Bushen Huoxue Fang promotes the apoptosis of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system of rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang (BSHX) on the apoptosis of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system of rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its possible action mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred 3- month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number (control, castrated, BPH model, and BSHX). BPH models were made by subcutaneous injection of testosterone following castration; the rats in the BSHX group were treated intragastrically with BSHX at 2.34 g/ml after modeling, while those in the other two groups with equal volume of saline, all for 37 days. On the 38th day, all the rats were sacrificed and their prostates harvested for detection of the distribution of TGF-beta1 and alpha-actin and the count of positive cells in the prostatic ductal system by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was determined by TUNEL assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of TGF-beta1 was significantly increased in the rats of the BSHX group as compared with the BPH models in both the proximal prostatic duct ([15.28 +/- 4.30]% vs [36.42 +/- 8.10]%, P < 0.01) and the distal prostatic duct ([4.42 +/- 2.07]% vs [8.71 +/- 2.28 ]%, P < 0.05), while the expression of alpha-actin in the proximal duct was remarkably higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the models ([28.14 +/- 7.43]% vs [18.28 +/- 4.07]%, P < 0.01), but lower than in the control animals ([33.57 +/- 6.85]%, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the BPH models and BSHX-treated rats both exhibited markedly decreased apoptosis of epithelial cells in the proximal prostatic duct ([39.42 +/- 9.20]% vs [3.86 +/- 1.34]%, P < 0.01, and [31.14 +/- 5.64]%, P < 0.01) and distal prostatic duct ([17.60 +/- 4.86]% vs [3.07 +/- 1.14]%, P < 0.01, and [12.37 +/- 2.25]%, P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was significantly higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the BPH models (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>By upregulating the expression of TGF-beta, BSHX can suppress the reduction of smooth muscle cells in the proximal prostatic duct, promote the apoptosis of prostatic epithelial cells, and thus effectively inhibit benign prostatic hyperplasia.</p>

The CT findings of endobronchial spread in lung adenocarcinoma / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To analyze the CT findings of endobronchial spread in lung adenocarcinoma. Methods The CT findings of 15 lung adenocarcinomas or bronchioloalveolar carcinomas with endobronchial spread were reviewed,the distribution and the progression of the spread were evaluated.Results All of the primary tumors were consolidation form.The spread lesions distributed in one side of the lung or both sides along the bronchus.The pleural surface was spared.The CT findings of the spread included centrilobular nodules(n=5),tree-in-bud(n=7),acinar nodules(n=2),ground-glass opacities(n=10)and air- space consolidations(n=13)in the first CT examination.5 cases of the spread lesions only presented centrilobular nodules(single form)and 10 cases presented several appearances(complex form).All of the cases were diagnosed as tuberculosis or pneumonia,and antituberculotic or antibiotic therapy was taken with no effect.The follow-up CT scans showed progression in all cases,and the spread lesions with single form became multiple consolidations.The spread lesions with complex form deteriorated faster than the single one. Conclusion Although the CT findings of the endobronchial spread of the lung adenocarcinoma is specific, the clinical history and laboratory examination also are important for the differential diagnosis with tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.