库欣综合征的主要病因包括促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）依赖性和ACTH非依赖性。当ACTH非依赖性库欣综合征合并双侧肾上腺肿瘤时，术前的病因鉴别至关重要。本文通过对1例68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT辅助定位的库欣综合征伴双侧肾上腺肿瘤患者的诊治过程及临床特点进行总结，并对其诊治关键点进行讨论，为库欣综合征伴双侧肾上腺肿瘤患者的临床诊治提供借鉴。.

BACKGROUND: Patients with nonfunctioning adenomas (NFA), adenomas with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) and Cushing syndrome (CS) demonstrate an increased cardiovascular risk.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of lipoprotein abnormalities in NFA, MACS, and CS.
METHODS: We conducted a single-center cross-sectional study of patients with NFA (n = 167), MACS (n = 213), CS (n = 142) and referent subjects (n = 202) between January 2015 and July 2022. Triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles (TRLP), low density lipoprotein particles (LDLP), high density lipoprotein particles (HDLP), their subclasses and sizes were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Multivariable logistic analyses were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and lipid lowering drug therapy.
RESULTS: In age- and sex-adjusted analysis, all patients categories demonstrated increased very large TRLP, large TRLP and greater TRL size (odds ratio (OR) ranging from 1.22 to 2.08) and total LDLP (OR ranging from 1.22 to 1.75) and decreased LDL and HDL size compared to referent subjects. In fully adjusted analysis, LDLP concentrations remained elevated in all patient categories (odds ratios ranging from 1.31 to 1.84). Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B were also higher in all patient categories in age- and sex-adjusted analysis with apoB remaining elevated in all patient categories in fully adjusted analysis. Similar LDLP and apoB elevations were observed in all patient categories after excluding subjects on lipid lowering therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with overt, mild, and even absent cortisol excess demonstrate lipoprotein profile abnormalities, in particular, high LDLP and apoB concentrations, which conceivably contribute to high cardiometabolic risk.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid disorders have been reported in hypercortisolism patients. Endogenous Cushing\'s syndrome (CS) potentially complicates its metabolic sequelae. We investigated thyroid function in CS patients to determine this relationship.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we screened CS patients from 2016 to 2019 at our hospital. Patient demographic, medical history, and laboratory data were collected. Additionally, we performed a meta-analysis to demonstrate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in patients with CS.
RESULTS: Among 129 CS patients, 48.6% had triiodothyronine (TT3), 27.9% had thyroxine (TT4), 24.6% had free T3 (FT3), 27.7% had free T4 (FT4), and 6.2% had thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels below the reference values. Those with clinical CS showed more pronounced thyroid suppression than did those with subclinical CS. Cortisol levels were markedly greater in patients with pituitary hypothyroidism (P < 0.001). Serum cortisol levels throughout the day and post low-dose dexamethasone-suppression test (LDDST) results correlated with thyroid hormone levels, particularly in ACTH-independent CS. Correlations varied by thyroid status; FT3 and TSH were linked to cortisol in euthyroid individuals but not in those with low T3 or central hypothyroidism. TSH levels notably halved from the lowest to highest cortisol tertile post-LDDST. Finally, meta-analysis showed 22.7% (95% CI 12.6%-32.9%) central hypothyroidism in 528 CS patients of nine studies.
CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid hormone levels are significantly correlated with cortisol levels and are impaired in patients with CS. However, the physiological adaptation and pathological conditions need further study.

Selective venous sampling (SVS), an invasive radiographic procedure that depends on contrast media, holds a unique role in diagnosing and guiding the treatment of certain types of secondary hypertension, particularly in patients who may be candidates for curative surgery. The adrenal venous sampling (AVS), in particular, is established as the gold standard for localizing and subtyping primary aldosteronism (PA). Throughout decades of clinical practice, AVS could be applied not only to PA but also to other endocrine diseases, such as adrenal Cushing syndrome (ACS) and Pheochromocytomas (PCCs). Notably, the application of AVS in ACS and PCCs remains less recognized compared to PA, with the low success rate of catheterization, the controversy of results interpretation, and the absence of a standardized protocol. Additionally, the AVS procedure necessitates enhancements to boost its success rate, with several helpful but imperfect methods emerging, yet continued exploration remains essential. We also observed renal venous sampling (RVS), an operation akin to AVS in principle, serves as an effective means of diagnosing renin-dependent hypertension, aiding in the identification of precise sources of renin excess and helping the selection of surgical candidates with renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) abnormal activation. Nonetheless, further basic and clinical research is needed. Selective venous sampling (SVS) can be used in identifying cases of secondary hypertension that are curable by surgical intervention. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) and aldosterone measurement for classificatory diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) are established worldwide. While its primary application is for PA, AVS also holds the potential for diagnosing other endocrine disorders, including adrenal Cushing\'s syndrome (ACS) and pheochromocytomas (PCCs) through the measurements of cortisol and catecholamine respectively. In addition, renal venous sampling and renin measurement can help to diagnose renovascular hypertension and reninoma.

