Objective To study the protective effects of Astragalus membranaceus on renal damage induced by ESWL in rabbits. Methods 45 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham therapy (physiological saline) as group 1,verapamil (control) as group 2 and Astragalus membranaceus as group 3.These groups were intravenously given physiological saline (20 ml),verapamil (0.4 mg/kg) and Astragulus memebranaceus (2.4 g/kg),respectively,3 days before ESWL was applied (1500 shocks,18kV,MZ-V,made in China).Blood and homogenate ET-1,MDA,related to renal injury,and SOD,related to renal protection,and renal morphology were observed. Results After shocking,the increase of ET-1 and MDA in group 2 and group 3 was significantly lower than that in group 1(P0.05),and ET-1 was slightly elevated (P=0.132).After shocking,SOD in groups 2 and 3 was significantly higher than that in group 1,and its trough level in group 3 earlier appeared at 24 hours after shocking.Histopathology showed that renal damage in groups 3 and 2 was much milder than that in group 1;furthermore,renal damage was even milder and its recovery was even sooner in group 3 (Astragalus membranaceus) than in group 2 (verapamil). Conclusions The results demonstrate that Astragulus membranaceus has protective effects on renal damage induced by ESWL.

Objective To evaluate the significance of the panel of 6 microsatellites in detection of bladder cancer. Methods In the tumor tissue and urine sediment of 32 cases of bladder cancer 10 microsatellites were chosen and PCR-SSLP silver staining assay was conducted according to the methods described in the literature and our previous study.15 cases of non-bladder cancer served as controls. Results Microsatellite alternate (MA) was found in 30 out of 32 cases of bladder cancers,the sensitivity being 93.8%.The MA of urine sediment of 15 cases of non-bladder cancer was negative,the specifity being 100.0%.Among the 10 microsatellites, 6 ones were chosen;the MA positivity of the panel of the 6 ones was 90.6% (29/32).This result was not significantly different from that of the panel of 10 microsatellites. Conclusions MA assay is a sensitive,effective method for detection of bladder cancer.Compared with the panel of 10 microsatellites,the panel of 6 microsatellites may be a better tool for detection of bladder cancer.

Objective To investigate the possibility of microsatellite alteration (MA) in diagnosis of bladder cancer of Chinese people, and find the better panel which will be used in clinic. Methods A total of 6 and 10microsatellite markers were chosen, PCR-SSLP silver staining assay was performed in 31 and 32 bladder cancers tissue,exfoliate cells in urine and 10, 15 non-bladder cancers exfoliate cells in urine, respectively. Results MA (+) was found in 28 out of 31, 30 out of 32 bladder cancers, and the sensitivity was 90.3%, 93.7% respectively. The MA of urine sediment of 25 non-bladder cancers was negative, and the specificity was 100%. The cytology was carried out among 19 out of 31, 20 out of 32 bladder cancers at the same time, 2 cases ( 10.3 %) and 3 cases ( 15 % ) were found cancer positive, and the sensitivity is significantly lower than that by the analysis of MA in exfoliated cells. Conclusion MA was not associated with grade and stage of the bladder cancer. MA assay is a sensitive and effective method for the early detection of bladder cancer and post-operation surveillance.

Objective To assess the therapeutic efficiency of short anterior urethral stricture treated with endourethral surgery combined with iridium 192 radiation therapy in order to decrease the recurrence rate after endourethral surgery. Methods A total of 286 patients with anterior urethral stricture (stricture length ranging from 0.5 to 2.5cm, averaging at 1.6cm) were divided randomly into two groups after internal urethrotomy and cicatrix electrotomy. The radiation group of 173 patients was treated as soon as possible with iridium 192 radiation therapy on the stricture sections while the control group of 113 patients was not. The recurrence rate was compared between the two groups during one year's follow-up. Results Among all the 286 successful operations, stricture recurred in 19 patients of the radiation group (recurrence rate of 10.98%) and in 62 ones of the control group (recurrence rate of 54.86%), with a significant difference (P=0.003). Conclusion It is an effective way to prevent recurrence by treating patients as early as possible with iridium 192 radiation on the stricture sections after endourethral operation on anterior urethral stricture.

Objectire To identify specific biomarkers that could improve early diagnsis of lung adenuearcinoma using matrix-assisted laser desorptian/ionization (MALDI) technology. Methods Serum samples were isolated from 17 patients with stage I lung adenuearcinoma and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and the serum proteomic profiles were obtained by matrix-assistcd laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Results Compared with healthy control group, two highly expressed potential biomarkers were identified with the relative molecular weights of 6 631.64 Da and 4 964. 21 Da. The two best novel protein peaks were automatically chosen for the system training and the development of the constructed model. The constructed model was then used to test an independent set of masked serum samples from 15 lung adenocarcinoma patients and 22 healthy individuals. The analysis yielded a sensitivity of 93.3 %, and a specificity of 95.5 %. Conclusion These results suggest that MALDI-TOF-MS ProteinChip technology is a quick, convenient, and high-output analyzing method that is capable of selecting several relatively potential biomarkers from the serum of lung adenocarcinoma patients and may have a clinical value in the future, and will provide clues to identifying new serologic btomarkers of lung adenocarcinoma.

Objective To investigate the association between psychological stress and oxidative damage in TNM stage Ⅲ patients with poorly differentiated gastric adenecarcinoma (GA). Methods One hundred and six patients with newly diagnosed poorly differentiated GA were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), activities of daily living (ADL) and other multiple-item qnestionnaires. Oxidative-stress-related parameters in serum and the expression of DNA repair genes were monitored during a pretreatment period. Results The patients were divided into depression and nondepression groups (Groups A and B, respectively) based on a HAMD score cutoff of 20. The mean SDS, SAS, SCL-90, ADL and passive coping scores were higher in Group A, whereas social support and quality of life were lower. Serum total antioxidant capacity, eatalase, superoxide dismutuse concentrations and anti-superoxide anion capacity (A-ASC) were significantly decreased in Group A, whereas serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were significantly increased. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that depression was pesitively correlated with MDA, SAS, SCL-90 and ADL, but negatively correlated with A-ASC. Furthermore, real-time PCR revealed that the expression levels of hOGG1 and APEX1 were increased in Group A. Conclusion Psychological stress might be related to impaired antioxidant system in patients with GA, and it presents the first evidence of the involvement of oxidative DNA damage in the pathogenesis of depression.

Objective To examine DNMT1,?-catenin and P-GSK-3? expressions in tissues of colon carcinoma compared with tumor clinicopathological parameters including differentiation and metastasis.Methods SYBR Green real-time PCR and immunoblotting method were used to detect these gene expressions in 62 tissues of colon carcinoma and 21 tissues of normal colon.Results Overexpressions of DNMT1,?-catenin,and P-GSK-3? were found in colon carcinoma tissues.The expression of DNMT1 was found to be higher in poorly differentiated tissues.The results also demonstrated statistical significance in the expression of ?-catenin involving differentiation and metastasis,but no statistical significance in the expression of P-GSK-3?.Conclusion These results show that DNMT1,?-catenin and P-GSK-3? expressions are regulated throughout colon cancer progression.

Objective To investigate the relationship between β-fibrinogen (β-Fg) gene -455G/A,- 148C/T polymorphisms and atrial fibrillation (AF) with cerebral infarction.Methods Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect the genotypes of -455G/A and -148C/T in 97 patients with AF with cerebral infarction (AF with cerebral infarction group),80 patients with AF alone (AF group),and 98 health subjects (healthy control group).Results The A allele frequencies of -455G/A in the AF with cerebral infarction group and the AF group were 0.304 and 0.344 respectively.They were significantly higher than 0.179 in the healthy control group (all P＜0.05).The T allele frequencies of - 148C/T in the AF with cerebral infarction group and the AF group were 0.348and 0.369,respectively.They were significant higher than 0.240 in the healthy control group (all P＜0.05).Conclusions The A allele of -455G/A and the T allele of -148C/T were associated with AF with cerebral infarction and AF.

Genome sequencing data have been accumulating exponentially. The detection and analysis of a tremendous amount of genetic information require new rapid, highly-efficient techniques of hybridization and sequencing. The development of high-through genechip technology has dramatically enhanced our ability in male infertility research. Current applications of genechip technology in male infertility include the study of testis genes, the analysis of spermatozoon mRNA, the study on cell genital toxicity, the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. This review summarizes the present situation in male infertility research and the potential clinical application.
Animals ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

ObjectiveTo investigate the histological features, clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis of small cell carcinoma of the prostate.MethodsThe clinical, pathological and follow-up data of two cases of small cell carcinoma of the prostate were respectively analyzed, and the related literature was reviewed.ResultsTwo cases of small cell carcinoma were diagnosed by transtectal prostate biopsy. Microscopically, the tumor arranged in nest structures and exhibited small round cells with the nuclei extremely hyperchromatic and scanty. Coagulated necrosis was easily observed. The immunohistochemical testing was positive for NSE and negative for PSA 、PAP. Case 1 received palliative surgery and postoperative chemotherapy of EP (VP-16, Cisplatin), and died of recurrence and distant metastasis after six months. Case 2 received palliative surgery and oral bicalutamide treatment, and died of recurrence and liver metastasis after three months.ConclusionsSmall cell carcinoma of the prostate has the biological behavior of invasive growth with an unfavorable prognosis, which is often in an advanced stage at first diagnosis. The ultimate diagnosis depends on histopathology and surgery combined with systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the most effective treatment.