Effects of sex on fat deposition through gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in weaned pigs.

Nitrogen pollution resulting from excessive feed consumption poses a significant challenge for modern swine production. Precision nutrition technology seems to be an effective way to solve this problem; therefore, understanding the law of pig body composition deposition is a prerequisite. This study investigated the sex effects on growth performance, body composition, nutrient deposition, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in weaned piglets. Eighty weaned pigs were randomly allocated to 2 treatments according to the sex of pigs. An individual pig was considered as a treatment replicate. Six body weights (BW 5, 7, 11, 15, 20, and 25 kg) were chosen as experimental points; for each point 10 piglets close to the average BW (5 males and 5 females) were slaughtered, and there was one growth phase between each 2 BW points. Results indicated that the males had higher average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared to the females (P < 0.05) at growth phases 15 to 20 kg BW and 20 to 25 kg BW. Meanwhile, males at 20 kg BW had higher body fat content than females (P < 0.10). Males showed a higher body fat (P < 0.05) deposition rate at phase 15 to 20 kg BW (P < 0.05) than females. For pigs at 20 kg BW, the relative abundance of RuminococcaceaeUCG-005, Clostridium, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Peptostreptococcaceae was significantly increased in males (P < 0.05) but that of Bifidobacterium was decreased (P < 0.05). At 25 kg BW, the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, Fibrobacter, RuminococcaceaeUCG-009, Ralstonia, Klebsiel, and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group in males was higher when compared with females (P < 0.05). In terms of SCFA, females exhibited higher concentrations of propionate compared to males (P < 0.05). The results of the current study indicated that sex influenced fat deposition through changes in the composition of gut microbiota and the content of SCFA, which has significant implications for the realization of precision nutrition in modern swine production.

Effects of Feeding Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles on Muscle Quality Traits and Lipidomics Profiling of Finishing Pigs.

This study investigated the effects of adding corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to the diet on the meat quality, chemical composition, fatty acid composition, and lipidomics profiling in the longissimus thoracis (LT) of finishing pigs. Twenty-four healthy crossbred pigs (average body weight 61.23 ± 3.25 kg) were randomly divided into two groups with three replicates per group and four pigs per pen. The control group (CON) was fed a basal diet, and the DDGS group was fed an experimental diet with 30% DDGS. The results show that adding DDGS to the diet increases the yellowness (b*), chroma (C*), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) percentages, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) percentages and iodine value of LT (p < 0.05). Based on LC-ESI-MS/MS, 1456 lipids from 6 classes or 44 subclasses in LT were analyzed, and 50 differential lipids were observed. Triglyceride (TG) with C18:2n-6 side chains and ceramide alpha-hydroxy fatty acid-sphingosine (Cer-AS) contents increased significantly, and the decrease in multiple glycerophospholipids (GPs) content may be related to differences in the glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway. Correlation analysis suggests that triglycerides with C18:2n-6 side chains may be one of the reasons for the changes in b* and C* values in the LT. In conclusion, feeding DDGS affects the meat quality and fatty acid composition and may affect the lipid profile in the LT of finishing pigs by regulating lipid metabolism.

[Retzius-sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer (with video)].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) in the treatment of early-stage prostate cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data about 10 cases of early-stage prostate cancer treated by RS-RARP with the Da Vinci Robot Surgical System from September to October 2016. RESULTS: All the operations were successfully completed without positive surgical margins. The operation time was 170－250 min (ï¼»196±25ï¼½ min), the intraoperative blood loss was 150－500 ml (ï¼»260±128ï¼½ ml), the postoperative hospital stay was 6－7 days, and the catheterization time was 14 days. Urinary continence occurred after catheter removal in 1 patient and was recovered 1 month later. CONCLUSIONS: RS-RARP is a safe, effective and reliable method for the treatment of prostate cancer and conducive to the early recovery of urinary continence.

[Ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation treatment for renal clear cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (USG-RFA) in patients with renal clear cell carcinoma. METHODS: Medical records of 34 patients who underwent USG-RFA of renal clear cell carcinoma at the Department of Urology of the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University from May 2009 to January 2014 were retrospectively reviewed, including 28 male and 6 female patients aged between 25 and 85 years (mean age 60.7 years). Of the included cases, 16 had tumors located in the left kidney, 16 in the right, 1 in the solitary kidney, and 1 in the bilateral kidney. There were 35 tumors in this study totally. The maximum diameter of the tumors was 1.8 to 5.0 cm (mean (2.7 ± 0.3) cm), of which 32 cases of renal tumors were ≤ 4.0 cm and 3 cases of renal tumors were > 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm. Pathological diagnosis were acquired by ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy after USG-RFA. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was used to evaluate tumor outcomes at the time of the surgery, and multi-slice spiral CT enhanced scan and contrast-enhanced ultrasound were used to identify residues and recurrences after treatment. RESULTS: Treatments for all the patients were finished with short postoperative hospital stay about 3-5 days. No complications related to USG-RFA were encountered in any of the cases, such as perirenal fluid collection, perirenal hematoma, and peripheral organ damage. All the cases were diagnosed as clear cell carcinoma according to pathological results. The mean follow-up period was 29 ± 6 (range 3-59) months. Of the 35 USG-RFA-treated subjects, 32 tumors ≤ 4 cm reached the standard of complete treatment after one tumor was found with residue after the first month follow-up, and two tumors were noted recurrence at the 4 and 10 months follow-up after USG-RFA. Nonetheless, no residue or recurrence occurred after secondary treatment for these 3 tumors where pathological diagnosis were acquired again. The other 3 cases with tumors > 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm underwent USG-RFA twice or three times before reaching the standard of complete treatment, of which two had twice and one tumor had three times treatments. There was no carcinoma residue or recurrence during follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for small renal mass (SRM) has satisfied clinical outcomes, with the advantage of less injury, lower complication rates and shorter recovery time for small size of renal clear cell carcinoma. USG-RFA may become the preferred treatment alternative for SRM.

[Treatment of penile strangulation and sexual psychological analysis of the patients].

OBJECTIVE: To find the best treatment of penile strangulation and to analyze the sexual psychological factors of the patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the experiences in removing foreign objects around the penis in 21 patients aged 19 - 61 years with the strangulation time varying from 10 hours to 4 days. The objects were mostly made of metal or plastics. RESULTS: All the objects were successfully removed, 5 of them with the help of lubricant, 4 by aspirating the corpus cavernosum, 8 by shipping with pliers, 2 with the diamond-tipped dental drill, and the other 2, which virtually defied cutting, by aspirating the corpus cavernosum following degloving surgery. CONCLUSION: In removing foreign objects around the penis, simpler methods should be given precedence over more complex ones, and for those that virtually defy cutting, the best option is degloving surgery with particular attention to the survival of the penile skin flap.

[Radiofrequency ablation-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy without renal hilar vessel clamping: a report of 14 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical feasibility of radiofrequency ablation-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RF-LCPN) without renal hilar vessel clamping. METHODS: From January 2009 to June 2010, 14 cases with renal tumors were treated with RF-LCPN. The mean tumor size was 3.1 cm (range: 2.2 - 4.0 cm). All cases were staged at T(1a)N(0)M(0). The preoperative serum creatinine (SCr) was (87 ± 36) µmol/L and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (45 ± 11) ml/min. RESULTS: RF-LCPN was technically successful in all patients (14 tumors). The mean operative time was (152 ± 46) min and the mean blood loss (89 ± 52) ml. All tumor margins were negative. One patient with a brief period of urine leakage from lower pole calix was managed successfully by ureteral stenting and Foley catheter drainage of bladder. The postoperative hospital stay was (5 ± 2) days. The postoperative SCr was (90 ± 38) µmol/L and GFR (41 ± 12) ml/min. There was no statistic post-operative change of SCr and GFR (P > 0.05). All patients completed a minimum follow-up of 6 months (mean: 17 months, range: 6 - 25 months). No evidence of local or port-site recurrence or metastasis was found. CONCLUSION: As an accurate and effective intervention with a relatively low incidence of complications, RF-LCPN may eliminate renal warm ischemia. But its long-term efficacy remains to be further studied.

[A retrospective study comparing the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic cryoablation and partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic cryoablation (LCA) and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Between April 2005 and March 2009, 47 patients were treated with minimally invasive nephron sparing surgery (LPN or LCA) for RCC. The LCA group included 18 selected primary RCC cases (14 men and 4 women, mean age 63 years). There were 6 tumors located in the left, 11 located in the right and 1 located bilaterally. The maximum diameter of tumors was 1.5 - 5.0 cm (mean: 2.9 cm). The LPN group included 29 renal tumors patients (19 men and 10 women, mean age 61 years). The maximum diameter of tumors in this group was 2.0 - 4.5 cm (mean: 2.8 cm). Changes of hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum creatinine (SCr) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after operations were compared between LCA group and LPN group. The operative time, average intra-operative bleeding volume, postoperative hospital stay and incidence of postoperative complications of the 2 groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The 2 surgical procedures were both successful. There was no significant change of Hb, ESR, SCr and GFR after operations in LCA group and LPN group (P > 0.05). The operative time was (94 ± 29) min and (146 ± 45) min in LCA group and LPN group, respectively. The average estimated blood loss was (37 ± 20) ml and (274 ± 69) ml. The postoperative hospital stay was (4 ± 2) d and (10 ± 2) d. These differences between the 2 groups were significant (P < 0.01). No laparoscopic operative complications were noted in LCA group. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1, 3, and 6 months identified the punched-out, nonenhancing, spontaneously resorbing, renal cryolesion. LCA group had completed a minimum follow-up of 6 months (mean 16, range 6 to 21 months). No evidence of local or port-site recurrence was found, and no patient developed metastatic disease. 3 - 36 months' (mean 20 months) follow-up showed no recurrence of tumors or metastatic disease in LPN group. CONCLUSIONS: LCA for RCC is an accurate and effective intervention with a relatively low incidence of complications, and is superior to LPN in operative time, intraoperative bleeding volume and postoperative recovery.

Minimally invasive percutaneous cystolithotomy: an effective treatment for bladder stones in infants aged <1 year.

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with minimally invasive percutaneous cystolithotomy (MPCCL) for the treatment of bladder stones in infants aged <1 year. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1 January 2003 to 31 October 2008, 15 boys with a mean (range) age of 8.2 (3.0-11.5) months underwent MPCCL. The mean (range) stone diameter was 1.4 (0.9-2.2) cm. Ten infants had a solitary stone while five had more than one stone. MPCCLs were performed under general anaesthesia. A 16 F peel-away sheath was introduced as a working tract after dilatation with percutaneous nephrolithotomy dilators (8-16 F) under fluoroscopic control. After dilatation, an 8-9.8 F ureteroscope was introduced into the bladder, and the stones were fragmented with a shock wave lithotriptor. After the MPCCL, a 14 F suprapubic catheter was left in situ and fixed to the skin, and removed 1 or 2 days after MPCCL. The urethral catheter was removed 2 or 3 days after MPCCL. The absence of stone fragments on plain X-ray/ultrasonography was considered as a 'stone-free' status. RESULTS: All infants were stone-free after one MPCCL; no recurrent stones developed. The mean MPCCL procedure time was 25 min and intraoperative blood loss was scant. Perioperative complications were few. The mean hospital stay was 2.8 days. CONCLUSION: MPCCL is a safe and effective treatment option for bladder stones in infants, reducing postoperative complications and shortening hospital stay.

[Construction of oxalate-degrading intestinal stem cell population in mice].

OBJECTIVE: The oxalate-degradation genes of Oxalobacter formigenes (Ox.F)-frc gene and oxc gene-were cloned and transfected into intestinal stem cell population of the mouse to make the latter obtain oxalate-degradation function. METHODS: (1) The dicistronic eukaryotic expression vector, which could express oxc gene and frc gene in the same time, pIRES-oxc-frc was constructed. (2) The intestinal stem cell population of the mouse were isolated and cultured, and the function of the cell growth and differentiation was identified. (3) The cells were transfected with pIRES-oxc-frc. After selection by G418, the function of the cell growth and differentiation and the the expression of the objective genes were identified. (4) The concentration of the oxalate in the culture medium which was used to culture the transgenic cells was determined by ion chromatography to explore the oxalate-degradation function of the cells. RESULTS: Ox.F could be isolated and cultured from the feces of Chinese people. Compared with the foreign reports, a certain morphologic variation of the Ox.F existed. But the oxc gene and frc gene showed high homology with the sequence reported in GenBank. The recombinant plasmid containing oxc gene and frc gene could successfully be transfected into the intestinal stem cell population of the mouse. The expression of the objective genes was normal. The concentration of the oxalate in the culture fluid of the transgenic intestinal stem cell population [(2.48 +/- 0.03 g/L)] was lower than those of the normal group [(2.69 +/- 0.01) g/L] and the control group [(2.69 +/- 0.01) g/L, P < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: The oxc gene and the frc gene could be transfected into the intestinal stem cell population of the mouse, and the cells could be given oxalate-degrading function. The gene of prokaryocyte could be introduced into the eukaryocyte for a successful expression.

Stable expression of the oxc and frc genes from Oxalobacter formigenes in human embryo kidney 293 cells: implications for gene therapy of hyperoxaluria.

Hyperoxaluria can lead to multiple pathologic conditions such as recurrent urolithiasis, oxalosis, nephrocalcinosis and even renal failure, but there is no known oxalate-degrading pathway in the human body, and current therapeutic options for patients with hyperoxaluria are limited. Oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase and formyl-CoA transferase are the key enzymes in the oxalate catabolism of Oxalobacter formigenes which dwell in the intestine of vertebrates and have an important symbiotic relationship with their hosts. The aim of this study was to insert the oxalate-degrading enzyme genes into human embryo kidney (HEK) 293 cells and to evaluate if the oxalate-degrading enzymes could be expressed in these cells and keep their enzyme activity. We present here the cloning of the two genes from O. formigenes and their subsequent expression in HEK293 cells. The results showed that the expression of oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase and formyl-CoA transferase was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blotting, and the proteins were located in the cytoplasm of transfected cells. Furthermore, the transfected cells were capable to a certain degree of degrading oxalate. These findings suggest that the transfer of oxalate-degrading enzyme genes into human cells is possibly a potential candidate for the gene therapy of hyperoxaluria.

Cloning and identification of frc gene from Oxalobacter frmigenes.

The cloning and identification of frc gene from Oxalobacter formigenes in the intestines of Chinese people were conducted. The genomic DNA of Oxalobacter formigenes was extracted. frc gene fragment was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and linked with pEGFP-C1. The recombinant plasmid was designated pEGFP-frc and was identified by restriction-enzyme digestion and sequencing. Human embryo kidney 293 cells were transfected with pEGFP-frc, then RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression of frc gene. The length of frc gene was found to be 1287 bp, and the homology of nucleotides and amino-acid residue with the sequence in GenBank was 95.88% and 99.07%. Bright green fluorescent light could be observed in 293 cells transfected with the pEGFP-frc. frc mRNA and fusion protein FCoAT-EGFP were detected in the cells. It is concluded that frc gene cloned from the Oxalobacter formigenes in the intestines of Chinese people can be expressed in eucaryotic 293 cells and keep its enzyme activity.

Dissolution of ureteral uric acid calculi with local litholytic irrigation.

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of local litholytic irrigation (LLI) in the treatment of ureteral uric acid calculi. Fourteen cases of ureteral uric acid calculi were diagnosed by abdominal plain radiography (KUB), retrograde urography, ultrasonography (B-mode ultrasound), spiral computerized tomography(CT) and blood biochemical examinations. A ureteral catheter was passed retrogradely across ureteral calculi by cystoscopy. LLI with tromethamine-E (THAM-E) was performed via the ureteral catheter after the improvement of renal function and general situation and the control of urinary tract infection under the condition of intravenous application of antibiotics. The irrigation rate varied from 1000 to 1500 ml per day. Retrograde pyelography demonstrated complete dissolution of all the stones, 13 cases within 10 days and 1 within 12 days. Mild hematuria was observed in the majority of the cases and temporary aggravated lumbago in 1 case, with no other side effects. It is concluded that LLI is a practical and effective method in the treatment of ureteral uric acid calculi for its advantages of shorter duration,lower cost, less physical suffering and no severe complications.