患者女性，61岁，发现血压升高15年。原发性醛固酮增多症筛查试验及确诊试验均阳性。肾上腺CT表现为右侧低密度结节，但肾上腺静脉取血（AVS）常规分析显示左侧醛固酮优势分泌。进一步采用儿茶酚胺代谢产物校正，提示醛固酮分泌优势侧为右侧，且68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT证实右侧肾上腺结节代谢活性明显升高。行右侧肾上腺切除术后生化及临床达到完全缓解。最终诊断为原发性醛固酮增多症（右侧醛固酮瘤）伴亚临床库欣综合征。.

24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) is considered as the first-line test for screening and diagnosis of Cushing\'s syndrome. Although 24-hour UFC assay has been extensively studied by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), an accurate assay coupled with a reliable sample preparation procedure and a method-specific reference interval would be very important for reasonable diagnosis. In this study, a simple dilute and shoot method has been proposed for UFC determination by LC-MS/MS. Namely, 50 µL of urine sample was mixed with 200 µL of a 50 % methanol/water solution containing the internal standard cortisol-13C3. The mixture was centrifuged and the supernatant was used for direct analysis by LC-MS/MS. This method was validated with wide linear range from 0.625 to 500 ng/ml with coefficients of variation (CVs) ≤ 3.64 %, excellent precision (intra-day CVs ≤ 5.70 % and inter-day CVs ≤ 5.33 %) and good recovery in the range of 93.3-109 %. The preservatives were further evaluated for urine storage. It was recommended that no preservatives could be used in collection of 24-hour urine for good detecting peaks. The investigation of reference interval and diagnostic performance finally confirmed the potential usage of this LC-MS/MS assay in routing clinical testing.

UNASSIGNED: Double pituitary adenomas (DPA) are a rare clinical condition, and our knowledge of them is limited. Missing the second lesion leading to incomplete biochemical remission after surgery is an important challenge in DPA management. This study aims to analyze independent prognostic factors in DPA patients and summarize clinical experiences to prevent surgical failure.
UNASSIGNED: Two cases of DPA patients with Cushing\'s disease diagnosed and surgically treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital are reported. A literature review was performed on the online database Pubmed, and 57 DPA patients from 22 retrieved articles were included. Demographic characteristics, endocrine manifestations, diagnostic methods, tumor size, and immunohistochemical features of 59 patients were analyzed. Binary logistic regression models were used to identify independent prognostic factors affecting postoperative biochemical remission.
UNASSIGNED: Among 59 DPA patients, the mean ± SD age was 43.64 ± 14.42 years, with 61.02% being female (n = 36). The most common endocrine manifestations were Cushing\'s syndrome (23/59, 38.98%) and acromegaly (20/59, 33.90%). The most prevalent immunohistochemical types were ACTH-immunopositive (31/118, 26.27%) and GH-immunopositive (31/118, 26.27%) tumors. Microadenomas (<1cm) were the most frequent in terms of tumor size (62/92, 67.39%). The detection rate for double lesions on 3.0T MRI was 50.00% (14/28), which significantly higher than 1.5T MRI (P = 0.034). Univariate analysis revealed that female, Cushing\'s syndrome and only single lesion detected by surgical exploration were associated with significantly worse prognosis (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified double lesion detected by surgical exploration (OR = 0.08, P = 0.003) and contiguous type tumor (OR = 0.06, P = 0.017) as independent protective factors for DPA patients.
UNASSIGNED: The double lesion detected by surgical exploration is independently associated with a better prognosis for DPA patients. Comprehensive intraoperative exploration are crucial measures to avoid missing causative lesions.

Cushing\'s syndrome (CS) is a complex disorder characterized by the excessive secretion of cortisol, with Cushing\'s disease (CD), particularly associated with pituitary tumors, exhibiting heightened morbidity and mortality. Although transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSS) stands as the primary treatment for CD, there is a crucial need to optimize patient prognosis. Current medical therapy serves as an adjunctive measure due to its unsatisfactory efficacy and unpredictable side effects. In this comprehensive review, we delve into recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of CS and explore therapeutic options by conducting a critical analysis of potential drug targets and candidates. Additionally, we provide an overview of the design strategy employed in previously reported candidates, along with a summary of structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses and their biological efficacy. This review aims to contribute valuable insights to the evolving landscape of CS research, shedding light on potential avenues for therapeutic development.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) associated with subclinical Cushing syndrome (SCS). Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China. Patients with PA were included between January 2014 and December 2022. According to the results of 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test, the patients were divided into the PA group and PA associated with SCS (PA/SCS) group. The demographic information, hormone levels, and follow-up results were analyzed. Independent sample t-test, chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for data comparison. Results: A total of 489 PA patients were enrolled in this study, of which 109 had PA/SCS (22.3%). Patients with SCS were on average older (54.4±10.7 vs. 47.4±11.0, P<0.001); had a larger proportion of women (69.7%, 76/109 vs. 57.4%, 218/380; P=0.020); and a longer duration of hypertension [96 (36, 180) vs. 60 (12, 120) months, P=0.001] than patients without SCS. There were 215 and 51 patients in the PA group and PA/SCS group, who completed adrenalectomy and follow-up, respectively. The remission rate of autonomous cortisol secretion in the PA/SCS group was 85.3% (29/34). There was no significant difference in the remission rate of autonomous aldosterone secretion among patients between the PA/SCS and PA group (94.1%, 48/51 vs. 94.4%, 203/215; P=1.000), while the clinical remission rate in the PA/SCS group was lower than that in the PA group (39.2%, 20/51 vs. 61.9%, 133/215; P=0.003). Conclusions: SCS is common in PA patients (22.3%), and the clinical remission rate is low. Screening using the 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test is recommended for all patients with PA.
目的： 分析原发性醛固酮增多症（PA）合并亚临床库欣综合征（SCS）患者的临床特征及预后。 方法： 回顾性队列研究。收集2014年1月至2022年12月重庆医科大学附属第一医院收治的PA患者的临床资料。根据1 mg过夜地塞米松抑制试验结果将患者分成单纯PA组和PA合并SCS（PA/SCS）组，分析两组间的人口学信息、激素水平及随访结果等。采用独立样本t检验、χ2检验、Mann-Whitney U检验等进行组间比较。 结果： 共纳入489例PA患者，其中109例（22.3%）为PA/SCS患者。与单纯PA组相比，PA/SCS组年龄更大［（54.4±10.7）岁比（47.4±11.0）岁，P<0.001］，女性比例更多［69.7%（76/109）比57.4%（218/380），P=0.020］，高血压病程更长［96（36，180）个月比60（12，120）个月，P=0.001］。单纯PA组和PA/SCS组分别有215例和51例完成手术及随访。PA/SCS组皮质醇自主分泌完全缓解率为85.3%（29/34），醛固酮自主分泌完全缓解率与单纯PA组相当［94.1%（48/51）比94.4%（203/215），P=1.000］；而PA/SCS组的临床完全缓解率低于单纯PA组［39.2%（20/51）比61.9%（133/215），P=0.003］。 结论： 在PA患者中SCS较为多见（22.3%），其术后临床完全缓解率较低。推荐对所有PA患者采用1 mg过夜地塞米松抑制试验进行筛查。.

UNASSIGNED: Cushing\'s syndrome (CS) during pregnancy is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by hypercortisolism, which is significantly associated with maternal-fetal complications. Despite its rarity, CS during pregnancy may be related to a high risk of complications for both the mother and fetus.The aim of the present case study is to update the diagnostic approach to CS during pregnancy and the therapeutic strategies for this medical condition to minimize maternal-fetal complications.
UNASSIGNED: Here, we present two cases of CS in pregnant women, one of whom had twins. Typical clinical symptoms and signs of hypercortisolism developed at the beginning of pregnancy. The plasma cortisol diurnal rhythm of the pregnant patient was absent. CS was confirmed by cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) assessment, as well as imaging examination. We investigated the changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during normal pregnancy and the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of CS during pregnancy.
UNASSIGNED: Due to the associated risks of laparoscopic adrenalectomy,it is uncertain whether this treatment significantly decreases overall maternal mortality. Additional observational research and validation through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are required. We advise that CS in pregnant women be diagnosed and treated by experienced teams in relevant departments and medical centers.