Association between diacylglycerol kinase kappa variants and hypospadias susceptibility in a Han Chinese population / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Previous genome-wide association studies have identified variants in the diacylglycerol kinase kappa (DGKK) gene associated with hypospadias in populations of European descent. However, no variants of DGKK were confirmed to be associated with hypospadias in a recent Han Chinese study population, likely due to the limited number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) included in the analysis. In this study, we aimed to address the inconsistent results and evaluate the association between DGKK and hypospadias in the Han Chinese population through a more comprehensive analysis of DGKK variants. We conducted association analyses for 17 SNPs in or downstream of DGKK with hypospadias among 322 cases (58 mild, 113 moderate, 128 severe, and 23 unknown) and 1008 controls. Five SNPs (rs2211122, rs4554617, rs7058226, rs7063116, and rs5915254) in DGKK were significantly associated with hypospadias (P < 0.05), with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.64-1.76. When only mild and moderate cases were compared to controls, 10 SNPs in DGKK were significant (P < 0.05), with ORs of 1.56-2.13. No significant SNP was observed when only severe cases were compared to controls. This study successfully implicated DGKK variants in hypospadias risk among a Han Chinese population, especially for mild/moderate cases. Severe forms of hypospadias are likely due to other genetic factors.

Sarcolemma tissue of prepubertal concealed penis: pathological characterization and clinical implication / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the histopathological characteristics and clinical implication of sarcolemma tissue in prepubertal concealed penis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After measurement of the penile length, 10 prepubertal children with congenital concealed penis underwent modified Devine's operation (treatment group), and another 10 normal prepubertal children received circumcision (control group). The anatomic features of the penile sarcolemma tissue was observed intraoperatively, and its fibrosis was evaluated by Masson trichrome staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The penile length of the treatment group was significantly shorter than that of the control group preoperatively ([1.49 +/- 0.17 ] cm vs [4.26 +/- 0.23 ] cm, P < 0.01). The degree of penile concealment was correlated with the distal point of the attachment of its sarcolemma fibrous tissue: the closer the distal attachment point was to the coronary ditch, the more serious was penile concealment. The proportion of the area of collagen fibers in the penile sarcolemma tissue was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control ([65.6 +/- 6.9]% vs [37.1 +/- 4.7]%, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sarcolemma fibrosis was obvious in congenital concealed penis, and the key to its management is drastic removal of all the fibrous sarcolemma tissue.</p>

Effects of hypothermia on antioxidant capacity of rat testes after testicular torsion / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of hypothermia on the antioxidant capacity of rat testes after testicular torsion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four healthy pubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups of equal number: Group A (torsion) , Group B (torsion + hypothermia) and Group C (control). The animals were submitted to unilateral 720 degrees testicular torsion, and underwent detorsion two hours later. Fourteen days later, the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the level of malonic diethylaldehyde(MDA) were detected with spectrophotometer and histological changes were observed by light microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The T-AOC of Group B was significantly greater than that of Group A (P < 0.01), but less than that of Group C (P < 0.01). The MDA level of Group B was lower than that of Group A (P < 0.01), but higher than that of Group C (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hypothermia can restrain the production of oxygen free radicals following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats, which in turn can inhibit lipid peroxidation and increase the survivability of the torsional testis.</p>