Objective To discuss the diagnostic paradigm of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with bilateral adrenal gland and pituitary involvement.Methods Clinical features of one patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma with bilateral adrenal gland and pituitary involvement,manifesting fever of undetermined origin and refractory hyponatremia,were analyzed retrospectively.The related literature was reviewed,and experience in diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with bilateral adrenal gland and pituitary involvement was summarized.Results Clinical manifestations of the patient was nonspecific,and there was definite evidence to support the diagnosis of infectious and autoimmune diseases.However,the abnormal elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and ?2 microglobulin,which were suggestive of the diagnosis of lymphoma.The diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with bilateral adrenal gland involvement was finally established by adrenal gland biopsy under CT.On the other hand,the endocrine evaluation indicated there was pituitarism even though the lesion was not obvious on the MRI image.However,18F fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography(18F-FDG PET-CT)clearly showed lesions in pituitary,liver and lymph node of neck.With supplementation of hydrocortisone,sodium the serum level gradually elevated to above the normal range,and the lesions in pituitary and adrenal glands disappeared after three courses of CHOP chemotherapy.The functions of pituitary and adrenal gland recovered 3 months later.Conclusions Non-Hodgkin lymphoma with bilateral adrenal gland and pituitary involvement is a rare disease.Early diagnosis relies on the logical clinical evaluation and 18F-FDG PET-CT image.

Objective:To report thigh muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)tests of four Chinese patients with dystrophinopathy with edema changes in adductor longus muscles that mimics adductor en-thesopathy.Methods:Four boys,who were from four unrelated families and aged from 5 to 11 years, were investigated because of the clinical manifestations including myalgia or muscle weakness or the inci-dental findings of elevated serum creatine kinase levels,and were diagnosed with dystrophinopathy by gene test of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).Their creatine kinase levels were increased from 4 087 IU /L to 32 700 IU /L (Normal range:75 -175 IU /L).The muscle biopsy of three patients all demonstrated a dystrophic pattern including necrosis,regeneration,hypertrophy,atrophy and connective tissue proliferation,with different proportions of dystrophin-negative muscle fibers.The gene test of DMD showed an out-frame deletion of exons in three of the four patients,involving either exons 45 or exons 49 -52 deletion or exon 62 duplication,and c.2665 C >T with nonsense mutation in the other one. Muscle MRI tests of the bilateral thighs were performed with T1 weighed sequence and slow tau inversion recovery sequence.The degree of fatty infiltration changes was scored.Results:MRI of the thigh mus-cles showed mild to severe fatty infiltration changes in T1 weighed sequence with the total scores from 2 to 13.The most severe fatty infiltration changes were in the long head of biceps femoris and adductor mag-nus.Obvious hyperintensities appeared mainly in the adductor longus muscles on slow tau inversion re-covery (STIR)images in all the patients without any abnormal signals in the attachment of the ligament, indicating edema changes of the adductor longus muscles which mimiced adductor enthesopathy.Two of the four patients presented with edema changes in the bilateral adductor longus muscles,while the other two were with only unilateral changes.Furthermore,other thigh muscles,including adductor magnus, semitendinosus,sartorius and rectus femoris muscles,could also have mild edema changes in two of the four patients.Conclusion:Dystrophinopathy can manifest as edema changes in the adductor longus mus-cles in thigh muscle MRI tests,which is a typical lesion in adductor enthesopathy.The adductor longus muscles in the dystrophinopathy patients may be easy to be impaired due to traction injury during sports.

Objective:To investigate the early behavioral characteristics of children with autism within the age of 1.5 to 3 years in order to provide basis for early diagnosis and intervention. Methods: Using mass random sampling, 8006 children aged 1.5 to 3 years in nine districts in Tianjin were screened with a self-made questionnaire. Totally 432 children with suspected autism were diagnosed and rated according to the diagnosing criteria of DSM-Ⅳ and assessed with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Their behavioral characteristics were assessed with the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the early behaviors were compared between the children with autism and the normal children. Results: Children with autism in infants and suspicious positive group were different from normal children in 9 items such as" Abnormal language skills", "No index points the light", "No acts of posing as the game", "Could not normally play with toys, "and others(P <0.05). Children with autism in infants were different from suspicious positive group in 5 items such as"Children have no eye contact with others". The items with positive rate higher than 95% were interpersonal communicate barriers, mimic the functional deficiencies, language communicate barriers, non-verbal communication barriers and mental deficiency in CARS. The results of ABC showed that severe autism had much higher scores than mild to moderate autism both in the sense (S) and body function(B) areas [(8.00 ±3.30) vs. (5.15 ±2.58), (12.00 ±6.12) vs. (6.15 ±3.26); Ps <0.05]. Conclusion: The develop mental and behavioral symptoms can exist in early period of life of children with alltism, to which highly attention should be paid.

Objective Adipsic hypernatremia is very rare in clinical practice and only a few cases have been reported so far. Since the pathogenesis of adipsic hypernatremia is unclear, therapeutic method is very limited and uncertain. We previously found the existence of partial central diabetes insipidus in the patient with adipsic hypernatremia according to a series of clinical studies. In this clinical study, we observed the response of vasopressin in the treatment of adipsic hypernatremia as a routinely used agent in treating central diabetes insipidus.Methods Five patients with chronic sustained hypernatremia and hypodipsia were diagnosed as adipsic hypernatremia according to the criteria by Halter. After testing plasma electrolytes, urinary osmolality, plasma osmolality, and free water clearance (CH2O);with evaluating thirsty grade and anterior pituitary function, patients were forced to drink water 2 000-2 500 ml each day combined with prednisone and/or levethyroxin supplementation therapy if hypopituitarsm was revealed. One week later, since the hypernatremia was unrelieved, desmopressin acetate (0.05-0.2 mg/d)was administered to those 5 patients. About 5-7 days later, plasma electrolytes, urinary and plasma osmolality, and free water clearance ( CH2O ) were reevaluated. Osmolality was detected by the method of freezing point depression and thirst grade by the method of visual analogue scales. Results The plasma sodium was 160-190 mmol/L and plasma osmolality was 330-370 mmoL/L without thirsty perception during the hospitalization. Four of the five patients were revealed to be suffering from hypopituitarism, but the hypernatremia could not be corrected by intentional water intake combined with prednisone treatment. After administering vasopressin 0.05-0.2 mg/d to these patients, that hypernatremia was relieved, and hyperosmolality and hypodypsia were improved effectively. During this period of time, no side effects were detected in these patients. Conclusion We testified the existence of central partial diabetes insipidus in the patients with adipsic hypernatremia. Desmopressin acetate in the treatment of adipsic hypernatremia is proved to be effective, simple, and safe.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of saline infusion test (SIT) in patients with primary aldosteronism (PHA). Methods: A total of 116 patients with PHA or essential hypertension (EH) treated in our hospital from 1994-06 to 2013-05 were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into 2 groups: PHA group,n=72 and EH group, the patients with excluded PHA,n=44. post-SIT plasma levels of aldosterone and post-SIT ratio of aldosterone/renin activity were evaluated by ROC curve in order to analyze the diagnostic capability and the best diagnostic cut-off point. Results: The area under curve (AUC) by ROC for post-SIT aldosterone level was 0.759, the sensitivity and speciifcity were 74.6% and 63.6% respectively; AUC for post-SIT ratio of aldosterone/renin activity was 0.899, the sensitivity and speciifcity were 83.6% and 88.6% with the best diagnostic cut-off point at 111 [ng/dl:ng/(ml?h)]. Conclusion: Post-SIT plasma level of aldosterone and post-SIT ratio of aldosterone/renin activity had the diagnostic value of PHA; post-SIT ratio of aldosterone/renin activity had the higher diagnostic value of PHA.

Objective To comparatively analyze the clinical characteristics of thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas (TSH-omas).Methods The clinical features, laboratory variables, imaging and pathological Results were retrospectively compared and analyzed of 26 cases with TSH-omas admitted in Chinese PLA General Hospital from Feb. 2006 to Oct. 2016 and 20 cases with TSH-omas admitted in Shanghai Huashan Hospital from Apr. 2006 to Apr. 2013.Results The female ratio was slightly higher in patients of Chinese PLA General Hospital than in Huashan Hospital [(57.7%(15/26)vs. 45.0%(9/20)], while the mean age was similar [39.5±14.1(18-67 years)vs. 40.0±14.5(17-74 years)]. The most common chief complaint was thyrotoxicosis [73.1%(19/26)vs. 55.0%(11/20)], and mild-to-moderate goiter was the most common symptom. The mean serum TSH levels in Chinese PLA General Hospital and in Huashan Hospital were 5.06(2.97-6.27)mU/L and 6.16(3.76-10.91)mU/L respectively, and patients with normal serum TSH levels were more common in Chinese PLA General Hospital than in Huashan Hospital [57.7%(15/26)vs. 40.0%(8/20)]. Microadenoma was more common in Chinese PLA General Hospital than in Huashan Hospital [34.62%(9/26)vs. 20.0%(4/20)], while macroadenoma was more common in Huashan Hospital than in Chinese PLA General Hospital [20.0%(4/20)vs. 7.7%(2/26)]. Microadenoma was more common in female patients of the both groups [66.7%(6/9)vs. 75.0%(3/4)], while macroadenoma was all found in male patients. Tumor invasion of surrounding tissue and structure was often found in macroadenoma. In terms of octreotide inhibition test, the range of 24h TSH inhibition rate was roughly the same in the two groups (37.4%-91.8% and 46.5%-94.1%, respectively). Mixed adenoma was rare among all the pathologically confirmed cases. In Chinese PLA General Hospitals, TSH immunoreactive negative neoplastic cells were found in 3 of 8 cases, and octreotide scanning showed negative in 2 of 12 cases.Conclusions Patients with TSH-omas in the two hospitals show similarities but also some significant differences in the clinical features. Overall, the domestic patients with TSH-omas are diagnosed without gender difference according to the reports in China. The mean age at diagnosis is significantly younger than that in foreign data. Microadenoma is more common in females, while macroadenoma is more common in males. Serum TSH levels can be normal in patients with TSH-omas. Immunostaining and/or octreotide scanning for TSH can be negative.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with growth-hormone adenoma (GHA) and summarize the diagnosis and treatment experience.Methods The clinical data of 338 GHA cases at the General Hospital of PLA from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 2016 were collected, of which 252 cases with more complete clinical data were retrospectively analyzed including their general situation, medical history, laboratory tests and auxiliary examinations, and treatment modalities and outcomes. Parts of the patients were followed up.Results The cases of hospitalized GHA patients have increased year by year since 1990, and the number of patients admitted in the last 3 years accounted for 56.2% of the total number of cases. The sex ratio for GHA patients was nearly 1:1. Age of visiting followed Gaussian distribution while the 41-50 age group occupied the largest part. The most typical sign is hand and foot enlargement (60.7%), followed by the hypertrophy of nasal ala. The most common symptoms are headache (42.5%), hypopsia, visual field defect and diplopia. More than half of GHA patients were complicated with prediabetes and diabetes (72.6%), sleep apnea (69.5%), goiter or thyroid nodularity (56.4%), cardiac insufficiency (57.0%) and colon polyp (54.1%); while the percentages of cases undergone the relevant examination in the total number of cases were as follows: 75g OGTT test (42.1%), polysomnography (23.4%), thyroid ultrasound (37.3%), echocardiogram (47.6%) and colonoscopy (14.7%); GHA was 23.37±1.42μg/L and IGF-1 was 804.28±273.93ng/ml on average; 85.0% of somatotroph tumors are macroadenoma. Surgery remains the mainstay of therapy to GHA, while medical therapy was selected by less patients. During the follow-up, only 38.0%of GHA patients can be contacted, among them the remission rate decreased to 40.5%. The positive rate of long-term remission evaluated by early postoperative GHA level was consistent with that confirmed by the long-term follow-up (χ2=3.368,P>0.05). Conclusions The number of hospitalized GHA patients have increased recent years. The common clinical signs and symptoms are somatic enlargement and nonspecific headache. Due to uncompleted screening, GHA associated complications are always misdiagnosed; It is essential to establish a sound model of follow-up to improve patients' quality of life. The early postoperative GHA levels may predict the prognosis of surgery.

