Introduction: Immunoglobulin G4-related hypophysitis (IgG4-RH) is a rare fibro-inflammatory disorder affecting the pituitary gland. Glucocorticoids remain the first-line therapy, but their use may be complicated in patients with significant metabolic comorbidities. We report a case of suspected IgG4-RH presenting with hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), highlighting the challenges of balancing disease control against glucocorticoid metabolic toxicity adverse effects. Case: A 32-year-old female with obesity and newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus was admitted with HHS. Prior to admission, she reported weight fluctuations, episodic headaches, progressive visual disturbance, and secondary amenorrhea. Following resolution of HHS, persistent polyuria of 10–16 L/day prompted further evaluation and led to a diagnosis of arginine vasopressin deficiency. Anterior pituitary hormonal work-up revealed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated infundibular thickening measuring 0.5 cm, with concomitant marked bilateral parotid enlargement. Serum IgG4 was elevated at 2.26 g/L (0.63–2.01), raising strong suspicion for IgG4-RH with systemic involvement. Histopathological confirmation from the parotid gland biopsy was consistent with sialadenosis. She was commenced on sublingual desmopressin and cyclical sex hormone replacement therapy. Given the provisional diagnosis of IgG4-RH, oral prednisolone 40 mg daily was initiated as a reduced induction regimen. However, treatment was poorly tolerated, with rapid weight gain from 93 to 100 kg and worsening glycemic control. Prednisolone was therefore tapered rapidly to 10 mg daily. Repeat imaging demonstrated interval improvement in infundibular thickening, but no functional endocrine recovery was observed. Conclusion This case illustrates the therapeutic challenge of managing IgG4-RH in the setting of pre-existing metabolic syndrome. Although glucocorticoids are effective for induction, their metabolic adverse effects may significantly restrict treatment tolerability. Early consideration of steroidsparing agents, such as rituximab or azathioprine, may be important to achieve remission while minimizing glucocorticoid-related adverse effects.
Autoimmune Hypophysitis

Introduction: Short stature and delayed puberty characterize Turner syndrome (TS). The 2024 international clinical practice guidelines recommend growth hormone (GH) for latediagnosed patients if epiphyses remain open. For patients with remaining growth potential, initiating GH alongside low-dose estrogen effectively balances linear growth with the need for timely pubertal induction. Case: A 15-year-old female, born prematurely at 6 months gestation, presented with delayed puberty, primary amenorrhea, and short stature. Examination revealed a height of 122 cm (<5th percentile), weight of 26 kg, with no syndromic facies, and Tanner stage 1. Investigations confirmed hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Metabolic screening, including thyroid, renal, and liver profile, was normal. Her baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was low at 117.5 ng/mL (127.5–541.5). Karyotyping confirmed mosaic TS (45,X/46,Xr). Her skeletal bone age was delayed at 12 years, indicating a viable window for linear growth prior to complete epiphyseal fusion. Subcutaneous GH was initiated at 0.3 mg up titrated to 1.2 mg (0.45 µg/kg) daily over 4 weeks, then 1.35 mg (50 µg/kg) daily at month 5. Low-dose oral estradiol (0.5 mg three times weekly) was introduced for pubertal induction at month 4. After 9 months of combined GH and estrogen therapy, the patient achieved a height increment of 6 cm, reaching 128 cm without an adverse event. To achieve the clinical target of a 10–15 cm increment in the first year, her GH dose was further increased to 1.50 mg (55 µg/kg) daily. She showed an appropriate biochemical response with IGF-1 increased to 40.2 nmol/L (16.4–67.8) with a total height gain of 6 cm over the first 9 months of GH therapy. Conclusion Concomitant GH and estrogen therapy in late-diagnosed TS successfully induced clinically significant height gain. This dual approach maximized the limited window for linear growth, without delaying pubertal induction and compromising patient’s psychosocial well-being.
Turner Syndrome

