Unilateral adrenal tuberculosis whose computed tomography imaging characteristics mimic a malignant tumor: A case report.

Background: Adrenal tuberculosis usually presents with bilateral involvement. It has special characteristics in computed tomography (CT) images, such as small size, low attenuation in the center, and peripheral rim enhancement, which differ from those of primary tumors.

Case Summary: A 42-year-old female presented to the hospital with low back pain.

[The Diagnostic Value of Captopril Challenge Test for Primary Aldosteronism].

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of different captopril challenge test (CCT) diagnostic criteria for diagnosing primary aldosteronism (PA).

Methods: We collected the clinical data of 184 patients with hypertension retrospectively in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the post-CCT efficacy of aldosterone renin activity ratio (ARR), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), plasma renin activity (PRA) and PAC suppression rate for PA diagnosis.

[The Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and Bioequivalence of Insulin Aspart Produced by the United Laboratories Evaluated by Euglycemic Clamp Study].

Objective: To investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of a rapid-acting insulin analog-insulin aspart (the tested formulation) which was manufactured by The United Laboratories and to evaluate the bioequiavailability to the reference formulation (NovoRapid ) produced by Novo Nordisk in Chinese healthy volunteers.

Methods: A total of 24 male healthy volunteers were recruited from February to April 2016 to participant in this before-after, single dose, and randomized crossover study. And the experimental observation was conducted on 2 test days respectively with a between-period from 7 to10 d.

[The Value of Postural Stimulation Test Combined with Adrenal CT in the Diagnosis of Aldosterone-producing Adenoma].

Objective: Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) and pathological report were selected as gold standard to assess the value of adrenal CT scan combined with postural stimulation test in diagnosing aldosterone-producing adenoma.

Methods: The clinical data of primary aldosteronism (PA) patients including aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) were retrospectively collected in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University. The sensitivity and specificity of adrenal CT scan combined with postural stimulation test in diagnosing APA were studied.

[Quality Assessment of Euglycemic Glucose Clamp Test].

Objective: To explorethe quality of euglycemic glucose clamptest performed in the West China Hospital from 2014 to 2017 and to evaluate whether the quality control indexes are suitable for the quality assessment of the clamp test.

Methods: The data collected from 80 euglycemic glucose clamp tests performed between 2014 and2017 were divided into 4 groups according to the coefficient of variation of the blood glucose concentrations (CVBG): group A (CVBG≤4.5%), group B (4.

[Risk Factors Associated with Thyroid Nodules in Patients with Acromegaly].

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with thyroid nodular lesions in patients with acromegaly.

Methods: Clinical and thyroid ultrasonography data of patients with acromegaly diagnosed in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University from May 2009 to January 2018 were reviewed and analyzed. Multivariate linear regression models were established to identify factors associated with thyroid volumes and size of thyroid nodules.

[The Functional Analysis of Glucocorticoid Receptor in Peripheral Blood of Endogenous Cushing's Syndrome Patients].

Objective: To evaluate the expression level and binding affinity glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in endogenous Cushing's syndrome patients.

Methods: The patients of endogenous Cushing's syndrome were enrolled in the department of endocrinology in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were studied as control group. The expression level and binding affinity of GR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were examined by flow cytometry.

[Pancreatic β-cell Dysfunction and Apoptosis Induced by Elevated Free Fatty Acids Synergize with Hyperglycemia].

Objectives: To analysis the effects of glucoxicity and lipotoxicity on the function and apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells.

Methods: The levels of circulating glucose and free fat acids (FFAs) were elevated by infusion dextrose and fat emulsion in high-fat obese rats. The insulin resistance model obese rats were divided into four gourp: obese group with saline infusion (OB-NS group, =7), obese group with glucose infusion (OB-GS group, =9), obese group with Lipid emulsion infusion (OB-FFA group, =8), obese group with glucose and lipid emulsion infusion (OB-FG group, =9).

[Effects of GLP-1 Agonist Exenatide on Cardiac Diastolic Function and Vascular Endothelial Function in Diabetic Patients].

Objective: To study the protective effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) on the left ventricular diastolic function and endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: 27 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into two groups: GLP-1 treated group and insulin treated group. Patients in the GLP-1 group were given GLP-1 analogue and metformin hydrochloride.

[Effects of sulfonylureas on patients with type 2 diabetes and acute nonlacunar ischemic stroke].

Objective: To explore the influence of sulfonylurea (SU) on the patients with Type 2 Diabetes and nonlacunar ischemic stroke.

Methods: Patients with type 2 Diabetes and nonlacunar isehemic stroke met the standardized criteria were included and divided into sulfonylures (SU) group and Non-SU group. The primary outcomes were the scores of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (MRS) and Barthel index (BI) evaluated at baseline, the end of 2nd week/discharge and the end of 12th week.

[A comparison of different estimation equations for glomerular filtration rate in Chinese diabetic patients].

Objective: To compare the accuracy and precision of C-G equation, simplified MDRD equation, the Chinese equation, Ruijin equation, and CKD-EPI equation for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese diabetic patients.

Methods: Diabetic patients visiting the West China Hospital (both outpatient and inpatient departments) of Sichuan University who were older than 18 years old were enrolled in this study. Their general health and clinical characteristics were recorded.

[The protective effects of rosiglitazone on kidney in diet-induced obese rats].

Objective: To investigate whether rosiglitazone has renal protective effects in diet-induced obese rats.

Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control (NC), obesity (OB) and rosiglitazone (OB + R) group (n = 8 in each group). The NC group was fed with normal diet.

[Clinical features and epidemiological trend of diabetic ketosis in patients admitted to West China Hospital].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical features and epidemiological trend of diabetes ketosis (DK) in patients admitted to West China Hospital.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of diabetic patients with DK who were admitted to West China Hospital from 1997 to 2005. Their clinical and laboratory data were analysed with SAS 9.

[Comparing overnight dexamethasone suppression test, urine free cortisol, and midnight serum cortisol for the initial diagnosis of Cushing' s syndrome].

Objective: To identify retrospectively the optimal cut-off points and the values of overnight dexamethasone suppression test, urine free cortisol, and midnight serum cortisol in the initial diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome in Chinese people.

Methods: The results of overnight low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (PTC-DST), urine free cortisol (UFC) and late-night plasma total cortisol (PTC-24 h) of 102 patients who had clinically confirmed Cushing's syndrome and 102 patients without Cushing's syndrome were extracted from West China Hospital. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to identify optimal cut-off points of the three assays and their values in diagnosing Cushing' s syndrome.

[The relationship between hyperinsulinemia and hypokalemic periodic paralysis in overweight/obesity subjects].

Objective: To study the relationship between hyperinsulinemia and primary periodic paralysis in overweight/obesity people.

Methods: Overweight/obesity people with primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis were administrated as disease group. Serum potassium, insulin and glucose were analyzed at different time (0 h, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h) after taking 100 g carbohydrates and the results were compared with that of control group matched by gender, age and body mass index (BMI).

[Exendin-4 improves impaired endothelial dependent vasodilation in obese rat].

Objective: To determine whether exendin-4 (Ex-4 )might improve endothelial dysfunction in aorta isolated from high-fatty diet induced obese rats.

Methods: 20 male Wistar rats were divided into normal control and high-fat supplement (OB) groups (n= 10 for each group). The rats were sacrificed after 10 weeks feeding and thoracic aorta was dissected and cut into four rings of 3 mm length, the response to acethylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were examined in organ bath containing Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) solution.

[Protective effects of Astragalus membranaceus on free fatty acid-induced vascular endothelial cell dysfunction].

Objective: To investigate whether Astragalus membranaceus (AM) can protect endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (EDV) function of aorta from the damage induced by high level of free fatty acid (FFA).

Methods: Ten male SD rats, 8 weeks old and 250-300 g in weight, were sacrificed and thoracic aorta were harvested. Aorta rings incubated in organ baths were divided into three groups, Control group, FFA group and FFA+ AM group.

[Effect of inflammation factors on endothelial function in insulin resistance SD rats].

Objective: To test the effect of inflammation factors on endothelial dysfunction in insulin resistance SD rats.

Methods: Male SD rats were divided randomly into three groups. The rats in the NC group, OB group and OB-AS group were fed with normal chow, high-fat chow, and high fat chow plus aspirin, respectively.

[Protein kinase C activation is required for free fatty acid-induced impairment of endothelial nitric oxide synthase].

Objective: To observe whether the impairment of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity by elevated level of free fatty acid (FFA) is associated with activation of protein kinase C (PKC).

Methods: The cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were used for four groups: control group, oleic acid (OA) group (10, 50, 100, 150, 200 micromol/L), GFX group and OA+GFX group. The activity of eNOS in each group was examined, and the activity and expression of PKC were determined in both control and OA groups.

[Astragalus membranaceus improves endothelial-dependent vasodilator function in obese rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on endothelial-dependent (EDV) and non- dependent (EIV) vascular relaxation in ex vivo thoracic aortic rings of obese rats.

Methods: Fifteen SD rats were randomized into 3 equal groups, namely the control group fed with normal chow, obese group with high-fat chow, and AM intervention group fed with high-fat chow and daily AM gavage. The rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks of feeding, and the aortic rings were dissected and cut into 3-mm rings.

[A comparison of the efficacy and safety of domestic orlistat and imported orlistat in Chinese overweight and obese patients].

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of domestic orlistat and imported orlistat in Chinese overweight and obese patients.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blinded and positive-controlled study, 228 adults (BMI 24- < 40 kg/m(2)) evaluated at seven research centers were randomized to receive domestic orlistat or imported orlistat 120 mg 3 times a day with an energy-controlled diet for 24 weeks.

Results: After 24 weeks, domestic orlistat treated patients got significant weight-loss (5.

[Effect of Adiponectin on endothelial dysfunction in obese rats].

Objective: To test the effect of Adiponectin on endothelium-dependent and non-dependent vasodilation in food-induced obese SD rats.

Methods: Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: the rats in the control group (n=5) were fed with normal chow; The rats in the experimental group were fed with high fat chow (n=5). At the end of the sixth week, all rats were killed and the thoracic aortas were harvested.

[Radix Astragali improves impaired endothelial dependent vasodilation in obese rat].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Radix Astragali, a traditional Chinese medicine, on endothelium-dependent and non-dependent vasodilation in food-induced obese SD rats.

Methods: Fifteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups. The control group (n=5) was fed with normal chow; The obese group (n=5) was fed with high fat chow; The Astragali group (n=5) was fed with high fat chow and Astragali in drinking water.

Severe insulin allergy after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Background: Insulin therapy is essential for type 1 and inadequately controlled type 2 diabetic patients. Insulin allergies have become less common since the introduction of highly purified human recombinant insulin. There are rare reports of severe insulin allergic reactions after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in patients with type 2 diabetes who had no previous allergic reactions.