The oral glucose growth hormone suppression test is commonly used in the clinical diagnosis of acromegaly, but its results can be influenced by a variety of factors. This case report discusses a patient with a pituitary tumor and concurrent liver cirrhosis, highlighting the complexities in interpreting test results under such conditions. The patient, a 54-year-old male, presented with blurred vision as his primary complaint. Notably, the physical examination revealed no changes in facial features, no enlargement of hands or feet, and no other symptoms typically associated with acromegaly, which might otherwise suggest excessive growth hormone activity. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the pituitary gland indicated that the gland was within normal size parameters, but a small low-intensity lesion mea-suring approximately 3 mm×2 mm identified. This finding was consistent with a pituitary microadenoma. The patient's fasting growth hormone levels were significantly elevated at 8.470 μg/L, compared with the normal range of less than 2.47 μg/L. Conversely, fasting insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels were notably low, recorded at 41 and 52 μg/L, whereas the normal range for a person of his age was between 87 and 234 μg/L. Other pituitary hormones, including those regulating the thyroid, adrenal cortex, and sex hormones, were found to be within normal ranges. Despite this, during the glucose growth hormone suppression test, an abnormal elevation of growth hormone was observed. To investigate further, the patient was administered branched-chain amino acids, and the suppression test was repeated. However, the abnormal elevation of growth hormone persisted, indicating a failure to normalize the response. Given the patient's lack of clinical signs typically associated with elevated growth hormone secretion, the history of liver cirrhosis became a significant consideration. The disparity between elevated growth hormone levels and reduced IGF-1 levels suggested that the pituitary lesion was a non-functional adenoma rather than a source of excess hormone production. Consequently, it was concluded that the abnormal response of growth hormone to the glucose suppression test was likely related to the patient's liver cirrhosis. In addition to chronic liver disease, various other conditions could influence the results of the oral glucose tolerance growth hormone suppression test. According to the literature, factors such as puberty, diabetes, anorexia nervosa, and protein malnutrition could also affect test outcomes. These conditions could cause similar abnormalities in growth hormone dynamics, complicating the diagnosis. Therefore, clinicians must be vigilant and consider these potential influences when interpreting test results.For an accurate diagnosis of acromegaly, it is essential to combine clinical symptoms, detailed medical history, and imaging studies. The presence of conditions like liver cirrhosis should prompt careful interpretation of the test results, ensuring that other contributing factors are not overlooked. This comprehensive approach is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and to ensure that appropriate treatment strategies are implemented based on a thorough understanding of the patient's overall health status.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms/blood* ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood* ; Adenoma/blood* ; Human Growth Hormone/blood* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism* ; Acromegaly/etiology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective: To explore the value of catheter-based adrenal ablation in treating Cushing's syndrome (CS)-associated hypertension. Methods: A clinical study was conducted in patients with CS, who received catheter-based adrenal ablation between March 2018 and July 2023 in Daping Hospital. Parameters monitored were blood pressure (outpatient and 24-hour ambulatory), body weight, clinical characteristics, serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) at 8 am, 24-hour urinary free cortisol (24 h UFC), fasting blood glucose and postoperative complications. Procedure effectiveness was defined as blood pressure returning to normal levels (systolic blood pressure<140 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and diastolic blood pressure<90 mmHg), cortisol and 24 h UFC returning to normal and improvement of clinical characteristics. The parameters were monitored during follow up in the outpatient department at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after catheter-based adrenal ablation. Results: A total of 12 patients (aged (40.0±13.2) years) were reviewed. There were 5 males, with 5 cases of adenoma and 7 with hyperplasia from imaging studies. Catheter-based adrenal ablation was successful in all without interruption or surgical conversion. No postoperative complication including bleeding, puncture site infection, adrenal artery rupture or adrenal bleeding was observed. The mean follow up was 28 months. Compared to baseline values, body weight declined to (59.48±11.65) kg from (64.81±10.75) kg (P=0.008), fasting blood glucose declined to (4.54±0.83) mmol from (5.53±0.99) mmol (P=0.044), outpatient systolic blood pressure declined to (128±21) mmHg from (140±19) mmHg (P=0.005), diastolic blood pressure declined to (78±10) mmHg from (86±11) mmHg (P=0.041), and the mean ambulatory daytime diastolic blood pressure declined to (79±12) mmHg from (89±8) mmHg (P=0.034). Catheter-based adrenal ablation in 8 patients was defined as effective with their 24 h UFC significantly reduced after the procedure (1 338.41±448.06) mmol/L from (633.66±315.94) mmol/L, P=0.011). The change of 24 h UFC between the effective treatment group and ineffective group was statistically significant (P=0.020). The postoperative systolic blood pressure in the treated adenoma group was significantly lower than those of hyperplasia group (112±13) mmHg vs. (139±20) mmHg, P=0.026). Conclusions: For patients with CS-associated hypertension who are unwilling or unable to undergo surgical treatment, catheter-based adrenal ablation could improve the blood pressure and cortisol level. Catheter-based adrenal ablation could be a safe, effective, and minimally invasive therapy. However, our results still need to be validated in further large-scale studies.
Male ; Humans ; Cushing Syndrome/complications* ; Hydrocortisone ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/surgery* ; Feasibility Studies ; Blood Glucose ; Hyperplasia/complications* ; Hypertension/complications* ; Adenoma/complications* ; Body Weight ; Catheters/adverse effects*

Objective: To explore the value of catheter-based adrenal ablation in treating Cushing's syndrome (CS)-associated hypertension. Methods: A clinical study was conducted in patients with CS, who received catheter-based adrenal ablation between March 2018 and July 2023 in Daping Hospital. Parameters monitored were blood pressure (outpatient and 24-hour ambulatory), body weight, clinical characteristics, serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) at 8 am, 24-hour urinary free cortisol (24 h UFC), fasting blood glucose and postoperative complications. Procedure effectiveness was defined as blood pressure returning to normal levels (systolic blood pressure<140 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and diastolic blood pressure<90 mmHg), cortisol and 24 h UFC returning to normal and improvement of clinical characteristics. The parameters were monitored during follow up in the outpatient department at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after catheter-based adrenal ablation. Results: A total of 12 patients (aged (40.0±13.2) years) were reviewed. There were 5 males, with 5 cases of adenoma and 7 with hyperplasia from imaging studies. Catheter-based adrenal ablation was successful in all without interruption or surgical conversion. No postoperative complication including bleeding, puncture site infection, adrenal artery rupture or adrenal bleeding was observed. The mean follow up was 28 months. Compared to baseline values, body weight declined to (59.48±11.65) kg from (64.81±10.75) kg (P=0.008), fasting blood glucose declined to (4.54±0.83) mmol from (5.53±0.99) mmol (P=0.044), outpatient systolic blood pressure declined to (128±21) mmHg from (140±19) mmHg (P=0.005), diastolic blood pressure declined to (78±10) mmHg from (86±11) mmHg (P=0.041), and the mean ambulatory daytime diastolic blood pressure declined to (79±12) mmHg from (89±8) mmHg (P=0.034). Catheter-based adrenal ablation in 8 patients was defined as effective with their 24 h UFC significantly reduced after the procedure (1 338.41±448.06) mmol/L from (633.66±315.94) mmol/L, P=0.011). The change of 24 h UFC between the effective treatment group and ineffective group was statistically significant (P=0.020). The postoperative systolic blood pressure in the treated adenoma group was significantly lower than those of hyperplasia group (112±13) mmHg vs. (139±20) mmHg, P=0.026). Conclusions: For patients with CS-associated hypertension who are unwilling or unable to undergo surgical treatment, catheter-based adrenal ablation could improve the blood pressure and cortisol level. Catheter-based adrenal ablation could be a safe, effective, and minimally invasive therapy. However, our results still need to be validated in further large-scale studies.
Male ; Humans ; Cushing Syndrome/complications* ; Hydrocortisone ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/surgery* ; Feasibility Studies ; Blood Glucose ; Hyperplasia/complications* ; Hypertension/complications* ; Adenoma/complications* ; Body Weight ; Catheters/adverse effects*

Adenoma ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Feces ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Occult Blood ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study investigated advantages and potential risks associated with drinking alcohol in Koreans based on the alcohol flush reaction. Our investigation reviewed published studies and examined moderate-drinking levels for Koreans based on modified National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines. Fourteen articles out of a total 198 publications were searched using PubMed, EMBASE, KoreaMed, and RISS (Research Information Sharing Service) databases and selected for review. Individuals without alcohol flush reaction (non-flushers) exhibited lower risks associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and hyperhomocysteinemia and their 10-year cardiovascular disease risk when alcohol consumption was ≤8 drinks/wk. Conversely, risks associated with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, prediabetes or type-2 diabetes, and high intraocular pressure and increases in carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma glutamyl transferase, and blood glucose levels were present when >8 drinks were consumed. For individuals with flushing reaction (flushers), advantages were reported in relation to risks of hyperhomocysteinemia when alcohol consumption was ≤4 drinks/wk, whereas consumption of >4 drinks/wk increased the risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes or type-2 diabetes, high-risk colorectal adenoma, and high intraocular pressure and increased carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma glutamyl transferase, and blood glucose levels. The moderate drinking level for Koreans is ≤8 drinks/wk for men aged ≤65 years and ≤4 drinks/wk for men aged over 65. For women, these limits should be half of those for men. Furthermore, individuals with flushing reaction should maintain an alcohol consumption level half of that for non-flushers.
Adenoma ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Drinking ; Female ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Hypertension ; Information Dissemination ; Insulin Resistance ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.) ; Prediabetic State ; Transferases ; Transferrin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To examine whether visceral adiposity serves as a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal adenomas. METHODS: Two hundred healthy subjects, 200 patients with colorectal adenoma, and 151 patients with CRC (46 with early-stage and 105 with advanced-stage cancers) were enrolled at a tertiary referral hospital. All subjects underwent colonoscopy, and had laboratory data, and computed tomography (CT) scan available for abdominal fat measurement. An abdominal CT scan taken 1 to 4 years (mean interval, 20.6 months) before the diagnosis of CRC was also available in the 42 CRC patients. RESULTS: The mean areas of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) areas in the control, adenoma, early- and advanced-stage CRC groups were 94.6, 116.8, 110.4, and 99.7 cm², respectively (P<0.001). The risk of adenoma positively correlated with VAT area and the visceral-to-total fat ratio (P for trend <0.01), but the risk of CRC did not (P>0.05). The risk of both adenoma and CRC positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose levels (P for trend <0.05). In patients with early-stage cancer (n=17), VAT area decreased when the CT scan at diagnosis was compared with that taken before the diagnosis of CRC, but superficial adipose tissue area did not, so visceral-to-total fat ratio significantly decreased (46.6% vs. 50.7%, respectively, P=0.018) CONCLUSIONS: VAT area is related to the risk of colorectal adenoma. However, VAT decreases from the early stages of CRC. Impaired fasting glucose has a role in colorectal carcinogenesis.
Abdominal Fat ; Adenoma ; Adipose Tissue ; Adiposity ; Blood Glucose ; Carcinogenesis ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective: To analyze the effect of colorectal cancer screening in the general population in Guangzhou, and provide evidence for the for development of colorectal cancer screening policy and strategy. Methods: The data of colorectal cancer screening in Guangzhou during 2015- 2016 were collected. The participation, the positive rate of fecal occult blood test, the detection rate of colonoscopy and screening effect of colonoscopy were evaluated. Results: A total of 220 834 residents aged 50-74 years received the screening, and the positive rate of the screening was 16.77% (37 040 cases). Colonoscopy was performed for 7 821 cases (21.12%). Colorectal lesions were found in 4 126 cases (52.76%), of which 614 (7.85%) and 73 (0.93%) and 230 (2.94%) were identified as advanced adenoma, severe dysplasia lesions and colorectal cancers, respectively. The detection rates of all colorectal lesions were higher in men than in women (all P<0.01). The diagnostic rate of early lesion was 87.24%, and 99 early cancer cases were found, accounting for 46.26% of the total cases. The overall screening detection rate of colorectal cancer was 104.15/100 000, higher than the incidence rate (81.18/100 000) in colorectal cancer surveillance (P<0.001), but age group <70 years had higher detection rate, age group ≥70 years had higher incidence rate. Conclusions: The colorectal cancer screening strategy in Guangzhou is effective in the detection of the population at high risk, increase the detection rate of colorectal lesions, early diagnosis rate of precancerous lesions and diagnosis rate of early colorectal cancer. The benefit in those aged ≤69 years was more obvious than that in those aged 70-74 years. It is necessary to improve the compliancy of colorectal cancer screening in population at high risk.
Adenoma/prevention & control* ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Colonoscopy/statistics & numerical data* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/prevention & control* ; Early Detection of Cancer/methods* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunochemistry ; Male ; Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Occult Blood ; Predictive Value of Tests

The impact of sexual dysfunction (SD) is distressing to many male patients with pituitary adenomas which affect both physical and psychological health. The research explored to identify risk factors affecting sexual function and the prognosis of male patients with pituitary adenomas. Two hundred and fifty-four male patients, who aged between 18 and 60 (mean ± s.d.: 44.16 ± 10.14) years and diagnosed with pituitary adenomas, were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and fifty-nine patients (62.6%) complained of SD prior to surgery. The mean International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) in patients with giant adenomas was 16.13 ± 2.51, much smaller than those with microadenomas or macroadenomas (P < 0.05). All the patients showed significant improvement in terms of erectile dysfunction (ED) following surgery (P < 0.05). In addition, complete resection achieved a higher degree of SD relief than partial resection. The incidence of SD in functioning pituitary adenomas (FPAs) was much higher than that in nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) (P < 0.05). In addition, compared with NFPAs, males with prolactinomas (82.8%) had the higher prevalence of SD and significantly improvement following surgical intervention (P < 0.05). An inverse relationship was identified between decreasing testosterone levels and increasing incidence of SD before surgery (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between 6 months and 12 months after surgery in serum testosterone level (P > 0.05). Our results indicated that surgical therapy could be optimized for improvements in SD and that testosterone levels can be used as a sensitive indicator to predict the recovery rate of sexual function in patients with pituitary adenomas following surgery and the serum testosterone level will stay stable in 6 months after surgery.
Adenoma/surgery* ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cohort Studies ; Erectile Dysfunction/etiology* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pituitary Neoplasms/surgery* ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Prolactinoma/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/etiology* ; Testosterone/blood* ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association of colorectal adenoma with metabolic syndrome (MS) and relevant parameters.

