Spermatogenesis is a process consisting of spermatogonial proliferation, spermatocytic meiosis, and spermiogenesis, and is also considered to be a process in which heterochromatins gradually aggregate and finally reach a highly condensed formation in the sperm head. Recent studies show that epigenetic regulation plays a key role in spermatogenesis. This review discusses the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in spermatogenesis in three aspects, DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs. These factors are essential for spermatogenesis, fertilization, and embryogenesis by mutual regulation as well as by gene expression regulation, transposon activation, sex chromosome inactivation, and genome imprinting.
DNA Methylation ; Embryonic Development ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; physiology ; Genomic Imprinting ; Humans ; Male ; Meiosis ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; physiology

Penile and testicular tumors, especially those of the malignant nature, usually require radical excision, which alters the organ image, affects sexual and urinary functions, and consequently undermines the self-confidence and quality of life of the patient. Recent studies show that organ-sparing surgery can be an alternative to radical excision for superficial tumors and small masses. Penis-sparing surgery (PSS) has been indicated for superficial penile cancer, such as Tis and T1a lesions, and testis-sparing surgery (TSS) is feasible for benign small bilateral or solitary testicular masses (TIN). Long-term follow-ups after PSS or TSS show that the patients may retain a satisfactory appearance of the organ as well as desirable sexual and reproductive functions.
Andrology ; methods ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; methods ; Patient Satisfaction ; Penile Neoplasms ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Self Concept ; Testicular Neoplasms ; surgery

Cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) often present concurrently in aged persons. There has been a longstanding controversy among clinicians as to whether cataract surgery is contraindicated in eyes with AMD. Most of previous researches indicated that cataract surgery could accelerate the progression of AMD. However recently studies suggested that cataract surgery improved visual function of the patients and didn't accelerate the progression of AMD. These are related to the development of cataract surgery and the using of phacoemulsification technique.

Objective To compare the safety and effectiveness of temporary occlusion techniques with different balloons in performing cesarean section for patients with pernicious placenta previa.Methods The clinical data of 15 patients with pernicious placenta previa,who received cesarean section during the period from March 2014 to April 2016,were retrospectively analyzed.In order to reduce bleeding during operation and to preserve the uterus as far as possible,temporary occlusion of abdominal aorta with balloon was adopted in 7 patients (group A),and temporary balloon occlusion of bilateral internal iliac arteries was employed in 8 patients (group B).The intraoperative radiation dose,the amount of blood loss and blood transfusion during cesarean section,the hysterectomy rate,the postoperative hospitalization days,and the intervention-related complications were documented,and the results were compared between the two groups.Results All the 15 patients were suffered from central type of placenta praevia complicated by extensive placenta accreta.With the help of temporary balloon occlusion technique,the cesarean section was successfully accomplished in all 15 patients.Subtotal hysterectomy had to be done in 7 patients,including 4 patients of group A and 3 patients of group B,and every one patient from each group developed arterial thrombosis of lower limb.The intraoperative radiation dose of group A was significantly lower than that of group B (P＜0.01),besides the amount of blood loss and blood transfusion during cesarean section,the hysterectomy rate,the postoperative hospitalization days,and the intervention-related complications of group A were all lower than those of group B,but because of the limited number of cases these differences were not statistically significant (P＞0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of pernicious placenta previa,temporary balloon occlusion technique-assisted cesarean section is safe and effective.The intraoperative radiation dose in the group using temporary balloon occlusion of abdominal aorta is remarkably lower than that in the group using temporary balloon occlusion of bilateral internal iliac arteries.

Objective To observe the abnormalities of speech production when developmental stutterers reading four-character Chinese words aloud and to discuss its etiology mechanisms. Methods The speech production results between the developmental stutterers and normal speakers when reading four-character Chinese words under the voice reaction time paradigm and computerize program in acoustic data analysis were compared. Results The voice duration time (VDT) of developmental stuttering group (791±82) ms was longer than that of the control group (687±93) ms (t=3.42,P<0.01),but the differences of voice reaction time (VRT) and voice error rate (VER) were not significant between these two groups. Conclusion The speech fluency disorders of developmental stuttering maybe mainly exist in the stage of speech movement, and probably due to the speech production disturbed with language processing.

Objective To examine the performance of developmental stutterers in processing Chinese character to determine their basic cognitive abilities of Chinese language.Methods The reaction time and error rates of developmental stutterers and fluent speakers were compared when they performed orthographic,phonetic and semantic judging tasks in the manual reaction time paradigm.Results The differences of reaction time in orthographic,phonetic and semantic judgment and the error rates in orthographic and semantic judgment between both groups were not significant(P>0.05);however,the difference of error rate in phonetic judgment between the both groups were nearly significant(P=0.053).Conclusion The only disability existed in developmental stutterers seems to be the in phonetic abstracting or encoding processes,which is partly in accordance with the covert repair hypothesis.

Humans ; Liver Diseases

Up to now, a variety of microRNAs have been found in a number of studies, that specifically expressed in retinal neuroepithelial, lens, cornea and retinal pigment epithelium, in which miR-126 plays a certain role in the proliferation of tumor cells, the development of thymus lymphocytes and cardiovascular diseases.Some researches show that miR-126 has certain correlations with the formation of corneal neovascularization, the development of diabetic retinopathy, and the immune system related eye disease.In this paper, the current miR-126 in the role of eye disease mechanism and research progress were reviewed.

China ; Humans ; Nanostructures ; toxicity ; Nanotechnology

Objective To discuss the clinical value of ~(18)F-FDG PET-CT fusion imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolizationTACE)with lipiodol. Methods 15 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma diameter 4～10 cm) were investigated with ~(18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging within three months after TACE. The findings of imaging were compared with the results of anteriography and clinical follow-up.Results After TACE, regions of absent~(18)F-FDG uptakes could be found in all 15 patients. Increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes could be found in liver of 11 cases. The other 4 patients had no increased~(18)F-FDG uptakes in liver. The regions of increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes were residual viable tumor confirmed by anteriography and clinical follow-up , and most of them locate around region of absent ~(18) F-FDG uptakes.~(18)F-FDG PET-CT fusion imaging showed that there were no correlation between increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes and lipiodol dense distribution. After another TACE given or radiotherapy based on ~(18)F-FDG PET-CT fusion imaging, the areas of increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes reduced or disappeared. In 4 patients without Increased ~(18)F-FDG uptakes ,DSA showed that there were still viable tumor in the peripheral zone of tumor.Conclusion Residual viable tumor can still be found in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after TACE.~(18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging can characterize and locate the most residual viable tumor, monitor response and be a guide in following therapy, but some viable tumor can not be found by ~(18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging.