Gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands in men: high-frequency ultrasound features and their clinical significance / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To investigate ultrasonographic manifestations of gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands in men, and to assess their clinical significance.Methods:From January 2014 to January 2021, male patients with gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands were collected from Department of Dermatology, Changshu No.1 People′s Hospital. The diagnosis had been confirmed by laboratory examinations, and these patients had not received relevant treatment. The real-time ultrasound imaging system SIEMENS ACUSON X300 was used to examine the penile skin and accessory gland lesions infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, with the probe frequency ranging from 7.5 to 15 MHz. Patients with tubular anechoic fluid-filled areas on the high-frequency ultrasound images received a single dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone (1 g) ; those with oval-shaped anechoic fluid-filled areas on the high-frequency ultrasound images received incision and drainage followed by intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone at a dose of 1 g once a day for 5 consecutive days; those with hypoechoic or mixed echoic areas on the high-frequency ultrasound images received intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone at a dose of 1 g once a day for 5 consecutive days, and if the nodules did not regress after 1-month treatment, local resection would be performed. One month after the treatment, the patients were followed up, and the efficacy was evaluated. Results:A total of 32 male patients with gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands were collected. They were aged 28.54 ± 3.27 years, all had a history of non-marital sexual contact, and the duration from non-marital sexual contact to the onset of symptoms was 4.45 ± 1.03 days. The disease course was 8.64 ± 1.87 days. Lesions were all solitary, and located at the external urethral meatus in 16 cases (50.00%) , at the glans penis in 7 cases (21.88%) , beside the foreskin frenulum in 5 cases (15.62%) , and at the penile raphe in 4 cases (12.50%) . Sixteen patients (50.00%) presented with sinus-like lesions, 9 (28.13%) with abscesses, 7 (21.87%) with nodules, and all had tenderness on palpation. High-frequency ultrasound examination showed tubular anechoic fluid-filled areas in 16 cases (50.00%) , oval-shaped anechoic fluid-filled areas in 7 cases (21.88%) , hypoechoic areas in 5 cases (15.62%) , and mixed echoic areas in 4 cases (12.50%) . Gonococcal infections involved the cavernous body of the urethra in 16 cases (50.00%) , cavernous body of the penis in 5 cases (15.62%) , and subcutaneous tissue of the penis in 11 cases (34.38%) . After the treatment, all the patients were cured.Conclusion:High-frequency ultrasound can be used in the assessment of skin lesions and selection of treatment regimens for male patients with gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands.

Substitutes for Endangered Animal Medicinal Materials： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Endangered animal medicine is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine， which is distinctive in the treatment of diseases. At present， the rare and endangered medicinal materials such as tiger bone， rhinoceros horn， pangolin， antelope horn， bear bile are listed as national key protected animals， so their clinical application is limited， the current solution is mainly based on the ideas and methods of similar pharmacological effects， close genetic relationships， artificial breeding， and artificial synthesis to find and develop alternatives for endangered animal medicinal materials. Although artificially cultured bear bile and musk， and artificially synthesized tiger bone， bezoar and musk can solve the shortage of endangered animal medicines to a certain extent， there are still some problems such as difficult breakthroughs in breeding technology and incomplete recognition in the substitute industry. According to this， based on summarizing the existing substitutes for endangered animal medicines， our group proposed the concept of homology， homogeneity and equivalent of substitutes， and constructed a new idea to develop and evaluate substitutes by combining frontier biotechnology with multi-omics detection， so as to provide some support for protecting rare and endangered animals and solving the shortage of endangered animal medicines.

Status of anxiety and depression in male patients with gonococcal infection in paraurethral ducts before and after paraurethral duct dilatation / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To verify the change of the anxiety and depression of patients anteriorposterior treatment at paraurethral duct dilitation after gonococcal infection of paraurethral duct.Methods Twenty-eight patients of paraurethral duct dilatation after male gonococcal infection of paraurethral duct were enrolled,and the patients were treated in the Department of Dermatology and Venerology,the First People's Hospital of Changshu City.The anxiety and depression of patients anteriorposterior treatment were assessed and compared with Hamilton depression scale and Hamilton anxiety scale.Results The total scores of Hamilton depression scale and Hamilton anxiety scale before treatment were positively correlated with course of disease (r =0.481,P =0.0095;r =0.549,P =0.0025).The total scores of Hamilton depression and anxiety before treatment were from 1 to 31 (18.9±7.5) and from 4 to 30 (14.9±6.8).The symptoms of depression and anxiety appeared in 11 patients and 15 patients respectively.The total scores of Hamilton depression andanxiety after treatment were from 0 to 8 (4.3±1.7) and from 0 to 8 (3.3±1.7).There was no symptom of depression and anxiety.The difference of the total score of Hamilton depression and anxiety before and after treatment had statistical significance (t =12.270,P＜0.001,t =10.626,P＜0.001).The difference of positive rate of depressive and anxious symptom before and after treatment had statistical significance too (x2 =9.05,P=0.003;x2 =13.06,P=0.000).Conclusions The sequelae of gonococcal paraurethral duct infection in male paraurethral duct dilatation can result in the anxiety and depression of patients,which should be treated.Effective therapy can relieve or cure the anxiety and depression of patients without the assistance of psychotropic drugs.

Distribution and morphology of ghrelin-immunopositive cells in the liver of the African ostrich / Distribución y morfología de las células inmunopositivas a la gregina en el hígado de avestruz africana

SUMMARY: Ghrelin is the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, and has been found in the liver of multiple vertebrates. While ghrelin has been identified in the gastrointestinal tract of African ostrich chicks, little is known regarding its distribution in the liver of the African ostrich. In the present study, the distribution and morphological characteristics of ghrelin-immunopositive (ghrelin-ip) cells in the liver of the African ostrich were investigated using immunohistochemistry. Our results indicate that the liver is divided into two sections: the capsule and the parenchyma, which comprises hepatic lobules and the hepatic portal area. The hepatic lobules include the central vein, hepatocellular cord, and the hepatic sinusoid. The hepatocellular cord is composed of hepatocytes, and Macrophagocytus stellatus (Kupffer cells) as well as endothelial cells reside within the hepatic sinusoid. ghrelin-ip cells were detected among both the Macrophagocytus stellatus and endothelial cells of the hepatic sinusoid in the African ostrich liver. In contrast, no ghrelinip cells were located within the hepatocytes or the hepatic portal area. These results clearly demonstrated the presence of ghrelin-ip cells in the liver of the African ostrich. Therefore, ghrelin may have a physiological function in the liver of the African ostrich.

RESUMEN: La ghrelina es el ligando endógeno para el receptor secretagogo de la hormona del crecimiento, y se ha encontrado en el hígado de múltiples vertebrados. A pesar que la ghrelina ha sido identificada en el tracto gastrointestinal de polluelos de avestruz africanas, poco se sabe sobre su distribución en el hígado de esta ave. En el presente estudio se investigó la distribución y características morfológicas de las células ghrelininmunopositivas (ghrelin-ip) en el hígado del avestruz africana mediante inmunohistoquímica. Nuestros resultados indican que el hígado se divide en dos secciones: la cápsula y el parénquima, que comprende los lóbulos hepáticos y el área portal hepática. Los lóbulos hepáticos incluyen la vena central, el cordón hepatocelular y el sinusoide hepático. El cordón hepatocelular está compuesto de hepatocitos y de Macrophagocytus stellatus (células de Kupffer) y las células endoteliales se localizan dentro del sinusoide hepático. Fueron detectacas células ghrelin-ip entre los Macrophagocytus stellatus y las células endoteliales del sinusoide hepático en el hígado de avestruz africana. En contraste, no se localizaron células de ghrelin-ip dentro de los hepatocitos o en el área portal hepática. Estos resultados demuestran claramente la presencia de células de ghrelin-ip en el hígado. Por lo tanto, la ghrelina puede tener una función fisiológica en el hígado de avestruz africana.

High-frequency ultrasound imaging-guided wedge resection for the treatment of paraurethral duct dilatation following gonococcal paraurethral duct infection in 11 male patients / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To evaluate therapeutic effects of wedge resection on male paraurethral duct dilatation following gonococcal paraurethral duct infection. Methods With the aid of high-frequency ultrasound images, 11 male patients with paraurethral duct dilatation following gonococcal paraurethral duct infection were treated with wedge resection. The data were collected, including the surgical duration, amount of bleeding during the surgery, period of wound healing and complications. If the ostium beside the external urethral orifice disappeared within 4 weeks after the surgery, there was no discharge from the ostium with pressure, and no tubular echoic area was observed by high-frequency ultrasound imaging, the patient was considered to be recovered. If none of the above three conditions could be met, the surgical treatment was considered to be ineffective. Results The average surgical duration was 19.19 ± 2.71 minutes(range, 14-23 minutes), the average amount of bleeding during the surgery was 11.09 ± 2.07 ml (range, 8-14 ml), and the average period of wound healing was 14.91 ± 1.45 days(range, 13-17 days). Of the 11 patients, 10 were cured, and 1 showed no response. No complications were observed in any of the 11 patients, and no defects formed in the glans penis. Conclusion Wedge resection is a kind of effective therapy for paraurethral duct dilatation following gonococcal paraurethral duct infection in males.

Comparison of high-frequency ultrasound imaging and 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging for the examination of males with gonococcal inflammation of paraurethral glands / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To investigate the morphologic characteristics of gonococcal inflammation of paraurethral glands in males. Methods Eleven male patients with gonococcal inflammation of paraurethral glands were examined by both real-time ultrasound imaging (Siemens Acuson X300) and 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, Philips Achieva). Results High-frequency ultrasound imaging revealed tubular echoic areas with well-defined borders and smooth margins in all the patients. The inside of these tubular areas was weak-echoic. These tubular echoic areas were blind in one end, but open in the other end, and ran in parallel with the urethra. The mean lumen diameter was 1.1 ± 0.2 mm (range, 0.7 - 1.3 mm) , and the mean lumen length was 8.4 ± 0.6 mm (range, 7.0 - 12.0 mm). Anechoic liquid-filled areas were seen in the tubular echoic areas in two patients. Paraurethral ducts were not detected by 3.0 T MRI in these patients. Conclusions High-frequency ultrasound imaging can clearly show the morphologic characteristics of gonococcal inflammation of paraurethral glands in males, and provide valuable ultrasound images for surgery.

Preliminary exploration of the development of a collagenous artificial dura mater for sustained antibiotic release / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Intracranial infection is one of the most common complications of open craniocerebral injury and of conventional craniotomy in neurosurgery. The presence of blood-brain barrier leads to lower drug concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid than in the venous blood. Increasing the intravenous dosage or frequency carries the risk of systemic adverse reactions or infections in other parts of the body. Developing an artificial dura mater (ADM) for sustained antibiotic release for use during neurosurgery can solve the problems perfectly.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three types of drug-loaded ADMs made of collagen and containing cefuroxime sodium, ceftriaxone sodium, or norvancomycin were prepared. The antibacterial activity and sustained release characteristics of the ADMs were examined using bacteriostatic and release tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Single-layered collagen based ADMs (40 mm×50 mm×5 mm) containing 18 mg cefuroxime sodium or ceftriaxone sodium were not suitable for continued development because of drug preservation and stability issues. Using smaller ADMs (20 mm×30 mm×7 mm), containing 4.86 mg of norvancomycin, with increased collagen density and a three-layered film with two outer drug-free films above and below the antibiotic layer resulted in sustained cumulative release of 2.91 mg (59.9%) of norvancomycin over 72 hours. The similar factor (f2) comparison method proved that products from a same batch were statistically significant similar (f2 > 50).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Artificial ADMs made of collagen can be processed to provide a mature dural repair material for the sustained release of norvancomycin. This system may provide a basis for developing sustained release materials for other drugs.</p>

Clinical values of intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence video angiography with Flow 800 software in cerebrovascular surgery / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Microscope-integrated near-infrared indocyanine green video angiography (ICG-VA) has been used in neurosurgery for a decade. This study aimed to assess the value of intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) video angiography with Flow 800 software in cerebrovascular surgery and to discover its hemodynamic features and changes of cerebrovascular diseases during surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 87 patients who received ICG-VA during various surgical procedures were enrolled in this study. Among them, 45 cases were cerebral aneurysms, 25 were cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and 17 were moyamoya disease (MMD). A surgical microscope integrating an infrared fluorescence module was used to confirm the residual aneurysms and blocking of perforating arteries in aneurysms. Feeder arteries, draining veins, and normal cortical vessels were identified by the time delay color mode of Flow 800 software. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded. All data were analyzed by SPSS version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., USA). T-test was used to analyze the hemodynamic features of AVMs and MMDs, the influence on peripheral cortex after resection in AVMs, and superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass in MMDs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The visual delay map obtained by Flow 800 software had more advantages than the traditional playback mode in identifying the feeder arteries, draining veins, and their relations to normal cortex vessels. The maximum fluorescence intensity (MFI) and the slope of ICG fluorescence curve of feeder arteries and draining veins were higher than normal peripheral vessels (MFI: 584.24±85.86 vs. 382.94 ± 91.50, slope: 144.95 ± 38.08 vs. 69.20 ± 13.08, P < 0.05). The arteriovenous transit time in AVM was significantly shorter than in normal cortical vessels ((0.60 ± 0.27) vs. (2.08 ± 1.42) seconds, P < 0.05). After resection of AVM, the slope of artery in the cortex increased, which reflected the increased cerebral flow. In patients with MMD, after STA-MCA bypass, cortex perfusion of corresponding branches region increased and local cycle time became shorter.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intraoperative ICG video angiography combined with hemodynamic parameter analysis obtained by Flow 800 software appears to be useful for intraoperative monitoring of regional cerebral blood flow in cerebrovascular disease.</p>

Central neurocytoma: analysis of 71 cases / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To examine the diagnosis and outcomes in the treatment of the patients with histologically confirmed central neurocytoma (CNC). Methods The data from 71 patients with CNC who were diagnosed between March 2003 and December 2007 were retrospectively evaluated. Various combinations of surgery, and radiotherapy had been used for treatment. Results The average bulk of tumors was 40 cm3. The median follow-up was 22 months. The 22 months overall survival and local control rate was 95.8%(68/71) and 95.6%(65/68), respectively. Conclusions The overall prognosis is favorable although the follow-up is not very long. Surgery and postoperative radiotherapy can significantly improve local control.

Therapeutic review of 23 subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To analyze and estimate, the treatment of patients with histologically confirmed subependymal giant-cell astroeytoma (SEGCA). Methods The data from 23 patients with SEG-CA who were diagnosed between February 1995 and February 2008 were retrospectively evaluated. Various combinations of surgery and radiotherapy had been used for treatment. Results Total resection was 16 cases, subtotal resection was 7 cases, radiotherapy was 17 cases. The average follow-up time was 53 months.One postoperative SEGCA recurrence. Epilepsy was totally disappeared in 17.6% (3/17), partly disappeared in 47.1%(8/17). All cases survived. Conclusions The key of treatment is total resection. The significance of radiotherapy is not sure. The overall prognosis of SEGCA is favorable.

Effect of Tang No.1 granule (1) in treating patients with impaired glucose tolerance / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of Tang No.1 granule (1, T1G) in treating patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and forty patients with IGT and with Pi-Wei dampness-heat syndrome type were assigned randomly according to their visiting sequence into two equal groups. The control group received only general knowledge about IGT, but to the treated group, based on current knowledge available, T1G was given additionally for 6 months. Changes in related laboratory indexes, including fasting plasma glucose and insulin (FPG and FINS), plasma glucose 2 h after meal (2hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of FPG, 2hPG, HbA1c, FINS, TG and HOMA-IR were significantly decreased after treatment in the treated group, showing a significant difference compared to the control group (P<0.01). Among them, HbA1c decreased from 7.08+or-1.41% to 6.56+or-1.29% in the treated group, while in the control group, it decreased from 7.02+or-1.37% to 6.93+or-1.31%. The level of LDL was also reduced in the treated group after treatment (P<0.05). In the treated group, 13 out of 68 patients (19.12%) had their glucose tolerance reversed to normal, while in the control group, only 2/64 (3.1%) got it reverse; a comparison between the two groups in terms of reversion rate showed a significant difference (P<0.01). No severe adverse reaction was found in the therapeutic course.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>T1G has good clinical effect as a treatment intervention for IGT, as it could improve glycometabolism, significantly depress the levels of post-prandial blood sugar and blood lipids, alleviate clinical symptoms of patients, and effectively cut-off and reverse the yielding and development of diabetes mellitus.</p>

Clinical and pathological changes in cerebral arteriovenous malformations after stereotactic radiosurgery failure / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Stereotactic radiosurgery is an alternative to resection of intracranial cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), while it will fail in some cases. This study aimed to evaluate the changes after stereotactic radiosurgery for AVMs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nineteen cases with cerebral AVMs had failure after stereotactic radiosurgery therapy. The symptoms and angiography were assessed. All patients underwent microsurgery. Pathologic examination was performed for all cases and electron microscopic examination was carried out in 6 patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seven cases had hemorrhage from 12 to 98 months after stereotactic radiosurgery, 5 had headache, 4 had refractory encephalon edema, 2 had epilepsy as a new symptom and 1 had a pressure cyst 5 years after radiosurgery. Angiography in 18 cases, 8 - 98 months after radiation therapy, demonstrated no significant changes in 5 cases, slight reduction in 9, near complete obliteration in 1 and complete obliteration in 3. An abnormal vessel was found on pathologic examination in 17 cases, even one case had obliterated in angiography. Electron microscopy examination showed vessel wall weakness, but the vessels remained open and blood circulated. One case died because of a moribund state before surgery. The other 18 cases had no new neurological deficiencies, seizure control and no hemorrhage occurred after microsurgery at an average follow-up of 3 years.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Stereotactic radiotherapy for AVMs should have a long period follow-up. If serious complications occur, microsurgery can be performed as salvage treatment.</p>

Assessment of a capsid-modified E1B 55-kDa protein-deficient adenovirus vector for tumor treatment / 生物化学与生物物理进展

ONYX-015 and H101 are E1B 55-kDa protein-deficient replicating C group adenoviruses that are currently in clinical trials as antitumor agents. However, their application in cancer gene therapy is limited by the native tropism of C group adenoviruses. This is in part due to low expression of the C group adenovirus receptor (coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor, CAR) on malignant tumors. An H101-based chimeric virus vector containing sequences encoding the Ad35 fiber domain instead of the Ad5 fiber (H101-F35) was constructed. This modification allowed infection of tumor cells through CD46, a membrane protein over-expressed on tumors. The CAR and CD46 RNA expression was evaluated by RT-PCR method. H101-F35 conferred a stronger cytocidal effect than H101 and ONYX-015 in tumor cell lines that lacked CAR expression (MDA-MB-435 and MCF-7), while the cytocidal effect of H101-35, H101 and ONYX-015 was similar in high-level CAR expressing cancer cell lines (A549, NCI-H446, Hep3B, LNCaP, ZR-75-30 and Bcap-37). In an MDA-MB-435 xenograft mouse tumor model, tumor growth in mice receiving H101-F35 was significantly inhibited compared with mice injected with H101. These results suggest that the chimeric oncolytic adenovirus H101-F35 vector might be a useful candidate for gene therapy of cancer.

Early expression of TGF-beta1, vimentin and desmin genes in renal cortex of diabetic rats / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of TGF-beta(1)vimentin and desmin in the renal cortex of diabetic rats induced by STZ.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetes was induced in 24 male SD rats by single intraperitoneal injection of 1.0%STZ (70 mg/kg). Twenty-four age, weight and sex matched SD rats were used as controls. The expression of TGF-beta(1),vimentin and desmin mRNA in the renal cortex were detected by RT-PCR on the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and the 30th day after the DM rat model established.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1)The expression of TGF-beta(1), vimentin mRNA in the renal cortex of diabetic rats gradually increased respectively from the 7th day and the 14th day after the model established, and the expressive intensity was significantly greater than that in controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). However,the expression of desmin mRNA in the renal cortex of diabetic rats gradually decreased from the 14th day after the model established, and the expressive intensity was significantly less than that in controls (P<0. 05 or P<0.01). (2) The expression of TGF-beta(1)mRNA correlated positively to that of vimentin mRNA (r 0.740 P=0.000), while the expression of desmin mRNA correlated negatively to that of TGF-beta(1)mRNA (r 0.695 P=0.000) and to that of vimentin mRNA (r 0.591 P=0.002).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of renal cortical TGF-beta(1) and vimentin mRNA gradually increase while the expression of desmin mRNA gradually decrease during the first month of the diabetic model established suggest TGF-beta(1) may play a role in the transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells into fibroblast during the progressive interstitial fibrosis of diabetic nephropathy.</p>