Coronary Restenosis ; pathology ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosis

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of transumbilical single-site single-port with that of transumbilical single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomy in the treatment of varicocele in adolescents.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 80 varicocele patients aged 10 - 16 years to two groups of equal number to receive transumbilical single-site single-port and single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomy, respectively. We compared the operation time, postoperative hospital stay, incisional pain, complications and satisfaction with the abdominal cosmetic outcomes between the two groups.

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully performed. The double-port group showed a significantly higher score on the Visual Analogue Scale than the single-port group (4.8 +/- 1.4 vs 3.6 +/- 1.1, t = -4.986, P < 0.01), but there were no significant differences between the two groups in the operation time ([29.8 +/- 4.2] vs [31.2 +/- 4.6] min, t = 1.383, P = 0.171), postoperative hospital stay ([1.95 +/- 0.7] vs [1.82 +/- 0.8] d, t = -0.784, P = 0.436), complications (0 vs 0) and scores on the satisfaction with abdominal cosmetic outcomes (4.6 +/- 0.6 vs 4.8 +/- 0.5, t = 1.253, P = 0.214). No recurrence, umbilical hernia, hydrocele and orchiatrophy were found in the two groups of patients at 6 months after operation, and no visible scar was observed on the abdominal surface.

CONCLUSIONWith strict surgical indications, single-site single-port and single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomies have similar clinical effects in the treatment of varicocele, which leave no scar on the abdominal surface. Single-site double-port laparoscopy needs no special instruments and therefore is worthier of wide clinical application.

Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Operative Time ; Umbilicus ; surgery ; Varicocele ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of substrate stiffness on proliferation, migration of fibroblast and integrin β(1) expression in fibroblast.

METHODSFibroblasts were inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (16.2 ± 0.5), (19.8 ± 1.1), and (200.1 ± 2.6) kPa. After being cultured for 5 days or 6 days, cells were counted and cell proliferative activities (recorded as absorbance value) were assessed with methyl thiazolyl blue (MTT). After being cultured for 3 days, cell cycle was detected and proliferation index (PI) was calculated. The cell scratch test was used for determination of cell migration rate on post scratch day (PSD) 0 (the day of scratch), 1, 2, and 3. After being cultured for 2 days, the expression of integrin β(1) was determined by flow cytometry with fluorescence. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS(1) The proliferative speed and proliferative activity of fibroblasts were all increased along with the increase in substrate stiffness. PI of fibroblasts inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (16.2 ± 0.5), (19.8 ± 1.1), and (200.1 ± 2.6) kPa was respectively 24.8%, 27.4%, 32.4%. On PSD 2, migration rate of fibroblasts inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (19.8 ± 1.1) and (200.1 ± 2.6) kPa was respectively (91.4 ± 5.1)%, (100.0 ± 1.3)%, which were higher than that of fibroblasts inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (16.2 ± 0.5) kPa [(55.8 ± 6.8)%, with F value respectively 3.5, 4.0, P values all below 0.01]. (3) The expression rate of integrin β(1) in fibroblasts inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (16.2 ± 0.5) kPa was the lowest (43.22%), and that in fibroblast inoculated on silicon substrate with stiffness of (200.1 ± 2.6) kPa was the highest (81.26%).

CONCLUSIONSSubstrate stiffness may have a great effect on proliferation and migration of fibroblast during the process of wound healing and scar formation, which can be related to regulation of integrin β(1) expression.

Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Integrin beta1 ; metabolism ; Mechanical Phenomena ; Silicon

The study is aimed to make the most of available space of Dendrobium officinale cultivation facility, reveal the yield and functional components variation of stereoscopic cultivated D. officinale, and improve quality, yield and efficiency. The agronomic traits and yield variation of stereoscopic cultivated D. officinale were studied by operating field experiment. The content of polysaccharide and extractum were determined by using phenol-sulfuric acid method and 2010 edition of "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" Appendix X A. The results showed that the land utilization of stereoscopic cultivated D. officinale increased 2.74 times, the stems, leaves and their total fresh or dry weight in unit area of stereoscopic cultivated D. officinale were all heavier than those of the ground cultivated ones. There was no significant difference in polysaccharide content between stereoscopic cultivation and ground cultivation. But the extractum content and total content of polysaccharide and extractum were significantly higher than those of the ground cultivated ones. In additional, the polysaccharide content and total content of polysaccharide and extractum from the top two levels of stereoscopic culture matrix were significantly higher than that of the ones from the other levels and ground cultivation. Steroscopic cultivation can effectively improves the utilization of space and yield, while the total content of polysaccharides and extractum were significantly higher than that of the ground cultivated ones. The significant difference in Dendrobium polysaccharides among the plants from different height of stereo- scopic culture matrix may be associated with light factor.
Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Polysaccharides ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Salvianolate on myosin heavy chain (MHC) in cardiomyocytes of congestive heart failure (CHF) rats.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group (NCG), the model group, the Captopril group (CAG), the low dose Salvianolate group (LSG), the high dose Salvianolate group (HSG), the Captopril and high dose Salvianolate group (CSG), 10 in each group. CHF rat model was established with peritoneal injection of adriamycin in all rats except those in the NCG. Equal volume of normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the NCG, once per week for 6 successive weeks. Corresponding medication was started from the 5th week of injecting adriamycin. Rats in the CAG were administered with Captopril solution at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the LSG and the HSG were administered with Salvianolate solution at the daily dose of 24.219 mg/kg and 48.438 mg/kg respectively by gastrogavage. Salvianolate was dissolved in 2 mL 5% glucose solution and administered by peritoneal injection. Rats in the CSG were peritoneally injected with high dose Salvianolate solution and administered with Captopril solution by gastrogavage. Two mL normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group, once per day for 8 successive weeks. Eight weeks later, the cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy indices were detected by biological signal collecting and processing system. mRNA expression levels of alpha-MHC and beta-MHC in cardiac muscle were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Expressions of protein kinase C (PKC) in cardiac muscle were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, heart mass index (HMI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HMI and LVMI decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the CSG group than in the CAG group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NCG, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle decreased, the mRNA expression level of p-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle was increased, and the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle were decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between the CSG group and the CAG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSalvianolate could up-regulate the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC, and down-regulate the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC in cardiac muscle. Its mechanism might be related to decreasing the expression of PKC.

Animals ; Captopril ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Shumai Capsule (SMC) on angiogenesis and expression of relevant growth factor in rats with myocardial ischemia (MI).

METHODSModel rats of MI were duplicated and treated with SMC (SMC group), bFGF + calparine (positive control group) and normal saline (model group) respectively. Besides, a sham-operative group was set up and treated with normal saline. The rats were sacrificed in batches at the time after being medicated for 1, 2 and 4 weeks, for determining von Willebrand factor (vWF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression in ischemic myocardium by immuno-histochemical staining, myocardial micro-vessel density (MVD) using digital analysis system, and the gene expression of VEGF by quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operative group and the model group, levels of MVD, protein and gene expression of VEGF in the SMC group were higher respectively at three time segments (all P <0.01), but showed insignificant difference to those in the positive control group.

CONCLUSIONSMC could promote angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium of rats, the up-regulation on VEGF mRNA and protein expression might be one of the potential mechanisms of SMC in promoting angiogenesis.

Animals ; Capsules ; Coronary Vessels ; drug effects ; physiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To detect the expression level of aquaporin 8 (AQP8) in patients with functional constipation(FC) or constipated irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C),and the correlation between the expression of AQP8 and clinical features.Methods From March to December 2014,a total of 16 patients with IBS-C and 19 patients with FC met Rome Ⅲ criteria were collected,and nine healthy individuals were assigned to control group at the same period.The ascending and decending colonic tissues mucosa of FC,IBS-C and control group were taken under endoscope.The expression of AQP8 at mRNA and protein level was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).The differences in AQP8 mRNA expression and AQP8 relative area were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test among groups,and Pearson correlation coefficient was performed for correlation analysis between the expression and clinical features.Results The relative expressions of AQP8 mRNA of ascending colon and descending colon of FC patients (1.38,0.61 to 4.09;2.65,0.82 to 7.52) and IBS-C patients (2.23,0.82 to 4.67;1.35,0.51 to 2.03) were higher than those of control group (0.56,0.19 to 0.97;0.38,0.21 to 1.19),and the differences were statistically significant (ZFc =-2.435,-3.149,ZIBS-C =-2.690,-2.152;all P＜0.05).AQP8 mRNA expression of descending colon in patients with FC was higher than that of patients with IBS-C,and the difference was statistically significant (Z =-2.003,P =0.045).The expression of AQP8 in patients with FC and IBS-C was positively correlated with disease course (ascending colon r=0.57 and 0.53;descending colon r=0.49 and 0.54,all P＜0.05),and was negatively correlated with frequency of defecation (ascending colon r=-0.82 and-0.61;descending colon r=-0.49 and-0.53,all P＜0.05).There was no correlation between the expression of AQP8 and age,gender,onset age,presence of abdominal symptoms of the patients (all P＞ 0.05).Most of AQP8 of FC group was expressed in cytoplasm of colonic mucosa epithelial cells,while that of IBS-C group and control group was mostly expressed at apical membrane and basal membrane of epithelial cells.The results of semi-quantification demonstrated that AQP8 relative area of descending colon of FC and IBS-C group increased compared with that of control group (3.42％ (1.24％ to 5.61％),2.45％(1.72％ to 4.27％) vs 1.18％ (0.35％ to 2.81％);Z=-2.534,-2.151,both P＜0.05).Meanwhile,AQP8 relative area of ascending colon of FC group increased compared with that of control group (2.46％(1.48％ to 4.18％) vs 1.14％(1.29％ to 2.15％) Z=-2.041,P＜0.05).Conclusion There are differences in AQP8 expression quantity and location in cells of descending colon between patients with FC and patients with IBS-C,which is a way for differentiation these two diseases.

Cystectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of inhibin B betaB subunits in human testicular tissues.

METHODSEighty-three cases of the azoospermia underwent testicular biopsy. In accordance with the pathological alterations of spermatogenesis, the samples were divided into four groups: Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (n = 21); hypospermatogenesis (n = 20), maturation arrest (n = 24) and almost normal spermatogenesis (n = 18). Immunohistochemical staining for inhibin B betaB subunits was conducted on the paraffin-embedded sections of different spermatogenesis to localize inhibin B betaB subunits in the seminiferous tubules.

RESULTSImmunohistochemically, positive products of inhibin B betaB subunits were found in both the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissues of the testis as brown or yellow particles in the cytoplasm. Leydig cells and early intermediate spermatogenic cells showed a very strong positivity; Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules were mostly positive; peritubular myoid cells showed a weak positive staining; but no positive expression of inhibin B betaB subunits was found in late spermatids and mature sperm.

CONCLUSIONInhibin B may be produced by both Sertoli cells and early spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibin-beta Subunits ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate therapeutic effects of stiletto needle and Dichofenac Diethylammon in treating knee osteoarthritis pain at early and medium-term.

METHODSSixty-seven patients with early and medium-term knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into two groups, 34 cases in stiletto needle group (treatment group) and 33 cases in Dichofenac Diethylammon (control group). Among them, 60 patients finished treatment and followed-up for 1 months (7 cases fall off totally, 4 cases in treatment group and 3 cases in control group). In treatment group, there were 5 males and 25 females with a mean age of (55.90 +/- 9.34) years (ranged, 40 to 68 years), the course of disease for 0.25 to 1 year, mean (0.87 +/- 0.34) years, treated by stiletto needle once a week, and 3 weeks were a course. In control group, there were 6 males and 24 females with a mean age of (58.67 +/- 7.39) years (ranged, 40 to 70 years), the course of disease for 0.25 to 2 years, mean (0.93 +/- 0.60) years, treated by Dichofenac Diethylammon, three times a day for 3 weeks. Soft tissue displacement and banana area were tested by soft tissue tension tester, pressure value were measured by pressure measuring instrument, VAS score were recorded by pain visual analog scale record, HSS scoring and effects were used to evaluated and statistical analyzed.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in tissue displacement, banana area, pressure value, VAS scoring and HSS scoring between two groups before and after treatment, and tissue displacement, pressure value, HSS scoring in treatment group were higher than control group, while banana area and VAS scoring were lower than control group. According to HSS scoring and VAS scoring, 3 cases were healed, 8 cases were markedly improved, 18 cases were effective and 1 case was effectiveless in treatment group;while 1 case was healed, 4 cases were markedly improved, 20 cases were effective and 5 cases were effectiveless in control group. There was no significant meaning in therapeutic effects.

CONCLUSIONStiletto needle for knee osteoarthritis pain can effectively reduce high tension of local soft tissue ,alleviate symptom of pain, and improve knee function.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Case-Control Studies ; Diclofenac ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; complications ; Pain ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Pain Management ; methods ; Treatment Outcome