Icariin promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells in patients with osteoporosis and T2DM by upregulating GLI-1.

BACKGROUND: The function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from patients with osteoporosis (OP) is impaired and worsens in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Icariin (ICA) is the major active flavonoid glucoside isolated from traditional Chinese herbal Epimedium pubescens, and confirmed able to improve bone mass of OP patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ICA on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone-derived MSCs (BMSCs) from patients with OP and T2DM and uncover the potential mechanism. METHODS: BMSCs were treated with ICA, and proliferation and osteogenic potency were evaluated using the 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and detection of osteogenic markers (ALP, RUNX2, SPP1, COL1A1, and mineralized nodules) was performed. RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after ICA treatment and screen proliferation- and osteogenic differentiation-related processes. Gene gain and loss were performed to confirm the role of the key candidate gene. RESULTS: ICA significantly promoted the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. A total of 173 DEGs were identified after ICA treatment. Six DEGs (GLI-1, IGF2, BMP6, WNT5A, PTHLH, and MAPK14) enriched in both proliferation- and osteogenic differentiation-related processes were screened; GLI-1 had the highest validated |log2FC| value. Overexpression of GLI-1 enhanced the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, and knockdown of GLI-1 weakened the positive effect of ICA on BMSCs. CONCLUSION: ICA promoted the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of impaired BMSCs by upregulating GLI-1.

A gene expression profile for the lower osteogenic potent of bone-derived MSCs from osteoporosis with T2DM and the potential mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) patients complicated with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a higher fracture risk than the non-diabetic patients, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from T2DM patients also show a weaker osteogenic potent. The present study aimed to provide a gene expression profile in MSCs from diabetic OP and investigated the potential mechanism. METHODS: The bone-derived MSC (BMSC) was isolated from OP patients complicated with or without T2DM (CON-BMSC, T2DM-BMSC). Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by qPCR analysis of the expression levels of osteogenic markers, ALP activity and mineralization level. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in T2DM-BMSC was identified by RNA-sequence, and the biological roles of DEGs was annotated by bioinformatics analyses. The role of silencing the transcription factor (TF), Forkhead box Q1 (FOXQ1), on the osteogenic differentiation of BMSC was also investigated. RESULTS: T2DM-BMSC showed a significantly reduced osteogenic potent compare to the CON-BMSC. A total of 448 DEGs was screened in T2DM-BMSC, and bioinformatics analyses showed that many TFs and the target genes were enriched in various OP- and diabetes-related biological processes and pathways. FOXQ1 had the highest verified fold change (abs) among the top 8 TFs, and silence of FOXQ1 inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of CON-BMSC. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provided a comprehensive gene expression profile of BMSC in diabetic OP, and found that downregulated FOXQ1 was responsible for the reduced osteogenic potent of T2DM-BSMC. This is of great importance for the special mechanism researches and the treatment of diabetic OP.

Intramedullary Nail Fixation by Suprapatellar and Infrapatellar Approaches for Treatment of Distal Tibial Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the functional and alignment outcomes of intramedullary nail fixation using suprapatellar and infrapatellar approaches in treating distal tibial fractures. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 132 patients with distal tibial fractures (87 men, 45 women) ranging in age from 20 to 66 years were treated with intramedullary nails using the suprapatellar (69 patients) or infrapatellar (63 patients) approach. The radiographic alignment outcomes and ankle function were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine which variety influenced ankle functional scores and whether the suprapatellar approach intervention demonstrated a protective effect. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 14.22 ± 2.31 months. The mean sagittal section angle of the fracture in the suprapatellar and infrapatellar approach groups was 3.20° ± 1.20° and 5.31° ± 1.23°, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean coronal section angle was 3.51° ± 0.89° and 5.42° ± 1.05°, respectively (P < 0.001). Three patients (4.3%) in the suprapatellar approach group and 15 patients (23.8%) in the infrapatellar approach group had poor fracture reduction (P < 0.001). The mean hind foot functional score and ankle pain score were 95.91 ± 4.70 and 35.91 ± 4.70 points, respectively, in the suprapatellar approach group and 85.20 ± 5.61 and 25.20 ± 5.61 points, respectively, in the infrapatellar approach group (P < 0.001 for both). In the comparison of ankle function, the multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the odds ratio in the suprapatellar approach group was about 7 times that in the infrapatellar approach group (odds ratio, 7.574; 95% confidence interval, 2.148-28.740; P = 0.002). Of the variants measured, the statistically significant risk factors for poor ankle function were AO type A3 (P = 0.016) and diabetes mellitus (P = 0.006). Sex and the operation interval were not statistically significant risk factors for poor ankle function. CONCLUSION: Intramedullary nailing using the suprapatellar approach facilitates simple fracture reduction, excellent postoperative fracture alignment, and few complications, giving it obvious advantages over the conventional infrapatellar approach. Additionally, the suprapatellar approach is a prognostic factor associated with postoperative ankle joint function.

