Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Histiocytic Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Hodgkin Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect and safety of circumcision stapler in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

METHODSWe treated 120 patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis using circumcision stapler and another 60 by conventional dorsal-incision circumcision. We observed intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative pain, wound healing time, cosmetic appearance of the penis, and postoperative complications and compared them between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSStapler circumcision showed obvious advantages over the conventional method in intraoperative blood loss ([2. 3 ± 1. 3] vs [15.6 ± 2.9] ml), operation time ([7.1 ± 1.4] vs [22.6 ± 4.6] min), wound healing time ([12.0 ± 2.9] as [16.3 ± 3. 1] d), postoperative pain score (1. 9 ± 1. 3 vs 5. 2 ± 1. 7), incision edema, and cosmetic appearance of the penis (all P <0. 05). Besides, stapler circumcision exempted the patients from stitch-removal pain. However, the incidence rate of postoperative local ecchymosis was significantly higher in the circumcision stapler group than in the conventional circumcision group (20. 8% vs 8. 3% , P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONCircumcision stapler, with its advantages of easier manipulation, shorter operation time, better cosmetic penile appearance, less pain, and fewer complications, is superior to conventional circumcision in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ecchymosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Penis ; abnormalities ; Phimosis ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Surgical Staplers ; adverse effects ; Wound Healing

Background/Aims: The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is increasing annually. Studies have suggested that psychosocial disorders may be linked to the development of GERD. However, studies evaluating the association between psychosocial disorders and GERD have been inconsistent. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that evaluated the association between psychosocial disorders and GERD. Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases until October 17, 2020. Pooled OR with 95% CI and subgroup analyses were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify thesources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis by one-study removal was used to test the robustness of our results. Results: This meta-analysis included 1 485 268 participants from 9 studies. Studies using psychosocial disorders as the outcome showed that patients with GERD had a higher incidence of psychosocial disorders compared to that in patients without GERD (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.87-3.54; I2 = 93.8%; P < 0.001). Studies using GERD as an outcome showed an association between psychosocial disorders and an increased risk of GERD (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.42-3.51; I2 = 97.1%; P < 0.001). The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the non-erosive reflux disease group had a higher increased risk of anxiety than erosive reflux disease group (OR, 9.45; 95% CI, 5.54-16.13; I2 = 12.6%; P = 0.285). Conclusion: Results of our meta-analysis showed that psychosocial disorders are associated with GERD; there is an interaction between the two.

Objective To summarize our experience with endovascular treatment of vertibrobasilar aneurysms. Methods The clinical data of 21 patients with vertibrobasilar aneurysms admitted between October, 2003 and July, 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. All the 21 patients received endovascular embolization, of whom 11 patients had embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDC), 9 had GDC embolization with Neuroform stent placement, and 1 patient was managed with covered stent placement in the parent artery. Results After the operations, 19 patients were clinically cured with good prognosis, 1 patient was severely disabled, and 1 died due to heart failure. Four patients underwent ventriculo-peritoneal shunting for postoperative hydrocephalus. Conclusions Endovascular embolization with GDC and placement of Neuroform stent and covered stent are effective options for management of vertibrobasilar aneurysms, and most of the vertibrobasilar aneurysms can be treated effectively by these approaches.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-la) on angiogenesis in human prostate cancer cells.

METHODSHuman prostate cancer cells of the line LNCaP were cultured and transfected by the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3. 1(-)/HIF-1alpha containing the gene HIF-1alpha with the Lipofectamine 2000 system. The positive clone cells were selected by G418 and confirmed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence (LNCaP/HIF-1alpha cells). The expressions of VEGF, iNOS and Ang-2 were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSThe expression of HIF-1alpha in the LNCaP/HIF-1alpha cells was distinctly higher than that in the LN-CaP cells. Compared with the LNCaP cells, the expressions of VEGF and iNOS were up-regulated, whereas Ang-2 remained unchanged in the LNCaP/HIF-1alpha cells.

CONCLUSIONThe over-expression of HIF-1alpha can induce an increase in angiogenesis proteins and improve the angiogenesis potency of prostate cancer.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; chemistry ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection ; methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in different prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and its role in the acquisition of invasive and metastatic potentials of PCa.

METHODSWe detected the expressions of COX-2 in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, C4-2, IF11, IA8 and PC-3 with different metastatic potentials by Western blotting and RT-PCR, and analyzed their roles in the invasion and metastasis of different PCa cell lines.

RESULTSWestern blotting and RT-PCR showed that the expression of the COX-2 protein was high in PC-3, but absent in IF11, IA8, LNCaP and C4-2 (P < 0.05), and it was consistent with the expression of COX-2 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONCOX-2 expresses differently in PCa cell lines with different metastatic potentials. The overexpression of COX-2 may be associated with the high invasion and metastasis of PC-3, but not with the metastasis of other cell lines.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Zhenggan Recipe (ZGR) in treating liver cirrhosis with abnormal Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSSixty-four patients of liver cirrhosis with abnormal AFP were randomly divided into the treated group and the control group. All the patients received conventional combined Western medicinal treatment. Besides, additional ZGR was given to the patients in the treated group, one dose every day for orally taken in two times, 6 months as a therapeutic course. Changes in liver function (ALT, GGT, TBIL and ALB), AFP, T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD4/CD8) and iconological examination were observed in the two groups before and after treatment to compared the efficacy.

RESULTSZGR could effectively lower the AFP level (P < 0.01), and improve the levels of CD4 and CD4/CD8 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONZGR can effectively lower the level of AFP, its mechanism might be related to the improving of cellular immune function of the patients.

Adult ; Aged ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficacy of close reduction and percutaneous needle fixation for the treatment of anterior dislocation of sternoclavicular joint.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed with 6 cases of anterior sternoclavicular dislocation by close reduction and percutaneous needle fixation with Kirschner wire treated from January 2001 to February 2009, including 5 males and 1 female aged from 19 to 45 with an average of 28.8 years old. Among the 6 cases, 4 were on right lateral and 2 were on left lateral. The time from injured to treatment was from 6 hours to 12 days (averaged 4.5 days). The clinical effects were evaluated according to Rockwood scoring and the complications were observed.

RESULTSAll 6 patients were followed-up for 3 to 13 months (averaged 6 months). According to Rockwood scoring,the preoperative score was (7.00 +/- 0.89) points, postoperative score was (13.17 +/- 1.72) points; the results showed excellent in 5 cases and good in 1 case. No local infection, postoperative pain,recurrent dislocation,broken needle, and other complications were observed in this study.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment of anterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation with Kirschner wire minimally invasive fixation is an easy, reliable fixation with less complications.

Adult ; Bone Wires ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Radiography ; Sternoclavicular Joint ; injuries ; surgery

Objective To prepare T-helper cell(Th)epitnpe-modified human soluble B cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family(BAFF)mutants and evaluate their immune response in vaccinated mice.Methods Recombinant cDNAs were cloned and ligated into the prokaryotie expression vec- tor pQE-80L respectively.The recombinant proteins were induced to express by IPTG in E.coli DH5?and purified with Ni-NTA chromatography.BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant proteins respectively and the titres of the antibodies that were cross-reactive with BAFF in sera were analyzed by ELISA.Inhibiting ability of the antibodies in sera was analyzed by MTT assay.Results The recombinant proteins were highly expressed in E.coli DH5?.After purification,the purity of recombinant proteins was more than 90%.BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant proteins produced high levels of BAFF-specific antibodies.Cell proliferation assay showed that the sera of immunized mice could inhibit the proliferation-inducing activity of recombinant sBAFF and natural sBAFF.Conclusion The immune inhibitors of human BAFF which can induce polyclonal antibodies that are cross-reactive with BAFF are successfully prepared.These results may provide the basis for further study of their therapeutic effects.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of combined therapy of Shehuang Paste (SHP) with colonic dialysis in treating patients with refractory cirrhotic ascites complicated with azotemia.

METHODSAdopting a multi-centered, randomized, double blinded and 1:1 parallel controlled trial, 120 patients were equally randomized into 2 groups, the control group was treated by conventional basic therapy (umbilical application of placebo paste and colonic dialysis with normal saline), and the treatment group by, besides the same basic therapy, umbilical application of SHP once a day and colonic dialysis with herbal medicine once every other day. The course was 1 month for both groups. Changes of ascites volume, renal function, serum and urinary levels of Na+ and K+, blood vasoactive substance, and portal dynamics in patients before and after treatment were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate for ascites was 71.7% (43/60 cases) in the treatment group and 18.3% (11/60 cases) in the control group, showing significant difference between groups (P < 0.01). Significant difference of blood creatinine, urea nitrogen, serum Na+ levels, and urinary Na+/K+ ratio were shown in the treatment group (P < 0.01) before and after treatment, and between groups after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Portal vein blood flow was significantly lowered in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.01), which showed significant difference as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). Besides, levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, renin, angiotensin, nitric oxide, and aldosterone decreased and endotoxemia improved remarkably in the treatment group (P < 0.01). One-year follow-up showed that the ascites eliminating rate and the incidence of hepato-renal syndrome in the treatment group was 38.3% (23/60 cases) and 23.3% (14/60 cases) respectively, while in the control group 0 and 41.7% (25/60 cases) respectively, all showed statistical difference between groups (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined therapy of SHP and colonic dialysis with herbal medicine could effectively eliminate the ascites, improve the hemodynamic condition of portal and splenic veins, reduce the content of vasoactive substance and noxious substances like ammonia and endotoxin in blood, and lower the incidence of hepato-renal syndrome.

Adult ; Ascites ; drug therapy ; etiology ; therapy ; Azotemia ; drug therapy ; etiology ; therapy ; Colon ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dialysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged