OBJECTIVETo determine whether oral statins can delay the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 50-69-year-old males who came for physical examination in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2008. We designed the inclusion criteria, followed them up for 5 years, and investigated the relationship of oral statins with the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

RESULTSTotally, 653 men met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study, of whom 283 were treated with oral statins (group 1) while the other 370 with none (group 2). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age and baseline IPSS, Qmax, and prostate volume (PV) (P > 0.05). During the follow-up, 24 cases in group 1 and 35 cases in group 2 were excluded for obvious dys-uria. A gradual increase was observed in IPSS in both groups 1 and 2 year by year from the baseline to the 5th year of follow-up, but significantly lower in the former group (4.27 +/- 1.16, 4.63 +/- 1.05, 5.27 +/- 0.96, 6.41 +/- 1.04, 7.21 +/- 1.21, and 7.93 +/-1.50) than in the latter (4.24 +/- 1.35, 5.26 +/- 1.23, 6.84 +/- 1.20, 8.75 +/- 1.84, 10.82 +/- 3.01, and 12.98 +/- 4.21) (P < 0.01); a gradual decrease was seen in Qmax, though markedly higher in group 1 ([26.56 +/- 2.09], [24.06 +/- 1.94], [21.33 +/- 1.66], [19.24 +/- 1.54], [17.44 +/- 1.53], and [16.27 +/- 1.37] ml/s) than in group 2 ([26.74 +/- 2.40], [23.62 +/- 2.01], [20.63 +/- 1.69], [17.72 +/- 1.48], [14.82 +/- 1.11], and [11.86 +/- 1.24] ml/s) (P < 0.01); and a gradual increase was found in PV, but remarkably smaller in the former group ([19.82 +/- 4.94], [22.60 +/- 4.99], [25.80 +/- 5.20], [27.92 +/- 5.05], [29.11 +/- 5.24], and [29.97 +/- 5.26] ml) than in the latter ([20.21 +/- 4.78], [24.30 +/- 4.98], [28.50 +/- 5.14], [32.84 +/- 4.77], [36.99 +/- 4.78], and [40.90 +/- 4.78] ml) (P < 0.01). Longer medication of statins was associated with better efficacy.

CONCLUSIONOral statins can significantly delay the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

Aged ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Longitudinal Studies ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells.

METHODSRWPE-1 cells cultured in vitro were treated with simvastatin at 0, 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by determination of their proliferation by MTT assay, and their apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Cx43 were detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSAfter 72 hours of treatment with simvastatin at 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L, the inhibition rates of the RWPE-1 cells were (21.07 ± 6.41)%, (34.87 ± 9.65)%, and (47.18 ± 10.88)%, respectively, significantly higher than (1.21 ± 0.54)% in the control group (P < 0.05) and in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the cell apoptosis rates were (0.066 ± 0.016)%, (0.126 ± 0.023)%, and (0.192 ± 0.025)%, respectively, remarkably higher than (0.015 ± 0.005)% in the control (P < 0.05) and also in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were decreasing while those of Bax and Cx43 increasing with the increased concentration of simvastatin (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 was correlated negatively with that of Bcl-2 but positively with that of Bax.

CONCLUSIONSimvastatin inhibits the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and induce their apoptosis by acting on the gap junctional intercellular communication.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Humans ; Moxibustion ; Depression ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Esophagitis, Peptic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the early clinical and radiographic outcome of scaphoid non-unions treated with Acutrak headless compression screw.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to July 2011,21 patients with scaphoid non-union were treated in our department. There were 18 males and 3 females with a mean age of (23.6 +/- 4.6) years; 12 cases were on right hand and 9 were on left. According to Herbert-Fisher classification, there were 10 cases with type D1, 7 cases with type D2, 3 cases with type D3, and 1 case with type D4. The mean time from injury to operation was (12.4 +/- 2.7) months. All patients were treated with Acutrak headless compression screw fixation (6 cases received 2 screws fixation, 15 cases received 1 screw fixation, and Matti-Russe bone grafting was applied in 7 cases). The carpal height, the scaphoid index and changes of the scapholunate angle were assessed before and after the operation. Range of motion and grip strength were recorded and the wrist function was assessed according to the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE).

RESULTSAverage duration of follow-up was (21.3 +/- 3.6) months. All the patients attained radiological union in a mean time of (13.3 +/- 2.4) weeks following the operation. No obvious complications were recorded. The surgical treatment allowed the preoperative mean scaphoid index of 0.61 +/- 0.13 and the preoperative mean scapholunate angle of (59.4 +/- 6.8) degree to be improved to 0.69 +/- 0.10 and (44.3 +/- 8.2)degree postoperatively, respectively. There was a substantial improvement in grip strength and pain amelioration after surgery. The preoperative mean PRWE score of 45.2 +/- 4.7 was improved to 76.1 +/- 5.2 postoperatively. All patients returned back to the original work,the average time from surgery to work was (6.0 +/- 1.1) months.

CONCLUSIONFor scaphoid non-unions, Acutrak headless compression screw fixation can provide anatomical reduction, provide satisfactory results with a high union rate, well return of function and minimal complications in the early stage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Ununited ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Scaphoid Bone ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Wrist Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Wrist Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the midterm follow-up results of extended release of posterior clearance in total knee arthroplasty.

METHODSA total of 120 patients with knee osteoarthritis were equally randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group, and underwent unilateral TKA from March 2010 to March 2012. In experimental group, there were 21 males and 39 females with an average age of (62.2±10.9) years old. In the control group, there were 25 males and 35 females with an average age of (64.9±11.4) years old. All the patients were performed using the anterior knee approach. During operation, after osteotomy of the tibia and the femoral condyle, extended release of the posterior knee clearance were taken in experimental group, while only the clearance of osteophyte in the posterior condyle were performed in the control group. The KSS scores including knee functional score and knee clinical score,as well as the range of motion (ROM) of patients, were compared between the two groups at midterm follow-up.

RESULTSTotally 49 patients in the experimental group and 54 patients in the control group were followed up, and the median follow-up time was 46 months. The knee functional score of patients in the experimental group was 91.3±3.4, which was better than 86.4±3.9 of patients in the control group; initiative ROM of flexion of patients in the experimental group was (133.2±5.9)°, which was better than (126.9±7.4)° of patients in the control group. There were no significant difference of knee clinical score between 86.9±4.6 of patients in the experimental group and 85.7±5.1 of patients in the control group, and the initiative ROM of extension between (0.5±1.1)° and (0.3±1.2)°.

CONCLUSIONExtended release of the posterior knee clearance contributes to the knee function and initiative flexion ROM during a midterm follow-up and patients benefit.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; methods ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular

Syl948 is a synthesized selective S1P1 agonist with novel structure. HTRF-IP1 test indicated that Syl948-P, the active form of Syl948 in vitro, has strong activity against S1P1 (EC50: 83 +/- 16 nmol x L(-1)), but its effect on S1P3 was very weak (EC50: 1 026 +/- 90 nmol x L(-1)). In SD rats, oral administration of Syl948 10 mg x kg(-1) significantly decreased the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), with the maximal PBL inhibition rate of 63%, which was as similar as equal dose of fingolimod (FTY720). Oral administration of Syl948 10 mg x kg(-1) had no effect on heart rate of SD rats, which was better than FTY720. Daily oral administration with Syl948 (2 or 4 mg x kg(-1)) significantly prolonged the survival time of the allografts of skin slice on mice. In summary, the above results demonstrated that Syl948 has great selectivity in vitro and good activity in vivo, which indicated its potential use as an anti-rejection drug in skin transplantation.
Animals ; Fingolimod Hydrochloride ; Graft Survival ; drug effects ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Mice ; Propylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Receptors, Lysosphingolipid ; agonists ; Skin Transplantation ; Sphingosine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β(1))-induced scarring of skin.

