kc N, Thapa S, Ghimire A, Bijukchhe S, Sah GS, Isnuwardana R. Semen parameters in men recovered from COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Middle East Fertil Soc J 2021; 26: 44-53. 7.         Boitrelle F, Shah R, Saleh R, Henkel R, Kandil H, Chung E, Vogiatzi P, Zini A, Arafa M, Agarwal A. The Sixth Edition of the WHO Manual for Human Semen Analysis: A Critical Review and SWOT Analysis. Life (Basel) 2021; 11: 1368. 8.         Cocuzza M, Agarwal A. Nonsurgical treatment of male infertility: spesific and empiric therapy. Biologics 2007; 1: 259-269. 9.         Twigg JP, Irvine DS, Aitken RJ. Oxidative damage to DNA in human spermatozoa does not preclude pronucleus formation at intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Hum Reprod 1998; 13: 1864-1871. 10.          Tremellen K. Oxidative stress and male infertility-a clinical perspective. Hum Reprod Update 2008; 14: 243-258. 11.          Wang Z, Xu X. scRNA-seq profiling of human testes reveals the presence of the ACE2 receptor, a target for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Spermatogonia, Leydig and sertoli Cells. Cells 2020; 9: 920. 12.          Dejucq N, Jégou B. Viruses in the mammalian male genital tract and their effects on the reproductive system. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2001; 65: 208-231. 13.          Heller CG, Clermont Y. Spermatogenesis in man: an estimate of its duration. Science 1963; 140: 184-186. 14.          Pan F, Xiao X, Guo J, Song Y, Li H, Patel DP, Spivak AM, Alukal JP, Zhang X, Xiong C, Li PS, Hotaling JM. No evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 in semen of males recovering from coronavirus disease 2019. Fertil Steril 2020; 113: 1135-1139. 15.          Bian XW. COVID-19 Pathology Team. Autopsy of COVID-19 patients in China. Natl Sci Rev 2020; 7: 1414-1418. 16.          Yang M, Chen S, Huang B, Zhong JM, Su H, Chen YJ, Cao Q, Ma L, He J, Li XF, Li X, Zhou JJ, Fan J, Luo DJ, Chang XN, Arkun K, Zhou M, Nie X. Pathological Findings in the Testes of COVID-19 Patients: Clinical Implications. Eur Urol Focus 2020; 6: 1124-1129. 17.          Paoli D, Pallotti F, Turriziani O, Mazzuti L, Antonelli G, Lenzi A, Lombardo F. SARS-CoV-2 presence in seminal fluid: Myth or reality. Andrology 2021; 9: 23-26. 18.          Guo TH, Sang MY, Bai S, Ma H, Wan YY, Jiang XH, Zhang YW, Xu B, Chen H, Zheng XY, Luo SH, Xie XF, Gong CJ, Weng JP, Shi QH. Semen parameters in men recovered from COVID-19. Asian J Androl 2021; 23: 479-483. 19.          Hu B, Liu K, Ruan Y, Wei X, Wu Y, Feng H, Deng Z, Liu J, Wang T. Evaluation of mid- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on male fertility through evaluating semen parameters. Transl Androl Urol 2022; 11: 159-167. 20.          Ruan Y, Hu B, Liu Z, Liu K, Jiang H, Li H, Li R, Luan Y, Liu X, Yu G, Xu S, Yuan X, Wang S, Yang W, Ye Z, Liu J, Wang T. No detection of SARS-CoV-2 from urine, expressed prostatic secretions, and semen in 74 recovered COVID-19 male patients: A perspective and urogenital evaluation. Andrology 2021; 9: 99-106. There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/30891.
Microplastics affect food intake and the expression of appetite regulators and nutrient transporters in pond loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus).
Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol
Thanushanthahi Loganathan, Julianna Dyke, Helene Volkoff
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants in freshwater ecosystems, posing risks to aquatic organisms. This study examines the effects of dietary MP exposure on food intake, appetite regulation, and nutrient transporter expression in pond loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), a sediment-feeding facultative air breathing freshwater fish. Fish were exposed to small (250-300 μm), medium (425-500 μm), and large (710-850 μm) polyethylene microspheres for two weeks. Food intake was significantly reduced in fish fed small and medium MPs, but not large MPs, suggesting size-dependent ingestion effects. In the brain, MP (425-500 μm) exposure suppressed orexin expression, a key appetite-stimulating neuropeptide, while other central appetite regulators remained unchanged. In the anterior intestine, anorexigenic peptides such as cholecystokinin (cck) and peptide YY (pyy) were upregulated, alongside glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (gip), indicating enhanced satiety signaling. Sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (slc5a1) expression was downregulated, suggesting impaired glucose absorption. MPs induced upregulation of gip and urea transporter 2 (slc14a2) in the mid intestine, and pyy, gip, glucose transporter 1 (slc2a1), urea transporter 2 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (hif1a) in the posterior intestine. These results show that MP exposure disrupts feeding, alters endocrine signaling, and affects nutrient absorption in pond loach, highlighting the physiological sensitivity of sediment-feeding fish to MP contamination and the ecological risks posed by plastic pollution to aquatic species and ecosystems.
Noninsulin Therapies in Management of Type 1 Diabetes.
Endocr Pract
Zeb I Saeed, Jayachidambaram Ambalavanan, Melanie Natasha Rayan +2 more
With the increasing prevalence of double diabetes (features of type 2 diabetes in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D)), there is a growing interest in using noninsulin therapies to improve glycemic outcomes, promote weight loss, and reduce cardiovascular risk in T1D. In this narrative review, we summarize current literature and provide practical guidance for clinicians when considering these therapies.
3, 7-dihydroxy-2, 4-dimethoxyphenanthrene protects against UVB-induced skin hyperpigmentation via antioxidant and anti-melanogenic mechanisms.
J Photochem Photobiol B
Mengyan Li, Die Li, Yu Zhang +6 more
Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by UVB radiation can disrupt the normal redox balance, leading to oxidative cellular damage as well as triggering melanin synthesis by melanocytes. Currently, natural active substances are emphasized in UV protection research. This study explored the protective effect of 3, 7-dihydroxy-2, 4-dimethoxyphenanthrene (DDP), a bioactive compound from Dendrobium lindleyi Stendel, against UVB-induced skin hyperpigmentation and examined its specific mechanism.
Weight management treatment in obesity.
Med Clin (Barc)
Miguel A Rubio-Herrera, Sara Mera-Carreiro
Obesity is a chronic and relapsing disease associated with medical complications and mortality. Our improved understanding of the relevance of the gut-brain axis in regulating appetite and body weight has encouraged research into nutrient-stimulated gastroenteropancreatic hormones as a new therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of people living with obesity. Beyond the necessary lifestyle changes, this new era with second-generation drugs has been able to achieve weight loss of 15-25%, close to that of bariatric surgery. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RA), used as weekly injectable monotherapy or daily oral (semaglutide), achieve weight loss of 15-17%, with a good safety profile. The synergistic combination with other hormones (such as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon, or amylin) will allow to increase weight loss, as well as improve cardiometabolic variables. Tirzepatide (a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist) achieves weight loss of up to 22.5% at the highest doses. In this same range of weight loss, it is expected that it can be achieved with the combination of Cagrisema (cagrilintide 2.4mg plus semaglutide 2.4mg), combinations of GLP-1 RAs - glucagon agonists or with the triple combination of GLP-1 RAs-GIP-Glucagon (Retatrutide). In this review, we will examine the efficacy and safety of the drugs marketed and others under ongoing clinical trials for the treatment of persons with obesity, as well as the main challenges faced by both healthcare professionals and patients in maintaining long-term treatment.
A Pilot Outpatient Assessment of a Fully Closed-Loop Insulin and Pramlintide System.
J Diabetes Sci Technol
Madison Odabassian, Michael A Tsoukas, Elisa Cohen +3 more
Type 1 diabetes is treated with exogenous insulin using multiple daily injections or insulin pumps. However, both strategies require carbohydrate counting for prandial insulin dosing, which is both burdensome and error prone.
Psychological and behavioral effects of GLP-1 and GIP agonists in weight loss: a comprehensive review.
J Diabetes Metab Disord
Fatima Ameer, Nicole Yañez Villacres, Daniel Bustos +9 more
Obesity remains a major global health challenge, severely affecting metabolic and cardiovascular health. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) receptor agonists mark a significant breakthrough in diabetes and obesity management, significantly aiding in weight loss and glycemic control. Tirzepatide, a dual agonist for GLP-1 and GIP receptors, effectively promotes weight loss and improves metabolic parameters by influencing insulin secretion, appetite regulation, and gastric emptying.
A synergic GLP-1/Acylethanolamide-based combined therapy for MAFLD: Studies in rat models.
Biochem Pharmacol
Marialuisa de Ceglia, Rubén Tovar, Miguel Rodríguez-Pozo +6 more
Obesity remains a major epidemic in developed countries, with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) as one of its main hepatic consequences. Pharmacological treatments for MAFLD are limited, but modulation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) or acylethanolamide signalling offers promising therapeutic potential, while exerting anti-obesity effects. This study evaluated the effects of a combined therapy using a dual ligand targeting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and peripheral cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) (OLHHA, acting as a PPARα agonist and CB1 antagonist) in combination with the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide. Our aim was to assess their potential as a multitarget therapy to ameliorate liver dysfunction in an obesity animal model. In Wistar rats, we evaluated the effects of administering 3 mg/kg OLHHA and 25  µg/kg liraglutide, both acutely and chronically (daily for 42 days), in the context of exposure to a high-fat/high-fructose diet. Although both OLHHA and liraglutide individually ameliorated certain hepatic alterations induced by MAFLD, our findings demonstrate that their combined administration was significantly more effective in promoting body weight loss, improving lipid profiles and transaminase levels, and exerting robust antisteatotic effects in obese rats. This enhanced efficacy was evidenced by a marked reduction in hepatic fat content, downregulation of lipogenesis-related enzymes, and upregulation of proteins involved in lipid oxidation. Moreover, OLHHA, either alone or in combination with liraglutide, efficiently restored redox balance disrupted by MAFLD in obese rats. Collectively, these results highlight the potential of this multitarget therapeutic strategy for the treatment of obesity, MAFLD, and their associated comorbidities.
BPC 157 Therapy: Targeting Angiogenesis and Nitric Oxide's Cytotoxic and Damaging Actions, but Maintaining, Promoting, or Recovering Their Essential Protective Functions. Comment on Józwiak et al. Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide-Literature and Patent Review. Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18, 185.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel)
Predrag Sikiric, Sven Seiwerth, Anita Skrtic +13 more
The healing issue is a central, not completely understood, problem in pharmacology, approached by many concepts. One of the most well-known is Robert's and Szabo's concept of cytoprotection, which holds innate cell (epithelial (Robert), endothelial (Szabo)) integrity, protection/maintenance/reestablishing in the stomach to be translated to other organ therapy (cytoprotection→organoprotection) via cytoprotection agent's effect. Thereby, we defend stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy, efficacy, pleiotropic beneficial effects along with high safety (LD1 not achieved) against Józwiak and collaborators' review speculating its negative impact, speculation of angiogenesis toward tumorogenesis, increased NO and eNOS, toward damaging free radicals formation, and neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease). Contrarily, in wound healing and general healing capabilities as reviewed, as a cytoprotective agent, and native cytoprotection mediator, BPC 157 controls angiogenesis and the NO-system healing functions, and counteracts the pathological presentation of neurodegenerative diseases in acknowledged animal models (i.e., Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease), and presents prominent anti-tumor potential, in vivo and in vitro. BPC 157 resolved cornea transparency maintenance, cornea healing "angiogenic privilege" (vs. angiogenesis/neovascularization/tumorogenesis), does not produce corneal neovascularization, but rather opposes it, and per Folkman's concept, it demonstrates anti-tumor effect in vivo and in vitro. BPC 157 exhibits a distinctive effect on NO-level (increase vs. decrease), always combined with counteraction of free radicals formation, and in mice and rats, BPC 157 therapy counteracts Parkinson's disease-like and Alzheimer's disease-like disturbances. Thus, BPC 157 therapy means targeting angiogenesis and NO's cytotoxic and damaging actions, but maintaining, promoting, or recovering their essential protective functions.
Reply to Sikiric et al. BPC 157 Therapy: Targeting Angiogenesis and Nitric Oxide's Cytotoxic and Damaging Actions, but Maintaining, Promoting, or Recovering Their Essential Protective Functions. Comment on "Józwiak et al. Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide-Literature and Patent Review. Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18, 185".
Pharmaceuticals (Basel)
Michalina Józwiak, Marta Bauer, Wojciech Kamysz +1 more
We wish to thank the Authors of the comment for their interest in our manuscript [...].
Thymopentin Enhances Antitumor Immunity Through Thymic Rejuvenation and T Cell Functional Reprogramming.
