Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO)is an organ-specific autoimmune disease. A series of symptoms related to it cause serious harm to the physical and mental health of patients, and then seriously affect their quality of life. However, there is stilly lack of specific treatment methods at present. Even after effective treatment, it is difficult to fully recover the appearance changes. Therefore, it is very important to avoid or reduce the risk factors associated with the occurrence and progress of TAO. Hypercholesterolemia, as one of the potential risk factors for the occurrence and progression of TAO, has been concerned by more clinical researchers. Recent studies have found that statins can significantly reduce the incidence of ophthalmopathy and the risk of ophthalmopathy progression in patients with Graves disease. Based on the inflammatory pathological mechanism of TAO, statins may become a new hope to prevent and delay the occurrence and progression of TAO.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common intrahepatic primary liver tumor after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Epidemiological study suggests a strong correlation between HBV infection and ICC development.This review focused on the potential mechanisms of HBV-induced ICC and gives a primary summary of suggested hypothesis,which included:(1) HBV infection of liver stem/progenitor cells will indirectly lead to HBV infection of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells and lead to the development of ICC; (2) the changed microenvironment of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells by HBV infection eventually results in carcinogenesis ; (3) the HBV infection of hepatic sten/progenitor cell can transform into tumor-like stem cells and ultimately differentiate into ICC-like tumor cells.

Objective The purpose of this study is to explore the clinical value of CT angiography( CTA) in the diagnosis of multiple intracranial aneurysms.Methods The data of CTA and DSA from 74 patients with multiple intracra-nial aneurysms from July 2011 to March 2015 were reviewed retrospectively.Results One hundred seventy-seven aneu-rysms were detected by DSA, and 175 aneurysms were detected by CTA.Among the aneurysms identified by CTA, 4 aneu-rysms were false positive and the correct detection rate of CTA was 96.6%.One hundred sixty-five aneurysms identified by CTA were confirmed by DSA and the correct diagnostic rate of CTA was 96.5%.CTA failed to detect 6 aneurysms and mis-diagnosed 10 aneurysms.Conclusions The correct detection rate and diagnostic rate of CT angiography ( CTA) in multiple intracranial aneurysms is relatively high.But previous surgery, spasm of the vessels, the size and number of aneurysms, radiologists'experience can influence the accuracy of ( CTA) in the diagnosis of multiple intracranial aneurysms, indicating that we should combine CTA with DSA to avoid the misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

To study thyroid hormone receptor β(THRβ)gene mutation in a pituitary-resistance to thyroid hormone syndrome family. The peripheral blood samples of the patient, his sister, parents, and 4 maternal relatives were collected. Then serum was isolated for detecting thyroid hormone levels with chemiluminescence immunoassay, and DNA was extracted for PCR, and 10 exons of THRβ gene were sequenced. The patient and his mother had the hyperthyroid symptom for many years and his mother with atrial fibrillation. The G→A heterozygous transition mutation was confirmed by exon sequencing at nucleotide 949 within exon 9 of THRβ gene in the patient and his mother, which was a missense mutation causing a substitution of Alanine to Threonine(A317T). No mutation was found in THRβ gene in other family members. This is the first Chinese family reported with pituitary thyroid hormone resistance syndrome caused by a A317T mutation in the thyroid hormone receptor β gene.

Ovotestis is a rare disorder of sexual differentiation in which the gonads have both ovarian and testicular elements. The patients always present with ambiguous external genitalia, and there are usually with serious disorder between chromosomal sex, gonadal sex, social sex, and psychological sex. The definite diagnosis and gender confirmation, appropriate surgery in internal genitalia and orthomorphia in external genitalia, as well as psychological support are essential for a multidisciplinary medical group in managing this disease. The medical data of two children with ovotestis who were reared as boy or girl respectively were analyzed.

Objective To describe a case of female sexual abnormality with 46, XX caused by an androgen-producing adrenocortical tumor and to explore the mechanism of abnormal androgen secretion from the tumor. Methods The tumor tissues as the experimental group were compared with the normal adrenal tissue. The LH/human chorionic gonadotropin ( hCG) receptor was determined by immunohistochemisty, the activity of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ( 3β-HSD ) , 17α-hydroxylase ( CYP17 ) , and 17β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase ( 17β-HSD ) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and the expression of mRNA of 3β-HSD2, 17β-HSDB3, CYP17, and LH/hCG receptor by real-quantitative polymerase chain reaction ( RQ-PCR ) . Results The immunohistochemisty results showed that the LH/hCG receptor was negative in the experiment group, but positive in control. The activity of 3β-HSD and CYP17 of the experiment group was higher than that in the control (P<0. 01), while the activity of 17β-HSD was lower(2 638. 798±70. 551 vs 9 148. 174±382. 836, P<0. 01) according to ELISA results. The relative contentof3β-HSD2mRNAoftheexperimentgroupwashigherthanthatinthecontrol(P<0.05),andtherelative content CYP17 mRNA of the experiment group was much higher than that in the control (P<0. 01). However, the relative content of 17β-HSDB3 mRNA and LH/hCG receptor mRNA were much lower than those in the control ( P<0. 01) by RQ-PCR. Conclusion Sexual abnormality and virilization could be caused by the excessive androgen secreted by androgen-producing adrenocortical tumor, which is an extremely rare disease. The mechanism of the secretion of androgen from the tumor remains unknown so far. It may be related to the increased activity of 3β-HSD and CYP17, but has no relationship with the expression of LH/hCG receptor.

Objective To observe the effectiveness and mechanism of Xiaoyao San (Xiaoyao Powder for Soothing Liver and Relieving Depression) in improving depression-like behavior of rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomized into normal group, model group, Xiaoyao San (1.9 g·kg-1·d-1) group, and fluoxetine (2 mg·kg-1·d-1) group. The rats were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress ( CUMS) to induce rat depression-like behavior. Field test was performed for the observation of effect of Xiaoyao San on rat depression-like behavior, Luminex liquid chip system was applied to detect the serum cytokines, and the amount and size of rat hepatic sinusoidal endothelial window were examined under electron microscope, and hepatic indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase ( IDO) and tryptophan 2, 3 -dioxygenaes ( TDO) expression levels were detected by immunohistochemical and Western blot methods. Results Xiaoyao San showed obvious effect on increasing sugar water consumption, the number of crossing the blocks and erection frequency in rats, decreasing serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α) and interleukin 6 ( IL-6) , increasing the amount of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial window, promoting hepatic sinusoidal endothelial vascularization, and reducing TDO and IDO expression ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Xiaoyao San exerts obvious effect on improving rat depression-like behaviors, and the mechanism is probably related with the decrease of inflammatory factors, inhibition of IDO pathway, and improvement of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial function.

Objective To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of adrenal lymphangioma. Methods Three cases of adrenal lymphangioma were reported, and the clinical features, treatment and prognosis were analyzed. Results Three cases were incidentally discovered, laboratory tests and endocrine hormone examinations were normal, CT or MRI showed lesions with low density, no reinforced or mild enhancement. All 3 cases underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy, postoperative pathology supported the diagnosis of adrenal lymphangioma. They were followed up for 8-months, 1-year, and 4-years respectively, with no recurrence. Conclusions Adrenal lymphangioma is a rare benign adrenal leison, with no typical clinical manifestations. Preoperative diagnosis depends on imaging examinations. Histopathological examination is essential in making final diagnosis. Surgery is the preferred treatment option. The prognosis is relatively good.

[Summary] Riedel thyroiditis is an extremely rare form of thyroiditis, the etiologic mechanism remains obscure. It often onsets insidiously and has non-specific clinical manifestations, most of the patients visit doctor because of goiter and clinical manifestation caused by involvement of the surrounding tissue and organs, histopathological examination is the gold standard for diagnosis. Riedel thyroiditis can be easily confused with the other common thyroiditis and thyroid malignant tumor due to lack of understanding of Riedel thyroiditis. Thyroid isthmus wedge resection is recommended if symptoms of oppression are obvious, glucocorticoid or tamoxifen treatment can be used after the operation if Riedel thyroiditis still progresses. Here we present a case of Riedel thyroiditis with diagnosis and treatment in order to call attention to the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

To improve the differential diagnosis of sellar region mass,4 cases with sellar mass and misdiagnosed as lymphocytic hypophysitis (LYH) were reviewed retrospectively.The 4 patients (2 male and 2 female) aged 20-60 years old were all presented with symptoms of headache,polydipsia and polyuria.Biochemical studies confirmed the diagnoses of central diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism.Head MRI scans showed LYH like image for all the cases,and,thus,high dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy (HDMPT) was applied to the patients.Their symptoms deteriorated and the sellar mass enlarged after a short period of partial improvement.Operations were performed in all the patients.Histology study showed craniopharyngioma with abscess,primary abscess,secondary hypophysitis caused by Wegener's granulomatosis,and germinoma with secondary hypophysitis,respectively.In conclusion,surgery or biopsy is necessary for those who presented with sellar region mass and was suspected to be with LYH,but with poor response or even worse after HDMPT.