Objectives: . This experimental study compared the precision and surgical outcomes of manual versus robotic electrode insertions in cochlear implantation. Methods: . The study was conducted on formalin-fixed cadaveric heads, with nine senior neurotologists performing both manual and robotic insertions. Results: . The results showed no statistically significant differences between the two methods in terms of insertion angle, cochlear coverage, or electrode coverage. However, the robotic method demonstrated a significantly slower and more controlled insertion speed (0.1 mm/sec) compared to manual insertion (0.66±0.31 mm/sec), which is crucial for minimizing intra-cochlear force and pressures. Although robotic insertions resulted in fewer complications such as tip fold-over or scala deviation, there were instances of incomplete insertion. Conclusion . The robotic system provided a consistent and controlled insertion process, potentially standardizing cochlear implant operations and reducing outcome variability. The study concludes that robotic-assisted insertion offers significant advantages in controlling insertion speed and consistency, supporting the continued development and clinical evaluation of robotic systems for cochlear implant surgery.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder that can cause infertility. This experimental study was conducted to elucidate the role of adiponectin signaling in rats with PCOS treated with exenatide. Twenty-eight adult female Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven. The normal group did not receive any drug. The PCOS+vehicle (Veh) group received estradiol valerate to induce PCOS, then was divided into PCOS +E50 and PCOS+E100 groups and treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg doses of exenatide, respectively. The mRNA expression of adiponectin and adiponectin receptor 1 (Adipo-R1) was evaluated using a semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the level of adiponectin diminished in the PCOS rats while exenatide increased adiponectin expression at both doses. Adiponectin receptor mRNA levels were higher in the PCOS rats than in the normal rats (p<0.05). In addition, exenatide decreased the levels of Adipo-R1 expression. Taken together, our results showed that exenatide may improve PCOS characteristics in rats through the molecular regulation of adiponectin and its receptor.

Objectives: . This experimental study compared the precision and surgical outcomes of manual versus robotic electrode insertions in cochlear implantation. Methods: . The study was conducted on formalin-fixed cadaveric heads, with nine senior neurotologists performing both manual and robotic insertions. Results: . The results showed no statistically significant differences between the two methods in terms of insertion angle, cochlear coverage, or electrode coverage. However, the robotic method demonstrated a significantly slower and more controlled insertion speed (0.1 mm/sec) compared to manual insertion (0.66±0.31 mm/sec), which is crucial for minimizing intra-cochlear force and pressures. Although robotic insertions resulted in fewer complications such as tip fold-over or scala deviation, there were instances of incomplete insertion. Conclusion . The robotic system provided a consistent and controlled insertion process, potentially standardizing cochlear implant operations and reducing outcome variability. The study concludes that robotic-assisted insertion offers significant advantages in controlling insertion speed and consistency, supporting the continued development and clinical evaluation of robotic systems for cochlear implant surgery.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder that can cause infertility. This experimental study was conducted to elucidate the role of adiponectin signaling in rats with PCOS treated with exenatide. Twenty-eight adult female Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven. The normal group did not receive any drug. The PCOS+vehicle (Veh) group received estradiol valerate to induce PCOS, then was divided into PCOS +E50 and PCOS+E100 groups and treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg doses of exenatide, respectively. The mRNA expression of adiponectin and adiponectin receptor 1 (Adipo-R1) was evaluated using a semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the level of adiponectin diminished in the PCOS rats while exenatide increased adiponectin expression at both doses. Adiponectin receptor mRNA levels were higher in the PCOS rats than in the normal rats (p<0.05). In addition, exenatide decreased the levels of Adipo-R1 expression. Taken together, our results showed that exenatide may improve PCOS characteristics in rats through the molecular regulation of adiponectin and its receptor.

