OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells of rats caused by experimental varicocele and effect of soluble granules of Shengjing on the apoptosis.

METHODSSixty Wistar male rats were divided into three group: control group, model group, and treatment group. Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in Wistar rat. Apoptosis cells in the testes were detected by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) Technique.

RESULTSThe apoptosis index in model group was remarkably higher than that in control group (P < 0.001). There was significant difference between treatment and model groups in apoptosis index.

CONCLUSIONThe apoptosis of spermatogenic cells by varicocele may play a important role in leading to subfertility. The soluble granules of Shengjing have negative effects on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells. The medicine can not only protect spermic production but improve the ability of procreation of testes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; pathology ; Varicocele ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of pediatric massage (tuina) for chronic cough in children. Methods: A total of 96 cases were randomized into a control group and an observation group, with 48 cases in each group. Cases in the control group received routine pediatric massage manipulations. Cases in the observation group received additional Mo-rubbing abdomen manipulation. The treatment was done 3 times a week and 12 times made up a treatment session. The cough symptom scores were evaluated before treatment and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 treatments respectively. Results: There were 8 dropouts in the observation group and 5 dropouts in the control group. Before treatment, there was no statistical difference in coughing score between the two groups (P>0.05). After 9 times of treatment, the total coughing scores were significantly reduced in both groups (both P<0.05); however, there were no statistical differences between the two groups in the score differences between before treatment and after 3, 6 and 9 times of treatment (all P>0.05). After 12 times of treatment, the total coughing scores were significantly reduced in both groups (both P<0.05), along with a statistical difference between the two groups in the score difference between before treatment and after 12 times of treatment (P<0.05). There was a statistical difference between the two groups in overall response (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 92.5％, versus 86.0％ in the control group, showing a statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: The routine pediatric massage manipulations alone or in combination with Mo-rubbing abdomen manipulation both can significantly improve chronic cough in children; however, the combination obtains a better effect.

Objective To explore the predictive value of microvessel density(MVD)and blood vessel invasion(BVI)in hepatic metastasis from early-stage rectal cancer.Methods MVD and BVI in the tumor tissue from 380 patients with stage I and II rectal cancer was determined by immunohistochemical S-P method with anti-CDIOS antibody and anti-CD34 antibody,respectively.Multinomial logistic regression was performed to analyze the predictive value of MVD and BVI in hepatic metastasis from early-stage rectal cancer.Results CD105 was expressed in newborn blood vessels,not in normal blood veseels.in the rectal cancer tissue.MVD was correlated with histological type and infiltration depth(P＜0.05).Besides histological type and infiltration depth,BVI was also correlated with histological grade.Multivariate analysis revealed that histological type,tumor infiltration depth,BVI,adjuvant therapy,and MDV were independent predictors of hepatic metastasis from rectal cancer.The risk of hepatic metastasis in patients with postive expression of either MVD or BVI or both were significant higher than that in patients with low expression of MVD and those without BVI expression[hazard ratio(95%CI),4.210(2.182-11.214)].Conclusion BVI and MVD are independent predictors of hepatic metastasis from stage I and II rectal cancer.Combined detection of MVD and BVI may help to predict the clinical outcome of patients with early-stage rectal cancer.

This study was to determine the protective effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3PUFAs) on MK-801-induced cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (SZ) rats and the underlying mechanism.A rat model of schizophrenia was induced by MK-801.The cognitive function of rats was assessed using a Morris water maze.The number of hippocampal neurons was measured by Nissl staining.The expression of CREB,p-CREB,BDNF,TrkB,p-TrkB,AKT,p-AKT,ERK,and p-ERK in the hippocampus of rats was detected by Western blotting.The results showed that ω-3PUFAs attenuated MK-801-induced cognitive,impairment and hippocampal neurons loss,reversed the injury of the CREB/BDNF/TrtB pathway induced by MK-801,and antagonized MK-801-induced down-regulation of p-AKT and p-ERK in the hippocampus of rats.In conclusion,ω-3PUFAs enhances the CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway by activating ERK and AKT,thereby increasing the synaptic plasticity and decreashng neuron loss,and antagonizing MK-801-induced cognitive impairment in schizophrenic rats.

Objective To investigate the polymorphism of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL144 gene of the low passage clinical isolates in Guangzhou and explore the role of UL144 gene in HCMV pathogenicity. Methods The clinical isolates of HCMV were obtained from the urine sample collected from those infants with intra-uterus HCMV infection in Guangzhou. The virus genome DNA was extracted. According to the genome sequence of Toledo, primers for UL144 gene were designed and used to amplify the complete open reading frames (ORF) of the UL144 gene in our 3 different clinical isolates. These ORFs of the UL144 gene were cloned into pMD18-T vector and their sequences were confirmed by sequencing. Bioinformatics methods were used subsequently to analyze the polymorphisms of these genes in different stains. Results Three HCMV low passage clinical isolates were successfully isolated, named D2, D3 and D52. As shown by PCR, all of these three strains contained UL144 ORF region. Three complete ORFs were amplified in total and their sequences were submitted to GenBank (Accession No.: DQ180368, DQ180382 and DQ180355). In D2, D3 and D52 isolates, their UL144 ORFs consisted of 531 nucleotides. DNA sequences were quite conservative,all variability were base substitution, and the amino acid sequences were high conservative, the rate of amino acid variability was 1.1%. There were no additional or deleted sites of posttranslational modification of UL144 protein in all clinical isolates. There were some differences in the secondary structure among different isolates. The isoelectric point of UL144 protein of all clinical isolates was 8.97. Conclusions All DNA and deduced amino acid sequences of UL144 gene share great similarity among Guangzhou HCMV clinical strains regardless of their polymorphism. It implies that maybe UL144 gene plays an important role in congenital infection.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic extended gastrectomy through the transhiatal approach in patients with esophagogastric junction cancer.

METHODSFrom Feb 2008 to May 2010, 55 cases with Siewert type II or III esophagogastric junction cancer underwent laparoscopic transhiatal extended gastrectomy at the West China hospital. Clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSEsophagogastric junction cancer was Siewert type II in 36 patients and Siewert type III in 19. Thirty-five cases underwent proximal gastrectomy, 20 total gastrectomy. There were 53 D2 lymph node excisions and 2 palliative resections. Fifty patients underwent laparoscopic extended gastrectomy successfully, with 5 converted to open operations. A safe anastomosis between inferior pulmonary vein and pulmonary hilum was achieved in the majority of patients. The mean operative time was(236.2±35.5) min and the mean estimated blood loss was(60.6±33.9) ml. There were no postoperative mortalities or anastomotic leakage/stenosis. No reoperations were required. Pleural laceration occurred in 11 cases during operation, of whom 10 were repaired intraoperatively and one was managed with drainage postoperatively. There were 3 patients developed pulmonary infection and one wound infection. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in other patients.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic transhiatal extended gastrectomy is feasible and safe for patients with esophagogastric junction cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Esophagogastric Junction ; surgery ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of microvessel density (MVD) and blood vessel invade (BVI) as the indexes in predicting prognosis of rectal carcinoma at stages I to II.

METHODSTumor tissues from 380 patients who underwent resection of stage I or II rectal cancer were analyzed for MVD and BVI by immunohistochemical S-P method with anti-CD105 and anti-CD 34 antibody. Binary and multivariable Cox regression was applied to indicate independent factors associated with overall survival.

RESULTSCD105 was present in the neovascularity of the cancer tissue but not in the normal tissue, while CD34 was present in the tumor tissue and the normal tissue. BVI on CD34 staining was significantly higher than that on HE staining. Multivariable analysis revealed that TNM stage, CD34-BVI, histologic type, and CD105-MDV were independent risk factors to predict the possibility of poor prognosis of stage I or II rectal cancer. CD34-BVI or CD105-MVD positivity had a hazard ratio of 4.483 (95% confidence interval 2.861-7.026) for mortality.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of CD34-BVI and CD105-MVD are independent factors to predict the possibility of poor survival of stage I or II rectal carcinoma. Detection of CD105-MVD combined with CD34-BVI may help predict clinical outcome and design further individualized adjuvant treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Endoglin ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Rectal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the medial-to-lateral approach with the lateral-to-medial approach in laparoscopic right hemi-colectomy for right colon cancer.

METHODSA prospective randomized controlled trial was performed in the Fujian provincial tumor hospital between January 2007 and July 2009. Forty-eight cases with right colon cancer were randomly divided into two groups:medial-to-lateral laparoscopic right hemi-colectomy group(group M) and lateral-to-medial laparoscopic right hemi-colectomy group(group L). Primary outcome(operative time) and secondary outcomes (estimated blood loss, intra-operative complication, post-operative complication, number of lymph node retrieval, hospital stay) were compared between two groups.

RESULTSOperative time was(122.5+/-25.8) min in group M and (162.9+/-30.9) min in Group L (P=0.01). Estimated blood loss was(55.8+/-36.2) ml in group M and (104.6+/-58.2) ml in group L(P=0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups in intra-operative complications(4.2% vs 8.3%, P=1.00), post-operative complications (8.3% vs 16.7%, P=0.66), number of lymph node retrieval (17.4+/-3.2 vs 17.8+/-3.4, P=0.67), and hospital stay[(7.8+/-2.2) d vs (8.0+/-3.6) d, P=0.81].

CONCLUSIONThe medial-to-lateral approach reduces operative time and blood loss in laparoscopic right hemi-colectomy as compared with the lateral-to-medial approach.

Adult ; Colectomy ; methods ; Colonic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo clarify three-grade criteria of curative resection for primary liver cancer (PLC) and evaluate their clinical significance.

METHODSCriteria of curative resection of PLC were summed up to three grades. Grade I: complete removal of all gross tumors with no residual tumor at the excision margin. Grade II: on the basis of Grade I, there was no extrahepatic metastasis, no hilar lymph node metastasis, no tumor thrombus in the main trunks and their primary tributaries of the portal vein, common hepatic duct, hepatic vein and vena cava inferior, and the tumor was not more than two in number. Grade III: in addition to the above criteria, AFP dropped to normal level (in patients with elevated AFP before surgery) within 2 months after operation, and no residual tumor upon diagnostic imaging. A total of 354 cases with PLC who had their liver resected was reviewed. Patients in each grade were divided into two portions depending on whether the treatment was curative or palliative.

RESULTSThe survival of patients receiving curative treatment was better than those receiving palliative treatment (P < 0.01). This was true for patients whose treatment belonged to anyone of the three-grade criteria. The survival was improved along with the promotion of curative criteria used. The 5-year survival rate of Grade I, II and III patients undergone curative resection was 43.2%, 51.2% and 64.4%, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION1. The three-grade criteria may be used for judging the radicality of tumor resection for PLC. 2. The more stringent the criteria used, the better the survival would be. 3. Adopting high-grade criteria to select cases, to guide operation and postoperative follow-up would improve the results of liver resection for PLC.

Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and treatment of hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML).

METHODSThe clinical, histopathological, treatment and prognosis data of 51 patients treated for HAML from October 1998 to October 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSHAML had a female predilection (female/male = 41/10) and the mean age was 44 years old. The main symptoms were abdominal mass (33 cases) and abdominal pain or discomfort (15 cases), the other 2 cases presented as fever. Histopathologically, HAML was composed of a heterogeneous mixture of blood vessels, smooth muscle, and adipose cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed relatively high positive rate of HMB-45 (50/51), SMA (47/49) and S-100 (39/42). All 51 patients underwent partial hepatectomy. The mean hospital stay was 13.8 days and mean intraoperative blood loss was 263 ml. There was no recurrence or metastasis after a mean follow-up of 55.4 months.

CONCLUSIONSHAML is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor of the liver. Definitive diagnosis of HAML depends on the pathohistological findings and HMB-45 positive myoid cell is an important diagnostic marker. Complete surgical resection is the optimal treatment for HAML with favorable prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiomyolipoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult