The living record of
peptide science.

Efficacy and Safety of Oral Treprostinil in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension on Background Monotherapy or Dual Therapy.

Adv Ther

Daniel Lachant, Amresh Raina, Mrinalini Krishnan +10 more

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, often fatal disease characterized by an elevation in pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Oral treprostinil is indicated for the treatment of PAH and has been shown to delay disease progression and to improve exercise capacity.

Thymopentin enhances adenoviral oncolytic therapy by regulating macrophages and CD8+ T cells.

Commun Med (Lond)

Lingkai Kong, Kua Liu, Yan Liu +11 more

Oncolytic viruses are cancer therapies that selectively replicate in tumors, deliver therapeutic genes, and stimulate immune responses. Combining these viruses with immune-boosting agents could enhance their effectiveness. Thymopentin (TP5), an immune-modulating peptide, may enhance the antitumour efficacy of ADV.

Pharmacologic Treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in the Context of Type 2 Diabetes.

Curr Diab Rep

Konstantinos Malandris, Konstantinos Charalampidis, Rohit Loomba +1 more

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is highly prevalent among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This review summarizes current evidence on the pharmacologic treatment of MASLD, with emphasis on agents currently approved for the management of T2D.

The Postoperative Course of Troponin T and NT-proBNP Levels in the Pediatric Population Implanted with the HeartMate 3 Device.

Anatol J Cardiol

Şeyma Şebnem Ön, Zülal Ülger Tutar, Eser Doğan +13 more

Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are key biomarkers reflecting myocardial injury and hemodynamic load in heart failure or after cardiac surgery. However, data on their postoperative course in pediatric HeartMate 3 (HM3) recipients are limited. This retrospective case series of ten pediatric patients aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of postoperative changes in these biomarkers.

Injectable contraceptives differentially affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and amenorrhea incidence†.

Biol Reprod

Alexis J Bick, Chanel Avenant, Carole-Keza Capitaine +11 more

Hormonal contraceptives modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis; however, underlying mechanisms and differences between contraceptives are underexplored. The Women's Health Injectable Contraception and HIV trial randomised 521 women to intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) or norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) and showed similar decreased estradiol levels, but more amenorrhea for DMPA-IM users. This secondary study excluded for misreporting contraceptive use for 128 participants (DMPA-IM n = 65; NET-EN n = 63). Peripheral blood serum collected at initiation and one week after the 24-week injection (25 W), at peak progestin levels, was analysed for gonadal steroids, progestins and peptide hormones. While no changes were detected in peripheral gonadotropin-releasing hormone levels, DMPA-IM decreased luteinising hormone (LH) less than NET-EN. DMPA-IM increased, while NET-EN decreased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Both contraceptives substantially decreased gonadal steroid levels, more so in NET-EN users for testosterone and estradiol. Post-menopausal-like hypoestrogenic effects were greater than previously reported, consistent with the substantial reduction in LH levels. Whether reduced LH levels are due to direct pituitary, hypothalamic, or supra-hypothalamic effects by progestins, is unclear. MPA, unlike NET, increased fsh expression in LβT2 cells, likely via the glucocorticoid receptor, consistent with direct effects on the pituitary by MPA in women. Amenorrhea associated in a time-varying manner with MPA and HPO hormone levels and LH/FSH, for DMPA-IM but not NET-EN users. HPO hormone profiles differ between DMPA-IM and NET-EN users and compared to pre- and post-menopausal women. Mechanisms affecting amenorrhea likely differ between contraceptives, with lower 25 W LH/FSH being consistent with more amenorrhea for DMPA-IM.

Recurrent ventricular asystole during octreotide infusion in a patient with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: a case report.

J Med Case Rep

Nicholaos Mansolas, Ian Nesbitt

Somatostatin analogs such as octreotide are frequently used in the prevention of carcinoid syndrome in the perioperative period following neuroendocrine tumor resection. This is the first reported case of ventricular asystole associated with postoperative intravenous octreotide infusion in a patient with previous congenital cardiac surgery.

Real-World Observational Study of Somatostatin Analogs and Rescue Medication Usage for Neuroendocrine Tumors in Canada.

Neuroendocrinology

Daniel Rayson, Myriam Troesch, Callahan LaForty +2 more

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are uncommon malignancies with increasing incidence in Canada. Long-acting somatostatin analogs (SSAs) such as Lanreotide Autogel (LAN-ATG) and Octreotide Long-Acting Release (OCT-LAR) are first-line treatments for well-differentiated GEP-NETs either with or without carcinoid syndrome (CS). Despite their efficacy, many patients require short-acting SSAs for breakthrough symptoms. We investigated the impact of switching between long-acting SSAs on the usage of breakthrough medications and the incidence of above maximum recommended dose (AMRD) prescriptions.

Assessment of serum concentrations of the "satiety hormone" - peptide YY concentration in body weight disorders in girls with anorexia nervosa and obesity.

Endokrynol Pol

Katarzyna Gołąb-Jenerał, Małgorzata Blaska, Karolina Ziora-Jakutowicz +3 more

Peptide YY (PYY), a key satiety hormone, exhibits altered serum concentrations in body weight disorders, although its role remains debated. Conflicting adult studies highlight the need to clarify PYY 1-36 dynamics in pediatric populations with anorexia nervosa (AN) and obesity (OB).

Efsubaglutide Alfa attenuates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in mice with improvements in second harmonic generation-derived fibrosis features.

Diabetes Obes Metab

Yahao Wang, Zhihong Wang, Guirui Yan +4 more

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a progressive liver disease with limited effective treatments. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have shown promise for metabolic and hepatic benefits. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of Efsubaglutide Alfa, a novel long-acting GLP-1RA, in a mouse model of MASH.

Unimolecular GLP-1/Apelin Hybrid Peptides Cause Prominent Appetite Suppression, as Well as Enhancing Insulin Secretion, Beta-Cell Survival and Glycaemic Regulation.

Diabetes Obes Metab

Ananyaa Sridhar, Ethan S Palmer, Sarah L Craig +3 more

To characterise the metabolic benefits of a GLP-1/apelin hybrid peptide, namely exendin-4-linker-apelin (ELA), and associated acylated forms, including ELA-Lys12(γGluPal), ELA-Lys27(γGluPal) and ELA-Lys38(γGluPal).

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Liraglutide in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes

Shashank Joshi, Ashok Kumar Das, Kamlesh Khunti +2 more

Obesity plays a pivotal and modifiable role in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Clinicians increasingly use lower doses of liraglutide (1.2 mg and 1.8 mg) to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss while maintaining effective glycemic control in people with T2DM and obesity. In this meta-analysis, we compared the efficacy and safety of liraglutide 1.2 mg and 1.8 mg in this population.

Apelin/APJ Signalling as a Potential Complementary Target for Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy in Heart Failure.

Card Fail Rev

Dominic Marcel Alfonso

Clinical Utility of Continuous Non-contact Cardiac Function Monitoring via Fiber-Optic Micro-Vibration Sensing System-based Myocardial Performance Index in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Cardiology

Xiaoyan Wu, Jing Zhan, Chenze Li +7 more

Introduction Continuous monitoring of cardiac function may contribute to improving clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients. A fiber-optic micro-vibration sensing system (FO-MVSS) that was previously developed by our group could make possible the non-contact and continuous measurement of the myocardial performance index (MPI) to assess cardiac function. However, the utility of MPI obtained by FO-MVSS (MPIFO-MVSS) in HF patients requires investigation. Methods Utilizing a case-control design, 72 HF patients and 72 control patients matched for age, gender and body mass index were recruited. Both FO-MVSS and echocardiography were used to measure the duration of the various phases of the cardiac cycle, thereby deriving the corresponding MPI. The MPIFO-MVSS of 23 hospitalized patients with HF was continuously monitored to evaluate its predictive value for the improvement of cardiac function. Results The MPIFO-MVSS was in excellent agreement with the MPI obtained by echocardiography (MPIecho) (intra-class correlation coefficient: 0.94, p<0.001). The MPIFO-MVSS exhibited statistically significant correlations with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r=-0.78, p<0.001) and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (r=0.66, p<0.001). The MPIFO-MVSS had an excellent performance in discriminating HF patients from control patients, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98 (p<0.001). Moreover, among continuously monitored patients, the change in MPIFO-MVSS was predictive of clinical outcomes (the kappa coefficient: 0.91, p<0.001). Conclusion Our study presents a novel approach to using non-contact MPIFO-MVSS for continuous cardiac function evaluation in patients with HF. The MPIFO-MVSS may serve as an accurate, sensitive, and non-invasive indicator of cardiac dysfunction.

Arginine Vasopressin Deficiency and Oxytocin Deficiency in the Endocrine Clinic.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab

Cihan Atila, Julie Refardt, Mirjam Christ-Crain

The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system consists of specialized neurons in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei that project to the central nervous system and the posterior pituitary, where they secrete arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) into the systemic circulation. AVP is the key endocrine regulator of water balance via V2 receptor-mediated aquaporin-2 insertion in renal collecting ducts and modulates vascular tone via V1 receptors. OXT plays a central role in labor and lactation, but also influences metabolism, social behavior, emotional processing, and stress regulation. AVP deficiency (formerly central diabetes insipidus) results from hypothalamic-posterior pituitary disruptions or injury due to surgery, trauma, tumors, infiltrative or autoimmune disease, vascular events, or genetic causes. It is characterized by hypotonic polyuria, polydipsia, and dehydration risk, and is diagnosed by distinguishing it from AVP resistance and primary polydipsia, with copeptin-based tests providing high diagnostic accuracy. Treatment relies on desmopressin and careful education to prevent both dehydration and hyponatremia. In contrast, OXT deficiency has only recently been recognized as a potential clinical entity, particularly in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disruptions or injury and concurrent AVP deficiency. Emerging evidence links it to social dysfunction, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. Diagnosis remains challenging due to unreliable basal OXT levels and limited stimulation tests; novel approaches, including 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) challenge and neurophysin I as a surrogate marker, are under investigation. Preliminary studies suggest intranasal OXT may improve socioemotional outcomes, but robust evidence from randomized controlled trials is needed.

[Effect of different frequencies electroacupuncture at "Zusanli"(ST36) on visceral sensitivity and adrenocorticotropin releasing factor expression in IBS mice].

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu

Rong-Lan Xiang, Fang-Yuan Liang, Su-Zhen Liu +4 more

To observe the effect of different stimulation frequencies of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli"(ST36) on the general state, visceral sensitivity, anxiety and depression, adrenocorticotropin releasing factor (CRF), adrenocorticotropin releasing factor receptor 1 (CRFR1), CRFR2 and mast cells in mice with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), so as to explore its mechanism underlying the improvement of IBS.

[Modern capabilities of contrast-enhanced computed tomography in the diagnosis of adrenal adenomas].

Probl Endokrinol (Mosk)

N V Tarbaeva, A Chevais, A V Manaev +5 more

 Adrenal incidentalomas are common, with a detection rate of up to 7% in patients over 70 years of age. Of these, up to 25% are functionally active, leading to the development of severe clinical manifestations. Challenges of insufficient diagnosis and a lack of a personalized approach to the management of such patients persist. To overcome these challenges, the use of CT image analysis is proposed to develop criteria for non-invasive diagnosis, which is a pathway towards improving personalized patient management.

Resting neuroendocrine markers in relation to acute mental stress-induced adrenergic reactivity profiles in adults: The SABPA study.

Physiol Rep

Dewald Naudé, Wayne Smith, Roland von Känel +1 more

Stress-induced hemodynamic reactivity was categorized as predominant alpha (α)- and beta (β)-adrenergic reactivity profiles. Within these profiles, we investigated resting neuroendocrine markers, their associations with hemodynamic reactivity, and odds of an α- or β-adrenergic reactivity profile. We included 375 teachers (20-65 years) and recorded one-minute beat-to-beat hemodynamic reactivity during Stroop-Color-Word-Conflict-test. We categorized α-responders [lowest-quartile ∆%CO, ∆%Cwk; n = 49], β-responders [highest-quartile ∆%CO, ∆%Cwk; n = 69], mixed-α/β-responders [remaining n = 257]. Baseline fasting serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, urinary norepinephrine-to-creatinine (u-NE/Cr), and epinephrine-to-creatinine (u-EPI/Cr) ratios were measured. Predominant α-responders were older with greater hypertension prevalence than other responders. In α-responders, u-NE/Cr inversely, and ACTH and cortisol positively associated with ∆%CO and ∆%Cwk (all p ≤ 0.044). In β-responders, u-NE/Cr positively associated with ∆%CO, u-EPI/Cr inversely with ∆%CO, and positively with ∆%Cwk (all p ≤ 0.045). Odds of an α-profile were higher with u-NE/Cr, ACTH, and cortisol in the highest-quartile (all p ≤ 0.004). Odds of a β-profile were higher with u-NE/Cr in the highest-quartile and ACTH and cortisol in the lowest-quartile (all p ≤ 0.006). Predominant α-responders exhibited higher u-NE/Cr, ACTH, and cortisol, suggesting vascular risk through peripheral vasoconstriction. Predominant β-responders showed higher u-NE/Cr only, suggesting adaptive cardiac performance via catecholaminergic drive. These findings reveal distinct neuroendocrine underpinnings with implications for personalized acute stress cardiovascular phenotyping.

Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 as a Therapy of Severe Electrolyte Disturbances in Rats.

Curr Neuropharmacol

Marija Medvidovic Grubisic, Sanja Strbe, Ivan Barisic +19 more

This review explores the therapeutic potential of the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in addressing electrolyte imbalances, specifically hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, hypermagnesemia, and hyperlithiemia. In hyperkalemia, BPC 157 demonstrated a comprehensive counteractive effect against KCl overdose (intraperitoneally, intragastrically, and in vitro), effectively mitigating symptoms such as muscular weakness, hypertension, sphincter dysfunction, arrhythmias, and lethality. It also counteracted the adverse effects of succinylcholine and magnesium overdose, including systemic muscle paralysis, arrhythmias, and hyperkalemia. In hypokalemia, BPC 157 (administered prophylactically or therapeutically, intraperitoneally or intragastrically) prevented fatal outcomes and addressed furosemide-induced hypokalemia, ECG changes, AV conduction block, ventricular arrhythmias, and skeletal muscle myoclonus. Following magnesium overdose, BPC 157 alleviated muscle weakness, brain lesions, and hyperkalemiainduced complications. In vitro studies (HEK293 cells) revealed the ability of BPC 157 to counteract hyperkalemia- and hypermagnesemia-induced depolarization and hypokalemia-induced hyperpolarization. In lithium intoxication, BPC 157 promoted collateral pathway activation, resolved vascular and multiorgan failure, and counteracted advanced Virchow triad conditions and occlusion-like syndromes. Collectively, these findings underscore the therapeutic promise of BPC 157 in managing electrolyte imbalances and warrant further investigation.

MUC15 loss promotes perineural invasion in pancreatic cancer by activating the IGF1R/STAT3/NGF pathway.

Cancer Lett

Simei Zhang, Tao Qin, Shuai Wu +12 more

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a critical yet poorly understood feature that significantly influences the prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a disease notorious for its dismal survival rates. Although PNI is recognized as a hallmark of pancreatic cancer, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain complex and incompletely defined. Recent insights into tumor-nerve interactions have highlighted the role of glycocalyx components, particularly mucin 15 (MUC15), in regulating neural invasion. In this study, we demonstrate that loss of MUC15 promotes PNI by activating the IGF1R/STAT3/NGF signaling axis. Specifically, reduced MUC15 expression weakens its interaction with IGF1R, leading to decreased receptor ubiquitination and increased phosphorylation, which in turn activates STAT3 signaling and drives NGF transcription and secretion. Loss of MUC15 also promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and alters interactions with the tumor microenvironment, further facilitating neural invasion. Importantly, pharmacologic inhibition of IGF1R reverses these effects, suggesting that restoring MUC15 expression or targeting the IGF1R/STAT3-NGF axis may represent a potential therapeutic strategy to limit PNI in pancreatic cancer. These findings reveal a novel regulatory pathway connecting tumor-intrinsic signaling, EMT, and the neural microenvironment in PDAC progression.

miR-133a-3p promotes T-2 toxin-induced chondrocyte damage via targeting IGF1R.

Chem Biol Interact

Kangting Luo, Lingyu Wang, Zhengyan Zhang +13 more

T-2 toxin is one of the important environmental risk factors of Kashin-Beck disease, which seriously damages cartilage. The present study employed miRNAs to investigate the toxic mechanism of T-2 toxin. In this study, miR-133a-3p was highly expressed in cartilage tissue lesions and chondrocyte damage induced by T-2 toxin. Overexpression of miR-133a-3p promoted T-2 toxin-induced extracellular matrix degradation and apoptosis of chondrocytes. However, inhibition of miR-133a-3p had the opposite effect. These results revealed that miR-133a-3p was involved in regulating T-2 toxin-induced chondrocyte damage. Bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase assay demonstrated that IGF1R was targeted by miR-133a-3p. The small interfering RNA of IGF1R (Si- IGF1R) promoted T-2 toxin-induced chondrocyte damage. The miR-133a-3p mimics/inhibitor and Si-IGF1R were co-transfected into chondrocytes, and the results showed that the miR-133a-3p mimics strengthened the effect of Si-IGF1R, contrary to the effect of miR-133a-3p inhibitor. In conclusion, miR-133a-3p promoted T-2 toxin-induced chondrocyte damage via targeting IGF1R.