Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies threatening men's health, and the mechanisms underlying its initiation and progression are poorly understood. Last decade has witnessed encouraging progress in the studies of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs), which are considered to play important roles in tumor initiation, recurrence and metastasis, castration resistance, and drug resistance. Therefore, a deeper insight into PCSCs is of great significance for the successful management of prostate cancer. This article presents an overview on the location, origin, and markers of PCSCs as well as their potential correlation with tumor metastasis and castration resistance.
Disease Progression ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; etiology ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; etiology ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the value of ~(99m)Tc-MIBI tumoraffin imaging,computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in the diagnosis of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) after radiotherapy.Methods The ~(99m)Tc-MIBI tumoraffin imaging,CT and MRI were performed in 78 NPC postradiotherapy patients,including 38 patients with local recurrence and 40 patients with radiofibrosis confirmed by pathology and follow-up.Results The sensitivity of ~(99m)Tc-MIBI tumoraffin imaging(73.7%) was lower than that of CT(94.7%) and MRI(92.1%).The specificity of ~(99m)Tc-MIBI tumoraffin imaging(92.5%) was obviously higher than that of CT(62.5%) and MRI(67.5%).There was no significant difference in the accuracy between three imaging examination methods.The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the combination of three imaging examination methods in the diagnosis of recurrent NPC after radiotherapy were 97.4%,95% and 96.2%,respectively.Conclusion The ~(99m)Tc-MIBI tumoraffin imaging has higher specificity in the diagnosis of recurrent NPC after radiotherapy.The diagnostic accuracy may be further improved with the combination of three methods.

Objective To test the expression level of IL-37 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)and further explore its clinical significance in the pathological process of PBC.Methods Pe-ripheral blood samples were collected from 42 patients diagnosed as PBC and 38 health individuals examined at the same time during June 2013 to August 2015 in Changhai Hospital.PBMCs were separated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, qualified Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR)was used to measure IL-37 mRNA expression level in PBMCs. Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA)was to measure the protein level of IL-37,IL-6,IL-17,TNF-α,TGF-β,IL-18 and IL-23 in plasma.Meanwhile,the pathological stages of PBC cases were recorded.Pearson correlation analysis was performed on IL-37 and IL-6,TNF-α,IL-17,TGF-β,IL-18 and IL-23.Spearman rank correlation analysis was on IL-37 and pathological stages of PBC.Results The mRNA and protein level of IL-37 in experimental and controlled group were 2.81 ±0.94 vs 1.09±0.56,356.14±169.36 pg/ml vs 86.68±48.23 pg/ml separately(t=9.811,9.462,P<0.000 1),with sta-tistical differences.The correlation analysis showed that IL-37 was positively related with IL-17,TNF-α,IL-6 and TGF-β(r=0.561 2,0.661 9,0.672 1,0.765 3,P<0.001),and disease stages (Ⅰ~Ⅳ)(rs=0.348 9,P<0.05).Conclusion IL-37 might involve in the pathological process of PBC,and it is significant for disease prediction and diagnosis.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) treating for Ⅲand Ⅳ degree hemorrhoid under the local anesthesia.Methods One hundred and fifty patients with Ⅲ and Ⅳ degree hemorrhoid were divided into two groups randomly.One group was the local anesthesia group (LA group) which included 73 cases,the other one was the combined spinal epidural anesthesia group (CSE group) which included 77 cases.Compared the safety and efficacy of different procedure.Results The original symptom of the two groups were improved.There was a significant difference in the time of hospitalization time and the hospitalization expense between the two groups (P＜0.05).The LA group was(4.8±1.1)days with(3980±639)yuan,and the CSE group was(6.8±1.1) days with(5128±728)yuan.The rates of two groups of urine retention were 9.6% and 24.7% (P＜0.05) after the operation respectively,and there were no significant differences in recovery normal activity time,the pain index,copracrasia and pruritus,the bleed,the anal fistula,the prolapse of hemorrhoid,the skin tag (P ＞0.05).Conclusion PPH under the local anesthesia is safe,compare to the combined spinal epidural anesthesia,it excels in shortening the hospitalization time and reducing the hospitalization expense,also it can reduce significantly the rate of urine retention after operation.

