ObjectiveToinvestigatetheroleofimmuneinflammatoryreactionintheformationof intracranial aneurysm. Methods The intracranial aneurysms in 40 patients of craniotomy ( intracranial aneurysm group) and the vascular specimens in 20 craniotomy patients w ith traumatic brain injury (control group) w ere col ected. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction w as used to detect the expression of interleukin (IL)-17 receptor in the arterial w al . Flow cytometry w as used to detect the Th-17 cel s in peripheral blood. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay w as used to measure the levels of IL-17, IL-6 in the arterial w al and tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) in peripheral blood. Results There w ere no significant differences in the age (62.6 ±8.7 years vs.61.4 ±7.9 years;t=0.342;P=0.681), proportions of male (60.0%vs.65.0%; χ2 =0.246, P=0.434), hypertension ( 12.5%vs.10.0%; χ2 =0.315, P=0.492), diabetes (75.0%vs.10.0%; χ2 =0.284, P=0.482), and smoking (35.5%vs.30.0%; χ2 =0.224, P=0.413) betw een the intracranial aneurysms group and the control group. The expression of IL -17 receptor in the arterial w al (0.106 ±0.032 vs.0.264 ±0.071; t=5.115, P=0.001) and the proportion of Th17 cels in peripheral blood (2.75%±0.53%vs.7.18%±1.54%; t=8.436, P<0.001) and IL-17 level ( 7.32 ±1.82 μg/L vs.22.64 ±4.51 μg/L; t= 8.357, P< 0.001 ) in the control group w ere significantly low er than those in the intracranial aneurysm group. The levels of IL-6 (1.15 ±0.24 μg/L vs. 19.64 ±4.16 μg/L; t=9.527, P<0.001) and TNF-α(1.43 ±0.31 μg/L vs.26.17 ±4.32 μg/L; t=9.816, P<0.001) in the arterial wal in the control group were significantly lower than those in the intracranial aneurysm group. Conclusions The expression of IL-17 receptor in the arterial w al , the proportion of the Th17 cels and IL-17 level in peripheral blood were increased in patients with intracranial aneurysms. Immune inflammation may be involved in the formation of intracranial aneurysm.

The clinical data, laboratory test, and gene mutations were collected from a family with Liddle syndrome. Literatures on Liddle syndrome published in domestic and abroad since 1994 were reviewed and the types of gene mutations were summarized. The proband was diagnosed with hypertension at the age of 24. Laboratory test showed that serum potassium was 3.65 mmol/L, plasma renin was <0.5 mU/L, and plasma aldosterone was 1.5 ng/dL. Proband′s father was diagnosed with hypertension at the age of 34 with the serum potassium 3.34 mmol/L, plasma renin 3.72 mU/L, and plasma aldosterone 6.04 ng/dL. A nonsense mutation(1724G>A, p.Trp575*) in exon 13 of SCNN1G gene was detected in the proband and his father. In 288 cases from 107 families reported in the review of domestic and foreign literature, the incidence of hypertension, hypokalemia, and low renin/low aldosterone were 95.1%, 55.2%, and 49.6%, respectively. This case suggests that the clinical phenotype of Liddle syndrome is heterogeneous. Patients with early-onset hypertension, regardless of whether they are accompanied by hypokalemia, should be screened for renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and genetic testing related to Liddle syndrome should be further detected in patients with low plasma renin/aldosterone.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics, reveal evolutionary patterns, and enhance the understanding of idiopathic isolated adrenocorticotripin(ACTH)deficiency(IIAD)by conducting a clinical analysis and follow-up.Methods:The clinical data of 12 patients with IIAD in our center were analyzed retrospectively, and the patients were further followed up to summarize the clinical characteristics of these patients.Results:Among 12 patients with IIAD, the ratio of male to female was 3∶1. The onset showed a bimodal trend, with 2 cases occurring below the age of 18(at 1 year and 11 years respectively), and 10 cases occurring in adults, with an average onset age of 59.4 years old. In adults, the main symptoms were chronic fatigue, anorexia, and weight loss, while pediatric patients exhibited hypoglycemia and seizures. Hyponatremia(50%)was a common biochemical abnormality. ACTH, cortisol, and 24 h urinary free cortisol were significantly lower in all patients, and the functions of other pituitary gland axes were normal. All patients were normal except 2 patients with pituitary MRI showing vacuolar sella turcica. The most common accompanying disease was Hashimoto thyroiditis. After glucocorticoid replacement therapy, all patients showed symptom improvement. The replacement doses include prednisone acetate at 2.5-7.5 mg/d or hydrocortisone at 12-20 mg/d. All the 8 patients were still alive with ongoing ACTH deficiency, without any decline in other pituitary axis functions or occurrence of other diseases.Conclusion:IIAD exhibits a bimodal onset pattern with a higher prevalence in males. Symptoms persist in a chronic and stable manner without remission. Prognosis is favorable with physiological dose of glucocorticoid replacement therapy.