[Scrotoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of testicular and epididymal diseases: Analysis of 39 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficiency, safety and clinical application value of scrotoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of testicular and epididymal diseases. METHODS: A total of 39 patients with testicular or epididymal diseases underwent scrotoscopic surgery in our hospital from February 2015 to February 2018. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, results of surgery, and postoperative scrotal pain scores, complications and recurrence. RESULTS: Scrotoscopic surgery was successfully performed in all the 39 cases, without such severe complications as testis rupture and scrotal hematoma. Thirteen cases of epididymal tumor were treated by total excision of the tumors by laser ablation; 10 of the 12 patients complaining of chronic testicular pain were diagnosed with incomplete torsion of testicular or epididymal appendages and treated by holmium laser ablation; of the 11 cases of suspected testicular torsion, 8 were confirmed as testicular torsion and the other 3 as acute epididymitis; and 3 cases of scrotal trauma-induced old hematoma underwent surgical removal under the scrotoscope. No infection of scrotal incision occurred postoperatively. The visual analog pain scores of the patients averaged 3.4 ± 1.2 (2－5) and their hospital stay 3.2 ± 0.8 (3－6) days. Scrotal ultrasonography at 1 month after surgery revealed no abnormality in the testis, epididymis or spermatic cord. CONCLUSIONS: Scrotoscopy is safe and effective for the diagnosis and treatment of testicular and epididymal diseases and deserves a wide clinical application.

[Laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure does not affect vas deferens orientation or testicular volume and perfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of single-port laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) on the orientation of the vas deferens and the volume and perfusion of the testis in pediatric patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: A total of 92 consecutively enrolled boys diagnosed with unilateral inguinal hernia underwent single-port LPEC between June 2013 and June 2014. The orientation of the vas deferens and the testicular volume and perfusion of the patients were ultrasonographically assessed preoperatively and at 1 and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: All the surgical procedures were performed successfully without conversion or serious perioperative complications. Ultrasonography showed no angulation or distortion of the vas deferens on the surgical side during a six-month follow-up period. Similarly, no obvious changes were observed in the testicular volume or perfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Single-port LPEC is safe and effective in the treatment of pediatric inguinal hernia and does not affect the orientation of the vas deferens or testicular volume and perfusion.

Probing into the binding interaction between medroxyprogesterone acetate and bovine serum albumin (BSA): spectroscopic and molecular docking methods.

To further understand the mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), the binding interaction of MPA with bovine serum albumin (BSA) under simulated physiological conditions (pH 7.4) was studied using fluorescence emission spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism and molecular docking methods. The experimental results reveal that the fluorescence of BSA quenches due to the formation of MPA-BSA complex. The number of binding sites (n) and the binding constant for MPA-BSA complex are ~1 and 4.6 × 10(3)  M(-1) at 310 K, respectively. However, it can be concluded that the binding process of MPA with BSA is spontaneous and the main interaction forces between MPA and BSA are van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding interaction due to the negative values of ΔG(0) , ΔH(0) and ΔS(0) in the binding process of MPA with BSA. MPA prefers binding on the hydrophobic cavity in subdomain IIIA (site II'') of BSA resulting in a slight change in the conformation of BSA, but BSA retaining the α-helix structure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.