Objective To investigate the expression of ACTH in normal and hyperplastic adrenal cortical tissue, and to explore the relationship between plasma ACTH concentration and expression level of ACTH in adrenal cortical tissue of patients with adrenal cortical hyperplasia. Methods The expression of ACTH in adrenal cortical tissue was examined by immunohistochemical technique, and the result was analyzed by computer-assisted image analyzing system. Besides, plasma ACTH concentration was measured by RIA. The correlation between plasma ACTH concentration and expression level of ACTH in adrenal cortical tissue of patients with adrenal cortical hyperplasia was studied. Results The expression of ACTH was significantly higher in adrenal cortical tissue of patients with ACTH-independent adrenal cortical hyperplasia than those with ACTH-dependent adrenal cortical hyperplasia and normal adrenocortical tissue (both P0.05). Conclusion ACTH expression exists in normal adrenal cortical tissue. Local ACTH overproduction appears to participate in the pathogenesis of ACTH-independent adrenal cortical hyperplasia.The raised concentration of plasma ACTH influences the expression of ACTH in cortical tissue of patients with ACTH-dependent adrenal hyperplasia.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of artificial blood vessel sheath around re-nal vein for the treatment of left renal vein entrapment syndrome. Methods Eight cases with left re-nal vein entrapment syndrome (7 males and 1 female, mean age, 16 years) with history of gross hema-turia for 6 to 36 months were reviewed. Doppler ultrasound reports suggested compression of the left renal vein at mesenteric angle in all eases. CT scan showed the abnormal angle between aorta and su-perior mesenterie artery in 5 cases. Cystscopy showed hematuria from the left ureteral orifice in 5 ca-ses. All cases with left renal vein entrapment syndrome were treated ,with the method of putting artifi-cial blood vessel as a sheath around left renal vein. Results The operations were all successful. The average operation time was 150 min, the average blood loss was 50 ml, and the average hospital stay after operation was 9 d. No surgical complications occurred. The gross hcmaturia disappeared in 6 ca-ses and Doppler ultrasound showed that left renal vein outflow was normal in 7 when the patients dis-charged from the hospital. The gross hematuria disappeared during 2-24 months' follow-up in 7 pa-tients. Conclusions The surgical aim of renal vein entrapment syndrome is to reduce the compres-sion of renal vein. The method of putting artificial blood vessel around renal vein could be a simple, safe and effective method.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of pedicled adrenal transposition for the treatment of adrenocortical and medullary hyperplasia, Methods Twenty cases of adrenal hyperpla-sia (6 men and 14 women; mean age,36 years ) had history of hypertension from 0.5 to 5 years. Of all cases, 15 had centripetal obesity and purple striae, 2 had weakness and polyuria, 3 had durative hypertension. Serum potassium and aldosterone were increased in 4 and 3 cases, respectively. Urinary 17-OH and 17-KS were increased in 15 cases. Epinepgrine, norepinephrine and dopamine increased in 3 cases, VMA increased in 4 cases. CT scan and MRI revealed adrenal diffuse enlargement with in-creased thickness or nodules in 18 and 3 cases, respectively, 131I-MIBG scan showed positive in 3 ca-ses. Preoperative diagnoses were Cushing's syndrome in 11 cases, hyperaldosteronism in 2 cases, pheochromocytoma in 1 case, adrenomedullary hyperplasia in 2 cases, Cushing's syndrome-cate-cholamine syndrome in 4 cases. All cases were treated with transposition of pedicled adrenal gland into the subcutaneous tissues. Results All operations were successful. The average operation time was 120 min, the average blood loss was 40 ml and the average hospital stay was 10 d. No obvious surgical complications occurred. Pathological studies of all the cases revealed the coexistence of adrenocortical and medullary hyperplasia. Seventeen cases were followed up for 0.5-8 years. Thirteen cases had no symptom and normal biochemical results. Four cases still had hypertension and abnormal biochemical results. They were recovered after adrenal operation of the ther side. Conclusion Transposition of pedicled adrenal gland could be an available option to treat patients with adrenocortical and medullary hyperplasia.