Objective To describe a novel surgical technique for male long-segment urethral stric- ture after pelvic trauma using the intact and pedieled pendulous urethra to replace the bulbar and membra- nous urethra,and then reconstructing anterior urethra.Methods Three patients with long-segment post- traumatic bulbar and membranous urethral strictures with short left pendulous urethras who had undergone several failed previous surgeries were treated with staged pendulous-prostatic anastomotic urethroplasty fol- lowed by reconstruction of the anterior urethra.This procedure was divided into 3 stages.The first-stage sur- gery was mobilization of anterior urethra down to the coronary sulcus and then re-routing the prostatic urethra followed by pendulous-prostatic anastomotic urethroplasty with transposition of penis to perineum.The sec- ond-stage surgery was transecting the anterior urethra at the site of coronary sulcus 6 months later when it was re-vaseularized,then straightening the penis and performing urethroperineostomy.The third-stage surgery was reconstruction of anterior urethra 6 months later.Results Case 1 reported satisfactory voiding postopera- tively.Retrograde urethrography showed that the urethra was patent with no post-voiding residual urine (PVR),and bilateral vesicoureteral reflux almost disappeared.The Qmax was 18.8ml/s,and 18ml/s after the third stage surgery and at 2-year follow-up.Case 2 also had satisfactory voiding.A 22F urethral catheter could smoothly pass through the urethra,and Qmax was 19.5 ml/s with no PVR at 2-year follow-up.Case 3 underwent the first stage surgery through perineal and pubic routes.The urethrorectal and urethroperineal fis- tulas were excised and repaired simultaneously.After operation the fistulas healed,but the stenostomia resul- ting from wound infection needed further treatment.Conclusions This procedure is effective for men with complex long-segment post-traumatic bulbar and membranous urethral strictures,especially for those undergo- ing failed previous surgical treatment.

This study started from the effect of baicalin (BC), the main active component of the labiaceae plant Scutellaria baicalensis, on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats, to explore the mechanism of glucose metabolism reprogramming in fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLSs), a key effector cell of synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). First of all, CIA rats and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced RASFs in vitro and in vivo models were established, the arthritis index (AI) score and histopathological changes of CIA rats after BC administration were observed, and the levels of inflammatory factors in serum and cell supernatant were quantified by ELISA, immunocytochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of G-protein-coupled receptor 81 (GPR81) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) proteins. In addition, the kit was used to measure the levels of key products and enzyme activities in glucose metabolism reprogramming. The results showed that BC (50, 100 and 200 mg·kg^-1) could alleviate the symptoms of arthritis in CIA rats in a dose-dependent manner, inhibit synovial hyperplasia, alleviate the infiltration of inflammatory cells, down-regulate the levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-1β, and up-regulate the levels of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in CIA rats. At the same time, the secretion levels of lactate, pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, citrate and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase B (LDH-B) were decreased, and the expressions of GRP81 and PDK1 were down-regulated, suggesting that BC mediated the reprogramming process of glucose metabolism. However, when GPR81 inhibitor 3-OBA inhibited lactate uptake, the activity of LDH-B was significantly increased, suggesting that BC inhibited the expression of PDK1, a key enzyme in the reprogramming metabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. All animal experiments in this study were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Laboratory Animal Care Center of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: AHUCM-rats-2021049). These studies revealed that baicalin mediated metabolic reprogramming of RASFs from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation by inhibiting PDK1 protein expression, and alleviated joint inflammation in CIA rats.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of meatoplasty with the pedicle flap in the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 32 cases of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis treated by meato- plasty with the pedicle flap. All the patients had a history of chronic balanitis and had received meatal dilatation or simple ventral mea- totomy without significant effect. Their mean maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was (4.3 ± 2.4) ml/s. During the operation, A "/\"-shaped incision was made in the healthy epidermis and a flap was harvested from the frenulum. After complete removal of the scar, the flap was placed into the urethral wall, followed by reconstruction of the external urethral orifice.

RESULTSThe patients were fol- lowed up for 6 to 30 months, which revealed smooth urination in all the patients with Qmax of (26.7 ± 4.5) ml/s and normal erectile function and uresiesthesis.

CONCLUSIONWith little invasiveness and few complications, meatoplasty with the pedicle flap is an ideal surgical method for the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis. However, there might be some change in the normal appearance of the balanus postoperatively, and its long-term effect needs further observation.

Balanitis ; complications ; Constriction, Pathologic ; etiology ; surgery ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology ; surgery ; Urination

Objective To explore dynamic response of serum lipids and relationship with body mass index(BMI)after fat meal in obese children and adolescents. Methods The subjects were 31 obese children and adolescents (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and 30 controls (BMI

Objective To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Chinese medicine of Wusheng Tincture for external application in treating cancer pain, and to observe its effect on the quality of life ( QOL) of cancer patients. Methods Eighty-three cancer pain patients were randomized into treatment group (N=42) and control group (N=41). Except 5 cases dropping out for the itch of skin, a total of 78 cases finished the treatment, 40 in the treatment and 38 in the control group. The patients were given the corresponding medicine according to the classification of numerical rating scale ( NRS) scores. In the control group, the patients were treated following the three-step analgestic ladder issued by World Health Organization ( WHO). The treatment group was given external application of Wusheng Tincture on the painful regions based on the same three-step analgestie ladder treatment as that of the control group, the treatment course lasting 7 days. The rating scale NRS scores and QOL scores were observed for the assessment of therapeutic effect and QOL of the two groups. Results (1) On medication day 7, NRS scores in both groups were decreased as compared with those one day before treatment (P<0.01), but the differences between the two groups were insignificant (P>0.05) . (2) The total effective rate of the treatment group was 82.5%, and that of the control group was 68.4%, the difference being significant between the two groups ( P<0.05) . For mild-pain patients, the therapeutic effect of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (P<0.05) . However, the difference of the therapeutic effect for patients with moderate and severe pain was insignificant between the two groups ( P>0.05) . ( 3) On medication day 7, QOL scores were much lower in both groups than those one day before medication, the difference being significant ( P<0.01) . However, the difference of QOL scores between the two groups was insignificant after medication (P>0.05) . Conclusion External application of Wusheng Tincture may have certain therapeutic effect in treating patients with mild cancer pain, but fails in enhancing the effect for patients with moderate and severe pain, either in improving the QOL of cancer pain patients when used together with WHO three-step analgestic ladder.

To develop a more efficient antithrombotic way after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the anticoagulant effects were compared of human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) gene transfection and aspirin oral administration (traditional method) on vein grafts. An eukaryotic expression plasmid pCMV-(Kozak) TFPI was prepared. Animal model of carotid artery bypass grafting was constructed. In operation, endothelial cells of vein grafts in TFPI group and empty plasmid control group were transfected with pCMV-(Kozak) TFPI and empty plasmid pCMV respectively, while no transfection was conducted in aspirin control group. After operation, aspirin (2 mg.kg(-1).(-1)) was administered (i.g.) in aspirin control group. Three days later, grafts (n=10) were harvested for RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses of exogenous gene expression and for pathological, scanning electron microscopic observation of thrombus. Thirty days later, the patency rates of remnant grafts (n=10) were recorded by vessel Doppler ultrasonography. Human TFPI gene products were detected in gene transferred vein grafts. Three days later, thrombi were found in 7 animals of aspirin control group and in 8 animals of empty plasmid control group, but in only 1 of TFPI group (P<0.01). Thirty days later, 5 grafts were occluded in empty plasmid control group, but none of grafts was occluded in the other groups (P<0.05). The endothelial surfaces of grafts in both of the control groups were covered with aggregated erythrocytes and platelets, and it were not seen in TFPI group. It was suggested that the anticoagulant effects on vein grafts of human TFPI gene transfection are better than those of aspirin.
Administration, Oral ; Anticoagulants/*metabolism ; Aspirin/*administration & dosage ; Aspirin/metabolism ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipoproteins/*metabolism ; Plasmids/metabolism ; Tissue Transplantation/*methods ; Transfection ; Ultrasonography, Doppler/methods ; Veins/*transplantation ; Venous Thrombosis/metabolism