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BACKGROUND: Electromyographic studies have shown that external anal sphincter activity is modified in response to distension in animals with spinal cord injury. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone and its agonist leuprolide acetate have neurotrophic properties in animals with spinal cord injury. AIM: This study was to determine the effects of leuprolide acetate treatment on electromyographic activity of the external anal sphincter and anorectal manometry in ovariectomized rats with spinal cord injury. METHODS: Adult ovariectomized rats were divided in three groups: (a) sham of spinal cord injury, (b) spinal cord injury treated with saline solution, and (c) spinal cord injury treated with leuprolide acetate. The spinal cord injury was induced by clamping at level T9. Leuprolide acetate dosage of 10 µg/kg was proctored intramuscular for 5 weeks, commencing the day after the lesion. Electromyography of the external anal sphincter, anorectal manometry, and volume of the cecum were evaluated in all groups. RESULTS: The electromyographic study of the external anal sphincter activity showed a significant improvement in injured rats treated with leuprolide acetate. Manometric analysis and cecum volume data obtained in animals with leuprolide acetate were very similar to those found in the sham group. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that leuprolide acetate treatment improves the neurogenic colon in ovariectomized rats with spinal cord injury.

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Temozolomide, an alkylating agent, initially used in the treatment of gliomas was expanded to include pituitary tumors in 2006. After 12 years of use, temozolomide has shown a notable advancement in pituitary tumor treatment with a remarkable improvement rate in the 5-year overall survival and 5-year progression-free survival in both aggressive pituitary adenomas and pituitary carcinomas. In this paper, we review the mechanism of action of temozolomide as alkylating agent, its interaction with deoxyribonucleic acid repair systems, therapeutic effects in pituitary tumors, unresolved issues, and future directions relating to new possibilities of targeted therapy.

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Temozolomide is an alkylating chemotherapeutic agent used in malignant neuroendocrine neoplasia, melanoma, brain metastases and an essential component of adjuvant therapy in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme and anaplastic astrocytoma. Since 2006, it has been used for the treatment of pituitary carcinomas and aggressive pituitary adenomas. Here, we discuss the current indications and results of temozolomide therapy in pituitary tumors, as well as frequently asked questions regarding temozolomide treatment, duration of therapy, dosage, tumor recurrence and resistance.

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INTRODUCTION: Histologic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies have provided conclusive evidence that a marked diversity exists between tumors which secrete growth hormone (GH) in excess. GH cell hyperplasia can also be associated with acromegaly in patients with extrapituitary GH-releasing hormone secreting tumors or in familial pituitary tumor syndromes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed for information regarding pathology, GH-producing tumors and acromegaly. RESULTS: This review summarizes the current knowledge on the morphology of GH-producing and silent GH adenomas, as well as GH hyperplasia of the pituitary. CONCLUSION: The importance of morphologic classification and identification of different subgroups of patients with GH-producing adenomas and their impact on clinical management is discussed.

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Pituitary adenomas are common neoplasms. Their classification is based upon size, invasion of adjacent structures, sporadic or familial cases, biochemical activity, clinical manifestations, morphological characteristics, response to treatment and recurrence. Although they are considered benign tumors, some of them are difficult to treat due to their tendency to recur despite standardized treatment. Functional tumors present other challenges for normalizing their biochemical activity. Novel approaches for early diagnosis, as well as different perspectives on classification, may help to identify subgroups of patients with similar characteristics, creating opportunities to match each patient with the best personalized treatment option. In this paper, we present the progress in the diagnosis and classification of different subgroups of patients with pituitary tumors that may be managed with specific considerations according to their tumor subtype.

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Autophagy is an important intracellular process involving the degradation of cytoplasmic components. It is involved in both physiological and pathological conditions, including cancer. The role of autophagy in cancer is described as a 'double-edged sword,' a term that reflects its known participation in tumor suppression, tumor survival and tumor cell proliferation. Available research regarding autophagy in endocrine cancer supports this concept. Autophagy shows promise as a novel therapeutic target in different types of endocrine cancer, inhibiting or increasing treatment efficacy in a context- and cell-type-dependent manner. At present, however, there is very little research concerning autophagy in endocrine tumors. No research was reported connecting autophagy to some of the tumors of the endocrine glands such as the pancreas and ovary. This review aims to elucidate the roles of autophagy in different types of endocrine cancer and highlight the need for increased research in the field.

