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Purpose: There is evidence that long-term vascular risk remains increased in patients with hyperthyroidism even after normalization of thyroid function, and the mechanisms that regulate this risk are unclear. The aim of this study was to assess how visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area change after hyperthyroidism treatment, and to further explore the relationship between thyroid hormones, abdominal fat area (visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area), and lipids., Patients and Methods: 50 patients with newly diagnosed Graves' disease were selected. Anthropometric parameters (weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, neck circumference), laboratory parameters (thyroid hormones, lipid metabolism indices), abdominal fat area (visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area), and drug dose were collected. Measurements were made at baseline, 6 and 12 months after treatment. We used linear mixed-effects models for analysis., Results: The results showed that the following indexes changed significantly at different time points: visceral fat area, subcutaneous fat area, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, body weight, neck circumference, body mass index, waist circumference, and drug dose (All P<0.001). We found that free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine were significantly negatively associated with abdominal fat area (P<0.01). There was no significant correlation between drug dose and abdominal fat area (P>0.05). Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were significantly positively associated with abdominal fat area (P<0.01). However, high-density lipoprotein (P=0.06) was not correlated with abdominal fat area. Moreover, the results showed a significant negative correlation between thyroid hormones and lipids (P<0.001)., Conclusion: After anti-thyroid medicine treatment, patients had elevated visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area and altered lipid profiles. These changes may be one of the reasons why metabolic and cardiovascular diseases remain increased after thyroid function is restored., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Li et al.)

Introduction: We found the G132R heterozygous mutation of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) gene in a patient with recurrent hypokalemia. Because the patient had a medical history of hyperthyroidism, the mutation was suspected to be related to hyperthyroidism at first. Subsequently, the expression and function studies in vitro were conducted., Methods: Wide-type TSHR and mutant TSHR (mutTSHR) were constructed in the phage vector and pEGFP-C1 vector. After transfection, the samples were collected for detection of mRNA level, protein expression, cell activity and cAMP content., Results: Compared with the wild-type TSHR, the mRNA level of the mutTSHR was not significantly different. But the protein expression, cell activity and cAMP content of the mutTSHR were significantly lower. So this indicated that the G132R mutation is a loss-of-function mutation., Conclusion: We identified the G132R monoallelic heterozygous mutation of TSHR gene in a patient with hyperthyroidism. Based on disease history of the patient, we speculated that the heterozygous mutation did not cause thyroid dysplasia or hypothyroidism for her. Our study enriched experiment content in vitro studies and clinical phenotype about the G132R mutation in TSHR gene., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Rationale: Gitelman syndrome (GS) is an autosomal recessive tubulopathy caused by mutations of the SLC12A3 gene. It is characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia and hypocalciuria. Hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and increased renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity can cause glucose metabolism dysfunction. The diagnosis of GS includes clinical diagnosis, genetic diagnosis and functional diagnosis. The gene diagnosis is the golden criterion while as functional diagnosis is of great value in differential diagnosis. The hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) test is helpful to distinguish GS from batter syndrome, but few cases have been reported to have HCT testing., Patient Concerns: A 51-year-old Chinese woman presented to emergency department because of intermittent fatigue for more than 10 years., Diagnoses: Laboratory test results showed hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalciuria and metabolic alkalosis. The HCT test showed no response. Using next-generation and Sanger sequencing, we identified 2 heterozygous missense variants (c.533C > T:p.S178L and c.2582G > A:p.R861H) in the SLC12A3 gene. In addition, the patient was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus 7 years ago. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with GS with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM)., Interventions: She was given potassium and magnesium supplements, and dapagliflozin was used to control her blood glucose., Outcomes: After treatments, her fatigue symptoms were reduced, blood potassium and magnesium levels were increased, and blood glucose levels were well controlled., Lessons: When GS is considered in patients with unexplained hypokalemia, the HCT test can be used for differential diagnosis, and genetic testing can be continued to confirm the diagnosis when conditions are available. GS patients often have abnormal glucose metabolism, which is mainly caused by hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and secondary activation of RAAS. When a patient is diagnosed with GS and type 2 diabetes, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) can be used to control the blood glucose level and assist in raising blood magnesium., Competing Interests: The study was supported by two Research Projects Supported by Shanxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology (201804D131044, 201903D321127) and a Research Project Supported by Shanxi Provincial Department of Education(2021Y354). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) primarily complicates the course of asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mortality data of ABPA and the difference in all-cause mortality between ABPA with and without COPD are not available., Objective: We investigated the difference in all-cause mortality between ABPA with and without COPD., Methods: A retrospective review was performed among patients with the diagnosis of ABPA at Peking University People's Hospital between January 2010 and March 2022. Logrank test was performed to investigate the difference between all-cause mortality for ABPA with and without COPD and Cox regression analysis was performed to investigate the independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in patients with ABPA., Results: Sixty-one patients with ABPA were enrolled in this study. The follow-up duration was 50.38 months (3-143 months). In the COPD group, 7 patients died (7/10), while in the non-COPD group, 4 patients died (4/51). The 1-year survival rates of ABPA with and without COPD were 60% and 97.8%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates of ABPA with and without COPD were 40% and 94%, respectively. The Cox regression analysis showed that higher C-reactive protein (CRP) (HR = 1.017, 95% CI 1.004-1.031, P = 0.013) and complicating COPD (HR = 8.525, 95% CI 1.827-39.773, P = 0.006) were independent risk factors associated with mortality in patients with ABPA., Conclusion: The all-cause mortality for ABPA with COPD is higher than that for ABPA without COPD. Higher CRP and complicating COPD are independent risk factor for mortality in patients with ABPA., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2022 Zhang et al.)

Background: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and extent of glycometabolism impairment in patients with adrenal diseases, including Cushing syndrome, primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, and nonfunctional adrenal incidentaloma., Methods: This study enrolled thirty-two patients with adrenal diseases as adrenal disease groups and eight healthy individuals as healthy controls. Blood glucose levels were indicated by glucose concentration in interstitial fluid, which was documented using flash glucose monitoring system. According to flash glucose monitoring system data, parameters representing general blood glucose alterations, within-day and day-to-day glucose variability, and glucose-target-rate were calculated. Furthermore, blood glucose levels at nocturnal, fasting, and postprandial periods were analyzed. Besides, islet β-cell function and insulin resistance were assessed., Results: Analysis of flash glucose monitoring system-related parameters indicated impaired glycometabolism in patients with adrenal diseases compared with that of healthy controls at general blood glucose, within-day and day-to-day glucose variability, and glucose-target-rate levels. Furthermore, the dynamic glucose monitoring data revealed that significantly affected blood glucose levels compared with that of healthy controls were observed at postprandial periods in the Cushing syndrome and primary aldosteronism groups; at nocturnal, fasting and postprandial periods in the pheochromocytoma group. Significant insulin resistance and abnormal β-cell function were observed in the Cushing syndrome group compared with that in healthy controls., Conclusion: Adrenal diseases can negatively affect glucose metabolism. Patients diagnosed with adrenal diseases should receive timely and appropriate treatment to avoid adverse cardiovascular events linked to hyperglycemia and insulin resistance., (Copyright © 2020 Han, Cao, Zhao, Yang, Yin, Shen, Zhang, Gao, Ren, Liang, Yang, Zhang and Liu.)

Rationale: Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (Morquio A) is a catabolic mucopolysaccharide disorder caused by galactose-6-sulfate sulfatase deficiency. It is an autosomal recessive inherited disease. Previous reports on clinical characteristics of Morquio A mainly focused on growth retardation, skeletal deformities, and organ damage in children and adolescents, while the effects of mucopolysaccharide metabolism disorders on endocrine hormone metabolism level have not been reported. Herein, we reported the endocrine hormone metabolism in a case diagnosed as Morquio A., Patient Concerns: The patient was a 17-year-old girl with growth retardation, hearing loss, and severe skeletal dysplasia(scoliosis and chicken breast), and was evaluated to have normal nervous system function and intelligence by physicians., Diagnoses: She was diagnosed as Morquio A based on gene analysis, mucopolysaccharide-related enzymes and her clinical features., Interventions: The patient didn't accepted the enzyme replacement therapy., Outcomes: She had a homozygous mutation of the GALNS gene. The b-glucuronidase content in the blood was reduced. The serum sodium, serum adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol rhythms (8 AM) were decreased. The levels of PRA(plasma renin activity) , PAII(plasma angiotensin II), and PALD(plasma aldosterone) were elevated. Bone mineral density suggests osteoporosis. There were no abnormalities in bone metabolism indicators, growth hormone, thyroid hormone, and sex hormones. In summary, the level of endocrine hormones in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis IV changes., Lessons: This is the report on endocrine hormone level in a patient with mucopolysaccharidosis IV in China. Due to the disease may have relatively incomplete adrenal function, which provides a basis for future understanding and diagnosis of this disease.

In this work, a series of polyethyleneimine (PEI) impregnated metal-organic framework (UiO-66) with varying PEI loadings were prepared and applied as sorbents to capture phosphate ions from water. As indicated by SEM and XRD analysis, PEI was dispersed on the outer surface and the inner pores of UiO-66. At 9.45% PEI loadings (UiO-66-3), the saturated adsorption capacity of phosphate reached 73.15 mg P/g at 298 K, which is superior to most sorbents ever reported. UiO-66-3 could sequestrate phosphate over a wide pH range from 2.0 to 7.0 with high efficiency. The sorption toward phosphate reached equilibrium in 50 min. Unlike commercial anion exchanger IRA-900, UiO-66-3 still exhibited high removal toward phosphate even large amount of coexisted anions were present. Successive sorption assay demonstrated that the removal efficiency of UiO-66-3 toward phosphate remained constant after six cyclic runs. All the above results indicated the great potential of UiO-66-3 as a promising sorbent for the decontamination of water from phosphate.