METHODSClinical data of 289 subjects who underwent screening colonoscopy in the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital from January 2014 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed, including 130 normal subjects (normal group) and 159 cases with colorectal adenoma confirmed by pathology(adenoma group). Levels of MS-associated parameters were compared between the two groups, and the association of metabolic diseases with colorectal adenoma was examined.

RESULTSThe gender, smoking and drinking habit, regular physical activity, family history of colorectal cancer, and consumption history of long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were not significantly different between two groups (all P>0.05). As compared to normal group, adenoma group had higher body mass index (BMI) [(23.5±3.2) kg/m(2) vs. (22.7±2.8) kg/m(2), t=1.97, P=0.050], larger abdominal circumference [(83.4±10.3) cm vs. (79.6±13.8) cm, t=2.46, P=0.015], higher serum high-density lipoprotein level [(1.3±0.3) mmol/L vs. (1.2±0.3) mmol/L, t=2.03, P=0.044], and higher serum cholesterol [(5.4±1.0) mmol/L vs. (5.0±1.1) mmol/L, t=2.39, P=0.018]. No significant difference was demonstrated in comparing hip circumference and waist-hip ratio, as well as serum fasting glucose and triglyceride(all P>0.05). Higher incidence of colorectal adenoma was found in subjects with MS [69.8%(37/53) vs. 1.7%(122/236), P=0.017], overweight or obesity [65.1% (56/86) vs. 50.7%(103/203), P=0.025], hypertension [67.3%(37/55) vs. 52.1%(122/234), P=0.046] and hypercholesterolemia [66.7%(64/96) vs. 49.2%(95/193), P=0.005].

CONCLUSIONSMetabolic syndrome increased the risk of developing colorectal adenoma. The mechanism may be related to higher serum cholesterol and high density lipoprotein, which may lead to the elevated catabolism of serum cholesterol. Screening colonoscopy should be performed for patients diagnosed as metabolic syndrome, especially for those with central obesity and hypercholesterolemia, thus early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal adenoma may be available.

Adenoma ; epidemiology ; Blood Glucose ; chemistry ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; epidemiology ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Mass Screening ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of adrenocortical adenoma's diagnosis and treatment in patients aged 60 years or above.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed with a total of 249 patients aged 60 years or above who suffered from adrenocortical adenoma and treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2004 to January 2014.The clinical features, treatments and prognosis of the 249 patients aged 60 years or above were compared with another 249 patients which were randomly selected during the same period aged from 30 to 50 years.t-test or χ(2) test was used to analyze the data between the two groups.

RESULTSEndocrine examinations were performed in all 249 patients aged 60 years or above.There were 144 patients diagnosed as non-functional adrenocortical adenoma, 94 cases as aldosterone-producing adenoma and 11 cases as Cushing adenoma.For the patients aged 60 years or above, the rate of cardio-cerebral vascular incident in non-functional adrenocortical adenoma group was 26.4%(38/144), which was significantly lower than that of the aldosterone-producing adenoma and Cushing adenoma group(54.3%, 57/105)(χ(2)=20.027, P=0.000). There were 91.5%(65/71) of the patients aged 60 years or above who got a relief in low blood potassium symptoms after the operation.Forty-nine point one percent(53/108) of the non-functional adrenocortical adenoma patients aged 60 years or above had a better control of their blood pressure level, while functional adrenocortical adenoma group were 64.0%(48/75) which indicated that the functional adrenocortical adenoma patients have a better control of their blood pressure then the non-functional adrenocortical adenoma patients after the operation(χ(2)=3.987, P=0.046). There were 37.1% of the patients aged 60 years or above whose fasting blood-glucose was higher than 7.1 mmol/L, while the patients aged from 30 to 50 years was 14.1%(χ(2)=22.02, P=0.000). The differences in plasma aldosterone and blood potassium between the patients aged 60 years or above and the patients aged from 30 to 50 years had statistical significance(t=10.48, -2.58; P=0.00, 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMost of the adrenocortical adenoma in patients aged 60 years or above is non-functional adrenocortical adenoma.Among who, patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma tend to have lower plasma aldosterone concentration and higher blood potassium level then the patients aged from 30 to 50 years.The patients aged 60 years or above with functional adrenocortical adenoma are tend to have severe cardio-cerebral vascular incidence.A few of non-functional adrenocortical adenoma patients who combine with hypertension can benefit for the operation.

Adrenocortical Adenoma ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Adult ; Aldosterone ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies