佐久間 一基

Pasireotide (PAS), a multireceptor somatostatin analog, has been demonstrated to effectively control hormone levels, including those of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), in patients with acromegaly. However, it induces hyperglycemia by inhibiting insulin secretion via somatostatin receptor 5 (SSTR5). Despite the extensive literature on the occurrence of PAS-induced hyperglycemia, there is still no consensus on the optimal first-line treatment for this complication. Herein, we present two cases of acromegaly treated with PAS and highlight its short- and long-term effects on glucose metabolism. In the first case, postprandial hyperglycemia manifested rapidly following the commencement of PAS treatment and was effectively managed with dulaglutide under continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). In the second case, long-term PAS therapy resulted in a dose-dependent glycemic response that was controlled by different GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), including semaglutide. CGM facilitated the early detection of significant glycemic fluctuations, underscoring the necessity for close monitoring in patients receiving PAS therapy. These cases demonstrate the efficacy of GLP-1RAs in managing PAS-induced hyperglycemia and highlights the value of CGM in early detection and intervention. Our findings suggest that GLP-1RAs, particularly semaglutide, are a valuable treatment option for this condition. Further research is needed to determine the optimal treatment strategy, particularly in East Asian populations, and to establish a clear consensus on the first-line therapy for PAS-induced hyperglycemia.

Craniopharyngiomas, including adamantinomatous (ACP) and squamous papillary (PCP) types, are challenging to treat because of their proximity to crucial pituitary structures. This study aimed to characterize the cellular composition, tumor tissue diversity, and cell-cell interactions in ACPs and PCPs using single-cell RNA sequencing. Single-cell clustering revealed diverse cell types, further classified into developing epithelial, calcification, and immune response for ACP and developing epithelial, cell cycle, and immune response for PCP, based on gene expression patterns. Subclustering revealed the enrichment of classical M1 and M2 macrophages in ACP and PCP, respectively, with high expression of pro-inflammatory markers in classical M1 macrophages. The classical M1 and M2 macrophage ratio significantly correlated with the occurrence of diabetes insipidus and panhypopituitarism. Cell-cell interactions, particularly involving CD44-SPP, were identified between tumor cells. Thus, we developed a comprehensive cell atlas that elucidated the molecular characteristics and immune cell inter-networking in ACP and PCP tumor microenvironments.

The transition from radioimmunoassay (RIA) to chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) for plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) assays has raised concerns over its impact on primary aldosteronism (PA) diagnosis. This study investigated the correlation between PAC and renin values using RIA, CLEIA, and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), established cutoff values for PA diagnosis using the aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) with PAC_CLEIA, and assessed the differences in PAC values by measuring weak mineralocorticoids (WMs). This retrospective study evaluated 312 serum PAC samples using RIA, CLEIA, and LC-MS/MS, and analyzed 315 plasma renin samples. Method correlations were assessed through Passing-Bablok regression. Receiver operating characteristic curves determined ARR cutoffs for PA diagnosis. WMs were quantified to evaluate their impact on ΔPAC (RIA-LC-MS/MS) through multiple regression analysis. PAC_CLEIA and PAC_LC-MS/MS values were highly correlated. ARRs derived from PAC_RIAs demonstrated more false positives and lower specificity than ARRs using PAC_CLEIA or PAC_LC-MS/MS. WMs significantly influenced ΔPAC in both the PA and non-PA groups. ARRs using PAC_CLEIA are valuable for determining PA cutoffs in clinical practice. The transition to PAC using CLEIA may enhance PA detection rates. WMs were found to interfere with PAC measurements in the RIA method, affecting outcomes.