Epicardial adipose tissue volume highly correlates with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in endogenous Cushing's syndrome.

Background: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with increased risk for heart failure, which often initially manifests as left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). In this study, we aimed to explore the potential risk factors of LVDD in CS by incorporating body composition parameters.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients diagnosed with endogenous CS no less than 18 years old.

Thrombocytopenia as an important determinant of poor prognosis in patients with pyogenic liver abscess: a retrospective case series.

Background: Thrombocytopenia and poor prognosis in severe conditions are associated. However, the clinical significance of thrombocytopenia in pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) has not been evaluated.

Objective: To evaluate the association between thrombocytopenia and the prognosis of patients with PLA.

LILRB2/PirB mediates macrophage recruitment in fibrogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Inhibition of immunocyte infiltration and activation has been suggested to effectively ameliorate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PirB) and its human ortholog receptor, leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B (LILRB2), are immune-inhibitory receptors. However, their role in NASH pathogenesis is still unclear.

Case report: Autosomal recessive type 3 Stickler syndrome caused by compound heterozygous mutations in .

Stickler syndrome (SS) is a group of hereditary collagenopathies caused by a variety of collagen and non-collagen genes. Affected patients have characteristic manifestations involving ophthalmic, articular, craniofacial and auditory disorders. SS is classified into several subtypes according to clinical and molecular features.

Correlation of liver enzymes with diabetes and pre-diabetes in middle-aged rural population in China.

The survey aimed to explore the association of liver transaminases with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and pre-diabetes (pre-DM) in the middle-aged rural population in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 800 middle-aged subjects who lived in rural area of central China. The 75-g oral glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) was performed.

TIGIT negatively regulates inflammation by altering macrophage phenotype.

Macrophages function as an essential component of innate immune system, contributing to both the initiation and appropriate resolution of inflammation. The exposure of macrophages to the microbial products, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), can strongly shift the balance between tissue homeostasis and inflammation in favor of causing systemic damage, in which macrophage M1 polarization play important roles. Strategies aiming at restoring the balance of macrophage polarization remain to be further explored.

Effects of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms on susceptibility to type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To investigate the influence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms on susceptibility to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in the Chinese Han population.

Method: One hundred and thirty-six Chinese Han people, including 54 T1DM patients and 82 unrelated healthy subjects as control were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism for three restriction sites in the VDR gene, which were ApaI, TaqI, and BamI.

Results: The frequency of B allele of BsmI site in VDR gene was significantly higher in T1DM patients than in healthy subjects (P = 0.