rotective effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived exosomesagainst testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat BMSCs were isolated, cultured and identified in theprimary culture. The exosomes were extracted from the BMSCs and characterized using nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blotting. Twenty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into shamoperation group, testicular IRI with saline treatment group and IRI with exosome treatment group. The contralateral testes ofthe rats were collected for pathological observation, aseessment of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and detection of HMGB1, caspases-3 and cleaved caspase-3 expressions using Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We successfullyobtained exosomes from rat BMSCs. Testicular IRI significantly impaired testicular spermatogenesis, which was markedlyimproved by treatment with the exosomes ( < 0.05). Testicular IRI also caused significant increase in the protein expression ofHMGB1, caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 in the testicular tissue, and treatment with the exosomes obviously amelioratedthese changes ( < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BMSCs-derived exosomes protects against testicular IRI due to the anti-oxidant, antiinflammatory and anti-apoptosis activities of the exosomes.</p>

Expression of cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 in patients with asthenozoospermia and its clinical significance / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJEVTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (CRISP2) in spermatozoa of patients with asthenozoospermia and explore its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHOS</b>Semen samples were collected from 24 normal volunteers and 24 patients with asthenozoospermia for detecting CRISP2 mRNA and protein expressions using qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The correlation of CRISP2 expressions with sperm morphology, progressive motility and fertility prognosis were analyzed in patients with asthenozoospermia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CRISP2 protein expression was obviously lowered in the ejaculated spermatozoa of patients with asthenozoospermia as compared to the normal volunteers, but no significant difference in CRISP2 mRNA expression was found between the two groups. Correlation analysis showed that CRISP2 protein expression was positively correlated with normal sperm morphology (r=0.6182, P=0.0037) and progressive motility (r=0.6309, P=0.0029). Follow-up study of the patients revealed a higher fertility rate in patients with a relatively high CRISP2 protein expression than in those with low CRISP2 protein expression (80.0% vs 20.0%, P=0.0230).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression level of CRISP2 protein is positively correlated with normal sperm morphology and progressive motility. A reduced CRISP2 protein expression indicates poor fertility prognosis of patients with asthenozoospermia, suggesting the potential value of CRISP2 as a novel therapeutic target for treating asthenozoospermia.</p>

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for lower urinary tract stones: complications and the contributing factors / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJEVTIVE</b>To analyze the complications of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for treatment of lower urinary tract stones and identify the factors contributing to the complications.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the postoperative complications of ESWL in 83 patients with lower urinary tract stones and their association with the patients' age, height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), stone features, shock wave times, and shock wave energy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 83 cases treated with ESWL, 72.3% (60 cases) showed gross hematuria, 27.7% (23 cases) complained of pain, and 25.3% (21 cases) had both pain and gross hematuria. None of the patients reported vomiting, skin rash, flatulence, gastrointestinal bleeding or other complications. Patients with postoperative gross hematuria, pain, and both had significantly greater stone length, stone width and more shock body times than those without these complications (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Patients with gross hematuria had significantly lower height than those without complications (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The common complications of ESWL for lower urinary tract stones include hematuria and pain. The patient's height, stone length, stone width and shock times are important factors contributing to these postoperative complications.</p>

Effect of painless urethral catheterization combined with lidocaine on urethral irritation / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of placement of urethral catheter combined with lidocaine on urethral irritation caused by postoperative indwelling catheters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 120 male surgical patients requiring postoperative indwelling catheters between June 2011 and January 2012 were divided into two equal groups for placement of painless urethral catheter combined with bladder washing with lidocaine on the first postoperative day, or for routine catheter placement only. The symptoms of urethral irritation such as urethral pain, urinary urgency, and perineal discomforts were observed and compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In patients with painless urethral catheter placement combined with bladder washing with lidocaine, 11 developed urethral irritation symptoms, as compared to 24 in the patients with routine catheter placement only, showing a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Placement of painless urethral catheter combined with bladder washing with lidocaine can significantly reduce the incidence of urethral irritation due to postoperative indwelling catheters.</p>