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Crooke's cell adenomas are a rare type of pituitary neoplasm. They produce adrenocorticotropic hormone causing Cushing's disease or may be endocrinologically silent. These tumors are usually invasive, may exhibit aggressive clinical behavior, and often recur with a low success of cure after reoperation and/or radiotherapy. Due to their rarity, they present great difficulties in assessing prognosis, treatment, and clinical management. Neurosurgeons and physicians dealing with pituitary adenomas diagnosed as Crooke's cell adenomas have to be aware of their potential clinical aggressiveness to plan strict follow-up of patients and eventual multimodality treatment. We review here the published cases of Crooke's cell tumors, as well as the clinical and histopathological characteristics of these unusual neoplasms.

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Autophagy is an important cellular process involving the degradation of intracellular components. Its regulation is complex and while there are many methods available, there is currently no single effective way of detecting and monitoring autophagy. It has several cellular functions that are conserved throughout the body, as well as a variety of different physiological roles depending on the context of its occurrence in the body. Autophagy is also involved in the pathology of a wide range of diseases. Within the endocrine system, autophagy has both its traditional conserved functions and specific functions. In the endocrine glands, autophagy plays a critical role in controlling intracellular hormone levels. In peptide-secreting cells of glands such as the pituitary gland, crinophagy, a specific form of autophagy, targets the secretory granules to control the levels of stored hormone. In steroid-secreting cells of glands such as the testes and adrenal gland, autophagy targets the steroid-producing organelles. The dysregulation of autophagy in the endocrine glands leads to several different endocrine diseases such as diabetes and infertility. This review aims to clarify the known roles of autophagy in the physiology of the endocrine system, as well as in various endocrine diseases.

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Pituitary adenomas are common tumors arising in adenohypophysial cells or their precursors. For improving control of the disease an early diagnosis is important. Initially considered sporadic tumors, some of them are associated with familial syndromes and their recognition and classification is also required. Morphologically, pituitary adenomas represent a heterogeneous group of tumors with several subtypes and different clinical behavior thus a precise pathological diagnosis is crucial. The simple diagnosis of pituitary adenoma is not satisfactory and the correct classification of histological subtypes may predict aggressiveness in the majority of cases. Although considered not malignant, some of them are clinically aggressive and their recognition remains a challenge. In this paper we present the recent advances in the event of improving early recognition and differential diagnosis of pituitary tumors.

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We briefly review the characteristics of pituitary tumors associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is an autosomal-dominant disorder most commonly characterized by tumors of the pituitary, parathyroid, endocrine-gastrointestinal tract, and pancreas. A MEDLINE search for all available publications regarding multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and pituitary adenomas was undertaken. The prevalence of pituitary tumors in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 may vary from 10% to 60% depending on the studied series, and such tumors may occur as the first clinical manifestation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 in 25% of sporadic and 10% of familial cases. Patients were younger and the time between initial and subsequent multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 endocrine lesions was significantly longer when pituitary disease was the initial manifestation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Tumors were larger and more invasive and clinical manifestations related to the size of the pituitary adenoma were significantly more frequent in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 than in subjects with non-multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Normalization of pituitary hypersecretion was much less frequent in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 than in subjects with non-multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Pituitary tumors in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome tend to be larger, invasive and more symptomatic, and they tend to occur in younger patients when they are the initial presentation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

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Temozolomide is an alkylating agent used in the treatment of gliomas and, more recently, aggressive pituitary adenomas and carcinomas. Temozolomide methylates DNA and, thereby, has antitumor effects. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, a DNA repair enzyme, removes the alkylating adducts that are induced by temozolomide, thereby counteracting its effects. A Medline search for all of the available publications regarding the use of temozolomide for the treatment of pituitary tumors was performed. To date, 46 cases of adenohypophysial tumors that were treated with temozolomide, including 30 adenomas and 16 carcinomas, have been reported. Eighteen of the 30 (60%) adenomas and 11 of the 16 (69%) carcinomas responded favorably to treatment. One patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and an aggressive prolactin-producing adenoma was also treated and demonstrated a good response. No significant complications have been attributed to temozolomide therapy. Thus, temozolomide is an effective treatment for the majority of aggressive adenomas and carcinomas. Evidence indicates that there is an inverse correlation between levels of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase immunoexpression and therapeutic response. Alternatively, high-level O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase immunoexpression correlates with an unfavorable response. Here, we review the use of temozolomide for treating pituitary neoplasms.

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We report here the case of a 61-year-old woman who presented with hydrocephalus and cystic and solid lesions in sella turcica, suprasellar areas, and third ventricle. After ventriculoperitoneal shunt she developed cognitive changes and the cystic lesions enlarged. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated multiple cysts and a solid lesion in the sella and around the anterior clinoid process. With diagnosis of neurocysticercosis she underwent craniotomy. Pathologic examination documented two different lesions: viable and dead cysticerci with inflaming infiltration and a left anterior clinoidal meningioma. At the second surgery, six weeks later via transnasal transsphenoidal approach a silent corticotroph pituitary adenoma was removed which was studied by histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. To our knowledge, the occurrence of these three different lesions in the sellar area was not described before.

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A 39-year-old woman with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) presented with acromegaly and a pituitary macroadenoma. There was a family history of this renal disorder. She had undergone surgery for pituitary adenoma 6 years prior. Physical examination disclosed bitemporal hemianopsia and elevation of both basal growth hormone (GH) 106 ng/mL (normal 0-5) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) 811 ng/mL (normal 48-255) blood levels. A magnetic resonance imaging scan disclosed a 3.0 cm sellar and suprasellar mass with both optic chiasm compression and left cavernous sinus invasion. Pathologic, cytogenetic, molecular and in silico analysis was undertaken. Histologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies of the lesion disclosed a sparsely granulated somatotroph adenoma. Standard chromosome analysis on the blood sample showed no abnormality. Sequence analysis of the coding regions of PKD1 and PKD2 employing DNA from both peripheral leukocytes and the tumor revealed the most common PKD1 mutation, 5014_5015delAG. Analysis of the entire SSTR5 gene disclosed the variant c.142C>A (p.L48M, rs4988483) in the heterozygous state in both blood and tumor, while no pathogenic mutations were noted in the MEN1, AIP, p27Kip1 and SSTR2 genes. To our knowledge, this is the fourth reported case of a GH-producing pituitary adenoma associated with ADPKD, but the first subjected to extensive morphological, ultrastructural, cytogenetic and molecular studies. The physical proximity of the PKD1 and SSTR5 genes on chromosome 16 suggests a causal relationship between ADPKD and somatotroph adenoma.

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We report the case of a 44-year-old male patient with an aggressive silent corticotroph cell pituitary adenoma, subtype 2. In that it progressed to carcinoma despite temozolomide administration, anti-VEGF therapy was begun. MRI, PET scan and pathologic analysis were undertaken. After 10 months of anti-VEGF (bevacizumab) treatment no progression of the lesion was noted. The tumor was biopsied and morphological analysis showed severe cell injury, vascular abnormalities and fibrosis. Bevacizumab treatment has continued for additional 16 months to present with stabilization of disease as documented on serial MRI and PET scans. This is the first case of a bevacizumab-treated pituitary carcinoma with long-term, now 26 months, control of disease. The present findings are promising in that anti-angiogenic therapy appears to represent a new option in the treatment of aggressive pituitary tumors.

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We briefly review the characteristics of pituitary tumors associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is an autosomal-dominant disorder most commonly characterized by tumors of the pituitary, parathyroid, endocrine-gastrointestinal tract, and pancreas. A MEDLINE search for all available publications regarding multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and pituitary adenomas was undertaken. The prevalence of pituitary tumors in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 may vary from 10% to 60% depending on the studied series, and such tumors may occur as the first clinical manifestation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 in 25% of sporadic and 10% of familial cases. Patients were younger and the time between initial and subsequent multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 endocrine lesions was significantly longer when pituitary disease was the initial manifestation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Tumors were larger and more invasive and clinical manifestations related to the size of the pituitary adenoma were significantly more frequent in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 than in subjects with non-multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Normalization of pituitary hypersecretion was much less frequent in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 than in subjects with non-multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Pituitary tumors in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 syndrome tend to be larger, invasive and more symptomatic, and they tend to occur in younger patients when they are the initial presentation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

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Temozolomide is an alkylating agent used in the treatment of gliomas and, more recently, aggressive pituitary adenomas and carcinomas. Temozolomide methylates DNA and, thereby, has antitumor effects. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, a DNA repair enzyme, removes the alkylating adducts that are induced by temozolomide, thereby counteracting its effects. A Medline search for all of the available publications regarding the use of temozolomide for the treatment of pituitary tumors was performed. To date, 46 cases of adenohypophysial tumors that were treated with temozolomide, including 30 adenomas and 16 carcinomas, have been reported. Eighteen of the 30 (60%) adenomas and 11 of the 16 (69%) carcinomas responded favorably to treatment. One patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and an aggressive prolactin-producing adenoma was also treated and demonstrated a good response. No significant complications have been attributed to temozolomide therapy. Thus, temozolomide is an effective treatment for the majority of aggressive adenomas and carcinomas. Evidence indicates that there is an inverse correlation between levels of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase immunoexpression and therapeutic response. Alternatively, high-level O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase immunoexpression correlates with an unfavorable response. Here, we review the use of temozolomide for treating pituitary neoplasms.

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Temozolomide, an orally administered alkylating agent, is used to treat malignant gliomas. Recent reports also have documented its efficacy in the treatment of pituitary adenomas and carcinomas. Temozolomide methylates DNA and thereby exhibits an antitumor effect. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a DNA repair enzyme, removes alkylating adducts induced by temozolomide, counteracting its effects. The authors of this review conducted a Medline database search regarding temozolomide in the treatment of pituitary tumors. Demographic characteristics, tumor types, and therapeutic responses were noted in all patients. Data regarding MGMT immunoexpression, which was documented in some studies, were correlated with information regarding clinical and radiologic responses. To date, there have been 19 reported cases of adenohypophyseal tumors treated with temozolomide, including 13 adenomas and 6 carcinomas. Ten of those 13 adenomas responded favorably, and 2 nonresponsive tumors had high-level MGMT immunoexpression. All 6 carcinomas responded to therapy, but data regarding MGMT expression were available for only 3 patients, and each had low MGMT expression. In 2 adenomas, morphologic studies were performed both before and after the patients received temozolomide. The responsive tumor had necrosis, hemorrhage, fibrosis, and neuronal differentiation. The nonresponsive tumor had no changes. There have been no reported complications attributable to temozolomide. The current results indicated that temozolomide is efficacious in the treatment of aggressive pituitary adenomas and pituitary carcinomas. Evidence indicated that low-level MGMT immunoexpression is correlated with a favorable response. A significant proportion of pituitary adenomas and carcinomas had low MGMT immunoexpression.

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The patient was a 70-year-old man with a recurrent pituitary tumor. Three surgeries were performed but the tumor recurred. Based on histologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies, the diagnosis of oncocytic gonadotrophic pituitary adenoma was made. The tumor was a macroadenoma partly immunopositive for LH. Immunohistochemistry for O6 Methylguanine-DNA Methyl-Transferase (MGMT) showed an admixture of immunopositive and immunonegative cells. After recurrence following operations, the patient was treated with Temozolomide, an imidazotetrazine derivative, DNA-alkylating drug. Following Temozolomide administration the MRI demonstrated significant tumor necrosis. A few months later, the patient died of massive pulmonary embolism. No autopsy was performed. The present case indicates that benign, typically slow-growing pituitary adenomas of oncocytic gonadotrophic type may respond to Temozolomide even when the tumor consists of an admixture of MGMT immunopositive and immunonegative cells.

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The influence of anterior pituitary hormones on the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals has been reported. Hypophysectomy (HYPOX) in the rat causes atrophy of the intestinal mucosa, reduction of gastric secretion and intestinal absorption, and increased susceptibility to infections. To our knowledge, there are no studies on the humoral immune response of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue after HYPOX. We have reported that decreased secretion of vasopressin and oxytocin due to neurointermediate pituitary lobectomy (NIL) diminishes humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. However, no data have been published on whether NIL can affect intestinal immune responses. We analyzed the effects of HYPOX and NIL on bacterial colonization of the intestinal lumen, Peyer's patches, and spleen as well as the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM and specific intestinal IgA levels in response to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium oral infection. Results showed the following: (i) Salmonella serovar Typhimurium was eliminated from the intestinal lumen at the same rate in rats that underwent a sham operation, HYPOX, and NIL; (ii) Salmonella serovar Typhimurium colonization of Peyer's patches and spleen was significantly higher in both HYPOX and NIL rats than in sham-operated rats; (iii) serum IgG and IgM and intestinal IgA against surface proteins of Salmonella serovar Typhimurium were significantly lower in HYPOX and NIL rats than in sham-operated rats; and (iv) compared to NIL rats, higher Peyer's patch and spleen bacterial colonization and decreased IgG, IgM, and IgA production were observed in HYPOX rats. We conclude that hormones from each pituitary lobe affect the systemic and gastrointestinal humoral immune responses through different mechanisms.

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Primary central nervous system lymphoma has been traditionally described in patients with immunodeficiency syndromes; however, there is an increasing number of immunocompetent patients with this type of tumor that have been reported recently. In this paper we have retrospectively analyzed 22 immunocompetent patients with a confirmed diagnosis of primary lymphoma of the brain. The mean age in this group was 65 years with a similar male/female ratio. The time of evolution of the clinical course was 80.4 days and it was mainly characterized by headache and focal neurological deficit. In four patients multiple lesions were observed, while the remaining presented single lesions mainly located in the periventricular area of the cerebral hemispheres. All patients were initially administered steroids and a stereotactic biopsy was performed. The majority of tumors were histologically classified as diffuse large cells and all of them showed a positive reaction to B-cells antigens on immunohistochemistry. All patients were treated with radiotherapy and in 10 of them, chemotherapy with methotrexate was also indicated. The mean survival rate was II months among patients treated with radiotherapy alone and increased to 36 months when chemotherapy was added.

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