METHODSFibroblasts isolated from healthy adult skin were cultured in vitro and divided into blank control group (serum-free DMEM culture), TGF-β(1) group (with stimulation of 10 ng/mL TGF-β(1) for 48 hours), troglitazone group (with the same treatment as in TGF-β(1) group after stimulation of 10 µmol/L troglitazone for 2 hours), and 15-dioxygen prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) group (with the same treatment as in TGF-β(1) group after stimulation of 10 µmol/L 15d-PGJ2 for 2 hours) according to the stimulation added into DMEM. The expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was determined with Western blot. The mRNA levels of CTGF, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were determined with real-time fluorescence RT-PCR. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTSThe expression of CTGF at mRNA and protein levels in skin fibroblasts were significantly increased in TGF-β(1) group as compared with control group; while expression of CTGF at mRNA and protein levels in 15d-PGJ2 and troglitazone groups were significantly decreased as compared with that in TGF-β(1) group. The mRNA level of MMP-1 in TGF-β(1) group (0.193 ± 0.051) was obviously lower than that in blank control group (1.281 ± 0.195, F = 12.811, P < 0.01), while the mRNA levels of MMP-1 in troglitazone group (0.417 ± 0.043) and 15d-PGJ2 group (0.485 ± 0.027) were significantly increased as compared with that in TGF-β(1) group (F = 12.811, P values all below 0.01). The mRNA level of PDGF in TGF-β(1) group (1.044 ± 0.237) was obviously higher than that in control group (0.349 ± 0.057, F = 16.848, P < 0.01), while the levels in troglitazone group (0.677 ± 0.055) and 15d-PGJ2 group (0.511 ± 0.017) were significantly decreased as compared with that in TGF-β(1) group (F = 16.848, P values all below 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe inhibitory effect of activated PPARγ on the expression of CTGF induced by TGF-β(1) may be the main mechanism of its inhibitory effect on TGF-β(1)-induced scarring on skin, and its influence on MMP-1 and PDGF may also be one of the underlying mechanisms.

Cell Line ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Chronic wounds are a major healthcare problem costing billions of dollars a year over the world. However, it is regrettable that a large number of chronic wounds are still treated simply by conventional dressing change in local clinics, lacking of definite diagnosis and personalized care. This situation results in a low wound healing rate, unsatisfied life quality of the patients, and higher medical cost for the prolonged promiscuous care. We should not only emphasize the importance of wound care in clinical practice, but also emphasize the importance of establishing wound care centers. With the experience of our practice in wound care center, the construction of wound care technology platform is strongly suggested. This platform could act as an education base to train more professional wound care doctors, nurses, and care workers, as well as resolve many technical difficulties involved in the treatment of many complicated chronic wounds.
Hospital Departments ; organization & administration ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Technology ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo carry out a genetic detection and analysis of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene in Chinese patients with sporadic pheochromocytoma.

METHODSDNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood cells and fresh pheochromocytoma specimens from 41 patients with sporadic pheochromocytoma were assayed by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. The DNA samples of 50 healthy volunteers were extracted from peripheral blood as a control. The PCR products of exon 1, exon 2 and exon 3 were used for molecular analysis of the VHL gene. The genetic detection of family members of VHL gene mutations was also performed.

RESULTSOne of mutations was located at nucleotide 572 (G-->C) in exon 2, presenting a codon 120 from arginine (R) to threonine (T). Tow small insertions were locatated at nucleotide 623T (TTTGTtG) in exon 2, leading to a frameshift mutation. There were also three carriers of G572C and three carriers of 623T (TTTGTtG) in family members of the three cases.

CONCLUSIONThere are some Chinese patients with sporadic pheochromocytoma with tumorigenic VHL gene mutations. It is recommended to use the genetic detection and analysis of VHL gene as a routine examination for patients with sporadic pheoehromoeytoma under the age of 50 years with questionable family history. The genetic detection and analysis of VHL gene may be useful as a marker for the diagnosis of hereditary pheochromocytoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; genetics ; Adult ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Exons ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pheochromocytoma ; genetics ; Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo provide anatomical evidences for the morphological and histological identification of 20 medicinal species in Hypericum.

METHODMorphological and anatomical study on the organs of 20 medicinal species in Hypericum using tissue clearing, paraffin sectioning and thin sectioning.

RESULTAccording to their anatomical characteristics, the secretory structures can be divided into nodules, secretory cavities (canals) and tiny secretory tubes of 20 medicinal species in Hypericum. Hypericin was produced and stored in the nodules, while the volatile oil was produced and stored in the secretory cavities (canals) and tiny secretory tubes. The types differed markedly from each other in location, diameter and distributional density of leaf, and the anatomical structures differed from each other of stem, calyx, petal, anther and fruit among the 20 species in Hypericum.

CONCLUSIONThe secretory structures may be as anatomical evidences for the morphological and histological identification of 20 medicinal species in Hypericum.

Flowers ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Fruit ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Hypericum ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Perylene ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Species Specificity