BACKGROUND

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a common complication following transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas, but CDI as an initial presentation in pituitary adenomas is extremely rare. We report a case of a 67-year-old Filipino male with pituitary macroadenoma presenting as central diabetes insipidus, manifesting as a two-month history of severe frontotemporal headache, increased thirst, and polyuria, which was managed with desmopressin followed by transsphenoidal surgery. Three months postoperatively, the thyroid and adrenocorticotropic axis remained intact, and pituitary bright spot recovery was observed. He was clinically stable; hence, desmopressin was gradually tapered and discontinued. This case report presents a unique case of a pituitary adenoma that initially presented with central DI but later showed a complete resolution of symptoms along with the normalization of the "bright spot" seen on MRI, a hallmark of the posterior pituitary. Treatment options for preoperative CDI may include surgical or medical management, with some cases reported as self-limiting. However, the rarity of such cases underscores the urgent need for more clinical studies to fully understand the course of this condition. This case highlights a unique presentation of central diabetes insipidus in a pituitary macroadenoma and the possibility of complete resolution of symptoms coinciding with pituitary bright spot recovery post operatively.

Introduction: Hypernatremia is a common yet high-mortality electrolyte disorder. The hypothalamus maintains water homeostasis via thirst sensation and arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion. Hypothalamic tumors, such as gliomas, can progressively destroy these osmoregulatory centres, leading to “malignant” hypernatremia (>180 mmol/L). We report a case of life-threatening hypernatremia in a patient with a progressive hypothalamic glioma, exploring its complex pathophysiology. Case: A 41-year-old female with a progressive high-grade hypothalamic glioma and persistent hydrocephalus presented with generalized weakness, reduced oral intake, and dehydration. Her initial Glasgow Coma Scale was E4V3M6. Laboratory investigations revealed malignant hypernatremia (serum sodium 209 mmol/L) and a serum osmolarity of 441 mOsm/kg. Despite life-threatening dehydration (urea 26.2 mmol/L, creatinine 343 umol/L), she was still able to deceptively produce urine output of 400 mL/day with a concentrated urine osmolarity of 890 mOsm/kg. A 1 mcg IV desmopressin trial reduced urine output to 60 mL/day and serum sodium by 10 mmol/L within 14 hours, confirming relative AVP deficiency. The patient’s malignant hypernatremia was gradually corrected to 168 mmol/L over 1 week (8–12 mmol/L/day) using controlled intravenous hydration. However, her condition deteriorated due to hospital-acquired infection, and she succumbed 10 days after admission. Conclusion This case underscores several critical learning points for managing hypothalamic emergencies. First, hypothalamic tumors can reset the osmostat or destroy osmoregulatory centres, causing adipsic AVP deficiency. Second, clinicians must be alert to “masked polyuria” where severe hypovolemia reduces the glomerular filtration rate, causing urine output to appear “normal” despite underlying AVP deficiency. This state of “relative polyuria” is a hallmark of hypothalamic hypernatremia, thus indicating that a normal urine output does not rule out AVP deficiency. While desmopressin is indicated, its use in adipsic patients demands strict fluid titration to prevent iatrogenic hyponatremia. Rapid hypotonic correction carries a proven risk of cerebral oedema, and sodium measurement accuracy varies significantly across laboratory methods in extreme ranges.
Hypernatremia ; Hypothalamic Neoplasms

Introduction: Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPA) may cause central hypothyroidism due to pituitary compression, often presenting with low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). However, suppressed TSH in this setting should not automatically be attributed to pituitary dysfunction, as primary hyperthyroidism—such as Graves’ disease—may rarely coexist. Distinguishing between these disorders is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate management. Case: A 42-year-old female presented with intermittent headache, visual field impairment, palpitations, fine tremors, and weight loss. Physical examination revealed visual field deficits and no goiter. Laboratory evaluation showed cortisol level of 1 µg/dL (normal: 3.7–19.4 µg/dL), luteinizing hormone 1.62 mU/L (normal: 2.4–12.6 mU/L), follicle-stimulating hormone 5.01 mU/L (normal: 3.5–12.5 mU/L), free thyroxine 4 28.32 pmol/L (normal: 12–22 pmol/L), TSH 0.02 µIU/mL (normal: 0.27–4.2 µIU/mL), and prolactin 70.84 ng/mL. Thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) was 3.53 IU/L, confirming Graves’ disease. Contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a pituitary macroadenoma (2.13 × 2.28 × 3.05 cm) with optic chiasm compression. The patient was diagnosed with NFPA, Graves’ disease, secondary adrenal insufficiency, possible hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and hyperprolactinemia likely due to the stalk effect. Preoperative management included hydrocortisone replacement and antithyroid therapy. The patient subsequently underwent transsphenoidal surgery with appropriate perioperative care. Postoperatively, no new pituitary hormone deficiencies were observed. She was maintained on thiamazole 10 mg daily with clinical improvement and remains under regular follow-up. Conclusion This case highlights a rare but clinically important coexistence of NFPA and Graves’ disease. Suppressed TSH in patients with pituitary adenoma should not be assumed to reflect pituitary dysfunction without thorough evaluation. Comprehensive thyroid assessment is crucial to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.
Pituitary Neoplasms ; Graves Disease

Introduction: Discordant thyroid function tests (TFTs), characterized by elevated free thyroxine 4 (FT4) with non-suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), pose a significant diagnostic challenge. Differentiating between Resistance to Thyroid Hormone (RTH) and TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma (TSH-oma) is essential, as management strategies differ substantially. Case: A female with a history of hyperthyroidism diagnosed in 2011 was treated with antithyroid drugs for 1 year before defaulting on follow-up. She was later found to have discordant TFTs at a private centre, where a brain computed tomography scan was reportedly normal. She was referred to our centre for optimization of thyroid function prior to planned thyroidectomy for a solitary large right thyroid nodule measuring 4.2 × 2.8 × 4.7 cm. Fine-needle aspiration cytology demonstrated a benign follicular lesion (Bethesda II). Despite restarting antithyroid medication, she remained clinically euthyroid with no overt thyrotoxic symptoms apart from intermittent palpitations without documented tachycardia. Antithyroid therapy was discontinued. Serial TFTs across multiple assay platforms consistently demonstrated elevated FT4 with inappropriately normal TSH levels. Thyroid autoantibodies, including TSH receptor and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, were negative. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging showed no evidence of adenoma, and serum α-subunit level was normal (0.3 ng/ mL), making TSH-oma unlikely. Dynamic testing was not performed as thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation was unavailable at our centre, while T3 suppression testing was deemed inappropriate due to symptomatic palpitations. Family screening was not possible as the patient was not in contact with her relatives. In the absence of pituitary pathology and given her largely euthyroid clinical status, RTH was considered the most likely diagnosis. Conclusion This case highlights the importance of considering RTH in patients with persistent discordant TFTs, particularly when clinical findings do not correlate with biochemical abnormalities. Early recognition and appropriate pituitary evaluation are essential to prevent misdiagnosis and avoid unnecessary antithyroid therapy or thyroidectomy.
Pituitary Neoplasms ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyrotropin

The oral glucose growth hormone suppression test is commonly used in the clinical diagnosis of acromegaly, but its results can be influenced by a variety of factors. This case report discusses a patient with a pituitary tumor and concurrent liver cirrhosis, highlighting the complexities in interpreting test results under such conditions. The patient, a 54-year-old male, presented with blurred vision as his primary complaint. Notably, the physical examination revealed no changes in facial features, no enlargement of hands or feet, and no other symptoms typically associated with acromegaly, which might otherwise suggest excessive growth hormone activity. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the pituitary gland indicated that the gland was within normal size parameters, but a small low-intensity lesion mea-suring approximately 3 mm×2 mm identified. This finding was consistent with a pituitary microadenoma. The patient's fasting growth hormone levels were significantly elevated at 8.470 μg/L, compared with the normal range of less than 2.47 μg/L. Conversely, fasting insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels were notably low, recorded at 41 and 52 μg/L, whereas the normal range for a person of his age was between 87 and 234 μg/L. Other pituitary hormones, including those regulating the thyroid, adrenal cortex, and sex hormones, were found to be within normal ranges. Despite this, during the glucose growth hormone suppression test, an abnormal elevation of growth hormone was observed. To investigate further, the patient was administered branched-chain amino acids, and the suppression test was repeated. However, the abnormal elevation of growth hormone persisted, indicating a failure to normalize the response. Given the patient's lack of clinical signs typically associated with elevated growth hormone secretion, the history of liver cirrhosis became a significant consideration. The disparity between elevated growth hormone levels and reduced IGF-1 levels suggested that the pituitary lesion was a non-functional adenoma rather than a source of excess hormone production. Consequently, it was concluded that the abnormal response of growth hormone to the glucose suppression test was likely related to the patient's liver cirrhosis. In addition to chronic liver disease, various other conditions could influence the results of the oral glucose tolerance growth hormone suppression test. According to the literature, factors such as puberty, diabetes, anorexia nervosa, and protein malnutrition could also affect test outcomes. These conditions could cause similar abnormalities in growth hormone dynamics, complicating the diagnosis. Therefore, clinicians must be vigilant and consider these potential influences when interpreting test results.For an accurate diagnosis of acromegaly, it is essential to combine clinical symptoms, detailed medical history, and imaging studies. The presence of conditions like liver cirrhosis should prompt careful interpretation of the test results, ensuring that other contributing factors are not overlooked. This comprehensive approach is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and to ensure that appropriate treatment strategies are implemented based on a thorough understanding of the patient's overall health status.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms/blood* ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood* ; Adenoma/blood* ; Human Growth Hormone/blood* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism* ; Acromegaly/etiology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective:To assess the efficacy of "three-step" strategy for preparing autologous pedicled nasal mucosal flaps in repairing cerebrospinal fluid（CSF） leaks following transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma surgery. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on the clinical data of 25 patients who developed CSF leaks after transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University between July 2012 and June 2022. Surgical repair was selected step by step using nasal septal mucosal flap with either the posterior septal artery or septal branch of the sphenopalatine artery as the pedicle, or a pedicled middle turbinate mucosal flap. All patients underwent ≥2-year endoscopic follow-up to assess flap viability and CSF leak recurrence. Results:The median postoperative hospital stay was 4 days. Five patients developed intracranial infections postoperatively. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 12 years. Nasal endoscopic examinations showed good mucosal flap growth, with no recurrence of CSF leakage in any of the patients. Conclusion:High-flow cerebrospinal fluid（CSF） leaks following pituitary tumor surgery pose significant challenges for clinical repair. Based on intraoperative nasal septal mucosal preservation and the condition of sellar base CSF leakage, the "three-step" strategy for preparing autologous pedicled nasal mucosal flaps-utilizing posterior septal artery, ethmoidal artery-based, or pedicled middle turbinate mucosal flaps sequentially-is a safe and effective repair method.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Pituitary Neoplasms/surgery* ; Surgical Flaps ; Nasal Mucosa/surgery* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak/surgery* ; Adenoma/surgery* ; Postoperative Complications/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mechanism by which circ_EPHB4 regulates temozolomide (TMZ) sensitivity of glioma cells through the miR-424-5p/Wnt3 signal axis. METHODS: We detected the expression levels of circ_EPHB4, miR-424-5p and Wnt3 mRNA in glioma specimens from 25 patients with primary glioma and 25 patients experiencing relapse following temozolomide-based chemotherapy and in TMZ-sensitive and -resistant glioma A172 and SHG44 cells with circ_EPHB4 knockdown using qRT-PCR, and Wnt3 protein expression level was detected with Western blotting. Cell viability, colony-forming ability, and apoptosis of the cells with circ_EPHB4 knockdown were assessed, and the targeted regulation relationship between circ_EPHB4, miR-424-5p, and Wnt3 was verified by dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) experiments. The effect of circ_EPHB4 knockdown on tumorigenesis of glioma cells was evaluated in subcutaneous tumor-bearing nude mouse models. RESULTS: The expression of circ_EPHB4 was significantly increased in glioma tissues and cells as compared with normal neural tissues and astrocytes (P=0.014). In TMZ-resistant glioma cells, circ_EPHB4 knockdown resulted in an obvious reduction of IC50 value of TMZ, inhibited cell colony formation, and promoted cell apoptosis, and these effects were reversed by miR-424-5p knockdown. The expressions of miR-424-5p and circ_EPHB4 were negatively correlated in glioma tissues (P=0.011). MiR-424-5p knockdown also attenuated the effect of circ_EPHB4 knockdown on expressions of PCNA, P-gp, MRP1 and bax. CONCLUSIONS Circ_EPHB4 regulates Wnt3 expression through "sponge adsorption" of miR-424-5p, thereby modulating TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cell clonogenesis, apoptosis, and TMZ sensitivity, suggesting the potential of circ_EPHB4 as a therapeutic target for reversing drug resistance of gliomas.
MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Humans ; Temozolomide ; Glioma/genetics* ; Animals ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Wnt3 Protein/metabolism* ; Mice ; Apoptosis ; RNA, Circular ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology* ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the oncogenic role of circular RNA circ_EPHB4 in glioma and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Microarray analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed circRNAs in glioma tissues. The effects of circ_EPHB4 on glioma cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo were assessed using scratch wound healing assay, Transwell invasion assay and nude mouse models bearing subcutaneous tumors. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA stability assays, and gene overexpression and silencing techniques were employed to validate the synergistic regulatory effect of circ_EPHB4 and the N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) reader protein YTHDF3 on Wnt3 expression. RESULTS: Circ_EPHB4 was significantly overexpressed by 2.3 folds (|log2FC|=1.2, P<0.01) in glioma tissues compared to the adjacent tissues, and by 2.5 folds in glioma cell line U373 compared to normal cells (P<0.001). Overexpression of circ_EPHB4 significantly enhanced migration and invasion of glioma cells, and promoted the expressions of EMT markers N-cadherin and vimentin. In the tumor-bearing mouse models, the tumor volume in circ_EPHB4 overexpression group was significantly greater than that in the control group, and the lung metastatic foci increased by 4.2 folds. Overexpression of circ_EPHB4 promoted oncogenesis by upregulating Wnt3 expression, while YTHDF3 extended the half-life of Wnt3 mRNA in an m⁶A-dependent manner. Simultaneous knockdown of circ_EPHB4 and YTHDF3 resulted in an obvious reduction of Wnt3 mRNA expression by up to 47% compared to its level following knocking down either circ_EPHB4 or YTHDF3 alone. CONCLUSIONS Circ_EPHB4 and YTHDF3 promote glioma progression by jointly targeting the Wnt3 signaling pathway, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy for gliomas.
Glioma/genetics* ; Humans ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; RNA, Circular ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Movement ; Wnt3 Protein/genetics* ; Mice ; Disease Progression ; Adenosine/metabolism* ; Brain Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Iron metabolism is a critical factor in tumorigenesis and development. Although TP53 mutations are prevalent in glioblastoma (GBM), the mechanisms by which TP53 regulates iron metabolism remain elusive. We reveal an imbalance iron homeostasis in GBM via TCGA database analysis. TP53 mutations disrupted iron homeostasis in GBM, characterized by elevated total iron levels and reduced ferritin (FTH). The gain-of-function effect triggered by TP53 mutations upregulates itchy E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (ITCH) protein expression in astrocytes, leading to FTH degradation and an increase in free iron levels. TP53-mut astrocytes were more tolerant to the high iron environment induced by exogenous ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), but the increase in intracellular free iron made them more sensitive to Erastin-induced ferroptosis. Interestingly, we found that Erastin combined with FAC treatment significantly increased ferroptosis. These findings provide new insights for drug development and therapeutic modalities for GBM patients with TP53 mutations from iron metabolism perspectives.
Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Iron/metabolism* ; Glioblastoma/metabolism* ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Homeostasis/physiology* ; Ferritins/metabolism* ; Brain Neoplasms/genetics* ; Mutation ; Astrocytes/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Piperazines/pharmacology* ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/pharmacology* ; Ferric Compounds

Glioma, the most prevalent primary tumor of the central nervous system (CNS), is also the most lethal primary malignant tumor. Currently, there are limited chemotherapeutics available for glioma treatment, necessitating further research to identify and develop new chemotherapeutic agents. A significant approach to discovering anti-glioma drugs involves isolating antitumor active ingredients from natural products (NPs) and optimizing their structures. Additionally, targeted drug delivery systems (TDDSs) are employed to enhance drug solubility and stability and overcome the blood-brain barrier (BBB). TDDSs can penetrate deep into the brain, increase drug concentration and retention time in the CNS, and improve the targeting efficiency of NPs, thereby reducing adverse effects and enhancing anti-glioma efficacy. This paper reviews the research progress of anti-glioma activities of NPs, including alkaloids, polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, quinones, and their synthetic derivatives over the past decade. The review also summarizes anti-glioma mechanisms, such as suppression of related protein expression, regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, control of apoptosis signaling pathways, reduction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression, blocking of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and reversal of immunosuppression. Furthermore, the functions and advantages of NP-based TDDSs in anti-glioma therapy are examined. The key information presented in this review will be valuable for the research and development of NP-based anti-glioma drugs and related TDDSs.
Humans ; Glioma/metabolism* ; Biological Products/therapeutic use* ; Animals ; Brain Neoplasms/genetics* ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects*