ObjectiveTo evaluated the effect of swallowing training and acupuncture on dysphagia in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.MethodsThirty-eight post-radiotherapeutic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were divided into 2 groups: comprehensive group (n=20) were treated with swallowing training and acupuncture therapy, acupuncture group (n=18) were treated with acupuncture only. The patients were assessed with water-swallow test and videofluoroscopy (VFS) before and after treatment.ResultsBoth groups improved their score of water-swallow test after treatment (P<0.01), but the scores of comprehensive group were better than that of acupuncture group(P<0.05).Under the VFS, the cure rate was 70.0% or 38.9% respectively(P=0.089). ConclusionSwallowing training can improve the swallow ability of bulbar palsy patients.

Desensitization, Immunologic ; methods ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Models, Biological ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Physical Endurance ; physiology ; Reference Values

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the IDO1 inhibitor 1- methyl- L- tryptophan (1- MT) combine calcium influx inhibitor carboxyamidotriazole (CAI) could further enhance the suppression of programmed death 1 (PD-1) in CD8 + T cells and investigate the curative effect of the combined use. METHODS CD8 +T cells were isolated from normal mice spleen by negative selection using magnetic cell separation. The isolated CD8 +T cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% FBS and 100 U·mL- 1 IL-2 and activated by the addition of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 (1 g·L- 1 each mabs). CD8 + T cells were pretreated for 48 h with drug and the fluo- 3 as a marker of intracellular calcium concentration was detected by flow cytometry. The calcineurin (CaN) levels were assayed with ELISA in CD8+T cells after 48 h incubation with 10 μm CAI. The nuclear translocations of NFAT and AHR were detected by immunofluorescent staining after 48 h of drug treatment. The expression of PD-1 in CD8+T cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS Intracellular fluorescent intensity was markedly debase due to CAI treatment(P<0.01). Meanwhile, the changes of CaN content had a resembled correlation (P<0.01). Immunofluorescence experiment showed that after combination therapy the transfer of NFAT and AHR in nuclear substantially reduced. Flow cytometry revealed that after the combination caused a significant decrease in PD-1 expression in CD8+T cells. CONCLUSION CAI and 1-MT could inhibit markedly the expression of PD-1 in CD8 +T cells by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of NFAT and AHR, respectively and the combination of them has synergetic effect.

ObjectiveTo establish separate and appraisal methods of murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and optimize the suitable conditions inducting MSCs directional differentiating into adipocytes in vitro.MethodsThe differential adherence to plastic was employed to separate MSCs. CFU-f and successive CFU-f cultures were employed to characterize the potent of proliferation and self-renewal of MSCs. The different adipogenic medium was used as induction for the differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes. The differentiated cells were identified by oil red O immunohistochemistry stain.ResultsThe purified MSCs showed the morphology of fibroblasts. It was found that the number of CFU-f formation depended on the planted number of MSCs. It showed a good relationship. Small type colony of CFU-f had little potent to re-clone, but almost 90% big type colony of CFU-f had the potent to regenerate CFU-f. The MSCs could directionally differentiated into adipocytes induced by different adipogenic medium. But more than 96% MSCs differentiated into mature adipocytes when induced by combined with dexamethasone (DM), 1-methy-3-isobutylxanthine (IBMX), insulin (IS) and indomethacin (ID).ConclusionThe purified MSCs can be harvested by method of differential adherence to plastic, and these MSCs have the potent of proliferation and self-renewal. Moreover, more than 96% MSCs can differentiate into mature adipocytes when induced by combined with DM, IBMX, IS and ID.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Zengjing Capsule No. 1 (ZJC1) on morphology and motility of sperm in patients with oligospermia (OSM).

METHODSSeventy-two OSM patients were assigned to 2 groups by a randomizing digital table, the treated group and the control group, they were treated respectively by ZJC1 and Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP). The changes of density, motility and morphology of sperm in patients before and after 3-month treatment were examined using computerized WLJY-9000 colour semen analysis system with refined Papanicolaou's stain.

RESULTSThe density, motility and morphology of sperm were improved and sperm deformity rate was significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (P < 0.01), but the effects in the treated group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONZJC1 can enhance the density and motility of sperm and reduce the sperm deformity rate in patients with OSM.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Young Adult

Objective To introduce a new technique for urethral coverage in Snodgrass hypospadias repair,and to evaluate its effectiveness and complications.Methods From April 2003 to February 2006, this new procedure was performed in 289 children with hypospadias aged 3 months to 12 years (mean age,2. 4 years).The native meatus of urethra was identified subcoronal in 78 cases,penile/shaft in 136,penoscrotal in 36 and scrotal in 16;and 23 cases had undergoneⅡstage operation and re-operation.The overlapping coverage with bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle was done in the new urethra by Snodgrass hy- pospadias repair in these children.Results All the cases were followed for 3 months to 2 years.Postoper- atively,urinary fistulas developed in 32 cases (11%).Of them,11 were cured spontaneously within 4 weeks. The incidence of actual urinary fistula was 7% (21/289).Of the 21 fistulas which were not cured,11 (5%) occurred in 214 cases of distal hypospadias;and 10 (13%) in 75 cases of proximal hypospadias,Ⅱstage and re-operation.No dehiscence and diverticulum was found.Combined with mucosal collar technique,the ventral skin of the penis was sewn on the midline.During the follow-up,excellent cosmetic results with normal-ap- pearing circumcised penis were achieved in most patients.Conclusions Bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle urethral coverage procedure is a reliable and effective method for preventing urethral cutaneous fistulas and dehiscence.This method can reconstruct a satisfactory cosmetic appearance of the penis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between tobacco smoking, drinking and p53 alteration in esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSLiterature on the relationship between p53 alteration in esophageal carcinoma and tobacco smoking, drinking through Meta-analysis were reviewed.

RESULTSIn 14 selected papers related to tobacco smoking, pooled odds ratio (OR) of tobacco smoking with P53 overexpression and p53 alteration were 1.99 (95% CI: 1.30- 3.06) and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.13 - 2.37), respectively (P < 0.05). Pooled OR of tobacco smoking with p53 mutation was 1.11 (95% CI: 0.47 - 2.76) (P > 0.05). In 11 selected papers on alcohol drinking, pooled OR of drinking with P53 overexpression, p53 mutation and p53 alteration were 1.30 (95% CI: 0.83 - 2.04), 1.13 (95% CI: 0.67 - 1.90) and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.87 - 1.72) respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere were significant relations between tobacco smoking and p53 alteration while there were no significant relations between alcohol drinking and p53 alteration.

Alcohol Drinking ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, p53 ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study angiogenesis and regulatory factors in the proliferated prostatic tissues of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with BPH induced by testosterone.

METHODSSixteen castrated SD rats, aged 8 weeks and weighing 200 approximately 250 g, were equally randomized into a model group and a control group, and the BPH model was established by subcutaneous injection of testosterone. Immunohistochemistry and MIAS (micro-image analysis system) were used to test the manifestations of MVD (microvessel density), VEGF (vascular endothelium growth factor), flk-1, endostatin, MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2) and TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2) in the prostatic tissues of both the model and the control groups. Multiple linear regression with the stepwise method was adopted to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe manifestations of MVD, VEGF, flk-1, MMP-2, MMP-2/TIMP-2 and VEGF/endostatin in the model group were higher, while that of endostatin was lower than in the control group (P < 0.01), and the manifestation of TIMP-2 showed no statistical difference between the two groups. The regression analysis indicated that MVD was positively correlated to VEGF, VEGF/endostatin and MMP-2/TIMP-2 (r = 0.974, 0.986, 0.982, P < 0.05) and negatively correlated to endostatin (r = - 0.975, P < 0.05) .

CONCLUSIONTestosterone could induce BPH in SD rats by increasing MVD and promoting the multiplication of vascular endothelial cells after regradation of basement membrane.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endostatins ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Prostate ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo clone the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) from the mouse testis, construct the eukaryotic expression vector and transfect this vector into Sertoli cells in order to use the gdnf-transfected Sertoli cells as the feeder layer to cultivate spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs).

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from the testes of normal mature mice and gdnf was cloned and amplified using RT-PCR, inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector and transfected into sertoli cells (TM4 cell line). Immunofluorescence with anti-GDNF antibodies was performed at 40 h following the transfection.

RESULTSgdnf cDNA was cloned successfully, and GDNF expressed after transfected into Sertoli cells.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides a basis for culturing SSCs with gdnf-transfected Sertoli cells as the feeder layer.

Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; RNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sertoli Cells ; metabolism ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism ; Transfection