Objective To comparatively analyze the clinical characteristics of primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia(PBMAH)and adrenal cortisol-producing Adenoma(CPA),and enhance the understanding of two diseases.Methods The clinical data of 85 PBMAH patients(PBMAH group)and 195 CPA patients(CPA group)diagnosed at Department of Endocrinology,the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital,from September 2014 to August 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.The demographic characteristics,comorbidities,biochemical indicators,adrenocorticotropic hormone-cortisol(ACTH-F)levels,and adrenal imaging features and treatment conditions were compared between the two groups.Results(1)General characteristics:Compared with CPA group,PBMAH group had older age at diagnosis and a higher proportion of male patients.(2)Clinical characteristics:Compared with CPA group,PBMAH group had a longer disease duration,a higher proportion of subclinical Cushing's syndrome(CS),and a higher proportion of hypertension,impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes,bone mass reduction or osteoporosis,with higher serum potassium levels,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.01).(3)Hormone levels:Both PBMAH and CPA groups showed ACTH-F rhythm disorder,significantly increased cortisol levels and suppressed ACTH.Compared with PBMAH group,CPA group had stronger autonomous cortisol secretion ability,manifested by increased midnight serum cortisol(F0:00),16:00 serum cortisol(F16:00),24-hour urinary free cortisol(24 h UFC)levels and lower 8:00 serum ACTH(ACTH8:00)and 16:00 serum ACTH(ACTH16:00)(P<0.01).After low-dose dexamethasone suppression test(LDDST),CPA group showed lower suppression rates of ACTH and cortisol,and higher proportions of paradoxical elevation in serum cortisol and 24 h UFC compared with PBMAH(P<0.01).Conclusions PBMAH has a longer disease course and higher proportions of comorbid metabolic disorders than CPA,mostly manifested as subclinical Cushing's syndrome.CPA has stronger autonomous cortisol secretion ability,with cortisol less likely to be suppressed after LDDST and more obvious paradoxical elevation of cortisol and 24 h UFC.

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of adrenal cortical carcinoma(ACC),compare differences between hypercortisolism and non-functional ACC,and assess the diagnostic value of indicators such as Ki-67 index.Methods The clinical data of 57 ACC patients admitted to the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2015 to March 2025 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the results of endocrine function assessment,47 of these patients were divided into hypercortisolism group(n=19)and non-functional group(n=28).The differences in clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups were compared,and non-parametric tests and Spearman correlation analysis were used to explore the relationship between Ki-67 index and tumor stage as well as imaging features.Results Among the 57 patients,there were 20 males and 37 females,with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.85.The age ranged from 16 to 76 years,and the age at diagnosis was(48.7±13.3)years.The tumor diameter was(10.53±4.14)cm.The tumors were located on the right side in 12 cases(21.1%),on the left side in 34 cases(59.6%),and bilaterally in 11 cases(19.3%).Among them,16 cases(28.1%)were complicated with glucose metabolism disorders,31 cases(54.3%)had hypertension,and 20 cases(35.1%)had hypokalemia.According to ENSAT staging,there were 0 cases in stage Ⅰ,15 cases(26.3%)in stage Ⅱ,24 cases(42.1%)in stage Ⅲ,and 18 cases(31.6%)in stage Ⅳ.Endocrine function assessment was completed in 47 of the 57 patients,including 28 cases(59.6%)of non-functional ACC and 19 cases(40.4%)of hypercortisolism(including 1 case of hypercortisolism combined with increased sex hormone secretion).Compared with non-functional group,hypercortisolism group had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension(P=0.014),later ENSAT stage(P=0.010),and a higher proportion of hypervascularization(P=0.048).The median Ki-67 index was 20%(10%-40%),showing no significant correlation with either the maximum tumor diameter or SUVmax value,but it was related to ENSAT staging,with Ki-67 index in stageⅣ patients being significantly higher than that in stage Ⅱ(P=0.032).Immunohistochemistry results showed that the positive rate of Inhibin-α was 84.8%,and the positive rate of Melan-A was 40.9%.Conclusions ACC is a rare malignant endocrine tumor.ACC patients with hypercortisolism are more likely to be complicated with hypertension,have later staging,and more common hypervascular manifestations.Clinically,their endocrine function should be prioritized for assessment,and more active treatment strategies should be adopted.Diagnosis should be combined with imaging characteristics(such as hypervascularization)and immunohistochemical indicators(Ki-67,Inhibin-α,Melan-A).The significant increase in Ki-67 is in the advanced stage can serve as an important prognostic indicator to guide individualized treatment.

Objective To characterize multimodal metabolic disorders in subclinical Cushing's syndrome(SCS)patients with different cortisol levels,providing a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 165 SCS patients diagnosed at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital due to adrenal masses from January 2014 to October 2024.Using the serum cortisol levels after the midnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test(1 mg DST)as the cut-off point,SCS patients were divided into high-level group(1 mg DST-F>138 nmol/L,n=96)and low-level group(50 nmol/L<1 mg DST-F≤138 nmol/L,n=69).The differences in age,gender,body mass index(BMI),blood pressure,glucolipid metabolism indices,electrolytes,hormone levels,and imaging features of adrenal adenoma(such as CT values)were compared between the two groups.Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the correlation between CT values and metabolic indices.Results Compared with low-level group,patients in high-level group were younger(54.0±11.3 vs.57.7±10.3,P=0.034),while there were no statistically significant differences in gender ratio or BMI between the two groups(P>0.05).Both groups exhibited decreased adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)levels and disrupted circadian rhythm.Compared with low-level group,high-level group showed significantly higher F0:00 levels[250.00(170.07,422.53)nmol/L vs.110.00(82.74,133.90)nmol/L]and 24-hour urinary free cortisol(24 h UFC)[568.40(377.80,875.45)nmol/24 h vs.369.40(265.40,494.69)nmol/24 h](P<0.001),with no significant differences in serum F8:00,or 1 mg DST ACTH0:00 levels(P>0.05).Except for the fasting C-peptide level in the high-level group being higher than that in low-level group[(2.88±1.01)ng/ml vs.(2.46±0.78)ng/ml,P=0.024],there were no significant differences in blood pressure,blood lipids,glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c),fasting blood glucose,fasting insulin,serum electrolytes,uric acid,and other indices between the two groups(P>0.05).The CT value of adrenal adenoma during contrast-enhanced scanning was higher in high-level group[80.00(17.80,93.00)Hu vs.52.00(35.50,75.00)Hu,P=0.006]compared with low-level group.Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that diastolic blood pressure was positively correlated with CT values of adrenal adenomas in both plain scanning(β=0.49,95%CI 0.09-0.90)and contrast-enhanced scanning(β=2.08,95%CI 0.76-3.39),while triglyceride levels were negatively correlated with plain scanning CT values(β=-5.77,95%CI-10.88--0.66).Conclusion Patients with SCS at different cortisol levels differ in age,fasting C-peptide levels,and CT values.CT values may serve as potential imaging markers to assess metabolic risk in SCS patients.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with clinical and subclinical Cushing's syndrome caused by primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia(PBMAH).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 198 patients with Cushing's syndrome caused by PBMAH diagnosed in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2004 to October 2024.According to clinical manifestations,the patients were classified into clinical type Cushing's syndrome(n=61)and subclinical type Cushing's syndrome(n=137),and the clinical characteristics of the two types were compared.Results The mean age at diagnosis of patients with PBMAH-induced Cushing's syndrome was(53.5±10.4)years,including 118 males and 80 females,with a male-to-female ratio of 1.475:1.Compared with the subclinical type,the clinical type had a higher proportion of females,higher levels of serum cortisol,24-hour urine free cortisol(24 h UFC),and inhibited serum cortisol after low-dose dexamethasone suppression.Additionally,the clinical type had lower plasma ACTH,larger adrenal nodules and a higher risk of surgery(P<0.05)compared with those in subclinical type.The incidences of hypertension,dyslipidemia,obesity,diabetes mellitus,hypokalemia,vitamin D deficiency,osteoporosis,coronary heart disease,and cerebrovascular disease in patients with Cushing's syndrome caused by PBMAH were 87.9%,50.5%,37.1%,36.9%,27.8%,25.9%,18.7%,18.7%and 12.1%,respectively.Among them,compared with subclinical type patients,clinical type patients had higher incidence of hypokalaemia,vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis(P<0.05),while there were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of other comorbidities between the two types(P>0.05).The results of postoperative follow-up for PBMAH patients showed that the short-term biochemical remission rate of unilateral total adrenalectomy was 41.5%(22/53)and the long-term biochemical remission rate was 32.0%(8/25).The short-term biochemical remission rate of unilateral partial(or nodular)adrenalectomy was 52.9%(9/17),and the long-term biochemical remission rate was 14.3%(1/7).All patients who underwent unilateral total adrenalectomy plus contralateral partial resection developed adrenal insufficiency(3/3),and 1 patient(1/3)relapsed 3.4 years after surgery.Conclusion Clinical and subclinical types of Cushing's syndrome caused by PBMAH have their distinct clinical characteristics.Surgery is an effective treatment for PBMAH,but a certain proportion of patients fail to achieve biochemical remission after non-bilateral total adrenalectomy.