In vitro anti-synovial sarcoma effect of diallyl trisulfide and mRNA profiling.

OBJECTIVE: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a malignant soft tissue sarcoma and its natural history is a long, indolent clinical course followed by high rate of local recurrence and distant metastasis. Current therapies are still limited in increasing satisfactory of 5-year survival, especially for patients with recurrence and metastasis. Accordingly, finding new therapeutic drug for SS treatment is clinically urgent need. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), a bioactive compound derived from garlic, is reported as a promising anti-cancer agent for various carcinomas. However, its effect on anti-SS remains unknown. This study investigated the anti-SS effect of DATS in human synovial sarcoma SW982 cells. METHODS: CCK-8 assay were used to examine the cell viability. High-content Imaging System was used to examine the apoptosis, intracellular ROS and autophagy. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell cycle. qPCR and Western blot were used to examine the expression of related mRNA and protein. High-throughput RNA-sequencing and bio-information analysis were used to investigate the mRNA profiling. RESULTS: The results showed a suppressive effect of DATS on tumor biology of SW982 cells including inducing apoptosis, triggering G2/M cell cycle arrest, elevating intracellular ROS and damaging mitochondria. Further high-throughput RNA-sequencing analysis clarified a comprehensive molecular portrait for DATS-induced transcriptional regulation. Besides, protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis demonstrated that a network consisted of FOXM1, CCNA2, CCNB1, MYBL2, PLK1 and CDK1 might be response for DATS-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and increased intracellular ROS. Notably, protein feature analysis revealed structure enrichment in microtubule network like kinesin motors domain, and tubulin domain. Molecular function analysis suggested that DATS-induced dysfunction of microtubule network might be the major cause for its effect on cell cycle arrest and successive apoptosis. Furthermore, 28 hub genes (including KIF2C, PLK1, CDK1, BIRC5, CCNB2, CENPF, TPX2, TOP2A and so on) were determined. Finally, pathway analysis showed that DATS-induced differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in cell cycle. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our findings for the first time provided the DATS-induced cellular response and transcriptional profiling of SW982 cells, which proposes that suppression of DATS on SS is multi-targeted and represent a therapeutic evidence for SS.

One-puncture one-needle TRUS-guided prostate biopsy for prevention of postoperative infections / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of "one-puncture one-needle" transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy in the prevention of postoperative infections.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data about "one-puncture one-needle" (the observation group) and "one-person one-needle" (the control group) TRUS-guided prostate biopsy performed in the Second People's Hospital of Guangdong Province from January 2005 to December 2015, and compared the incidence rates of puncture-related infection between the two strategies. By "one-puncture one-needle", one needle was used for one biopsy puncture, while by "one-person one-needle", one needle was used for all biopsy punctures in one patient and the needle was sterilized with iodophor after each puncture.@*RESULTS@#Totally, 120 patients received 6+1-core or 12+1-core "one-person one-needle" and 466 underwent 12+1-core "one-puncture one-needle" TRUS-guided prostate biopsy. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in age, the prostate volume, the serum PSA level, or the detection rate of prostate cancer (P >0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group showed remarkably lower incidence rates of puncture-related urinary tract infection (7.5% vs 0.9%, P <0.05), fever (5.0% vs 1.1%, P <0.05), bacteriuria (2.5% vs 0.2%, P <0.05), and total infections (16.7% vs 2.6%, P<0.05) postoperatively. Two cases of bacteremia or sepsis were found in each of the groups, with no significant difference between the two.@*CONCLUSIONS@#"One-puncture one-needle" TRUS-guided prostate biopsy can effectively prevent puncture-related infections.

Influence of photoselective vaporization of the prostate on the sexual function of the patient / 中华男科学杂志

n recent years, photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) has gained a wide clinical application in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for its satisfactory effect, high safety, and low incidence of complications. With the improvement of living conditions, BPH patients are paying more attention to their sexual function, especially erectile function and ejaculatory problems instead of just focusing on the alleviation of lower urinary tract symptoms. Few studies of PVP, however, relate to its association with the sexual function of the patient and there is a certain controversy over the influence of PVP on it in the existing literature. Prevailing views hold that the uprated power in PVP does not affect erectile function or increase the risk of retrograde ejaculation (REj) and that PVP is even better than transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in avoiding the risk of REj.

