Damaged male germ cells induce epididymitis in mice / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Epididymitis can be caused by infectious and noninfectious etiological factors. While microbial infections are responsible for infectious epididymitis, the etiological factors contributing to noninfectious epididymitis remain to be defined. The present study demonstrated that damaged male germ cells (DMGCs) induce epididymitis in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of the alkylating agent busulfan damaged murine male germ cells. Epididymitis was observed in mice 4 weeks after the injection of busulfan and was characterized by massive macrophage infiltration. Epididymitis was coincident with an accumulation of DMGCs in the epididymis. In contrast, busulfan injection into mice lacking male germ cells did not induce epididymitis. DMGCs induced innate immune responses in epididymal epithelial cells (EECs), thereby upregulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as well as the chemokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-5 (MCP-5), and chemokine ligand-10 (CXCL10). These results suggest that male germ cell damage may induce noninfectious epididymitis through the induction of innate immune responses in EECs. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying noninfectious epididymitis, which might aid in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Analysis of the axial stretching force of the small splint fixation system / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure the axial stretching force produced by the small splint fixation system in the treatment of the fracture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Dumbbell shaped plexiglass was machined to model the bone shaft with expanded two ends. Force transducer was set at the model fracture site to measure the stretching force produced by fracture fixation of the small splint with cloth aqueous bag that simulated the muscles and other soft tissue underneath.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was positive relationship between the axial stretching force produced at the model fracture site and the transverse pressing force exerted by the external plates. The ratio of which was 1/10.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Muscle enwrapped with fascia is similar to the cloth aqueous bag system in mechanical structure. From this article, axial stretching force exists at the bone shaft fracture site when fixed by small splint which exerts the force transversely from the outside of the extrimity.</p>

Urodynamic tests contribute to the choice of therapies for type-III B prostatitis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the parameters of urodynamic tests for patients with type-III B prostatitis and evaluate the significance of the results of urodynamic tests in the choice of therapies for this disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Urodynamic tests were performed for 87 type-III B prostatitis patients aged 22-45 (30.7 ± 8.5) years, who had moderate or severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and failed to respond to routine therapy. Different treatments were administered according to the results of urodynamic tests followed by observation of the therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Urodynamic abnormalities were found in 70 of the 87 patients, bladder outlet obstruction in 28 (32.2%), detrusor overactivity in 25 (28.7%), bladder hyperesthesia in 18 (20.7%), low compliance in 10 (11.5%), detrusor-external urethral sphincter dyssynergia in 1 (1.1%), and impaired detrusor contractile function in 1 (1.1%). Treatments achieved obvious effectiveness in 26 cases (29.9%), effectiveness in 51 (58.6%), and no effectiveness in 10 (11.5%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Urodynamic tests contribute significantly to the choice of therapies for type-III B prostatitis patients with moderate or severe LUTS.</p>

Revealing mechanical property of intact rabbit tibia in three-point bending test / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanical property of intact long bone through three-point bending test of rabbit tibia according to mechanics of materials.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten pairs of normal rabbits tibia were treated on three-point bending test with 80 mm supporting distance in order to corroborate the virtual loading test on bone model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Bending stiffness and strength of 10 pairs of normal rabbit tibia were obtained. The maximum flexibility of the right and the left tibia was (2.737 +/- 0.262) mm and (2.739 +/- 0.233) mm respectively. The maximum load, which indicated the bending strength, of the right and the left tibia was (17.803 +/- 2.675) kg and (18.366 +/- 2.653) kg respectively. The area under the load-flexibility curve before fail of the right and the left tibia was (23.829 +/- 4.413) kg/mm and (24.725 +/- 4.101) kg x mm respectively. The slope of the load-flexibility curve which indicate the stiffness of the right and the left tibia was (7.545 +/- 1.310) kg/mm and (7.631 +/- 1.174) kg x mm respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The discrepancy between different animal body is larger than conventionally required. It's suggested for performing three-point bending test of long bone of the body both sides in pair.</p>

Berberine ameliorates renal injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by suppression of both oxidative stress and aldose reductase / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Berberine is one of the main constituents of Coptidis rhizoma (CR) and Cortex phellodendri. In this study, we investigated the beneficial effects of berberine on renal function and its possible mechanisms in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: normal, diabetic model, and berberine treatment groups. Rats in the diabetic model and berberine treatment groups were induced to diabetes by intraperitonal injection with streptozotocin (STZ). Glomerular area, glomerular volume, fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Cr) and urine protein for 24 hours (UP24h) were measured using commercially available kits. Meanwhile, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum, activity of aldose reductase (AR) and the expression of AR mRNA and protein in kidney were detected by different methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that oral administration of berberine (200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) significantly ameliorated the ratio of kidney weight to body weight. Glomerular area, glomerular volume, FBG, BUN, Cr and UP24h were significantly decreased in the berberine treatment group compared with the diabetic model group (P < 0.05). Berberine treatment significantly increased serum SOD activity and decreased the content of MDA compared with diabetic model group (P < 0.05). AR activity as well as the expression of AR mRNA and protein in the kidney was markedly decreased in the berberine treatment group compared with diabetic model group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results suggested that berberine could ameliorate renal dysfunction in DN rats through controlling blood glucose, reduction of oxidative stress and inhibition of the activation of the polyol pathway.</p>

