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Background and purpose Growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor 1 ( IGF-1) axis abnormalities in multiple sclerosis ( MS) suggest their role in its pathogenesis. Interferon β ( IFN-β) efficacy could be mediated also by an increase of IGF-1 levels. A 2-year longitudinal study was performed to estimate the prevalence of GH and/or IGF-1 deficiency in clinically isolated syndrome ( CIS) patients and their correlation with conversion to MS in IFN treated patients. Methods Clinical and demographic features of CIS patients were collected before the start of IFN-β-1b. IGF-1 levels and GH response after arginine and GH releasing hormone + arginine stimulation tests were assessed. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging evaluations were performed at baseline, 1 year and 2 years. Results Thirty CIS patients (24 female) were enrolled. At baseline, four patients (13%) showed a hypothalamic GH deficiency ( GHD), whilst no one had a pituitary GHD. Baseline demographic, clinical and radiological data were not related to GHD, whilst IGF-1 levels were inversely related to age ( P < 0.001) and GH levels ( P = 0.03). GH and IGF-1 serum mean levels were not significantly modified after 1 and 2 years of treatment in the whole group, although 3/4 GHD patients experienced a normalization of GH levels, whilst one dropped out. After 2 years of treatment 13/28 (46%) patients converted to MS. The presence of GHD and GH and IGF-1 levels were not predictive of relapses, new T2 lesions or conversion occurrence. Conclusions Growth hormone/ IGF-1 axis function was found to be frequently altered in CIS patients, but this was not related to MS conversion. Patients experienced an improvement of GHD during IFN therapy. Longer follow-up is necessary to assess its impact on disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal tubular damage (RTD), especially if complicated by acute tubular necrosis (ATN), could increase the risk of later chronic kidney disease. No prospective studies on AKI and RTD in children with type1diabetes mellitus (T1DM) onset are available., Objectives: To evaluate the AKI and RTD prevalence and their rate and timing of recovery in children with T1DM onset., Design: Prospective study., Settings and Patients: 185 children were followed up after 14 days from T1DM onset. The patients who did not recover from AKI/RTD were followed-up 30 and 60 days later., Main Outcome Measures: AKI was defined according to the KDIGO criteria. RTD was defined by abnormal urinary beta-2-microglobulin and/or neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and/or tubular reabsorption of phosphate < 85% and/or fractional excretion of Na (FENa) > 2%. ATN was defined by RTD+AKI, prerenal (P)-AKI by AKI+FENa < 1%, and acute tubular damage (ATD) by RTD without AKI., Results: Prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and AKI were 51.4% and 43.8%, respectively. Prevalence of AKI in T1DM patients with and without DKA was 65.2% and 21.1%, respectively; 33.3% reached AKI stage 2, and 66.7% of patients reached AKI stage 1. RTD was evident in 136/185 (73.5%) patients (32.4% showed ATN; 11.4%, P-AKI; 29.7%, ATD). All patients with DKA or AKI presented with RTD. The physiological and biochemical parameters of AKI and RTD were normal again in all patients. The former within 14 days and the latter within 2months., Conclusions: Most patients with T1DM onset may develop AKI and/or RTD, especially if presenting with DKA. Over time the physiological and biochemical parameters of AKI/RTD normalize in all patients., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: To evaluate the course of prenatally diagnosed and early-enrolled congenital solitary functioning kidney patients followed until adulthood and to identify risk factors for kidney injury., Materials and Methods: Among all congenital solitary functioning kidney patients followed (1993-2018), we recalled 56 patients with prenatal diagnosis and congenital solitary functioning kidney confirmation at 1-3 months of life reaching at least 18 years of age. Serum uric acid, heavy smoking (≥25 cigarettes/day) and overweight/obesity were clustered as modifiable risk factors. Kidney injury was defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate <90 ml/minute/1.73 m 2 and/or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring confirmed hypertension and/or proteinuria. Modifiable risk factors and congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) of congenital solitary functioning kidney were evaluated as risk factors for kidney injury., Results: The mean followup period was 21.1 years (range 18-33 years). Mild kidney injury was found in 15 out of 56 patients (26.8%). The mean age at proteinuria, reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate and hypertension onset was 19.7 years (1.2 SDS), 20.7 years (2.7 SDS), and 22 years (5.6 SDS), respectively. Patients with CAKUT of congenital solitary functioning kidney and with both CAKUT of congenital solitary functioning kidney and modifiable risk factors presented survival free from kidney injury of 0% at 22.2 and 24.2 years of age, respectively. Patients with modifiable risk factors presented 42.4% of survival at 30 years. Patients without CAKUT of congenital solitary functioning kidney nor modifiable risk factors presented 100% of survival at 30 years of age (p=0.002). The presence of CAKUT of congenital solitary functioning kidney was the only significant risk factor (HR 4.9; 95% CI 1.8-14.2; p=0.003)., Conclusions: The outcomes of congenital solitary functioning kidney in early adulthood appear better than previously reported. Prompt diagnosis of congenital solitary functioning kidney, healthy lifestyle promotion and monitoring of serum uric acid may improve the prognosis of congenital solitary functioning kidney patients.

Reliable immunologic biomarkers able to monitor disease course during multiple sclerosis (MS) are still missing. We aimed at identifying possible immunometabolic biomarkers able to predict the clinical outcome in MS patients during treatment with interferon (IFN)-beta-1a. We measured in 45 relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients, blood circulating levels of several immunometabolic markers, at enrolment, and correlated their levels to disease activity and progression over time. Higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6, soluble-CD40-ligand (sCD40L) and leptin at baseline associated with a higher relapse rate and a greater risk of experiencing at least one relapse in the following year. Higher values of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-R) and leptin at baseline were predictive of a higher number of lesions in the following one-year of follow up. In conclusion, our data suggest that an immunometabolic profiling measuring IL-6, sCD40L, leptin and sTNF-R at baseline, could represent a useful tool to predict disease course in RRMS patients during treatment with IFN-beta-1a., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Uric acid (UA) is reduced in multiple sclerosis (MS), and possibly relates to MS outcomes, with lower UA levels in subjects experiencing a relapse or presenting higher disability scores. The present retrospective longitudinal study evaluated UA variations in MS, in relation to clinical relapses, disability progression, and cognitive functions. We included 141 subjects with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and performed expanded disability status scale (EDSS), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) and UA evaluation at baseline visit and after 2-year follow-up. Paired t test showed significantly lower UA levels after 2-year follow-up than at baseline (3.987 ± 1.135 and 4.167 ± 1.207 mg/dL, respectively) (p = 0.001). The difference in UA levels between 2-year follow-up and baseline related to EDSS sustained progression (p < 0.001; OR = 0.099), and presented a trend for clinical relapses at logistic regression (p = 0.211; OR = 0.711) and for the time to relapse at Cox regression (p = 0.236; HR = 0.792). Analysis of variance showed reduced baseline UA levels in subjects with impaired SDMT at baseline (p = 0.045; adjusted R(2) = 0.473) and after 2-year follow-up (p = 0.034; adjusted R(2) = 0.470). This is the first study showing a progressive reduction of UA levels during the course of RRMS, suggesting a progressive decrease of antioxidant reserves, in relation to relapse risk, disability progression and cognitive function.