Objective: To investigate the effects of estrogen and progesterone on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR) in mouse uterus. Methods: 3-week-old immature female mice were randomly divided into 7 groups and treated with corn oil, estradiol (E2) of 1.5, 3.0, 10, 25 ng, progesterone (P) of 100 ?g and (E_2 10 ng + P 100 ?g)/mouse, respectively. After the treatment for 48 h, mouse uterus was collected to isolate total RNA. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of mRNA isoforms of VEGF and its receptors in mouse uterus. Results: Compared with control, both E_2 and P significantly increased the expression of VEGF164 and VEGF120 mRNA in mouse uterus. The expression of VEGFR2 mRNA, not VEGF1 mRNA, was decreased by E_2 treatment in a dose-independent manner. Conclusion: Both estradiol and progesterone up-regulated the expression of VEGF, but estradiol down-regulated the expression of VEGFR2 in mouse uterus.

Objective:To investigate the expression of amphiregulin in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.Methods: Endometrial tissues were collected from the patients undergoing hysterectomy or endometrial biopsy.Real-time RT-PCR,in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression characteristics of amphiregulin in human endometrium in proliferative and secretory phases.Results: Real-time RT-PCR showed the expression of amphiregulin mRNA in secretory phase was 32 times that in proliferative phase.The results from in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed that amphiregulin was located in the cytoplasm and mainly expressed in the gland of endometrium.The expressions of amphiregulin mRNA in proliferative and secretory phases were 0.54?0.22 and 2.96?0.47(P

In order to identify novel genes involved in spermatogenesis, testis cDNA samples from Balb/C mice of different postnatal days were hybridized with the whole mouse genome Affymetrix chip to screen the testis-specific genes. The characteristics of the selected genes were analyzed by RT-PCR as well as other bioinformatic tools. A novel differentially expressed testis-specific gene (GenBank Accession No: NM_029042) in the developmental stages of testes was identified, and named TSCPA. Cellular mapping prediction of TSCPA indicated that its protein was probably expressed in nuclei, and one putative domain (aa 332-377) was anchoring domain of cAMP-dependent type II PK. The result of subcellular localization of GFP-TSCPA fusion protein in Cos-7 cells showed that TSCPA protein was expressed in nuclei. RT-PCR analysis revealed that TSCPA was expressed specifically in mouse and human testis. TSCPA gene was expressed weakly in 21-day-old mouse testis and the expression was increased gradually from 38th day to 6th month of mouse testes. No expression of hTSCPA was found in cryptorchidism and Sertoli-cell-only syndrome patients. It was concluded that the expression profile of TSCPA in human and mice indicated that TSCPA might play an important role in spermatogenesis.

Objective To investigate the renal pelvic pressure(RPP) during minimally invasivepereutaneous nephrolithotomy(MPCNL),and inspect its influence to postoperative fever. MethodsThe RPP was measured by baroeeptor,and these data about pressure and postoperative fever wereevaluated statistically. Results The mean RPP was 14.72 mm Hg,the mean accumulative time of RPP≥30 mm Hg was 116.06 s. Fifteen cases(18. 75%)had a postoperative fever. Logistical analysissuggested that postoperative fever did not correlate to sex(P=0.195),age(P=0.641),urinary tractinfection (P=0.663),white blood cell≥10 × 109/L in blood routine examination postoperatively (P=0.751),once an occurrence of RPP≥40 mm Hg(P=0.662),while infection calculi (P=0.000),percutaneous tract size(P=0.029),mean RPP(P=0.036) ,mean RPP≥20 mm Hg(P=0.013),accumulative time of RPP≥30 mm Hg(P=0.010) and RPP≥30 mm Hg longer than 50 s(P=0.024)contributed to postoperative fever. Conclusions Renal pelvic pressure generally remains lower than alevel to back flow (30 mm Hg) during MPCNL. A transient renal pelvic pressure≥30 mm Hg don'tcountribute to postoperative fever,while a temporary high pressure status(50 s)would had an accumulated effect which means an enough back flow to bring a fever.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of endourologic treatment of benign uret-erointestinal anastomotic strictures in patients with urinary diversion. Methods Nine cases of benign ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures with a length of 1-3 cm following radical cystectomy and uri-nary diversion accepted endourologic treatment. 8 cases were treated by antegrade percutaneous ap-proach, 1 case by retrograde ureteroscopic approach. The strictures received balloon dilation, and ure-teral stents indewelled. Results In a follow up of 0.5-5.0 years, 1 case received percutaneous ne-phrostomy for complete ureterointestinal anastomotic atresia and refused to open operation reconstruc-tion. 5 cases had no recurrence after 2-3 endoscopic sessions. 3 cases needed long time ureteral stents indwelled. Conclusion Endourological technique for ureterointestinal strictures following urinary di-version avoided the disadvantages of open operation.

BACKGROUND: These serial processes for forming male gametes are basically controlled by the programmed expression of a number of stage-specific genes. However, many aspects of the mechanisms of spermatogenesis have remained elusive because of a lack of suitable in vitro or in vivo models.OBJECTIVE: To screen genes involved in spermatogenesis, and to analyze its expression characteristics. METHODS: Testes cDNA samples from Balb/C mice of different postnatal days (4,9,18,35, 54 days and 6 months, respectively) were hybridized with mouse whole genome Affymetrix chip to screen the testis-ralated genes. The characteristics of the selected genes were analyzed by various bioinformatics tools. RT-PCR was used here to identify the expression of the selected genes in mice testis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The Affymetrix chip probe of mouse Tpap was graduated higher expression with developmental stages of mouse testis. The scaling hybridization signal intensities of the tested testis on days 4, 9,18, 35, 54, and 6 months of postnatal were 4.4 (Absent expression, A), 12.9 (A), 262.4 (Present expression, P), 1136.7 (P), 1617.5 (P) and 1128 (P),respectively. These results indicated that the expression of mouse Tpap wasn't detected on days 4 and 9, but was detected on days 18, 35, 54, and 6 months of mouse testis in our Affymetrix chip analysis. By combination with the RT-PCR analysis of mouse Tpap, we observed mouse Tpap began to express at the age of day 18 in mouse. Tpap is an age-dependent gene in mouse testis.The expression of Tpap corresponds to the appearance of spermatids of mice and indicates that Tpap may have an important role in male mammalian spermatogenesis.

In order to identify novel genes involved in spermatogenesis, testis cDNA samples from Balb/C mice of different postnatal days were hybridized with the whole mouse genome Affymetrix chip to screen the testis-specific genes. The characteristics of the selected genes were analyzed by RT-PCR as well as other bioinformatic tools. A novel differentially expressed testis-specific gene (GenBank Acces-sion No: NM_029042) in the developmental stages of testes was identified, and named TSCPA. Cellular mapping prediction of TSCPA indicated that its protein was probably expressed in nuclei, and one puta-tive domain (aa 332-377) was anchoring domain of cAMP-dependent type Ⅱ PK. The result of subcel-lular localization of GFP-TSCPA fusion protein in Cos-7 cells showed that TSCPA protein was ex-pressed in nuclei. RT-PCR analysis revealed that TSCPA was expressed specifically in mouse and hu-man testis. TSCPA gene was expressed weakly in 21-day-old mouse testis and the expression was in-creased gradually from 38th day to 6th month of mouse testes. No expression of hTSCPA was found in cryptorchidism and Sertoli-cell-only syndrome patients. It was concluded that the expression profile of TSCPA in human and mice indicated that TSCPA might play an important role in spermatogenesis.