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related diabetes mellitus(ICI-DM).Methods The clinical characteristics,laboratory examinations,treatment regimens,and follow-up outcomes of 10 ICI-DM patients who were diagnosed and treated in the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between July 2019 and December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Relevant literatures were retrieved from domestic and foreign databases such as PubMed,CNKI,and VIP.The clinical characteristics of ICI-DM were summarized based on the literature results.Results All 10 patients were PD-1 inhibitor users,including 5 males and 5 females,with a median age of 54.5(51.3,64.0)years and a body mass index(BMI)of(22.0±2.15)kg/m2.Among them,9 cases(90.0%)were fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus(FT1DM);9 cases(90.0%)had a severity of adverse events reaching grade 3-4 according to the Common Terminology Criteria for adverse events(CTCAE).The median time from PD-1 inhibitor treatment to the occurrence of the classic diabetes symptoms referred to as"three more and one less"(polyuria,polydipsia,polyphagia,and weight loss)in all patients was 145.5(110.5,204.8)days,and the medication duration was 6.0(4.3,7.8)cycles.The average blood glucose level of the 10 patients at the time of consultation was 25.3(10.0-41.4)mmol/L,and the glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)level was 8.0%(6.6%-10.9%).Eight patients had fasting and 2-hour C-peptide levels<0.1 ng/ml(fasting C-peptide from<0.010 to 0.067 ng/ml,2-hour C-peptide from<0.010 to 0.077 ng/ml).Nine of the 10 patients were negative for diabetes autoantibodies,while 1 was not tested.All 10 patients were successfully treated with insulin and other therapies.During the follow-up after discharge,all patients still relied on insulin treatment,and no significant recovery of pancreatic islet β cell function was observed compared with that at discharge.Literature review revealed that ICI-DM was more common in PD-1 inhibitor users,with clinical mainly manifested as diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA)(65.4%)and diabetic ketosis(13.1%).Patients had severely impaired pancreatic islet function and required long-term insulin treatment,and some cases were complicated by thyroid or pituitary dysfunction.Conclusions ICI-DM typically presents as FT1DM,often manifesting with DKA or diabetic ketosis at onset.It is characterized by severe and irreversible loss of pancreatic islet function,necessitating lifelong insulin therapy.To enable early detection and prompt treatment,close monitoring of blood glucose is essential during ICI treatment.

Objective:To explore the clinical application of Hisense Computer-Assisted Sur-gery System(CAS)in the perioperative period of hepatectomy for liver cancer.Methods:Clinical data of patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy(LH)for liver cancer from January 2021 to December 2022 were collected.Patients were divided into three groups based on surgical difficulty(low,medium,high)and further stratified into CAS-assisted subgroup and control subgroup ac-cording to whether the CAS system was used.Demographic and perioperative data were com-pared among different groups.Results:A total of 317 patients'clinical data were collected,in-cluding 31 cases in the low difficulty group,132 cases in th medium difficulty group,and 154 cases in the high difficulty group,with 108 cases(34.1％)in the CAS-assisted subgroup and 209 cases(65.9％)in the control group.In the medium difficulty group,the CAS-assisted subgroup had shorter operation time,drainage tube duration,and postoperative hospital stay compared to the control group(P＜0.001),and the AFP levels at 1 month postoperatively in the CAS-assisted sub-group were lower than those in the control group(P＜0.001).In the high difficulty group,the CAS-assisted subgroup showed shorter operation time,drainage tube duration,and postoperative hospi-tal stay,less intraoperative blood loss,and lower AFP levels 1 month post-operation compared to the control group(P＜0.001 for all).Conclusion:Preoperative CAS in medium and high difficulty laparoscopic liver resections improves perioperative outcomes.Hisense CAS effectively assists general surgeons in accurately identifying the anatomical site of liver tumors,providing precise pre-operative simulation and intraoperative navigation,thereby optimizing surgical strategies for pa-tients.

