[Double-channel expansion of the subcutaneous lower abdominal tunnel for sequential inguinal lymph node dissection in penile cancer - Report of six cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and efficacy of the two-channel dilatation procedure for subcutaneous tunneling in the lower abdomen during pelvic lymph node dissection for penile cancer. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 6 patients treated from January 2020 to December 2022 using the dual-channel expansion technique for penile cancer lymph node dissection. RESULTS: All 6 cases ( 12 sides) successfully underwent prophylactic inguinal lymph node dissection. The average laparoscopic dissection time was ( 82.50 ± 12.08) minutes per side, with an average blood loss of （28.33 ± 10.95） ml. The number of lymph nodes dissected was （11.16 ± 1.02） for the superficial group and ( 0.67 ± 0.74 ) for the deep group. Postoperative pathology was negative in all cases. The average postoperative hospital stay was （7.33 ± 1.60 ） days, with a catheter removal time of （12.00 ± 2.06）days. Postoperative complications included abnormal skin sensations in 5 sides, lower limb edema in 3 sides, lymphedema in 3 sides, and cellulitis in 1 side. During a follow-up period of （20.60 ± 12.51）months, there were no instances of tumor recurrence or metastasis in the inguinal region among the patients. CONCLUSION: The dual-channel expansion technique for inguinal lymph node dissection via a subcutaneous tunnel is a safe and feasible treatment for penile cancer. It has a low complication rate, allows for thorough dissection of inguinal lymph nodes, and offers advantages in terms of surgical time.

Clinical effect of endoscopic transnasal sphenoidal approach with simple muscle packing for intrasellar arachnoid cyst / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To examine the clinical effect of simple muscle packing through transnasal sphenoid approach in the treatment of intrasellar arachnoid cyst. Methods: The clinical data of 11 patients with intrasellar arachnoid cyst treated by transnasal sphenoidal approach with simple muscle packing at the Neurosurgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to February 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 6 females, with a median age of 48 years (range: 23 to 75 years). The clinical manifestations included headache in 6 cases, dizziness in 4 cases, hypo-libido in 1 case, disturbance of consciousness in 1 case, visual impairment in 7 cases and mixed pituitary dysfunction in 5 cases. The enlargement of the sellar fossa was seen in the preoperative MRI images. The enhanced MRI images showed that the cyst wall of the intrasellar arachnoid cyst was not enhanced, and the compression and thinning of the sellar base was seen in the CT images. In 9 cases, the cyst extended suprasellar and the sellar septum was "arched". In 7 cases, the cyst compressed the optic chiasm upward. The cyst walls of all patients were incised through the nasal sphenoid approach under the endoscope, and the muscle was packed after sufficient drainage. The postoperative symptoms, pituitary endocrine function and recurrence of patients were followed up. Results: MRI images of the sellar region in all patients showed significant reduction or disappearance of cysts. Intracranial infection occurred in 1 case and electrolyte disorder in 2 cases, which were relieved after symptomatic treatment. No cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea occurred. Postoperative clinical symptoms were completely relieved in 6 cases and partially relieved in 5 cases. Pituitary endocrine function recovered completely in 2 cases and improved significantly in 4 cases. All patients were followed up for 10 to 40 months. One patient found to have a partial recurrence of the cyst 3 months after surgery. Because there were no new symptoms appeared, the follow-up was continued without second operation. Conclusion: Transnasal sphenoidal approach is a feasible method for the treatment of intrasellar arachnoid cyst.

miR-451a is downregulated and targets PSMB8 in prostate cancer.

Abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is frequently occurred in prostate cancer (PCa). This study was aimed to investigate the biological roles of miR-451a in PCa. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were employed to investigate the expression levels of miR-451a and proteasome (prosome, macropain) subunit, beta type, 8 (PSMB8) in PCa cell lines. Luciferase activity reporter assay was used to verify the connection between miR-451a and PSMB8. in vitro functional experiments were performed to measure the effects of miR-451a or PSMB8 on PCa cell proliferation, colony formation ability, cell invasion, and cell apoptosis. miR-451a expression was downregulated, whereas PSMB8 expression was upregulated in PCa cell lines. Luciferase activity reporter assay confirmed the direct connection between miR-451a and PSMB8. Overexpression of miR-451a inhibits PCa cell proliferation, colony formation, cell invasion and promotes cell apoptosis, while the overexpression of PSMB8 caused the opposite effects. Moreover, rescue experiments confirmed PSMB8 was a functional target of miR-451a. In conclusion, this study provides novel insights into the role of miR-451a in PCa, and the results demonstrated miR-451a could inhibit PCa progression by targeting PSMB8.

Neurons Differentiated from Transplanted Stem Cells Respond Functionally to Acoustic Stimuli in the Awake Monkey Brain.

Here, we examine whether neurons differentiated from transplanted stem cells can integrate into the host neural network and function in awake animals, a goal of transplanted stem cell therapy in the brain. We have developed a technique in which a small "hole" is created in the inferior colliculus (IC) of rhesus monkeys, then stem cells are transplanted in situ to allow for investigation of their integration into the auditory neural network. We found that some transplanted cells differentiated into mature neurons and formed synaptic input/output connections with the host neurons. In addition, c-Fos expression increased significantly in the cells after acoustic stimulation, and multichannel recordings indicated IC specific tuning activities in response to auditory stimulation. These results suggest that the transplanted cells have the potential to functionally integrate into the host neural network.

Perforator pedicled propeller flaps for soft tissue coverage of lower leg and foot defects.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficiency of perforator pedicled propeller flaps for soft tissue coverage of lower leg and foot defects. METHODS: Twenty patients (12 male, 8 females; mean age 28 years, range, 5-75) with soft tissue defects of the lower leg and foot were retrospectively reviewed. Their defects had been repaired with perforator pedicled propeller flaps from September 2011 to October 2013 and included five cases of injuries caused by spokes, four of infection with postoperative skin necrosis, two of dorsal skin defects caused by heavy objects and nine caused by car accidents. The areas of soft tissue defect were from 2 cm × 8 cm to 10 cm × 20 cm. Fifteen cases had terminal branch of the peroneal artery perforator flaps and five posterior tibia artery perforator flaps, flap size ranging from 5 cm × 11 cm to 12 cm × 28 cm. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to locate all perforator vessels, the calibers of which ranged from 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm. RESULTS: The intraoperative coincidence rate of the color Doppler ultrasound was 96.7%. The donor sites were sutured directly in 12 cases and skin grafted in 8. One case had a venous crisis within 24 h that was treated by removal some sutures and drainage. All cases were followed up for 1-18 months; all flaps survived well and pedicles had a satisfactory appearance. The patients were extremely satisfied with the results for repair. CONCLUSION: Perforator pedicled propeller flaps have the advantages over other pedicle flap of being simple, safe, and effective and not involving vascular anastomosis.

Blockage of glucocorticoid receptors during memory acquisition, retrieval and reconsolidation prevents the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preferences in mice.

Association between the reward caused by consuming drugs and the context in which they are consumed is essential in the formation of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Glucocorticoid receptor (GRs) activation in different regions of the brain affects reward-based reinforcement and memory processing. A wide array of studies have demonstrated that blockage of GRs in some brain areas can have an effect on reward-related memory; however, to date there have been no systematic studies about the involvement of glucocorticoids (GCs) in morphine-related reward memory. Here, we used the GR antagonist RU38486 to investigate how GRs blockage affects the sensitization and CPP behavior during different phases of reward memory included acquisition, retrieval and reconsolidation. Interestingly, our results showed RU38486 has the ability to impair the acquisition, retrieval and reconsolidation of reward-based memory in CPP and sensitization behavior. But RU38486 by itself cannot induce CPP or conditioned place aversion (CPA) behavior. Our data provide a much more complete picture of the potential effects that glucocorticoids have on the reward memory of different phases and inhibit the sensitization behavior.