Cushing's syndrome caused by adrenocortical oncocytoma: A case report

Adrenal cortical eosinophilic adenoma usually presents as non-functional adrenal tumor but may lead to Cushing's syndrome in patients. The present article reports a patient with Cushing's syndrome caused by right adrenocortical oncocytoma. The patient was treated in Urology Department of Wuchuan People's Hospital (Zunyi, China) in November 2022 because of hirsutism, weight gain and hypertension. A laparoscopic right adrenal tumor resection was performed using an abdominal approach. Following surgery, blood pressure and heart rate of the patient fluctuated within a healthy range and menstruation returned to normal. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has obvious advantages over open adrenalectomy, such as less trauma, shorter recovery time and fewer complications. Thus, this treatment for this rare disease is safe and feasible.

Studies on improving semen quality and increasing pregnancy chances through the in vitro addition of L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 to semen in patients with asthenozoospermia

Background

At present, L-carnitine (LC) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), as used clinically to treat male infertility caused by asthenozoospermia (ASZ) is still mainly administered orally, but some patients with ASZ still show no significant improvement in sperm motility and spouse pregnancy rate. Prodom is a device used to assist reproduction, which is temporarily fitted onto the penis to facilitate conception by helping the wife inject a certain drug into the vagina. This study used Prodom-assisted LC/CoQ10 in the treatment of patients with ASZ and evaluated the effect of this method on sperm motility and clinical pregnancy, with the goal of finding a comfortable, low-cost, effective method.

Results

During the trial period, 232 cases completed the trial, while 25 cases did not. During in vitro testing, the progressive sperm motility in the LC group, CoQ10 group, LC combined with CoQ10 group, and the semen blank control group was 24.3 ± 4.6% and 38.1 ± 5.1%, 23.0 ± 4.8% and 36.9 ± 4.4%, 28.4 ± 5.0% and 43.8 ± 5.4%, 19.7 ± 4.4% and 26.0 ± 4.9%, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in progressive sperm motility among the groups (all P values < 0.05). The pregnancy rates of the Prodom-assisted LC treatment group, Prodom-assisted CoQ10 treatment group, Prodom-assisted LC combined with CoQ10 treatment group, and oral LC combined with CoQ10 treatment group in the clinical treatment stage were 38.2, 35.4, 57.1, and 30.3%, respectively; the time to conception was 6.1 ± 1.8, 6.2 ± 1.8, 3.4 ± 0.9, and 7.9 ± 2.0, months respectively; and the treatment costs were $2350 ± 457, $2455 ± 434, $1348 ± 411, and $2684 ± 334, respectively. The differences in pregnancy rate, time to conception, and treatment costs among the groups were statistically significant (all P values < 0.05).

Conclusions

The supplementation of in vitro semen with LC/CoQ10 can improve sperm motility. LC/CoQ10 injected into the spouse’s vagina with the assistance of a Prodom can increase the pregnancy rate, shorten the time to conception, and reduce the cost of treatment in patients with ASZ.

Trial registration

ChiCTR2000040349 (registry: http://www.chictr.org.cn/).

Date of registration: November 28, 2020.

Effects of unilateral/bilateral amputation of the ischiocavernosus muscle in male rats on erectile function and conception

Background

The ischiocavernosus muscle (ICM) encompasses a pair of short pinnate muscles attached to the pelvic ring. The ICM begins at the ischial tuberosity and ends at the crus of the penis while covering the surface of the crus. According to the traditional view, the contraction of the ICM plays an auxiliary role in penile erection. However, we have previously shown that the ICM plays an important role in penile erection through an indirect method of diagnosing erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by ICM injury by observing the infertility of paired female rats. Since intracavernosal pressure (ICP) is the current gold standard for diagnosing ED, this study aimed to amputate unilaterally/bilaterally the ICM to establish an ED model by detecting the ICP, recording the infertility of matching female rats, and comparing the two methods.

Results

Forty sexually mature adult male rats were selected and randomly divided into the following groups: the control group (n = 10), sham operation group (n = 10), unilateral ischiocavernosus muscle (Uni-ICM) amputation group (n = 10), and bilateral ischiocavernosus muscle (Bi-ICM) amputation group (n = 10). Eighty female reproductive rats were randomly assigned to the above groups at a ratio of 2:1. We evaluated the time to conception for the paired female rats and the effects of unilateral/bilateral severing of the ICM on erectile function. The results showed that the baseline and maximum intracavernosal pressure (ICP) in the control group, sham operation group, Uni-ICM amputation group, and Bi-ICM amputation group were 17.44±2.50 mmHg and 93.51±10.78 mmHg, 17.81±2.81 mmHg and 95.07±10.40 mmHg, 16.73±2.11 mmHg and 83.49±12.38 mmHg, and 14.78±2.78 mmHg and 33.57±6.72 mmHg, respectively, immediately postsurgery. The max ICP in the Bi-ICM amputation group was lower than that in the remaining three groups (all P<0.05). The pregnancy rates were 100, 100, 90, and 0% in the control group, sham operation group, Uni-ICM amputation group, and the Bi-ICM amputation group, respectively. The pregnancy rate in the Bi-ICM amputation group was significantly lower than that in the remaining groups (all P<0.05). The time to conception was approximately 7–10 days later in the Uni-ICM amputation group than in the control and sham groups (all P<0.05).

Conclusions

Male rats undergoing Bi-ICM amputation may develop permanent ED, which affects their fertility. In contrast, rats undergoing Uni-ICM amputation may experience transient ED.

Clinical Efficacy of Prodom-Assisted Urokinase in the Treatment of Male Infertility Caused by Impaired Semen Liquefaction

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of prodom in the administration of urokinase in the vagina in couples with impaired semen liquefaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Overall, 261 patients with impaired semen liquefaction were randomly divided into prodom-assisted urokinase treatment (PAUT) group (n = 91), syringe-assisted urokinase treatment (SAUT) group (n = 86), and traditional treatment (TT) group (n = 84) in the first stage. If the first stage of treatment failed, other treatment methods were initiated instead and the patients were grouped according to the newer treatment method in the second stage. The pregnancy rate, time-to-conception, and treatment costs were evaluated in each group.

RESULTS

In the first stage, the pregnancy rate in the PAUT, SAUT, and TT groups was 69.23%, 29.07%, and 22.62%, respectively; the time-to-conception was 2.66 ± 1.44, 3.69 ± 2.61, and 3.86 ± 3.00 months, respectively; the treatment costs were 658.18 ± 398.40, 666.67 ± 507.50, and 680.56 ± 480.94 $, respectively. The pregnancy rate and time-to-conception were different in the PAUT group compared with those in SAUT and TT groups (all P < 0.05). However, the difference in treatment costs was not significant (P = 0.717). In the second stage, 154 nonpregnant patients were divided into nine treatment groups, and the effects of changing TT to PAUT on the pregnancy rate, time-to-conception, and treatment costs were observed to be different from those of other treatments (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Prodom-assisted urokinase can effectively treat male infertility secondary to impaired semen liquefaction.

Patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure have increased concentrations of extracellular histones aggravating cellular damage and systemic inflammation

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is the most common type of liver failure and associated with grave consequences. Systemic inflammation has been linked to its pathogenesis and outcome, but the identifiable triggers are absent. Recently, extracellular histones, especially H4, have been recognized as important mediators of cell damage in various inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to investigate whether extracellular histones have clinical implications in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related ACLF. One hundred and twelve patients with HBV-related ACLF, 90 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 88 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis and 40 healthy volunteers were entered into this study. Plasma histone H4 levels, cytokine profile and clinical data were obtained. Besides, patient's sera were incubated overnight with human L02 hepatocytes or monocytic U937 cells in the presence or absence of antihistone H4 antibody, and cellular damage and cytokine production were evaluated. We found that plasma histone H4 levels were greatly increased in patients with ACLF as compared with chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and healthy control subjects and were significantly associated with disease severity, systemic inflammation and outcome. Notably, ACLF patients' sera incubation decreased cultured L02 cell integrity and induced profound cytokine production in the supernatant of U937 cells. Antihistone H4 antibody treatment abrogated these adverse effects, thus confirming a cause-effect relationship between extracellular histones and organ injury/dysfunction. The data support the hypothesis that the increased extracellular histone levels in ACLF patients may aggravate disease severity by inducing cellular injury and systemic inflammation. Histone-targeted therapies may have potentially interventional value in clinical practice.

[Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with dilated-hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]

OBJECTIVE

To define the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with dilated-hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (D-HCM).

METHODS

Clinical data of HCM patients hospitalized from January 2002 to December 2015 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into D-HCM and classic HCM patients. The D-HCM patients were followed up by phone.

RESULTS

A total of 616 consecutive HCM patients were evaluated. Twenty one patients (3.4%) were diagnosed with D-HCM (average age(58.8±10.4) years, 13 males). It took (14.2±7.1)years for classic HCM patients to develop D-HCM. Compared to classic HCM patients, D-HCM patients were younger at the time of first HCM diagnosis ((39.7±10.4) years old vs. (48.5±9.5) years old, P<0.001) and had higher ratio of sudden cardiac death family history (19.0%(4/21) vs. 2.5%(14/558), P=0.003), more patients of future D-HCM patients had ventricular tachycardia (38.1%(8/21) vs. 5.7%(32/558), P<0.001) and higher Troponin-I(66.7%(14/21) vs. 9.3%(52/558), P<0.001) before the left ventricular cavity enlargement. Moreover, MLVWH ((24.8±4.2) mm vs. (17.2±3.5) mm, P<0.001) was significantly thicker and LAD ((39.8±5.9) mm vs. (35.2±3.3) mm, P<0.001) was significantly larger in D-HCM patients than in classical HCM patients. During the(3.8±1.9) years follow up period, 12 out of 21 D-HCM patients died (57.1%), 5 cases(23.8%)died of severe heart failure and 7 cases(33.3%) died of sudden cardiac death. One patient received heart transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Few classical HCM patients progressed into D-HCM in this cohort. Patients diagnosed as HCM at young age, HCM patients with abnormal Troponin I and ventricular tachycardia are at higher risk of developing D-HCM. The prognosis of D-HCM is very poor, and heart failure and sudden cardiac death are the main causes of death.