Effects of lanthanum carbonate on vascular calcification in elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The effect of lanthanum carbonate on abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in the elderly maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients was investigated. Fifty-four cases subjected to routine MHD complicated with skin pruritus admitted to our hospital were selected and randomly divided into case group (n=28) and control group (n=26). The control group was given routine MHD alone. The case group was given lanthanum carbonate additionally on the basis of routine MHD. The changes of itching degrees at first and third month, and serum calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus products, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels and AAC scores at third month after treatments were compared between the two groups. The correlation between calcium-phosphorus products and AAC scores was also analyzed. There was no significant difference in the baseline of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), uric acid, albumin, hemoglobin, C reactive protein (CRP), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, total cholesterol between case group and control group (P>0.05 for all). There was also no significant difference in the baseline itching scores between the case group and the control group (P>0.05). At 1st and 3rd month after treatment, the itching scores in the case group were 14.2 ± 3.2 and 10.5 ± 2.3, respectively, which were significantly lower than the baseline and those in the control group (P<0.05 for all). At 1st and 3rd month after treatment, the itching scores in the control group were 23.6 ± 5.9 and 24.8 ± 6.3, respectively, which were significantly higher than the baseline (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the baseline of serum calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus products, iPTH levels between the case group and control group (P>0.05). At 3rd month after treatment, serum phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus products and iPTH levels in the case group were decreased significantly as compared with the baseline (P<0.05), and the serum calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus products, and iPTH levels were statistically decreased as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). The AAC scores showed statistically significant difference between the case group and the control group (P<0.05). The serum phosphorus and AAC scores showed a positive correlation in both two groups. It was suggested that the administration of lanthanum carbonate in the elderly MHD patients can effectively relieve itching, and simultaneously reduce serum phosphorus and iPTH levels, resulting in the attenuation of vascular calcification.

Yimusake Tablet: safe and efficacious for premature ejaculation / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To objectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yimusake Tablet in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) through a multi-centered large-sample trial.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a multi-centered, open, fixed-dose, and self-compared clinical trial among 300 patients with diagnosed PE. The trial lasted 12 weeks, including 4 weeks without any medication and 8 weeks of treatment with Yimusake Tablet, 2 pills (1 g) per night. We observed the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) before and after treatment, evaluated the safety of medication, and performed a questionnaire investigation on the patients' satisfaction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 300 PE patients, 288 accomplished the clinical trial. The patients ranged in age from 22 to 60 years, averaging at 31.6 years. The mean IELT of the patient was 62.5 seconds at baseline, 168.9 seconds after 4 weeks of treatment with Yimusake Tablet, and 222.2 seconds after 8 weeks of medication. Among the 157 patients with normal erectile function (IIEF >21), the mean IELT was 71.4 seconds before treatment, 147.4 seconds after 4 weeks of medication, and 172.5 seconds after 8 weeks of medication. The patients' satisfaction was significantly increased after treatment. Those complicated by mild to moderate erectile dysfunction achieved different degrees of improvement in the IIEF-5 score, with a mean increase of 3.8. Only a few patients experienced mild adverse events, including constipation, dry mouth, nose bleeding, abdominal pain, and lumbosacral pain, which were all relieved without drug withdrawal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Yimusake Tablet is a safe and effective medicine for the treatment of PE.</p>

Influence of photoselective vaporization of prostate on erectile function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the influence of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) on the erectile function of the patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using IIEF-5, we conducted a questionnaire investigation among 210 BPH patients before and after treated by PVP (n = 80) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP, n = 130). We also reviewed the clinical data and compared the pre- and post-operative penile erectile function between the two groups of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Follow-up was completed in 76 cases of PVP and 123 of TURP. The baseline data showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age, prostate volume, IPSS, QOL, Qmax, post void urine residual volume and IIEF-5 scores (P>0.05). Compared with the IEFF-5 score at the baseline (21.88 +/- 2.46), those at 3, 6 and 12 months after PVP were 16.72 +/- 3.17, 19.34 +/- 2.46 and 19.29 +/- 2. 18, respectively, significantly decreased at 3 months (P = 0.042), but with no remarkable difference at 6 and 12 months (P >0.05). Nor were there significant differences in the IIEF-5 score between the PVP and TURP groups at any time points (P>0.05). At 6 months after surgery, the incidence rates of erectile dysfunction were 11.7% and 13.7% in the TURP and PVP groups, respectively (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PVP may reduce erectile function in some cases in the early stage after surgery, but this adverse effect does not last long and is basically similar to that of TURP.</p>

Endothelial microparticles and erectile dysfunction: an update / 中华男科学杂志

Microparticles are submicron vesicles shed from plasma membranes in response to cell activation, injury and/or apoptosis. Microparticles of various cellular origins, such as platelets, leukocytes, and endothelial cells, are found in the plasma of healthy subjects, and their amount increases under pathological conditions. Recent studies show that endothelial microparticles, a kind of envelope particles derived from endothelial cells, not only constitute a marker of endothelial dysfunction, but also play a major biological role in the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to erectile dysfunction.

Paratesticular embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: report of 5 cases and review of the literature / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To improve the diagnosis and treatment of paratesticular embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (PER).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively studied the clinical data of 5 cases of PER treated from 1997 to 2009 and reviewed the relevant literature, focusing on its clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 5 cases of PER, 2 involving the spermatic cord, 2 the testis and 1 the tunica vaginalis, were all treated by radical orchiectomy. Pathologically, 2 cases were classified as stage I, 1 as stage II and 2 as stage IV. Postoperatively, 2 of the patients received chemotherapy and the other 3 refused adjunctive therapy. The patients were followed up for 6, 12, 18 and 28 months, respectively. Four of them remained free from relapse and metastasis, and 1 stage IV patient died of multiple metastasis at 6 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Early diagnosis, radical orchiectomy and adjunctive chemo- or radio-therapy are effective means to the treatment of PER.</p>

Study on anti-tumor effect of dry and fresh Gekko swinhonis freeze-dried powders on mice sarcoma S180 and acute toxicity testing of two powders / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-tumor activity of dry Gekko swinhonis freeze-dried powder (DGFP) and fresh G. swinhonis freeze-dried powder (FGFP) on mice sarcoma S180 and acute toxicity testing of the two powders.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Mice xenotransplant model of sarcoma S180 was established. Eighty mice were randomly divided into 8 groups. Control group were orally administrated by saline, another intraperitoneally injected with 5-Fu, the other six groups were orally administrated by DGFP and FGFP, each at three different doses (low, moderate and high). Rate of restraining tumor, index of thymus and spleen were calculated after 10 days' treatment. Acute toxicity testing tried to figure out LDs and LD, of DGFP and FGFP.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The restraining tumor rates of DGFP and FGFP each at three doses were 31.4%, 50.8%, 37.7% and 14.8%, 19.1%, 54.7%. DGFP and FGFP elevated the thymic weight and thymic index of the mice to different extent. There were no significant differences among the eight groups in their spleen weight and spleen index. Acute toxicity testing did not figure out LD50 of DGFP and FGFP. In LD0 test, the administrating dosages of DGFP and FGFP given to the mice were both more than 2000 times than those given to patients on clinic. The result showed nothing abnormal in DGFP group. Compared with the DGFP and control group there was only a significant body weight decrease (P < 0.01) in the FGFP group in the first three days. However, on the fifth day and the seventh day there was no significant difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DGFP and FGFP have conspicuous anti-tumor effects in vivo. The mechanism may be related to the elevated cellular immune function. Acute toxicity testing reveals that DGFP and FGFP are quite safe for conventional oral use on clinic.</p>

Effects of Tongxinluo-facilitated cellular cardiomyoplasty with autologous bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells on postinfarct swine hearts / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Treatment of ischemic heart disease remains an important challenge, though there have been enormous progresses in cardiovascular therapeutics. This study was conducted to evaluate whether Tongxinluo (TXL) treatment around the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can improve survival and subsequent activities of implanted cells in swine hearts with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and reperfusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-eight Chinese mini-pigs were divided into four groups including a control group (n = 7); group 2, administration of low-dose TXL alone from the 3rd day prior to AMI to the 4th day post transplantation (n = 7); group 3, MSCs alone (n = 7) and group 4, TXL + MSCs (n = 7). AMI models were made by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 90 minutes. Autologous bone marrow-MSCs (3 x 10(7) cells/animal) were then injected into the post-infarct myocardium immediately after AMI and reperfusion. The survival and differentiation of implanted cells in vivo were detected by immunofluorescent analysis. The data of cardiac function were obtained at baseline (1 week after transplantation) and endpoint (6 weeks after transplantation) by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay and the oxidative stress level was investigated in the post-infarct myocardium at endpoint.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At endpoint, there was less fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration with more surviving myocardium in group 4 than in the control group. In group 4 the survival and differentiation of implanted MSCs were significantly improved more than that seen in group 3 alone (P < 0.0001); the capillary density was also significantly greater than in the control group, group 2 or 3 both in the infarcted zone (P < 0.0001) and the peri-infarct zone (P < 0.0001). MRI showed that parameters at baseline were not significantly different between the 4 groups. At endpoint, regional wall thickening and the left ventricular ejection fraction were increased while the left ventricular mass index, dyskinetic segments and infarcted size were decreased only in group 4 compared with control group (P < 0.0001). SPECT showed that the area of perfusion defect was significantly decreased at endpoint only in group 4 compared with control group (P < 0.0001). TUNEL assay indicated that TXL administration significantly decreased cell apoptosis in peri-infarct myocardium in groups 2 and 4. Furthermore, superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly increased and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased in groups 2 and 4 by the administration of TXL.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our study demonstrates the following: (1) immediate intramyocardial injection of MSCs after AMI and reperfusion resulted in limited survival and differentiation potential of implanted cells in vivo, thus being incapable of beneficially affecting post-hearts; (2) TXL-facilitation resulted in a significant survival and differentiation potential of implanted cells in vivo via inhibition of apoptosis and oxidative stress, accompanied by significant benefits in cardiac function.</p>

Expression of oestrogen receptor-alpha and oestrogen receptor-beta in prostate cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recent studies have suggested that estrogens are involved in normal and abnormal prostate growth, though their exact role is still controversial. Oestrogens exert inhibitory and stimulatory effects on prostate gland, but the expression of oestrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) and oestrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta) in malignant prostate tissue remains unresolved. We determined ERalpha and ERbeta in prostate cancer and investigated the relationship between expression of ER and pathological features of prostate carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two cases of prostate cancer, 12 cases of normal prostate tissue and 32 cases of benign prostate hyperplasia were analyzed for the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta using semiquantitative, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the products sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Comparisons of the normal, hyperplastic and tumour prostate tissues indicated an overexpression of ERalpha in tumour specimens (P < 0.01). However, the expression of ERbeta significantly reduced in tumour tissues compared with normal and hyperplastic specimens (P < 0.01), suggesting that severe pathological features of prostate cancer were associated with lower ERbeta expression. Spearman analysis showed negative correlation between ERbeta expression and tumour stage, grade (-0.67, -0.43, respectively, both P < 0.05), and a positive correlation between ERalpha expression and tumour stage, grade (0.51, 0.57, respectively, both P < 0.01). Our analysis also showed that hormone refractory, prostate cancer, compared with hormone dependent, prostate cancer, displayed a decreased expression of ERbeta (P < 0.01) and an increased expression of ERalpha.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ERalpha and ERbeta may play important roles in the development of prostate cancer. The decrease in ERbeta expression is associated with higher Gleason grade tumours and prostate cancer with higher metastatic potential. The loss of ERbeta could be one of the key processes leading to uncontrolled growth of prostate epithelial cells.</p>

Effect of cocaine on germ cell apoptosis in rats at different ages / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of cocaine on apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in germ cells in male rats at different ages.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cocaine hydrochloride was given (15 mg/kg body weight s.c.) to male Sprague-Dawley rats of 3 weeks (n = 8), 6 weeks (n = 8) and 12 weeks (n = 8) of age, daily for 28 Days. The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T) and estrogen (E2) were assayed, and the DNA fragmentation of germ cells was determined by gel eletronphoresis. The cell cycle, apoptosis and caspase-3 activity of germ cells were tested by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the 28-day cocaine treatment, testes weight of the 3-week-old rats, the testes and body weights of the 6-week-old rats were decreased significantly compared to those of their corresponding controls (P < 0.05). The serum level of T was decreased significantly in the 3-week-old and 6-week-old rats, and the serum level of PRL was also decreased significantly in 12-week-old rats compared to the controls (P < 0.05). In all the three cocaine-treated groups, the isolated DNA displayed a clear ladder pattern, especially in the 6-week old rats. The number of apoptosic germ cells increased significantly in 3- and 6-week-old rats treated with cocaine (P < 0.05). The caspase-3 activity in all three groups increased significantly compared to the controls (P < 0.05), especially in the 6-week-old rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cocaine exposure for 28 Days leads to significant damage to male gonad and apoptosis elevation in testes of rats of different ages, especially in those of 6 weeks of age. The increase in caspase-3 activity might be a key pathway related to the early stage of apoptosis as the mechanism of cocaine-induced germ cell loss.</p>

The specific expression profile of homeobox gene NKX3.1 mRNA and protein in prostate tissues and its relationship with primary prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine expressions of NKX3.1 mRNA and protein in prostatic tissues and to investigate the relation between homeobox gene NKX3.1 and prostatic carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>76 prostatic tissues (32 cancer, 12 normal prostate and 32 benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues) and 96 non-prostatic tissues were analyzed for the detection of expressions of NKX3.1 mRNA and protein by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 76 prostatic tissues, NKX3.1 mRNA was detected in 75 specimens (98.7%), whereas in 96 non-prostatic specimens, NKX3.1 mRNA was negatively expressed in the tissues of bladder, kidney, liver, intestine, fat and skin, except for two expressed in testis and one in mammary gland. The expression ratio of NKX3.1 protein in the epithelia cells of prostate was 100%, but in testis mammary gland was 16.7%, in bladder and intestine was 8.3%, and in kidney, liver, fat and skin was 0% (P < 0.01). The total strong positive ratio of NKX3.1 protein in the epithelia cell of prostate was 94.7%, 5.3% in the stroma cell of prostate (P < 0.01), and 13.6% in benignant prostate cell, 40.6% in prostate cancer (P < 0.01), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It is suggested that NKX3.1 is not only the prostate-specific homeobox gene, but is the epithelia-cell-specific gene of prostate. It may play an important role in the development of prostatic carcinoma.</p>

Sexual-nerve-Sparing radical cystectomy: experience with 32 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of sexual-nerve-sparing radical cystectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two male patients were treated with sexual-nerve-sparing radical cystectomy in our hospital in the past 5 years. The age of the patients ranged from 38 to 72 years, with the course of the disease ranging from 2 days to 20 years. All of them were potent preoperatively. Radical cystectomy was performed antegradely and retrogradely with the neurovascular bundle spared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients were followed up for 6 to 54 months, 3 achieved sexual activity of Grade I, 6 Grade II and 23 Grade III after the operation. The recovery time of erectile function ranged from 2 to 14 months, averaging at 4. 5 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Whenever condition suits, sexual-nerve-sparing radical cystectomy is to be strongly recommended.</p>

Comparative studies of the expression of estrogen receptor-alpha and estrogen receptor-beta in prostatic carcinoma / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the expression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) and estrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta) in prostatic carcinoma (PCa).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of ERalpha and ERbeta was analysed in 32 cases of PCa, 12 cases of normal prostate tissue and 32 cases of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the genes were sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the tissue of BPH, the ERalpha expression significantly increased, but the ERbeta expression decreased in the tissue of PCa (P < 0.01). Compared with in the early stage and high differentiation of prostatic carcinoma, the ERalpha expression increased obviously, but ERbeta expression decreased in the developed stage and low differentiation (P < 0.01). ERalpha increased, but ERbeta decreased in hormone-refractory prostatic carcinoma (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ERalpha and ERbeta may play an important role in the development of PCa. It is shown that analysis of the expression of ER, especially ERbeta in PCa, will benefit to the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.</p>

Technological advance of microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography / 医疗卫生装备

This paper primarily discusses such information of microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography a new medical functional imaging method as its principle hardware structure reconstruction algorithm and imaging results in which research and advance of Wang LV's research team are introduced. The application perspective of microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography is also included.

Clinical significance of EGF and EGFR expression changes in cryptorchid boys / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To explore the changes of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressions in cryptorchid children and their clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The level of serum EGF was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the expression of EGFR by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The level of serum EGF was significantly lower in cryptorchid children than in normal subjects at age group of 5-9 years (P<0.01) and 10-14 years (P<0.01), (2) The level of EGF was significantly lower in boys with impalpable testis than in those with extracanalicular and intracanalicular testes (P<0.01), (3) The serum EGF level increased significantly 6 months after orchiopexy (P<0.05), (4) The EGFR expression in testicular Leydig's cells was lower in 2 approximately 4 year-old boys than in those over 5 years (P<0.05) and (5) the EGFR expression was less positive in the impalpable group and the intracanalicular group than that of the extracanalicular group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The EGF and EGFR expressions may correlate with the age and the position of testes; orchiopexy improves the EGF and EGFR expressions in cryptorchid boys.</p>