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Background: A virilizing ovarian tumor (VOT) is a rare cause of hyperandrogenism in pre- and postmenopausal women. Although transvaginal ultrasound is considered as the first-line imaging method for ovarian tumors, it is examiner-dependent. We aimed to summarize the clinical and ultrasound manifestations of VOTs to help establish the diagnosis with emphasis on those causing diagnostic difficulty.Method: We retrospectively identified 31 patients with VOTs who underwent surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Results: Patients with VOTs were predominantly premenopausal. All patients showed androgenic manifestations with serum testosterone levels elevated to varying degrees. The tumor size of VOTs was significantly correlated with age (P < 0.001). The VOTs in the postmenopausal group were significantly smaller than those in the premenopausal group (median 1.8 cm [range, 1.3-4.8 cm] vs 4.5 cm [range, 0.7-11.9 cm]; P = 0.018). Twenty-seven out of 31 VOTs were successfully identified by ultrasound. On ultrasound, VOTs are mostly solid and hypoechoic masses with enhanced vascularity. Four VOTs (0.7-1.5 cm) were radiologically negative, and they were the smallest among all patients.Conclusion: Patients with VOTs showed androgenic manifestations with varying degrees of hyperandrogenemia. Older patients tend to have smaller VOTs. Ultrasound is an effective method for the detection of VOTs. Some VOTs can be very small and difficult to visualize radiologically, especially in postmenopausal patients. Examiners must remain vigilant about very small VOTs on the basis of endocrine symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Relative humidity, as a significant environmental factor, has an important effect on the growth of ducks. This study elucidates the impact of different humidity environments on the production performance and muscle quality of ducks. The research findings demonstrate that ducks exhibit better growth and meat quality at 74% humidity; however, when environmental humidity exceeds 81%, production performance and meat quality plummet sharply. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different humidity levels on the growth performance, slaughter performance, and meat quality of Pekin ducks through the artificial control of humidity, and to identify the suitable environmental humidity for Pekin duck growth. A completely randomized single-factor design was employed, selecting 144 newly hatched male Pekin ducks with healthy and similar BW (body weight) (60.92 g ± 4.38). These ducks were randomly assigned to four groups (A (RH (relative humidity) = 60%), B (RH = 67%), C (RH = 74%), D (RH = 81%)), with 12 ducks and 3 replicates in each group. The ducks were raised in a climate-controlled room for 42 days with ad libitum access to feed and water. BW and feed intake were measured every 3 days, and slaughter performance and meat quality were assessed at 42 days. There was no significant difference in the ADG (average daily gain) from 1 to 21 days (p > 0.05). The ADFI (average daily feed intake) of Group D was significantly lower than that of Groups A, B, and C (p < 0.05), with no significant differences between Groups A, B, and C (p > 0.05). At 42 days, the BW, ADG, and ADFI of Groups A and C were significantly higher than those of Group D (p < 0.05), with no significant differences among Groups A, B, and C (p > 0.05). Group C had a significantly higher breast muscle weight, breast muscle ratio, liver weight, and liver index than Groups B and D (p < 0.05), with no significant differences between Groups A, B, and D (p > 0.05). The meat shear force in Group C was significantly lower than that in Groups A, B, and D (p < 0.05). The L* (brightness) of Group C was significantly lower than that of Group A (p < 0.05), and the a* (redness) value of Group C was significantly higher than that of Groups A and B (p < 0.05), with no significant difference compared to Group D (p > 0.05). Group B had a significantly higher cooking loss than Groups A, C, and D (p < 0.05), with no significant differences among Groups A, C, and D (p > 0.05). Under 26 °C conditions, Pekin ducks perform best in terms of the production performance and feed efficiency, with high-quality meat, especially when reared at 74% humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to delineate internal genitalia phenotypes in patients with ovotesticular disorders of sex development (OT-DSD). Therefore, a cohort of 22 OT-DSD patients admitted to the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from March 1977 to August 2019 was analyzed retrospectively. The characteristics of karyotype, gonad type and location, and internal genital organs were reviewed and compared to 242 pooled cases from the Chinese literature. As a result, the most common karyotype was 46,XX (68.2% in 22 cases of our hospital, 60.8% in the domestic literature). The combination of gonads was separated (ovary-testis, 45.1%), unilateral (ovotestis-ovary, 17.4%; ovotestis-testis, 13.0%), and bilateral (ovotestis-ovotestis, 24.5%). All the cases in our hospital had a uterus on the side of the ovary or ovotestis. Among the 19 female patients, 5 had a hysterectomy due to genital tract obstruction, 9 had vaginal dysplasia, 3 had premature ovarian failure, and only 2 women gave birth to a child. In conclusion, OT-DSD is a typical model of unilateral gonadal determinism: the uterus is present on the side of the ovotestis and ovary and the internal genital organs predominantly exhibit female characteristics. However, combined reproductive tract malformation and ovarian function of premature failure are not uncommon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]