ObjectiveThe effect of ghrelin on glucose metabolism is still controversial. This study aims to investigate the effects of long-term application of acyl ghrelin (AG) and des-acyl ghrelin (DAG) on insulin resistance and serum inflammatory factor levels by establishing a mouse model of obesity, induced by a high-fat diet.MethodsThirty two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, 8 in each group. Except for the control group, the high fat diet group (HFD), HFD+AG group and HFD+DAG group were given a high-fat diet to induce obesity in mice. Control group: standard feed and an intraperitoneal injection of 10mL isotonic saline were given every day. HFD: high-fat feed and an intraperitoneal injection of 10mL isotonic saline were given every day. HFD+AG group: high-fat diet was fed with 0.8mg AG; HFD+DAG group: high-fat diet was fed with 0.8mg DAG. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed 16 weeks later. The blood glucose was collected from the tail veins at 0min, 30min, 60min and 120min after injection, respectively, the fluctuation curve was drawn, the area under the curve was calculated, and then the epididymal fat index was weighted. Fasting insulin, interleukin 6 (IL6) and TNFα levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then the insulin resistance index (HOMA IR) was compared.ResultsAfter 6 weeks of feeding, the weight of the mice in HFD was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After 14 and 12 weeks of administration, the mice in the HFD+AG group and the HFD+DAG group had a significant weight loss (P<0.05). The fat mass of the epididymis in the HFD+DAG group [(0.92±0.32)g] was significantly lower than that of the HFD group [(1.08±0.11)g] (P<0.05); the fasting insulin level was significantly lower, too (P<0.05). The insulin resistance index (4.94±1.27, 4.08±1.35), IL6 [(34.82±6.23), (36.90±5.27)pg/mL] and TNFα levels [(73.01±7.75), (69.39±8.43)pg/mL] in the HFD+AG group and HFD+DAG group were significantly lower than those in the HFD group [(81.70±7.53), (45.85±6.41) pg/mL, (81.70±7.53)pg/mL], with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The serum levels of IL 6 and TNFα in the HFD group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionLong-term application of AG and DAG could improve the insulin resistance and reduce the inflammation level of the mice induced by a high-fat diet. DAG can also decrease the visceral fat in mice.

Bortezomib/therapeutic use* ; CD56 Antigen ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit

Vitamin B12 (VitB12) is one of the essential vitamins in humans and is involved in DNA synthesis and cellular metabolism. Many studies have shown that the lack of VitB12 is closely related to the occurrence and development of diabetes and its complications. Therefore, regular testing and reasonable supplementation of VitB12 can help prevent diabetes complications. The article reviews the relationship between VitB12 and diabetes as well as the application of VitB12 in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of immune regulatory molecules TGF-β1 and IL-10 on the immunoregulatory activities of extracellular vesicles(EV) secreted from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). METHODS: MSC were isolated from human umbilical cord and expanded, then were treated with TGF-β1 and IL-10 for 72h, and MSC-EVs in supernatants were isolated. The total protein content of all samples was determined by BCA methed. The morphological structure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The surface markers of MSC-EV were analyzed by flow cytometry. The apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMNC) stimulated by ConA and the proportion of CD4CD25/CD127 (Treg) cells were detected by flow cytometry after incubation with MSC-EV for 72 h. The CBA and ELISA kit were used to detect the contents of IL2, IL4, IL6, IL10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, Th17A and TGF-β1 in PBMC supernatants and MSC-EV. RESULTS: All the samples showed that the typical cup-shaped membrane-like structure was observed by transmission electron microscopy, and CD9, CD44, CD63 and CD81 expressed. After TGF-β1 treatment, the MSC-EV displayed the strongest ability to promote PBMNC apoptosis（P<0.01）, and in all the samples the proportion of Treg cells increased. MSC-EV could increase the content of IL-10 in the supernatants of PBMNC culture, the content of TGF-β1 in PBMNC supernatants after MSC treatment with TGF-β1 was lower than that in untreated group(P<0.05). The content of IL-6 in MSC-EV increased significantly after treatment with TGF-β1, and the content of TGF-β1 decreased. CONCLUSION TGF-β1 alters the immnomodulatory function of MSC-EV and its underlying mechanisms need to be clarified in further investigations.
Extracellular Vesicles ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1