Objective To discuss the treatment experience of adrenocorticotropic hormone independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH).Methods The clinical data of 24 cases of AIMAH from August 1972 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.The cases included 10 males and 14 females with a mean age of 43 (range 26 to 59) years.16 patients presented with typical Cushing syndrome (CS) and 8 patients had weight gain, hypertension or diabetes mellitus without any sign of CS.The circadian rhythm of serum cortisol was abnormal.Low and high dose dexamethasone suppression tests failed to suppress cortisol secretion.The preoperative CT scan showed bilateral enlargement of the adrenal glands with multiple macmnodules.14 patients underwent open surgery, including 5 cases of unilateral adrenalectomy, 6 cases of adrenalectomy combined with contralateral subtotal adrenalectomy and 3 cases of bilateral adrenalectomy simuhaneously.6 patients underwent conventional laparoscopic adrenalectomy,including 2 cases of unilateral adrenalectomy, 2 cases of adrenalectomy combined with contralateral subtotal adrenalectomy and 2 cases of bilateral adrenalectomy.4 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy.Results The postoperative pathological examination showed that all patients had bilateral adrenal macronodular or adenomatoid hyperplasia.During the mean follow-up of 68 months (range 3 to 192 months), the clinical symptoms of CS disappeared after surgery in all cases.7 patients who received unilateral adrenalectomy had urinary free cortisol and serum cortisol within normal ranges and no further enlargement of the contralateral gland was noticed.Among the 3 patients who received bilateral adrenalectomy simultaneously, 1 case died of adrenal crisis on the seventh day post-operation.The remaining 2 cases presented with adrenal insufficiency but returned to normal after glucocorticoid replacement therapy.Nelson's syndrome was not observed in other patients.Conclusions The use of bilateral adrenalectomy to treat AIMAH may involve risk.Unilateral adrenalectomy is recommended for an alternative treatment for AIMAH.Controlateral adrenalectomy with lifelong corticosteroid replacement or contralateral subtotal adrenalectomy may be performed if the symptoms have not improved or recurred after unilateral adrenalectomy.

This study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) on NAFLD in MSG-IR mice and to provide mechanism insights into its therapeutic effect. The MSG-IR mice with insulin resistance were treated with high dose (0.1 micromol.kg-1d-1) and low dose (0.025 micromol.kg-1d-1) of FGF21 once a day for 5 weeks. Body weight was measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, serum lipids, insulin and aminotransferases were measured. Hepatic steatosis was observed. The expression of key genes regulating energy metabolism were detected by real-time PCR. The results showed that after 5 weeks treatment, both doses of FGF21 reduced body weight (P<0.01), corrected dyslipidemia (P<0.01), reversed steatosis and restored the liver morphology in the MSG model mice and significantly ameliorated insulin resistance. Additionally, real-time PCR showed that FGF21 significantly reduced transcription levels of fat synthetic genes, decreased fat synthesis and promoted lipolysis and energy metabolism by up-regulating key genes of lipolysis, thereby liver fat accumulation was reduced and liver function was restored to normal levels. In conclusion, FGF21 significantly reduces body weight of the MSG-IR mice, ameliorates insulin resistance, reverses hepatic steatosis. These findings provide a theoretical support for clinical application of FGF21 as a novel therapeutics for treatment of NAFLD.

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Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of off-clamping in robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for the treatment of renal tumors.Methods From January 2015 to March 2017,the data of 48 patients who underwent off-clamping RAPN were reviewed retrospectively.There were 31 males and 17 females,and the mean age was 57 years (range:23-84 years).The mean tumor size was 3.1 cm (range:1.2-6.4 cm),with the upper,middle,and lower polar tumors account for 35.4％,27.1％,and 37.5％,respectively.The clinical tumor stage was T1N0M0 in all 48 cases,according to the AJCC tumor staging system for renal cancer.Results RAPNs were performed successfully in all 48 cases,without conversion to open surgery.In those patients,the application of off-clamping in robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy was performed in 44 cases.The renal artery and vein was exposed,dissected,isolated and then clamped in 4 cases due to bleeding.The mean surgical time was 85 min (range:75-185 min).The mean estimated blood loss was 134 ml (range:60-270 ml),and no blood transfusion was needed.The wound surface was closed using interrupted suture with Hem-o-lok clips securing each needle point.The mean time for renorrhaphy was 22 min (rang:11-31 min).No intraoperative severe complications such as vascular injury,trauma of abdominal organ occurred.There were 5 complications,including 2 cases of hematuria,2 cases of delayed healing of incision,and 1 case of pneumohypoderma.The pathological diagnosis included 40 cases of renal clear cell carcinoma,3 cases of papillary renal cell carcinoma,and 5 cases of angiomyolipomas.No tumor recurrence or distant metastasis was observed during the average follow-up of 17 months (range 3-27 months).Conclusions Off-clamping RAPN is safe and feasible approach to excise certain kidney tumors.It carries the benefits of less complication,quick recovery,and less ischemia reperfusion renal injury.Off-clamping RAPN would be suitable for those patients with solitary kidneys,renal insufficiency,and bilateral tumors.

The claustrum located between the striatum and cortex is composed of glutamate neurons and gamma-aminobutyric neurons. There are extensive and mutually projected nerve fiber connections between cerebral cortex and parietal nucleus. The claustrum integrates sensory information and regulates the formation of consciousness through various ways, playing an important role in sensory processing and cognitive functions. In this paper, the neuronal characteristics, fiber projection, physiological characteristics and consciousness integration function of the claustrum are reviewed to provide references for further understanding physiological and pathophysiological effects of the pterygoid nucleus.

Objective To summary the pathological and clinical characteristics,treatments and prognosis of malignant renal perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa).Methods Between August 2013 and June 2017,8 cases of malignant renal PEComa were analysed respectively.Of all the patients,there were 4 males and 4 females,aged 27-65 years with the average of 46.3 years old.Three cases were detected in routine examination occasionally,three cases complained of intermittent back pain with fever,one presented with swollen and painful right hand and right foot,and one case presented with hematuria.CT or MRI examinations indicated the malignant lesions before the surgery.Clinical staging was performed with 2 cases of T1N0M0,1 case of T1 N0M1,2 cases of T2N0M0,1 case of T3M0M0,and 2 cases of T4N0M1.Three cases underwent radical nephrectomy,1 case underwent radical nephrectomy plus renal artery embolization,2 cases underwent partial nephrectomy,and 2 cases underwent nephrectomy plus inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy.One case was treated with ifosfamide plus epirubicin after operation due to multiple distant metastases and 1 case was treated with oxaliplatin before the sugery because of excessive tumor diameter.None of the rest received any adjuvant therapy.Results Postoperative histopathological examination showed multiple nodules in reddish gray and yellow color,with soft texture and partial incomplete capsule.Microscopically,there were large atypical cell components,some of which were spindle shaped,with disordered cell arrangement,some of which were associated with a large amount of necrotic tissue,and abundant light eosinophil cytoplasm.Tissue components can be found thick-wall blood vessels,smooth muscle-like cells,and adipose tissue.Immunohistochemistry showed 4 cases were positive of HMB-45,4 of Melan-A,7 of SAM.Seven cases were negative of CK,6 of S-100 75％ (6/8) and Ki67 (10％-70％).Two cases died of multiple metastases (lung,bone,liver),1 case survived with tumor recurrence,with a follow-up from 14 to 60 months (mean 29 months).Conclusions Primary malignant renal PEComa is rare in practice with relative large diameter.The diagnosis depends on pathological findings,and radical nephrectomy is the first choice of treatment.It is easy to recur and metastasize after the operation.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of Nocardiarubra cell wall skeleton (N-CWS) bladder irrigation in prevention of recurrence after transurethral resection for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).Methods The clinical data of patients with NMIBC treated by N-CWS and epirubicin collected between October 2013 and November 2018 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent TURBT.Among the 118 NMIBC patients,the average age was (65.1 ± 1 1.9) years,and the sex ratio (male/female) was 1.9∶1 (77/41).Patients were divided into two group:N-CWS group (n =55) and epirubicin group (n =63) according to different instillation regimens.N-CWS was given as an instillation of 800 μg in 50 ml of saline and maintained in the bladder for 2 h in the N-CWS group.Epirubicin was given as an instillation of 50 mg in 50 ml of saline and maintained in the bladder for 1 h in the epirubicin group.In the N-CWS group,mean agewas (64.9 ± 12.1) years and 37 (67.3％) were male.Multiple tumors were present in 17 (69.1％) patients.Tumor size was ≤3 cm in 49(89.1％) and 7(12.7％) had a history of NMIBC.Stage was Ta and T1 in 36(65.5％) and 19(34.5％),respectively.Grade 1,Grade 2 and Grade 3 were the primary grades in 38(69.1％),13(23.6％) and 4(7.3％),respectively.Low risk,intermediate risk and high risk were present in 14 patients(25.5％),16 (29.1％) and 25 (45.5％),respectively.In the epirubicin group,mean age was (65.3 ± 11.2) years and 40(63.5％)were male.Multiple tumors were present in 19(30.2％) patients.Tumor size was ≤3 cm in 56(88.9％) and 11 (17.5％) had a history of NMIBC.Stage was Ta and T1 in 37(58.7％) and 26 (41.3％),respectively.Grade 1,Grade 2 and Grade 3 were the primary grades in 44(69.8％),12(19.0％)and 7(11.1％),respectively.Low risk,intermediate risk and high risk were present in 13 (20.6％),19 (30.2％) and 31 (49.2％),respectively.The tumor recurrence,progression and adverse reactions after Intravesical Instillation in both groups were followed up and recorded.No significant differences were found between the two groups.Results A total of 118 patients were followed up.Mean follow-up time was (33.7 ± 5.4) months.25.5％ (14/55) in the N-CWS group vs.42.8％ (27/63) in the epirubicin group had recurrence after 5 years (x2 =3.922,P =0.048).The five-year RFS was higher in the N-CWS group than in the epirubicin group (74.2％ vs.56.5％,P =0.044).No significant difference was found in the progression rate between the two groups(5.5％ vs.7.9％,P =0.867).The incidences of adverse events in the two groups were 16.4％ (9/55) and 19.0％ (12/63),respectively.The N-CWS group had significantly fewer cases with urinary frequency and dysuria than the epirubicin group.No significant differences were found in other side effects.Conclusions Intravesical instillation of N-CWS after NMIBC TURBT was found to be a promising procedure to prevent recurrence and prolong the recurrence-free survival with less side effects.

BACKGROUND:Our previous studies found that the polypeptide of Cornus cervi Colla can promote bone growth,which has a good application prospect in the treatment of bone diseases.However,how Cornus cervi Colla works in the body and the principle are not clear. OBJECTIVE:To study the in vivo distribution and tracing of Cornus cervi Colla using fluorescence labeling and tracer technique. METHODS:Cornus cervi Colla was fluorescently labeled using fluorescein isothiocyanate,and the labeling results were detected by fluorescence imaging and UV spectral scanning.Successfully labeled Cornus cervi Colla was injected into mice by gavage,and the absorption of Cornus cervi Colla into blood was detected by laser confocal microscopy,and the distribution of Cornus cervi Colla in mice was detected by small animal in vivo imager.The distribution of Cornus cervi Colla in the mice was detected by laser confocal microscopy.Samples were taken from serum and bone at the time of the strongest fluorescence,and gel electrophoresis was carried out on serum and bone tissue protein solutions,and the components of Cornus cervi Colla absorbed into target organs were determined by secondary mass spectrometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The fluorescent markers were successfully separated by dextran gel chromatography,and the fluorescence imaging and ultraviolet spectrum scanning proved that the labeling was successful,and the fluorescence substitution degree of FITC-labeled Cornus cervi Colla was 0.953%.The fluorescence intensity of the components of Cornus cervi Colla in the blood showed that Cornus cervi Colla was most distributed in serum after oral administration for 2 hours.The fluorescence images of mice at different times were the same as those of bilateral femur and tibia,indicating that Cornus cervi Colla could play a role by entering the bone.Compared with UniProt database,secondary mass spectrometry showed that the peptide was a characteristic fragment of decorin.It is proved that decorin in Cornus cervi Colla can enter the bone to play a therapeutic role.

Objective To investigate the effects of Tuina of Three Handing-Three Points on hindlimb motor function and expression of protein NogoA and its receptor NgR in the spinal cord of rats with sciatic nerve injury. Methods A total of 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to normal group (n = 16), sham group (n = 16), model group (n = 16) and Tuina group (n = 16). The model group and Tuina group prepared the sciatic nerve injury model with brace method. Tuina group received Tuina in methods of pressing, strumming and circular rubbing on Yinmen (BL37), Chengshan (BL57) and Yanglingquan (GB34) with Tuina manipulation emulator. The rats were assessed with oblique plate test seven days after operation and 20 days after Tuina. Then, the spinal cord tissues were extracted to detect the expression of protein of NogoA and NgR with Western blotting. Results The scores of the oblique plate test decreased in the model group and Tuina group seven days after operation compared with those in the normal group (P < 0.05), while the expression NgR increased (P < 0.05). The scores of the oblique plate test increased in Tuina group compared with those in the model group 20 days after Tuina (P < 0.05), while the expression of NgR decreased (P < 0.05), similar to the normal group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Tuina of Three Handing-Three Points can improve the hindlimb motor function in rats with sciatic nerve injury, which may be related to inhibition of the expression of NgR in the spinal cord after sciatic nerve injury.

As a natural plant source of artemisinin,a first-line drug against malaria,Artemisia annua directly affects the extraction process of artemisinin and the source of artemisinin. At present,traditional breeding methods combined with tissue culture are often used to breed high-yield artemisinin-containing new varieties of A. annua. However,the breeding method has the disadvantages of low efficiency and continuous selection. In this study,heavy ion beam irradiation technology was used to observe the specific germplasm resources of A. annua,and the morphological characteristics,agronomic traits and artemisinin content were used as indicators to observe the selection materials and materials. The cultivated new varieties were compared with trials and regional trials. In addition,the new variety of A. annua was identified by SRAP molecular marker technology. The results showed that the new variety of A. annua, " Kehao No.1",had an average yield of 235. 0 kg of dry leaf per mu,which was more than 20% higher than that of the control. Especially,the average artemisinin content was 2. 0%,which was 45% higher than that of the control,and the " Kehao No.1" has high anti-white powder disease,high-yield and high-quality new varieties. Therefore,mutagenic breeding of heavy ion beam irradiation can significantly improve the yield and artemisinin content of the " Kehao No. 1" and it has a good promotion value.
Artemisia annua/genetics* ; Artemisinins/analysis* ; Heavy Ions ; Mutagenesis ; Phenotype ; Plant Breeding ; Plants, Medicinal/genetics*