Biomedicines
Md Amir Hossain, Ye Zhang, Li Ji +7 more
Background/Objectives: T cell dysfunction represents a fundamental barrier to effective cancer immunotherapy. Although immune checkpoint blockades and adoptive cell transfer have achieved clinical success, therapeutic resistance remains prevalent across cancer types. Thymopentin (TP5), a synthetic immunomodulatory pentapeptide (Arg-Lys-Asp-Val-Tyr), has demonstrated immunostimulatory properties, yet its anticancer potential remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate TP5's antitumor efficacy and underlying immunological mechanisms. Methods: We evaluated TP5's therapeutic effects in multiple murine tumor models, including B16-F10 melanoma, MC38 colorectal carcinoma, Hepa 1-6, and LM3 hepatocellular carcinoma. Immune cell populations and functional states were characterized using flow cytometry, ELISAs, and immunofluorescence analyses. The potential of TP5 as an adjuvant for T cell-based therapies was also systematically assessed. Results: The TP5 treatment markedly suppressed tumor growth across caner models through strictly T cell-dependent mechanisms. Critically, TP5 promoted thymic rejuvenation under immunocompromised conditions, restoring the thymus-tumor immunological balance and revitalizing peripheral T cell immunity. TP5 functionally reprogrammed T cell states, preserving effector function while ameliorating exhaustion. Furthermore, TP5 demonstrated synergistic efficacy when combined with adoptive T cell therapies, enhancing both proliferation and effector functions. Conclusions: TP5 represents a promising immunomodulator that addresses fundamental limitations of current T cell therapies by simultaneously enhancing T cell function and reversing thymic involution under immunocompromised conditions. Our findings provide compelling evidence for TP5's clinical translation in cancer treatment.
The Impact of the Apelinergic System on the Cardiovascular System.
Int J Mol Sci
Rafał Wyderka, Łukasz Osuch, Bogusława Ołpińska +4 more
The apelin-ELABELA-APJ axis, collectively known as the apelinergic system, has emerged as a key regulator of cardiovascular homeostasis. Acting through G-protein-coupled mechanisms, it modulates vascular tone, cardiac contractility, angiogenesis, fluid balance, and metabolism. Growing evidence indicates that dysregulation of apelinergic signaling contributes to the development and progression of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure. Experimental studies demonstrate cardioprotective actions of apelin and ELABELA, including anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, and pro-angiogenic effects, whereas some findings suggest context-dependent pro-atherogenic or vasoconstrictive roles. Clinical data show that circulating apelinergic peptides vary across cardiovascular conditions, being upregulated in acute coronary syndromes and diminished in chronic ischemic or hypertensive disease. In heart failure, early compensatory activation is followed by progressive depletion, and low ELABELA levels correlate with disease severity. Moreover, the apelinergic system may exert anti-arrhythmic effects through modulation of myocardial electrophysiology and structural remodeling. Novel synthetic APJ agonists and stabilized peptide analogs show promising preclinical efficacy in reducing cardiac remodeling, improving contractility, and lowering blood pressure. Altogether, the apelinergic pathway represents a multifaceted modulator and a promising therapeutic target in cardiovascular medicine, warranting further translational studies to elucidate its diagnostic and treatment potential.
Hematological Malignancy in a Hypophysectomised Acromegalic Patient Under 4-Year Therapy with Somatostatin Analogues: From a Rib Lump Underlying Bone Plasmatocytoma Features to Multiple Myeloma.
Diagnostics (Basel)
Mihaela Stanciu, Alina Cătană, Ruxandra Paula Ristea +4 more
Acromegaly is associated with a higher risk of certain malignancies, but not hematological neoplasia, although multiple myeloma (MM) was found in very limited cases. We aim to present such a case, adding a particular presentation with co-occurrence of a plasmocytoma. A 52-year-old male with acromegaly confirmed at 46 (MRI: pituitary macroadenoma of 12 × 11 × 10 mm) underwent hypophysectomy followed by 3 years of octreotide LAR then lanreotide depot. After another 6 months, he experienced a rapidly growing, painful lump in the right lateral thoracic area confirmed by CT as a 9-cm osteolytic lesion at the third rib. Core biopsy revealed plasmocytoma of the bone and medullary biopsy confirmed MM. Plasmacytoma was managed with 10 radiotherapy sessions, with favorable outcome and mass resorption; MM was managed with a VRD regimen, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Six months after sFLC normalization and plasmacytoma resorption, complete remission was reported. In the meantime, lanreotide was continued, with complete acromegaly control. To conclude, what started as a rather typical scenario for an otherwise rare condition, as is acromegaly in the general population (but not so rare for endocrinologists), turned into an unexpected and more severe outcome. Noting this exceptional association, we pinpoint that further research is needed for understanding the dual acromegaly-MM relationship.