In the present study, rabbits were treated with hyperbaric oxygen for 1 hour after detonator-blastinduced craniocerebral injury. Immunohistochemistry showed significantly reduced aquaporin 4 expression and adrenocorti...In the present study, rabbits were treated with hyperbaric oxygen for 1 hour after detonator-blastinduced craniocerebral injury. Immunohistochemistry showed significantly reduced aquaporin 4 expression and adrenocorticotropic hormone expression in the pituitary gland of rabbits with craniocerebral injury. Aquaporin 4 expression was positively correlated with adrenocorticotropic hormone expression. These findings indicate that early hyperbaric oxygen therapy may suppress adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion by inhibiting aquaporin 4 expression.展开更多
BACKGROUND Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)-secreting neuroendocrine tumors are rare diseases.Patients with ACTH-secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas have a poor prognosis.Infections and coagulopath...BACKGROUND Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)-secreting neuroendocrine tumors are rare diseases.Patients with ACTH-secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas have a poor prognosis.Infections and coagulopathies have been reported as the cause of death.However,detailed clinical descriptions of the morbid complications of ACTH-secreting neuroendocrine carcinomas have not been reported.CASE SUMMARY A 78-year-old Japanese woman consulted a medical center due to systemic edema and epigastric discomfort.Laboratory analysis revealed hypercortisolemia with increased ACTH secretion without diurnal variation in serum cortisol level.An enhanced computed tomography(CT)scan revealed a 3-cm tumor in the pancreatic head.The cytological material from endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration was compatible with ACTHsecreting pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma.The Ki-67 index was 40%.She was transferred to Mie University Hospital for surgical treatment.The patient was diagnosed with urinary tract infection,cytomegalovirus hepatitis,esophageal candidiasis,pulmonary infiltrates suspicious for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia,peripheral deep vein thrombosis,pulmonary embolism,and disseminated intravascular coagulation.The multiple organ infections and thromboses responded well to antimicrobial and anticoagulant therapy.Radioisotope studies disclosed a pancreatic tumor and a metastatic lesion in the liver,whereas somatostatin receptor scintigraphy showed negative findings,suggesting the primary and metastatic tumors were poorly differentiated.A CT scan before admission showed no metastatic liver lesion,suggesting that the pancreatic tumor was rapidly progressing.Instead of surgery,antitumor chemotherapy was indicated.The patient was transferred to another hospital to initiate chemotherapy.However,she died four months later due to the rapidly progressive tumor.CONCLUSION ACTH-secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm is a rare disease with a very poor prognosis.The clinical course and acute complications of the tumor remain unreported.Here we report the clinical course of a rapidly progressive case of ACTH-secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor that developed infectious complications due to many types of pathogens in multiple organs,widespread thromboses,pulmonary embolism,and disseminated intravascular coagulation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)-independent Cushing's syndrome(CS) is mostly due to unilateral tumors, with bilateral tumors rarely reported. Its common causes include primary pigmented nodular adreno...BACKGROUND Adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)-independent Cushing's syndrome(CS) is mostly due to unilateral tumors, with bilateral tumors rarely reported. Its common causes include primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease,ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia, and bilateral adrenocortical adenomas(BAAs) or carcinomas. BAAs causing ACTHindependent CS are rare; up to now, fewer than 40 BAA cases have been reported. The accurate diagnosis and evaluation of BAAs are critical for determining optimal treatment options. Adrenal vein sampling(AVS) is a good way to diagnose ACTH-independent CS.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old woman had a typical appearance of CS. The oral glucose tolerance test showed impaired glucose tolerance and obviously increased insulin and Cpeptide levels. Her baseline serum cortisol and urine free cortisol were elevated and did not show either a circadian rhythm or suppression with dexamethasone administration. The peripheral 1-deamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin(DDVAP)stimulation test showed a delay of the peak level, which was 1.05 times as high as the baseline level. Bilateral AVS results suggested the possibility of BAAs.Abdominal computed tomography showed bilateral adrenal adenomas with atrophic adrenal glands(right: 3.1 cm × 2.0 cm × 1.9 cm; left: 2.2 cm × 1.9 cm × 2.1 cm). Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland demonstrated normal findings. A left adenomectomy by retroperitoneoscopy was performed first,followed by resection of the right-side adrenal mass 3 mo later. Biopsy results of both adenomas showed cortical tumors. Evaluations of ACTH and cortisol showed a significant decrease after left adenomectomy but could still not be suppressed, and the circadian rhythm was absent. Following bilateral adenomectomy, this patient has been administered with prednisone until now,all of her symptoms were alleviated, and she had normal blood pressure without edema in either of her lower extremities.CONCLUSION BAAs causing ACTH-independent CS are rare. AVS is of great significance for obtaining information on the functional state of BAAs before surgery.展开更多
BACKGROUND Small cell lung cancer(SCLC)accounts for 15%of lung cancers,and it commonly expresses peptide and protein factors that are active as hormones.These secreting factors manifest as paraneoplastic disorders,suc...BACKGROUND Small cell lung cancer(SCLC)accounts for 15%of lung cancers,and it commonly expresses peptide and protein factors that are active as hormones.These secreting factors manifest as paraneoplastic disorders,such as ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)syndrome(EAS).The clinical features are abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism,hypokalemia,peripheral edema,proximal myopathy,hypertension,hyperpigmentation,and severe systemic infection.However,it is uncommon that EAS has an influence on hypothalamus-pituitary function.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old man presented with complaints of haemoptysis,polyuria,polydipsia,increased appetite,weight loss,and pigmentation.Following a series of laboratory and imaging examinations,he was diagnosed with SCLC,EAS,hypogonadism,hypothyroidism,and central diabetes insipidus.After three rounds of chemotherapy,levels of ACTH,cortisol,thyroid hormone,gonadal hormone,and urine volume had returned to normal levels.In addition,the pulmonary tumor was reduced in size.CONCLUSION We report a rare case of SCLC complicated with panhypopituitarism due to EAS.We hypothesize that EAS induced high levels of serum glucocorticoid and negative feedback for the synthesis and secretion of antidiuretic hormone from the paraventricular nucleus,and trophic hormones from the anterior pituitary.Therefore,patients who present with symptoms of hypopituitarism,or even panhypopituitarism,with SCLC should be evaluated for EAS.展开更多
Treatment of acute gout is not always an easy task since patients usually have multiple comorbidities that preclude the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and colchicine, the most widely used therapeutic tool...Treatment of acute gout is not always an easy task since patients usually have multiple comorbidities that preclude the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and colchicine, the most widely used therapeutic tools. Adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) has long been used in the treatment of acute gout and several studies have shown that it is highly effective and exhibits an excellent safety profile. ACTH belongs to a family of proteins called melanocortins; these molecules have strong anti-inflammatory properties and serve as natural inhibitors of inflammatory responses. We have recently reported that treatment of acute gout with 100 IU of synthetic ACTH is highly effective and associates with negligible side effects. It is note worthy that ACTH did not associate with significant "steroid related" side effects such as hypertension, hyperglycemia and hypokalemia. ACTH appears as a powerful and easy to use therapeutic tool for patients with multiple comorbidities. We believe that the role of ACTH as a treatment for acute gout should be reappraised, especially in light of new experimental data indicating that ACTH has pleiotropic anti-inflammatory properties and is not just a hormone that stimulates the release of steroids.展开更多
