Objective To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy combined with transurethral resection of prostate(TURP)for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)with bladder calculus.Methods 68 patients of BPH with bladder calculus treated by ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy combined with transurethral resection of prostate were reviewed.Results Satisfactory effects were achieved in all these 68 cases without serious complications.Conclusion Ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy combined with TURP is a minimally invasive,safe and effective method in the treatment of BPH and bladder calculus.

[ ABSTRACT ] AIM: To investigate the effect of catalpol on the activity of osteoblasts ( OB ) and osteoclasts ( OC) , and OB estrogen receptor ( ER) α/βmRNA expression in the OB-OC co-culture system.METHODS: OB and OC were isolated from the SD rats of 1 and 5 days old.In the OB-OC co-culture system, different concentrations of catalpol including low dosage (0.05 , 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/L), middle dosage (2, 5 and 10 mg/L), and high dosage (20, 50 and 100 mg/L) were added into the culture medium to detect the changes of OB proliferation by MTT assay.The catalpol at maximal dosage was added to OB section to detect the alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) activity of OB by pNPP method.The mRNA expression of ERα/βin the OB treated with catalpol in the co-culture system was detected by RT-PCR.The catalpol at maximal dosage was added to OC group to detect the activity of OC by microscopy and tartrate-resistantacid phosphatase ( TRAP) activity detection.RESULTS:In 0.05~2 mg/L catalpol groups, the proliferation of OB was significantly in-creased as compared with control group in the co-culture system, and it reached the maximum value when catalpol was at 0.05 mg/L, while in 5~100 mg/L catalpol groups, the proliferation of OB was not increased.The ALP activity of OB in 0.05 mg/L catalpol group was higher than that in control group.The catalpal at 0.05 mg/L promoted the mRNA expression of ERβin OB in the co-culture system, but did not increase the mRNA expression of ERαas compared with control group. Catalpol at 0.05 mg/L obviously inhibited the bone resorption and the TRAP activity in OC.CONCLUSION: Catalpol stimulates the proliferation and activity of OB, inhibits the bone resorption and activity of OC, and increases the mRNA ex-pression of ERβin OB in the OB-OC co-culture system, suggesting that high mRNA expression of ERβmay be the regula-tory pathway of catalpol in response to bone metabolism.

Ojective To observe the effects of lifestyle intervention associated with Metformin on the blood biochemical index,C reactive protein(CRP) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in the aged people with metabolic syndrome(MS).Mtthods Fifty-nine old patients with MS were randomly divided into lifestyle intervention group(n=29) and lifestyle intervention associated with Metformin group(n=30).The index of body mass index(BMI) and blood pressure(BP),the levels of fasting blood sugar(FBS),triacylglycerol(TG),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),fasting insulin(FINS),serum C-reactive protein(CRP) and interleukin-6(IL-6) were detected before and after the treatment.Result The levels of systolic blood pressure(SBP),BMI,FBS,TG,CRP,IL-6 and the homeostasis assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) were significantly lower in the lifestyle intervention associated with Metformin group than those of the lifestyle intervention group(P

Objective To investigate the changes of WBC count and free fatty acids (FFAs) level in diabetic patients with angiopathy, and explore the role of WBC and FFAs in the pathogenesis of diabetic angiopathy. Methods The number of WBC and the concentration of FFAs were determined in 22 diabetic patients without angiopathy, 38 diabetic patients with angiopathy and 20 healthy subjects. Results Both WBC count and FFAs concentration in the diabetic patients were obviously higher than those in healthy subjects (P

Objective To explore the correlation of PAI-1 and TNF-α and the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and coronary heart disease,and explore the role of metformin in the MS.Methods Sixty cases of old patients with the MS were chosen.These patients were divided into two groups at random.One group interfered with living style and metformin,the other group only interfered with living style.The activity of PAI-1 was detected by chromogenic substrate method,and the level of TNF-α was detected by ELISA assay.Results (1) The levels of PAI-1 and TNF-α in the MS patients [(0.95 ± 0.05) AU/ml,(24.81 ± 3.87)ng/ml] were significantly higher than in normal old people[(0.66 ± 0.10)AU/ml,(10.76 ±2.00) ng/ml] (P ＜0.001) ;(2)The levels of PAI-1 and TNF-α in the MS patients with CHD [(0.96 ± 0.05) AU/ml,(26.12 ± 2.83) ng/ml] were significantly higher than those in the patients without CHD [(0.94 ± 0.03) AU/ml,(23.71 ± 4.27) ng/ml] (P ＜ 0.05) ;(3)The activity of PAI-1 and the level of TNF-α in the metformin group was decreased significantly [△ was (0.20 ± 0.17)AU/ml,(4.42 ± 0.85ng/ml),P ＜0.01],and metformin can improve the components of the MS.Conclusions The old patients with MS is prone to develop cardiac vascular disease.PAI-1 and TNF-α participate in pathophysiology of the MS and its complication.Metformin can inhibit the expression of PAI-1 and TNF-α to suppress the components of the MS,and block the complication of the MS.

Objective To explore the diagnostic and score value of ultrasound on hemophiliac arthropathy referring to MRI on the diagnosis and score of hemophiliac arthropathy Methods The ultrasound and MRI examinations were performed on 42 joints of 42 hemophilia patients 14 knees 14 ankles and 14 elbows The consistency of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the detection and score of joint diseases was compared Finally inter-and intra-observer agreement of ultrasound scoring system were tested Results The consistency of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging was excellent κ=0 763-0 896 P < 0 001 in the detection of early soft tissue lesions effusion or hemarthrosis synovial hypertrophy hemosiderin excellent κ=0 793 P <0 001 in the detection of cartilage loss poor κ=0 133 P = 0 132 in the detection of erosions and poor κ= 0 100 P = 0 137 in the detection of subchondral cysts The consistency of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging was good to excellentκ=0 684-0 833 P < 0 001 in the score of early soft tissue lesions effusion or hemarthrosis synovial hypertrophy and hemosiderin and poor to good κ=0 145 -0 635 P <0 001 in the score of advanced osteochondral lesions cartilage loss and bone erosions The inter-observer agreement was good to excellent κ=0 676-0 870 P <0 001 for early soft tissue lesions and moderate to excellent κ=0 421- 0 75 1 P < 0 001 for advanced osteochondral lesions The intra-observer agreement was good to excellent κ=0 705-0 885 P <0 001 for early soft tissue lesions and moderate to good κ=0 532 -0 732 P <0 001 for advanced osteochondral lesions Conclusions Ultrasound plays an important role in detecting early soft tissue changes effusion or hemarthrosis synovial hypertrophy hemosiderin and cartilage loss which helps follow-up and guide clinical treatment.

Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo construct a humulus pollen allergy DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1-Hum and investigate its effect for immune protection mediated by Foxp3(+)Treg cells in asthmatic mice.

METHODSThe target humulus gene obtained from pTripIEx2-Hum plasmid by double enzyme digestion was inserted sequentially into pcDNA3.1(-) vector to generate the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-Hum, which was validated by sequencing. The pcDNA3.1-Hum plasmid was transfected into COS-7 cells and the expression of the ectopic protein was analyzed using Western blotting. Co-cultured dendritic cells and CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells were stimulated with the expressed protein to test its efficacy in inducing Foxp3(+)Treg cells. The levels of humulus-specific IgE and IgG2a were assayed to evaluate the allergenicity and immunogenicity of pcDNA3.1-Hum in mice. The immunoprotective effect of pcDNA3.1-Hum was assessed in a mouse model of humulus-specific asthma.

RESULTSThe constructed pcDNA3.1-Hum plasmid was validated by sequencing and Western blotting, and the expressed protein was shown to induce Foxp3(+)Treg cells in the co-culture. In normal mice, pcDNA3.1-Hum induced a significant increase of humulus-specific IgG2a but had no effect on IgE. In the asthmatic mice, pcDNA3.1-Hum significantly decreased inflammatory cell counts and eosinophil percentages in the BALF, ameliorated lung inflammation, and lowered AHR and IL-4 levels; immunization of the mice with pcDNA3.1-Hum reversed humulus-induced reduction of serum IFN-γ and prevented the humulus-triggered reduction of Foxp3(+)Treg cell percentage in the spleen.

CONCLUSIONWe have successfully constructed a highly immunogenic pcDNA3.1-Hum DNA vaccine that can mediate immune protection by inducing Foxp3(+)Treg cells.

Allergens ; immunology ; Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humulus ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; immunology ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo examine the correlation of the changes in the serum markers (C-reactive protein, endothelin-1, interleukin-6, and brain natriuretic peptide) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary hypertension secondary to COPD.

METHODSA total of 174 COPD patients with acute exacerbation, admitted between February 2011 and February, 2013, were enrolled in this study, with 43 volunteers with normal pulmonary functions as controls. Pulmonary arterial pressure was determined by Doppler echocardiograph, and the severities (mild, moderate and severe) of PH secondary to COPD was evaluated. The levels of serum markers were determined using ELISA kits.

RESULTSThe levels of serum markers in patients with COPD was significantly elevated compared with those of the control subjects (P<0.05), and further increased in patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to COPD (P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between these serum markers and pulmonary artery pressure in COPD patients with mild and moderate pulmonary hypertension. In patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, only the serum level of brain natriuretic peptide continued to increase with pulmonary artery pressure (P<0.05), and the other markers did not further increase.

CONCLUSIONSEarly and combined examination of these serum markers in patients with COPD can help to identify pulmonary hypertension in early stage and estimate the severity of pulmonary hypertension. Hemodynamic monitoring of the changes of these serum markers can be of important clinical value in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension secondary to COPD and in evaluation of the prognosis of COPD.

Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Blood Pressure ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; blood ; complications ; physiopathology ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; blood ; complications ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo systematically review whether statins can reduce the risk of infection and infection-related mortality.

METHODSWe searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Elsevier and CBM databases for randomized placebo-controlled trials of statins published by September 2013, and each trial enrolled at least 100 participants with follow-up for at least 4 weeks. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the included studies and extracted the relevant data for analysis using Stata 12.0 software.

RESULTSSixteen trails involving a total of 48973 patients were included in our meta-analysis. The results showed that statins significantly reduced the risk of infection (OR=0.93, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98, P=0.004) compared to placebo but did not significantly lower infection-related mortality (OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.12, P=0.592).

CONCLUSIONStatins can significantly reduce the risk of infection but does not lower infection-related mortality.

Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Infection ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Risk Factors