Association of ADAM33 gene polymorphisms with asthma in the Uygur population of China.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases, affecting ∼300 million children and adults worldwide. Previous studies identified a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 33 (ADAM33) as an important susceptibility gene for asthma in patients of different nationalities; however, it is unknown whether this relationship exists in ethnically diverse populations. The present study focused on the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ADAM33 gene and asthma in the Uygur population of China. Three SNPs of ADAM33 (T1, S+1 and F+1) were genotyped in a case-control study among the Chinese Uygur population, involving 126 adult asthmatic patients and 126 healthy controls. The frequency of the ADAM33 T1 C allele among asthma patients was significantly higher compared to healthy controls (20.6 vs. 11.1%, P=0.003). The distribution of ADAM33 genotypes differed significantly between the two groups. The frequency of the T1 TC genotype was higher among patients compared to healthy controls [odds ratio (OR)=2.118, P=0.016] and the variant genotype, TC+CC, increased the risk of asthma (OR=2.244, P=0.005). Following adjustment for confounding factors, the ORs of TC and TC+CC for asthma were 2.317 and 2.522, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the forced expiratory volume (FEV1) levels in patients with the TC genotype compared to the TT genotype of T1. Haplotype analysis revealed that the frequencies of Hap5 (CAC) and Hap6 (CAT) were significantly higher among asthmatic patients compared to healthy controls (P=0.024 and 0.016, respectively). The genotype and allele frequencies of SNP S+1 and F+1 were not statistically different between asthmatic patients and controls. In conclusion, the ADAM33 T1 SNP may affect susceptibility to asthma in the Chinese Uygur population.

Impact of unilateral acute testicular ischemia on the contralateral testis of rabbits in anesthetic and conscious states / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the impact of unilateral acute testicular ischemia on the hemodynamics and histology of the contralateral testis of the rabbits under consistent anesthesia with that of the rabbits in the conscious state.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-two healthy male white rabbits were randomly divided into an anesthetic group (Group A) to receive injection of sodium pentobarbital (PS) and a non-anesthetic group (Group B), each including a control group of 5 animals (A0 and B0), an incomplete testicular ischemia group of 8 (A1 and B1), and a complete testicular ischemia group of 8 (A2 and B2). Testicular ischemia models were constructed by color Doppler ultrasonography. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was used to observe the perfusion of the contralateral testes before and after ligating and loosening the unilateral spermatic cord in each experimental group. The control animals also underwent CEUS and measurement of the heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) at the corresponding time. Histological structure changes in the contralateral testes of the rabbits were observed in both anesthetic and conscious states.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PS anesthesia markedly suppressed the HR and BP of the rabbits. The parameters in Groups of A0, A1 and A2 showed no statistically significant changes after unilateral ligation of the spermatic cord, while Groups B1 and B2 displayed significantly decreased peak-base difference (PBD) and prolonged arrival time (AT) and half time of descending peak intensity (HT). Groups A1, B1 and B2 showed significantly increased PBD and prolonged HT shortly after loosening the spermatic cord. Focal pathological and ultrastructural changes were observed in the contralateral testes of the ischemic rabbits, but no significant difference was found in Johnson's score in comparison with the controls. The apoptotic cells were remarkably increased in Groups A1, B1 and B2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acute testicular ischemia may induce injury to the contralateral testis to some degree, and a reflexive sympathetic response may cause hemodynamic changes in the non-anesthetic state. And the neural and vascular inhibitory effects of anesthesia could make insignificant changes of blood perfusion in the contralateral testis.</p>

Diagnostic value of transrectal ultrasound in detecting rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor with head scanning probe / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

Objective To explore the methods and clinical value of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in detecting rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) with head scanning probe.Methods A total of 12 patients had the ultrasonic examination through the rectum with the head scanning probe.Preoperative ultrasonic findings were compared with the pathological results.Results Of the 12 patients,the patients were divided into three groups,including 3 cases with low-degree severity,6 cases with moderate-degree severity and 6 cases with high-degree severity.The lymph node metastasis was not found near intestines.Rectal GIST appeared as a hypoechoic mass with clear limit、regular form and expanded growth under TRUS.The CDFI showed abundant flow in the tumor and TRUS had an overall accuracy rate of 75.0%(9/12)in the diagnosis of rectal GIST.The accuracy of TRUS in the staging diagnosis of rectal GIST was 83.3%(10/12).Conclusion The TRUS with the head scanning probe is of great value for pre-operative diagnosis and staging of rectal GIST.Rectal water window and felicitous check-up technique can enhance the accuracy of TRUS.

Correlation between sonographic appearance of experimental testicular ischemia and histological changes of the testis after reperfusion / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the correlation between sonographic appearance of different degrees of acute unilateral testicular ischemia and histological changes of the testis after reperfusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two male rabbits were equally divided into a control (sham operation) group and 3 ischemia groups. Unilateral testicular ischemia models were established under the color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) observation and allocated according to different degrees of ischemia to Group A (with homogeneous echoes and slightly decreased flow signals), B (with heterogeneous echoes and obviously decreased flow signals) and C (with radial or small-shredded low echoes and absence of flow signals). Then contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) was performed, followed by reperfusion of the ischemic testes. A month later, the histological changes of the testes were observed and the correlation of the histological changes with the sonographic and CEUS manifestations was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Concerning the CEUS parameters such as the arrival time (AT), reperfusion rate, time-to-peak (TTP), half descent time (DT/2) of the ischemic testes, Groups A and B showed significant differences from the control group (P < 0.05). The peak-base difference (PBD) was significant in Group B (P < 0.05) but not in A (P > 0.05), and no enhancement was seen in Group C. As for Johnson's scores obtained 1 month later, Group A exhibited no significant difference (8.70 +/- 0.39) (P > 0.05), Group B showed significant difference (6.01 +/- 0.88) (P < 0.05), and Group C extremely significant difference (3.16 +/- 1.05) (P< 0.001) from the control group (9.10 +/- 0.11).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CEUS is superior to CDU in evaluating the perfusion of testicular ischemia. Sonographic appearances of testicular ischemia are significantly correlated with histological changes of the testis after reperfusion. Ultrasonography helps to predict the spermatogenetic function of ischemic testes after reperfusion.</p>

Significance of color Doppler ultrasonography in therapy of tuberculous epididymitis / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

Objective To study the clinical value of color Doppler ultrasonography in typing tuberculous epididymitis.Methods The appearances of color Doppler ultrasound and the findings on operation were analysed in 33 patients with tuberculous epididymitis.Results Of the 33 patients,epididymis appeared as diffusely and heterogeneously enlarged lesions with increased flow in 2 cases,appeared as nodular lesions in 13 cases including nodi with echofree space in 3 cases, nodi with high-level echo patches in 3 cases, and low echo-level nodi in 7 cases. Multiple lesions in scrotum were detected in 17 cases, of whom epididymis up to 11 cases appeared as diffusely enlarged heterogeneous lesions with flow increased.The sonographic appearancs of tuberculous epididymitis could be divided into 3 types:diffusion type, nodus type and complicated type. Nodus type included 3 subtypes: purulence type, calcification type, and cheese type.The accuracy rate of ultrsound diagnosis was 87.9%.Conclusions Testis is easy to be involved when epididymitis appears as diffusion type, so surgical treatments should be early.Purulence type and complicated type need surgical treatments while calcification type does not. Antituberculous drug treatments can be tried before surgical treatments in cheese type.Sonography of urinary system is helpful for the diagnosis of asymptomatic tuberculosis in urinary system when tuberculous epididymitis is first suspected on sonography.

Relationship between ultrasonographic grading of varicocele and changes of seminal parameters after varicocelectomy / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the correlation of ultrasonographic grading of varicocele (VC) with the changes of seminal parameters after varicocelectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 129 cases of VC were diagnosed by scrotal color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) and graded into 3 groups: VC I, VC II and VC III, according to three different grading indexes: the regurgitant volume of pampiniform plexus veins (PPV), the maximum diameter of PPV and the combination of the regurgitant volume and the maximum diameter of PPV. All the patients underwent high ligation of the spermatic vein and semen analysis was performed before and after varicocelectomy according to the WHO guidelines.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the maximum diameter of PPV as the grading index, there were statistically significant differences in the seminal parameters of VC III (P < 0.05) but not in those of VC I and VC II (P > 0.05) before and after varicocelectomy, while based on the regurgitant volume of PPV or the combination of the regurgitant volume and the maximum diameter of PPV, the differences were insignificant in VC I (P > 0.05), significant in VC II (P < 0.05) and extremely significant in VC III (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found in the rate of sperm abnormality among the 3 groups after varicocelectomy (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Different grading indexes influence the changes of seminal parameters after varicocelectomy. The regurgitant volume of PPV and the combination of the regurgitant volume and the maximum diameter of PPV are more reasonable and reliable as the grading indexes of VC. Different grades of VC respond differently to varicocelectomy. Whether VC I necessitates varicocelectomy needs to be further investigated.</p>