Background: Pituicytoma is a rare benign tumor of the neurohypophysis or hypophyseal stalk. Endocrinological abnormalities derived from this tumor are even rarer. Although three cases of pituicytoma with elevated plas...Background: Pituicytoma is a rare benign tumor of the neurohypophysis or hypophyseal stalk. Endocrinological abnormalities derived from this tumor are even rarer. Although three cases of pituicytoma with elevated plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) have been reported previously, the etiological mechanisms remain unknown. Case Description: We present a 47-year-old woman who was referred to a hospital complaining of headache. On investigation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a tumor was detected in the sellar region. Elevation of basal ACTH and serum cortisol was identified, suggesting an ACTH-producing pituitary adenoma. However, physical findings and results of other hormonal examination showed no evidence of Cushing disease. The tumor had been detected incidentally eight years earlier when MRI was performed, and showed considerable enlargement on this consultation. Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery was performed in order to remove the tumor completely. The histopathological diagnosis was pituicytoma. The patient’s postoperative clinical course was excellent, and both ACTH and cortisol levels returned to normal following surgery. Conclusions: It appears that ACTH was being secreted from the tumor cells. We discuss the possible mechanism of ACTH elevation in cases of pituicytoma.展开更多
目的探讨疏肝运脾汤治疗肠癌癌因性疲乏(Cancer related fatigue,CRF)的临床疗效及作用机制。方法选取2020年3月—2022年3月期间南通市第三人民医院收治的住院或门诊肠癌患者110例作为研究对象,按随机数字表法分为对照组和治疗组,每组...目的探讨疏肝运脾汤治疗肠癌癌因性疲乏(Cancer related fatigue,CRF)的临床疗效及作用机制。方法选取2020年3月—2022年3月期间南通市第三人民医院收治的住院或门诊肠癌患者110例作为研究对象,按随机数字表法分为对照组和治疗组,每组各55例。两组患者均给予抗肿瘤治疗如手术、放化疗、介入、分子靶向、免疫等的基础上增加CRF相关干预措施。对照组进行非药物干预,治疗组在对照组基础上加用自拟疏肝运脾汤加减。治疗6个月后,观察比较两组患者临床疗效、不良反应情况,治疗前后中医临床症状等级评分、卡氏评分(Keypunch Performance System,KPS)、Piper疲乏评分、医院焦虑抑郁情绪测量表(Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,HAD)评分变化,血清指标[内分泌激素促肾上腺皮质激素(Adrenocorticotropic hormone,ACTH)、皮质醇(Cortisol,CORT)及T细胞亚群]水平。结果治疗后两组患者中医证候积分均较治疗前明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);且治疗组明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后对照组各维度的Piper疲乏评分及总分与治疗前比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗组各维度的Piper疲乏评分及总分均较治疗前明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);且治疗组各维度(行为维度、情感维度、感觉维度和认知维度)的Piper疲乏评分及总分均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后两组患者KPS评分较治疗前升高,HAD焦虑、HAD抑郁评分较治疗前降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);且治疗组KPS评分高于对照组,HAD焦虑及HAD抑郁评分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后两组患者血清ACTH、NF-κB p65、TNF-α、sTNF-R1水平较治疗前明显降低,血清CORT水平较治疗前明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);且治疗组血清ACTH、NF-κB p65、TNF-α、sTNF-R1水平明显低于对照组,血清CORT水平明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后两组患者CD8+水平降低,CD3+、CD4+及CD4+/CD8+水平升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);且治疗组CD8+水平低于对照组,CD3+、CD4+及CD4+/CD8+水平均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后治疗组总有效率96.36%(53/55)明显高于对照组80.00%(44/55),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗过程中,两组患者均未出现明显不良反应,用药前后的血尿常规、心电图及肝肾功能检查结果均未见异常。结论从基因层面探讨疏肝运脾汤治疗肠癌CRF的分子机制,找到抑制CRF的新靶点———细胞核因子NF-κB的中医组方,改善肿瘤微环境的免疫抑制和炎症状态,提高肠癌临床疗效,提升患者的生活质量,延长其生存时间。展开更多
基金supported by the Eleventh-Five Major Subjects of Nanjing Military Area Command,No.06Z19the Military Medical Science and Technology Innovation Foundation in 2009,No.09Z009
文摘In the present study, rabbits were treated with hyperbaric oxygen for 1 hour after detonator-blastinduced craniocerebral injury. Immunohistochemistry showed significantly reduced aquaporin 4 expression and adrenocorticotropic hormone expression in the pituitary gland of rabbits with craniocerebral injury. Aquaporin 4 expression was positively correlated with adrenocorticotropic hormone expression. These findings indicate that early hyperbaric oxygen therapy may suppress adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion by inhibiting aquaporin 4 expression.
文摘BACKGROUND Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)-secreting neuroendocrine tumors are rare diseases.Patients with ACTH-secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas have a poor prognosis.Infections and coagulopathies have been reported as the cause of death.However,detailed clinical descriptions of the morbid complications of ACTH-secreting neuroendocrine carcinomas have not been reported.CASE SUMMARY A 78-year-old Japanese woman consulted a medical center due to systemic edema and epigastric discomfort.Laboratory analysis revealed hypercortisolemia with increased ACTH secretion without diurnal variation in serum cortisol level.An enhanced computed tomography(CT)scan revealed a 3-cm tumor in the pancreatic head.The cytological material from endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration was compatible with ACTHsecreting pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma.The Ki-67 index was 40%.She was transferred to Mie University Hospital for surgical treatment.The patient was diagnosed with urinary tract infection,cytomegalovirus hepatitis,esophageal candidiasis,pulmonary infiltrates suspicious for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia,peripheral deep vein thrombosis,pulmonary embolism,and disseminated intravascular coagulation.The multiple organ infections and thromboses responded well to antimicrobial and anticoagulant therapy.Radioisotope studies disclosed a pancreatic tumor and a metastatic lesion in the liver,whereas somatostatin receptor scintigraphy showed negative findings,suggesting the primary and metastatic tumors were poorly differentiated.A CT scan before admission showed no metastatic liver lesion,suggesting that the pancreatic tumor was rapidly progressing.Instead of surgery,antitumor chemotherapy was indicated.The patient was transferred to another hospital to initiate chemotherapy.However,she died four months later due to the rapidly progressive tumor.CONCLUSION ACTH-secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm is a rare disease with a very poor prognosis.The clinical course and acute complications of the tumor remain unreported.Here we report the clinical course of a rapidly progressive case of ACTH-secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor that developed infectious complications due to many types of pathogens in multiple organs,widespread thromboses,pulmonary embolism,and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
文摘BACKGROUND Adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)-independent Cushing's syndrome(CS) is mostly due to unilateral tumors, with bilateral tumors rarely reported. Its common causes include primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease,ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia, and bilateral adrenocortical adenomas(BAAs) or carcinomas. BAAs causing ACTHindependent CS are rare; up to now, fewer than 40 BAA cases have been reported. The accurate diagnosis and evaluation of BAAs are critical for determining optimal treatment options. Adrenal vein sampling(AVS) is a good way to diagnose ACTH-independent CS.CASE SUMMARY A 31-year-old woman had a typical appearance of CS. The oral glucose tolerance test showed impaired glucose tolerance and obviously increased insulin and Cpeptide levels. Her baseline serum cortisol and urine free cortisol were elevated and did not show either a circadian rhythm or suppression with dexamethasone administration. The peripheral 1-deamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin(DDVAP)stimulation test showed a delay of the peak level, which was 1.05 times as high as the baseline level. Bilateral AVS results suggested the possibility of BAAs.Abdominal computed tomography showed bilateral adrenal adenomas with atrophic adrenal glands(right: 3.1 cm × 2.0 cm × 1.9 cm; left: 2.2 cm × 1.9 cm × 2.1 cm). Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland demonstrated normal findings. A left adenomectomy by retroperitoneoscopy was performed first,followed by resection of the right-side adrenal mass 3 mo later. Biopsy results of both adenomas showed cortical tumors. Evaluations of ACTH and cortisol showed a significant decrease after left adenomectomy but could still not be suppressed, and the circadian rhythm was absent. Following bilateral adenomectomy, this patient has been administered with prednisone until now,all of her symptoms were alleviated, and she had normal blood pressure without edema in either of her lower extremities.CONCLUSION BAAs causing ACTH-independent CS are rare. AVS is of great significance for obtaining information on the functional state of BAAs before surgery.
