Carcinoma ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Kangai-1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kangai-1 Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; metabolism ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

BACKGROUNDProstatodynia remains a difficult clinical problem. Resiniferatoxin (RTX), an ultrapotent vanilloid, can produce a selective and long-lasting desensitization of nociception via C-fiber sensory neurons. Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) released from C-fibers are key neurotransmitters in visceral pain. In this study, we evaluated the analgesic effect of intrathecal RTX on rat prostatodynia.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups for different treatment. In group A, sham operation was preformed. In group B, 100 microl complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was injected into the rat's bilateral ventral prostate to induce chronic inflammation. In group C, after prostatitis formed, 50 microl 10 nmol/L RTX was injected into the rat's lumbosacral (L5-S2) vertebral canal. SP and CGRP contents in the spinal cord were investigated by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Their transcriptional levels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, pelvic nerve afferent discharge was recorded to explore the neuro-electrophysiological mechanisms underlying RTX-induced effect.

RESULTSSP and CGRP released in the spinal cord and their synthesis in DRG were increased significantly in response to CFA-induced chronic prostatitis, whereas this increase was effectively inhibited by intrathecal RTX. Meanwhile, pelvic nerve afferent electrical activity was enhanced significantly in rats with chronic prostatitis, but it was attenuated markedly in RTX-treated rats paralleled by the change of neuropeptides.

CONCLUSIONSIntrathecal RTX administration could produce an analgesic effect on rat prostatodynia. Suppression of pelvic nerve afferent electrical activity may be a crucial mechanism underlying RTX-induced analgesia. RTX intrathecal application may present a novel analgesic strategy of prostatodynia.

Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; analysis ; genetics ; Diterpenes ; administration & dosage ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substance P ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the new characteristics on diagnosis and treatment of renal tuberculosis (RT).

METHODSEighty-seven patients with renal tuberculosis were retrospectively reviewed; their diagnosis was established by standard microbiological and histological techniques.

RESULTSAtypical RT was diagnosed by various examinations, including urinary analysis, polymerase chain reaction of tuberculosis (PCR-TB), ultrasonography, intravenous urography (i.v.U), and computerized tomography (CT). Treatment consisted of antituberculous chemotherapy in all patients, in combination with nephrectomy (62.5%) or enterocystoplasty (4.6%).

CONCLUSIONSThe differential diagnosis of RT should be emphasized, especially for atypical RT, provided a much more specific diagnosis in clinical suspicion of RT. i.v.U can not be regarded as a specific examination for RT. Computerised tomography (CT) can be used for early diagnosis of RT. Surgery for RT is still ablative.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tuberculosis, Renal ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVESTo observe the detrusor ultrastructure in BPH patients and to investigate the relationship between detrusor instability and ultrastructure.

METHODSThe patients were divided into groups of detrusor instability(DI) and detrusor stability(DS) according to urodynamics examination. The structure of the detrusor were observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).

RESULTSThe intercellular intermediate junctions and cytoplasmic process junctions in DS were 11.34 +/- 3.23 and 4.26 +/- 1.78 respectively. The intercellular intermediate junctions decreased obviously (3.12 +/- 1.47, P < 0.01) instead of a large amount of cytoplasmic process junctions (26.37 +/- 7.14, P < 0.01) in DI.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a close relevance between intercellular junctions and DI. The observation of the ultrastructure of the detrusor is helpful for the diagnosis of BPH with DI and for the clinical treatment.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Intercellular Junctions ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; ultrastructure ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Urinary Bladder ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of two tumor metastasis suppressor genes nm23 and KAI1 in gallbladder adenocarcinoma, and their clinicopathological significance.

METHODSSpecimens and clinical data from 31 gallbladder adenocarcinoma patients were collected. Histopathological grading and the expression of nm23 and KAI1 were detected by HE and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. All cases were followed up for at least three years.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical staining showed that the positive rate of nm23 and KAI1 proteins was 71.0% (22/31) and 61.3% (19/31), respectively. The positive expression rates of nm23 and KAI1 proteins in the early stage carcinomas were significantly higher than those in the moderate and advanced stage ones (P exact = 0.0051 and P exact = 0.0084), and both had an negative correlation with clinicopathologic stage (P trend = 0.0047 and P trend = 0.0058). There was a significant difference in the expression of nm23 and KAI1 proteins among well, moderately and poorly differentiated carcinomas (P exact = 0.0328 and P exact = 0.0020). The expression of nm23 and KAI1 was positively correlated with histopathological grade (P trend = 0.0086 and P trend = 0.0006). There was also a significant difference in the expression of nm23 and KAI1 proteins between 17 survival and 14 dead patients (P exact = 0.0038 and P exact = 0.0001 ). A synergistic effect of nm23 and KAI1 protein on the survival was observed , and seemed to be more important than any individual gene alone (P exact = 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of nm23 and KAI1 proteins are negatively correlated with clinical stage, but positively with histopathological grade in gallbladder adenocarcinoma. These two tumor metastasis suppressor genes may act synergistically to inhibit the tumor metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cholecystectomy ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Kangai-1 Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUNDMutations in the fibrillin-1 gene have been identified in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS). This study aimed to identify the molecular defects in the fibrillin-1 gene in a Chinese family with Marfan syndrome, accompanied by aortic aneurysms/dissection.

METHODSTwo patients and one non-carrier in the family underwent complete physical, ophthalmic, and cardiovascular examinations. Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of venous blood of these individuals in the family as well as 50 healthy normal controls. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing of all 65 coding exons of fibrillin-1 gene were analyzed.

RESULTSWe found a novel mutation (c.8547T > G, p.Tyr2849X) in exon 65 of fibrillin-1 gene in a Chinese proband with Marfan syndrome, accompanied by aortic aneurysms/dissection. Sudden death at a young age of affected members was seen due to aortic aneurysms/dissection. By evaluating genotype-phenotype correlations of patients with mutations in the 3' end of fibrillin-1 gene (exons 64 and 65), we also found that the presence of nonsense mutations occurring in exons 64 and 65 appeared to be an indicator of early-onset aortic risk and sudden death.

CONCLUSIONSThese results expand the mutation spectrum of fibrillin-1 gene and help in the study of the molecular pathogenesis of Marfan syndrome, indicating that mutations occurring in the 3' end of fibrillin-1 gene may play an independent functional role in the pathogenesis of Marfan syndrome.

Adult ; Female ; Fibrillin-1 ; Fibrillins ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Marfan Syndrome ; etiology ; genetics ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of sexual-nerve-sparing radical cystectomy.

METHODSThirty-two male patients were treated with sexual-nerve-sparing radical cystectomy in our hospital in the past 5 years. The age of the patients ranged from 38 to 72 years, with the course of the disease ranging from 2 days to 20 years. All of them were potent preoperatively. Radical cystectomy was performed antegradely and retrogradely with the neurovascular bundle spared.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for 6 to 54 months, 3 achieved sexual activity of Grade I, 6 Grade II and 23 Grade III after the operation. The recovery time of erectile function ranged from 2 to 14 months, averaging at 4. 5 months.

CONCLUSIONWhenever condition suits, sexual-nerve-sparing radical cystectomy is to be strongly recommended.

Adult ; Aged ; Coitus ; Cystectomy ; methods ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; innervation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of arginine modified chitosan or hexadecylated modified chitosan as gene carriers on the cellular uptake by vascular smooth muscle cells and its in vitro cytotoxicity. METHODS Plasmid DNA was labeled with alpha-32P-dATP and complexed with the modified chitosans or unmodified chitosan to form nanoparticle complexes by complex coacervation method. Uptake of all kinds of chitosan/ DNA nanoparticle complexes (CNC) by A10 cells was measured by beta-liquid scintillation counting. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the CNC was evaluated by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTSThe diameters of the CNC ranged from 55.9-174.9 nm and the zeta potentials were from 10. 8 mV for the arginine modified chitosan/DNA nanoparticle complexes (ACNC) to 1.8 mV for the hexadecylated chitosan/DNA nanoparticle complexes (HCNC). The cellular uptake of the modified chitosan/ DNA nanoparticle complexes (MCNC) by A10 cells increased significantly when compared with the unmodified chitosan/DNA nanoparticle complexes (UCNC) (P < 0.05), with the HCNC at N/P ratio of 1:1 and the ACNC at ratio of 8:1 showing the highest cellular uptake (1.3 fold higher than UCNC, P < 0.05). MCNC were much less cytotoxic when compared with Lipofectamine 2000-DNA nanoparticles.

CONCLUSIONDNA nanoparticle complexes prepared with either arginine or hexadecylated modified chitosan can improve the cellular uptake of the DNA, while the in vitro cytotoxicity of both of the modified chitosan is much less than that of Lipofectamine 2000.

Animals ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Citric Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; DNA ; pharmacology ; Genetic Vectors ; Nanoparticles ; Rats

Objective To report initial experience and the indications of retroperitoneal laparoscop- ic partial nephrectomy.Methods From December 2001 to October 2005,23 patients (including 14 cases of renal cell carcinoma,5 of hamartoma and 4 of duplex kidney) underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic par- tial nephrectomy.One of the patients had solitary kidney.Results All the operations were successful ex- cept for only 1 requiring conversion to laparoscopic nephrectomy because of bleeding resulting from blocking anterior branch of renal artery.The mean operative time was 121 min (60-240 min),and mean ischemic time was 32 min (20-55 min).The estimated bleeding volume ranged from 100 ml to 300 ml,and no pa- tient needed blood transfusion.Pathology showed negative surgical margins in 14 cases of renal cell carcinoma and confirmed the diagnosis of hamartoma in 5 cases.One patient with duplex kidney required open partial nephrectomy because of renal cystic mass resulting from incomplete resection.Conclusions Retroperito- neal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy offers a new effective and minimally invasive treatment for selected pa- tients with renal mass.The long-term effects of the procedure need further investigation.