Objectives: . This experimental study compared the precision and surgical outcomes of manual versus robotic electrode insertions in cochlear implantation. Methods: . The study was conducted on formalin-fixed cadaveric heads, with nine senior neurotologists performing both manual and robotic insertions. Results: . The results showed no statistically significant differences between the two methods in terms of insertion angle, cochlear coverage, or electrode coverage. However, the robotic method demonstrated a significantly slower and more controlled insertion speed (0.1 mm/sec) compared to manual insertion (0.66±0.31 mm/sec), which is crucial for minimizing intra-cochlear force and pressures. Although robotic insertions resulted in fewer complications such as tip fold-over or scala deviation, there were instances of incomplete insertion. Conclusion . The robotic system provided a consistent and controlled insertion process, potentially standardizing cochlear implant operations and reducing outcome variability. The study concludes that robotic-assisted insertion offers significant advantages in controlling insertion speed and consistency, supporting the continued development and clinical evaluation of robotic systems for cochlear implant surgery.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder that can cause infertility. This experimental study was conducted to elucidate the role of adiponectin signaling in rats with PCOS treated with exenatide. Twenty-eight adult female Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven. The normal group did not receive any drug. The PCOS+vehicle (Veh) group received estradiol valerate to induce PCOS, then was divided into PCOS +E50 and PCOS+E100 groups and treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg doses of exenatide, respectively. The mRNA expression of adiponectin and adiponectin receptor 1 (Adipo-R1) was evaluated using a semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the level of adiponectin diminished in the PCOS rats while exenatide increased adiponectin expression at both doses. Adiponectin receptor mRNA levels were higher in the PCOS rats than in the normal rats (p<0.05). In addition, exenatide decreased the levels of Adipo-R1 expression. Taken together, our results showed that exenatide may improve PCOS characteristics in rats through the molecular regulation of adiponectin and its receptor.

The mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remains unclear. Historically, research on TCM has mainly focused on exploring the mechanisms of active components acting on single targets. However, it is insufficient to explain the complex mechanisms by which these active components in TCM treat diseases. In recent years, the emergence of molecular glues (MGs) theory has provided new strategies to address this issue. MGs are small molecules that can promote interactions between proteins at their interface. The characteristic of MGs is to establish connections between diverse protein structures, thereby enabling a chemically-mediated proximity effect that triggers a wide spectrum of biological functions. Natural products are the result of billions of years of evolutionary processes in the natural environment. Thus, the extensive structural diversity of natural products renders them a rich source of MGs, including polyketides, terpenoids, steroids, lignans, organic acids, alkaloids and other classes. Currently, several well-known natural MGs, including the immunosuppressants cyclosporin A (CsA) and tacrolimus (FK506), as well as the anticancer agent taxol, have been incorporated into clinical practice. Meanwhile, the advancement of new technologies is propelling the discovery of novel MGs from natural products. Thus, we primarily summarize a growing variety of MGs from natural origins reported in recent years and categorize them based on the chemical structural types. Moreover, the main sources of TCM are natural products. The discovery of natural MGs promises to provide a new perspective for the elucidation of the molecular mechanism behind the efficiency of TCM. In summary, this review aims to provide insights from the perspective of natural products that could potentially influence TCM and modern drug development.

Introduction: The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) among young adults in Malaysia has witnessed a notable increase in recent years, giving rise to concerns regarding the potential adverse health effects, including obesity and diabetes. Despite the urgent need for targeted interventions, there is a dearth of research examining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to SSBs among Malaysian young adults. To address this research gap, the present study aims to assess the level of KAP concerning SSB intake and its associated factors in this specific population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 408 Malaysian young adults aged between 15 and 29 years. Respondents completed an online questionnaire survey, which encompassed the assessment of socio-demographic characteristics and KAP regarding SSB consumption. The collected data were analyzed using IBM’s Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Spearman correlation tests were performed at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The majority of respondents demonstrated moderate knowledge (60%) and practices (60%), while exhibiting a high positive attitude (100%) towards reducing SSB consumption. Significant correlations were observed between knowledge and attitude (p = 0.003, rs = 0.148) and between knowledge and practice (p = 0.005, rs = 0.138). Moreover, the attitude scores were found to be significantly associated with gender (χ2 (1, N = 408) = 10.421, p = 0.001) and locality (χ2 (1, N = 408) = 4.106, p = 0.043), while the practice scores exhibited a significant association with ethnicity (p = 0.006). Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between KAP related to SSB consumption and socio-demographic factors among Malaysian young adults. The findings underscore the importance of utilizing these insights to develop strategic interventions that aim to curtail SSB consumption and promote a healthy lifestyle, ultimately contributing to the reduction of non-communicable diseases. Health authorities are encouraged to capitalize on these findings to design targeted interventions tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of this population.