A local case with alveolar echinococcosis in Nanzhang County, Hubei Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

The diagnosis and treatment of a local case with alveolar echinococcosis was presented. Based on clinical data and epidemiological surveys, this is a rare, local case with alveolar echinococcosis in Nanzhang County, suggesting the possibility of local transmission of echinococcosis. The prevention, control and surveillance of echinococcosis requires to be reinforced in nonendemic areas.

Genetic characterization and protein stability analysis of a Chinese family with Von Hippel-Lindau disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL), a heritable autosomal dominant disease characterized by neoplasia in multiple organ systems, has rarely been reported in Asia. We genetically investigated a unique Chinese family with VHL disease and performed an analysis of the VHL protein stability.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from peripheral blood was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to three exons of the VHL gene in 9 members of the Chinese family with VHL disease. PCR products were directly sequenced. We estimated the effects of VHL gene mutation on the stability of pVHL, which is indicated by the free energy difference between the wild-type and the mutant protein (ΔΔG).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The Chinese family was classified as VHL type 1. Three family members, including two patients and a carrier, had a T to G heterozygotic missense mutation at nucleotide 515 of the VHL gene exon 1. This missense mutation resulted in the transition from leucine to arginine in amino acid 101 of the VHL protein. There was low stability of the VHL protein (the ΔΔG was 12.71 kcal/mol) caused by this missense mutation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>We first reported a family with this VHL gene mutation in Asia. This missense mutation is predicted to significantly reduce the stability of the VHL protein and contribute to the development of the renal cell carcinoma (RCC) phenotype displayed by this family. The genetic characterization and protein stability analysis of families with VHL disease are important for early diagnosis and prevention of the disease being passed on to their offspring.</p>

Shorter recurrence-free survival time, higher risk of multiple recurrences: a retrospective study of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer after transurethral resection / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Multiple recurrences are common in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, but the risk of multiple recurrences has not been fully described. Identifying patients at high risk of multiple recurrences will help to select an optimal therapeutic strategy and to improve prognosis. This study was conducted to identify the risk factors for multiple recurrences of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We reviewed the clinical data of all patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in our hospital between January 2003 and February 2010. Patients with at least one recurrence were included. Multivariate analysis was performed for theorized risk factors (age, gender, tumor stage, grade, size, location, number of lesions, adjuvant intra-vesical chemotherapy after transurethral resection, and recurrence-free survival after each resection) to clarify risk factors for multiple recurrences of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 278 patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, 84 were with at least one recurrence and a total of 222 recurrences among them were followed up for 6 - 70 months (mean, 36.1 months). Recurrence-free survival after initial resection predicted the overall frequency of bladder cancer recurrence (risk ratio (RR) = 37.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.45 - 396.13, P = 0.001) and second recurrence (RR = 6.15, 95%CI = 1.28 - 29.57, P = 0.023). Similarly, recurrence-free survival after a second resection was the only significant risk factor for third recurrence (RR = 31.08, 95%CI = 2.53 - 381.47, P = 0.007). Moreover, recurrence-free survival after initial resection was the only significant factor to predict later progression to muscle invasive bladder cancer (RR = 8.62, 95%CI = 1.47 - 58.34, P = 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Recurrence-free survival after resection is an independent predictor of multiple recurrences of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The shorter the period between resection and recurrence is, the higher the risk of multiple recurrences.</p>

Transrectal ultrasonography in the etiological diagnosis of male obstructive azoospermia: analysis of 695 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the role of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) in the etiological diagnosis of male obstructive azoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and TRUS findings of 695 patients with obstructive azoospermia from January 2007 to May 2009.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Concerning the etiology of obstructive azoospermia, the main TRUS findings included ejaculatory duct abnormality (29.2%), seminal vesicle abnormality (25.4%) and prostate midline cyst (18.5%). TRUS revealed 203 cases of ejaculatory duct dilation, 177 cases of seminal vesicle abnormality (including 108 with absence or agenesis and 51 with dilation of the seminal vesicle), and 128 cases of prostate midline cyst (including 75 with ejaculatory duct cyst and 39 with Müllerian cyst). Calcification of the verumontanum or ejaculatory duct was suspected to be the causes of obstructive azoospermia in 34 cases. However, no significant etiological abnormality was found in 153 cases. Obvious etiology was shown by TRUS in 78.0% of the patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TRUS can clearly display the structural abnormality of the ejaculatory duct and seminal vesicle, and provide important information on the etiology of male obstructive azoospermia.</p>

Value of 3D 1H-MRS with body coil at 3T in the differential diagnosis of the prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the value of three dimensional proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (3D 1H-MRS) with body coil at 3T in the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients suspected of prostate cancer underwent MRI and MRS examinations, and then transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy for pathological diagnosis. The MRI and MRS features of benign prostate hyperplasia, prostate cancer and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) were analyzed in comparison with the pathological reports, and the receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn for the diagnosis of cancer from peripheral zones.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The examinations were accomplished for all the patients. The mean ratios of (Cho + Cre)/Cit in the interstitial and glandular hyperplasia tissues, the cancer tissue of the central and peripheral glands, the healthy peripheral gland and PIN were 0.75 +/- 0.23, 0.59 +/- 0.14, 1.79 +/- 0.90, 1.18 +/- 0.95, 0.46 +/- 0.18, and 0.97 +/- 0.10, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the cancer and normal prostate tissues (P < 0.01). The optimum threshold for the diagnosis of prostate cancer in the peripheral zone was 0.68 with a sensitivity of 88.6% and a specificity of 88.7%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The 3D 1H-MRS with body coil at 3T has a high sensitivity and specificity in the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer, and can provide valuable information for the diagnosis of PIN.</p>

Value of transrectal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of midline prostatic cysts / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the value of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) in the diagnosis of midline prostatic cysts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the TRUS manifestations of 87 cases of midline prostatic cysts.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the total number, 33 cases were diagnosed as Müllerian duct cysts, 21 cases ejaculatory duct cysts and the other 33 cases undifferentiated midline prostatic cysts; 19 cases had dilated seminal vesicles, 19 seminal vesicle agenesis, 9 seminal vesiculitis and 5 dilation of the ejaculatory duct.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TRUS, convenient, sensitive, safe and non-invasive, is a desirable method for the diagnosis of midline prostatic cysts.</p>

Testicular microlithiasis influences seminal profile and testicular blood flow in infertile men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the testicular blood flow in patients with testicular microlithiasis (TM) and its correlation with the seminal profile in infertile men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We selected 88 infertile men and examined them by testicular color Doppler and routine seminal tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Testicular microlithiasis was found in 19 (19.3%) of the patients, classic testicular microlithiasis (CTM) in 7 (8.0%), and limited testicular microlithiasis (LTM) in 10 (11.3%). No significant differences were observed in the age of onset, bilateral testicular volume, resistance index (RI) of bilateral testicular arteries, semen amount and the rate of teratospermia. The bilateral testicular peak systolic velocity (PSV), sperm count and sperm motility were significantly lower in the CTM than in the LTM group (P < 0.05), but showed no statistically significant difference between the LTM and the non-calcification group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TM may be one of the causes of poor sperm function in infertile men.</p>

Outcome of implanting penile prosthesis for treating erectile dysfunction: experience with 42 cases / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To report a short-time result of three-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantation on treating patients with organic erectile dysfunction (ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three-piece IPPs were implanted in 42 Chinese patients with ED refractory to systemic treatment between May 2002 and May 2004. The etiologies of ED were neurogenic (28 with paraplegia and seven with traumatic nervi-erigentes injury); congenital venous leakage (5 cases), fibrosis of corpus cavernosum (1case) and Klinefelter's syndrome (1 case). The follow-up period ranged from 24 to 57 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Implantation procedures were successfully performed upon all 42 patients. The length of implanted prosthesis was from 13 cm to 18 cm, and the diameter was 1 cm. The implanted prosthesis was made by the Medical Instrumentation Company of Muping (Muping, Shandong, China). Localized infection occurred in only one patient and mechanical complications occurred in five patients. Coitus could be performed in 41 cases (97.6%). Three patients with congenital venous leakage made their spouses pregnant after implantation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Implantation of three-piece IPP is an effective and safe modality for treating patients with ED. It can be well accepted by Chinese patients because of its efficacy.</p>