基金Supported by the National Science Foundation for Youth,No.30800533the Public Welfare Project of Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province,China,No.2017C33056
文摘BACKGROUND Small cell lung cancer(SCLC)accounts for 15%of lung cancers,and it commonly expresses peptide and protein factors that are active as hormones.These secreting factors manifest as paraneoplastic disorders,such as ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)syndrome(EAS).The clinical features are abnormalities in carbohydrate metabolism,hypokalemia,peripheral edema,proximal myopathy,hypertension,hyperpigmentation,and severe systemic infection.However,it is uncommon that EAS has an influence on hypothalamus-pituitary function.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old man presented with complaints of haemoptysis,polyuria,polydipsia,increased appetite,weight loss,and pigmentation.Following a series of laboratory and imaging examinations,he was diagnosed with SCLC,EAS,hypogonadism,hypothyroidism,and central diabetes insipidus.After three rounds of chemotherapy,levels of ACTH,cortisol,thyroid hormone,gonadal hormone,and urine volume had returned to normal levels.In addition,the pulmonary tumor was reduced in size.CONCLUSION We report a rare case of SCLC complicated with panhypopituitarism due to EAS.We hypothesize that EAS induced high levels of serum glucocorticoid and negative feedback for the synthesis and secretion of antidiuretic hormone from the paraventricular nucleus,and trophic hormones from the anterior pituitary.Therefore,patients who present with symptoms of hypopituitarism,or even panhypopituitarism,with SCLC should be evaluated for EAS.
文摘Treatment of acute gout is not always an easy task since patients usually have multiple comorbidities that preclude the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and colchicine, the most widely used therapeutic tools. Adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) has long been used in the treatment of acute gout and several studies have shown that it is highly effective and exhibits an excellent safety profile. ACTH belongs to a family of proteins called melanocortins; these molecules have strong anti-inflammatory properties and serve as natural inhibitors of inflammatory responses. We have recently reported that treatment of acute gout with 100 IU of synthetic ACTH is highly effective and associates with negligible side effects. It is note worthy that ACTH did not associate with significant "steroid related" side effects such as hypertension, hyperglycemia and hypokalemia. ACTH appears as a powerful and easy to use therapeutic tool for patients with multiple comorbidities. We believe that the role of ACTH as a treatment for acute gout should be reappraised, especially in light of new experimental data indicating that ACTH has pleiotropic anti-inflammatory properties and is not just a hormone that stimulates the release of steroids.
文摘Background: Pituicytoma is a rare benign tumor of the neurohypophysis or hypophyseal stalk. Endocrinological abnormalities derived from this tumor are even rarer. Although three cases of pituicytoma with elevated plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) have been reported previously, the etiological mechanisms remain unknown. Case Description: We present a 47-year-old woman who was referred to a hospital complaining of headache. On investigation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a tumor was detected in the sellar region. Elevation of basal ACTH and serum cortisol was identified, suggesting an ACTH-producing pituitary adenoma. However, physical findings and results of other hormonal examination showed no evidence of Cushing disease. The tumor had been detected incidentally eight years earlier when MRI was performed, and showed considerable enlargement on this consultation. Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery was performed in order to remove the tumor completely. The histopathological diagnosis was pituicytoma. The patient’s postoperative clinical course was excellent, and both ACTH and cortisol levels returned to normal following surgery. Conclusions: It appears that ACTH was being secreted from the tumor cells. We discuss the possible mechanism of ACTH elevation in cases of pituicytoma.