OBJECTIVETo study tissue culture and plant regeneration of Withania somnifera.

METHODLeaves of W. somnifera were used for explants, effects of different plant growth substances on callus and shoot induction were studied, different medium and plant growth substances for rooting induction was optimized.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe best plant growth substances combination for callus induction was MS + 1.0 mg x L(-1) 2,4-D + 0.1 mg x L(-1) KT. The optimal medium for germination was MS + 1.0 mg x L(-1) 6-BA + 0.1 mg x L(-1) NAA. The best medium and plant growth substances combination for rooting induction was 1/2MS + 0.5 mg x L(-1) NAA, transplant survival rate of plantlet reached 92% in humus soil-pearlite (1:1).

Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Regeneration ; drug effects ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; Withania ; drug effects ; growth & development

Objective To analyze the relationship between the brain functional alterations of patients with Cushing's disease (CD) and patients' mental symptom by applying the Evaluating Emotional Scales and task functional magnetic resonance imaging (Task fMRI).Methods Task fMRI was performed on 8 patients with diagnosed CD admitted in the Department of Endocrinology of Chinese PLA General Hospital from Nov. 2015 to Nov. 2016 and 21 healthy people with matched age, gender and education level as control. Meanwhile, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Positive and Negative Affective Scale (PANAS) and Cushing Quality of Life Scale (Cushing QOL) were obtained to assess the brain functions.Results Significant depression and anxiety were observed in patients with CD, and their positive affective score was substantially lower while the negative affective score was relatively higher compared with that in the controls. Task fMRI revealed that, when watching the positive pictures, the activation degree of left cerebellum and right postcentral gyrus weakened in CD patients than in the controls, and the positive correlations existed between the activation degree of left cerebellum and the 16 o'clock adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) level, and between the activation degree of right postcentral gyrus and the urinary free cortisol (UFC) level in CD patients. In contrast, when watching the negative pictures, the activation degree of left cerebellum, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus was weakened in CD patients than in the controls, and the activation degree of left cerebellum was negatively correlated to the 0 o'clock cortisol level and SAS score, but is positively correlated to the UFC level. When watching the neutral pictures, the activation degree of left cerebellum and left parahippocampal gyrus was weakened in CD patients than in the controls.Conclusions CD patients may have impaired brain function with depression and anxiety mental symptoms. By Task fMRI, it can be found that the weakened activation degree of left inferior frontal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus and left cerebellum may be related to CD patients' mental symptoms.

Objective To explore the potential influence of gender on screening value of aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) for primary aldosteronism (PA).Methods The biochemical parameters were collected of 451 PA patients and 300 essential hypertension (EH) patients who were diagnosed in the General Hospital of PLA from 1992 to 2014. Each group was then divided into two groups by gender. The clinical characteristics were compared and then the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was conducted to evaluate the best cut-off value.Results The plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), serum sodium and ARR were much higher, but the plasma rennin activity (PRA), serum potassium and BMI were much lower in PA patients than in EH patients (P<0.01), and no significant difference existed between the two groups in age, duration of hypertension and blood pressure. The PRA was obviously lower in males than in females either in PA or in EH patients, but no signicantcant difference existed between males and females in PAC (P>0.05). The best cut-off value of ARR in male PA patients was 19.11, the relevant area under the curve (AUC) was 0.968, the sensitivity and specicantcity was 92.44% and 93.08%, and the Youden index (YI) was 0.86. The best cut-off value of ARR in female PA patients was 27.26, with AUC 0.956, sensitivity 92.07%, specicantcity 90.00% and YI 0.82, respectively. If the cut-off value was set at 27.26 in males, the specicantcity would rise a little, but the sensitivity and YI would sharply decrease. Similarly, the sensitivity would increase a little but the specicantcity and YI would fall substantially if the cut-off value in females was set at 19.11. The best cut-off value of ARR in men was smaller than the ocantcial value recommended by guidelines.Conclusion Gender is an important factor should be considered while ARR is used in PA screening, and the cut-off value of ARR in screening female PA patients should be setting higher.