Subtype and sequence analysis of HIV-1 strains in Heilongjiang Province / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is divided into two types, HIV-1 (groups M, N and O) and HIV-2. Heilongjiang Province located in the northeast of China, and the feature of the subtype distribution and sequence characteristics of HIV-1 strains prevalent in Heilongjiang Province is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the subtype distribution and genetic characteristics of HIV-1 strains in one hospital in Heilongjiang Province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HIV-1 env gene was amplified by nested-PCR from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 19 HIV-1 seropositive individuals in Heilongjiang Province. The C2-V3 region was sequenced. Aligned the nucleotide sequence of 19 samples with CLUSTAL W (BioEdit) software, results were acquired and used for phylogenetic tree analysis after artificial adjustment. Reference sequence, downloaded from Los Alamos HIV Sequence Database, was used to identify the subtype of obtained sequence. Genetic distance between sequences was assessed using the software MEGA 3.1 Kimura 2-parameter, and the Phylogenetic tree was reestablished with Neighbor-Joining method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that 19 Heilongjiang strains clustered closely to subtype B strain from Thailand and were far from other international subtype reference strains. Statistical test showed no significant discrepancy between the genetic distance of interclass and intra-class (P > 0.05). The analysis of V3 loop amino sequence of 19 Heilongjiang B strains revealed that V3 tip motif of 10 samples (52.63%) was GPGQ, and of 4 samples (21.53%) was GPGR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The subtype of 19 HIV-1 seropositive individuals in Heilongjiang Province is B', and it is introduced from He'nan Province. V3 tip motifs of the HIV-1 isolates are mainly GPGQ and GPGR.</p>

Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathologic study of 10 cases / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the morphologic features, immunophenotype, differential diagnosis and prognosis of nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (NMZL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Light microscopic examination and immunohistochemical study were carried out in 10 cases of NMZL. Seven of which had follow-up information available.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All cases presented with good performance status at the time of diagnosis. Amongst the 7 cases with follow-up information available, most (6/7) were in advanced clinical stage (stage II to III). The one-year survival rate was 67%. A vaguely nodular growth pattern was observed in most cases of NMZL (5/10). The lymphoma was composed predominantly of atypical lymphoid cells resembling centrocytes (7/10). A predominance of monocytoid B-cell (2/10) or small lymphocytic (1/10) morphology was rare. Instead, the presence of a minor component of monocytoid B cells was not uncommon (5/10). Plasmacytoid or plasmacytic cells were also frequently found (8/10). The proliferation index ranged from 5% to 50%. Follicular dendritic cells appeared atrophic in 7 cases and variably hyperplasic in 3 cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Primary NMZL is rare. It has a unique growth pattern and most cases are composed predominantly of cells resembling centrocytes. Differential diagnosis includes lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, lymph node involvement by extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma and T-zone hyperplasia. The clinical stage is often high at presentation, with systemic dissemination. The prognosis of NMZL is thus relatively poor.</p>

Expression and biological significance of HPA and HIF-1alpha in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of HPA and HIF-1alpha in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and their relationship with cancer development, invasion and metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of HPA mRNA and HIF-1alpha protein in 23 mucosa specimens of incisal margin, 26 para-tumorous dysplastic tissues and 70 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens were detected by in situ hybridization assay and immunohistochemical staining, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive expression of HPA mRNA and HIF-1alpha protein were significantly increased as the epithelial cells progressed into carcinoma (P < 0.05). The expression of HPA mRNA and HIF-1alpha protein in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were significantly correlated with the invasion depth, lymph node metastasis and clinical staging (P < 0.05), while it was not correlated with the differentiation of tumors (P > 0.05). There was a close correlation between the expression of HPA mRNA and HIF-1alpha protein in the carcinoma tissues (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The high expression of HPA mRNA and HIF-1alpha protein is correlated with carcinogenesis, progression, invasion and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. There may be a positive cooperation between two of them in the carcinogenesis and development of esophageal carcinoma. The determination of HPA mRNA and HIF-1 alpha will be useful in predicting tumor biological behavior.</p>