OBJECTIVETo distinguish spermatic cord torsion from acute orchitis by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI).

METHODSThirteen patients with acute orchialgia were examined by CDFI. The clinical data of diagnosis and treatment were reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTSThe findings of CDFI showed lower or even no blood flow in the testes in 8 cases, which were diagnosed as spermatic cord torsion. Among them, 1 received manual detorsion and 7 were proved by operations. The other 5 showed abundant blood flow signal in the testes and were diagnosed as acute orchitis or epididymo-orchitis. After the use of antibiotics, their symptoms were relieved and the blood flow of the testes reduced upon reexamination.

CONCLUSIONSCDFI plays an important role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of spermatic cord torsion, and could be regarded as a detecting method of first choice for patients of acute orchialgia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchitis ; diagnostic imaging ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; diagnostic imaging ; Testis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods

OBJECTIVETo establish immortalized cell line from the urothelium of the urinary bladder and identify the characteristics of the cell line.

METHODSHuman papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) plasmid was used to transfect urothelium of infant urinary bladder in vitro with the help of Fugene-6, and this plasmid contained E6 and E7 genes of HPV-16. We also identified the existence of HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes and the biological characteristics of the cell line by PCR, immunohistochemistry, and the biology identification.

RESULTSBLTR-4 cell line, produced from the transfection of HPV-16K plasmid, was a cell line from urothelium with the expression of HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes. It had been cultured more than 70 passages, and the characteristics of growth was similar to the immortalized cell line as reported.

CONCLUSIONSBLTR-4 cell line is an immortalized cell line from urothelium of the urinary bladder, which contains HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes. BLTR-4 cell line is a good experimental model to investigate the relationship of the infection of high risk HPV and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in vitro.

Cell Line, Transformed ; Humans ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; Papillomavirus Infections ; virology ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transfection ; Tumor Virus Infections ; virology ; Urinary Bladder ; cytology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; virology

DNA methylation is a common event in malignancies and implicated in tumor initiation and progression. There is a battery of genes involved in critical cell processes such as DNA damage repair, which are hypermethylated in prostate cancer. DNA methylation has also been found in premalignant lesions such as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, but to a less extent compared with that in prostate cancer. Intensive study on DNA methylation would provide a new opportunity for the early diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare and evaluate clinical effects between locking intramedullary nail fixation and skeletal traction in order to provide the best therapeutic choice for tibiofibula fractures.

METHODSFrom November 1989 to December 2000, 108 patients with tibiofibula fractures (group A) were treated with skeletal traction, there was 76 males and 32 females; the age was from 29 to 66 years with an average of (40.3 +/- 9.6) years; according to AO classification standard,48 cases were type A, 46 type B, 14 type C, of which the standard typing Gustio, type I in 15 cases, type II in 13, type III A in 2. And from January 2001 to July 2007, 57 patients with tibiofibula fractures (group B) were treated with locking intramedullary nail fixation,there was 40 males and 17 females,the age was from 21 to 69 years with an average of (38.1 +/- 8.9) years; according to AO classification standard, 27 cases were type A, 22 type B, 8 type C, of which the standard typing Gustio, type I in 7 cases, type II in 6, type III A in 1. Four indexes were compared, including the time of fracture healing, the time of achieved 90 degrees genuflection, the time of off-bed weight-bearing and complication.

RESULTSComparison of fracture healing time: group A was (19.0 +/- 0.6) weeks and group B was (14.0 +/- 0.5) weeks; the time of achieved 90 degrees genuflection in group A was (92.0 +/- 8.2) d and in group B was (39.0 +/- 6.1) d; the time of off-bed weight-bearing in group A was (96.0 +/- 6.3) d and in group B was (38.0 +/- 6.5) d. Complication occurred in 42 cases in group A and 6 in group B. There was significantly difference in 4 items between two groups (P < 0.01). The method of locking intramedullary nail fixation was better than skeletal traction in treating tibiofibula fractures.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of tibiaofibula fractures with locking intramedullary nail fixation can obtain satisfactory effect, which has less complication, the fracture heals and weigh-loading can be achieved early.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fibula ; injuries ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Time Factors ; Traction ; Treatment Outcome ; Weight-Bearing

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of the treatment of hypospadias with penile and scrotal skin flaps.

METHODSTwenty-three hypospadias patients aged 3.5-19 (mean 6. 8) years underwent urethroplasty with penile and scrotal skin flaps. All were followed up for 6 years and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSOf the total number of patients, 21 (91.3%) succeeded in one operation and the other 2 developed complications, including urethral fistula and urethral structure.

CONCLUSIONPenile and scrotal skin, advantageous for its adequacy, rich blood supply and contribution to high success rate of surgery, is believed to be the first choice for urethroplasty in the treatment of hypospadias.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Male ; Penis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; surgery ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps

Objective To evaluate the impact of alcohol dehydrogenase-2 (ADH2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) polymorphisms on the susceptibility of esophageal cancer. Methods A case-control study including 221 cases of esophageal cancer and 191 controls was carried out in Taixing city of Jiangsu province. ADH2 and ALDH2 genotypes were tested by PCR and denaturing high -- performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Results (1) Compared with ALDH2 G/G carriers, ALDH2 A/A (OR=5.69, 95%CI: 2.51-12.18) and ALDH2 G/A (OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.08-2.68) carriers showed a significantly elevated risk of developing esophageal cancer, especially among alcohol drinkers with ALDH2 A/A (OR=8.63,95% CI: 2.07-35.95). (2) Statistical relation was not found between ADH2 genotypes and the risk of esophageal cancer, with regard to the status of alcohol consumption. (3) Whether subjects with whatever ADH2 genotype, ALDH2 G/A or A/A carriers was found to have significantly increased the risk of developing esophageal cancer, with ALDH2 A/A carriers appeared having higher esophageal cancer risk than those ALDH2 G/A carriers. (4)Compared those non-drinkers with both ALDH2 G/G and ADH2 A/A , drinkers with ALDH2 G/A or A/A and ADH2 C,/A or G/G genotypes showed a significantly elevated risk of developing esophageal cancer (OR=8.36, 95% CI: 2.98-23.46). Conclusion These results revealed that it was not ADH2 but ALDH2 polymorphisms and drinking alcohol had a significant interaction with the development of esophageal cancer, suggesting that in order to help lowering the risk of esophageal cancer, individuals who are carrying ALDH2 A/A or G/A genotypes should be encouraged to reduce their consumption of alcohols.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Febuxostat ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Humans ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Thiazoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Xanthine Oxidase ; antagonists & inhibitors

Marfan syndrome is a systemic disorder of connective tissue, caused by mutations in the FBN1, TGFBR1 or TGFBR2 genes. This syndrome is characterized by involvement of three major systems, skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular. The continuing improvements in molecular biology and increasing availability of molecular diagnosis in clinical practice allow recognition of Marfan syndrome in patients with incomplete phenotypes. Additionally, molecular analyses could also be used for preimplantation genetic diagnosis. The identification of a mutation allows for early diagnosis, prognosis, genetic counseling, preventive management of carriers and reassurance for unaffected relatives. The importance of knowing in advance the location of the putative family mutation is highlighted by its straightforward application to prenatal and postnatal screening.
Fibrillin-1 ; Fibrillins ; Humans ; Marfan Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; ethics ; methods ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficiency of metallic stent implantation in combination with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus.

METHODS22 cases of HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombus were devided into 2 groups: 10 patients (group A) recieved stent implantation in combination with conformal radiation therapy, 12 patients (group B) recieved stent implantation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. The adverse reactions, and liver function before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The stent patency rate at 4, 6 and 12 months and the survival rate at 3, 6 and 12 months were followed up. Comparison of liver function was analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Comparison of stent patency rate curves and survival curves was analyzed by Log rank test.

RESULTSThe portal vein catheterization was successful in all the patients. The stents were successfully implanted by transhepatic portal vein approach, and portal vein stenosis was re-opened. There was no abdominal hemorrhage in all the patients, but there were symptoms of abdominalgia, fever, nausea, vomiting and flatulence of varying degrees after interventional operation, and these symptoms were relieved by symptomatic treatment in one week. All patients in group A completed the treatment. I-II degree gastrointestinal tract reactions occurred in 3 cases, I-II degree myelosuppression occurred in 2 cases, and they were all completely relieved after treatment. The stent patency rate at 4, 6 and 12 months was 90%, 70%, 30% in group A; and 50%, 25% , 16.7% in group B (P < 0.05). The survival rate at 3, 6 and 12 months was 100%, 80% , 30% in group A and 91.7%, 41.7%, 16.7% in group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONStent implantation combined with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy is a good treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus and causes less damage to liver.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Male ; Metals ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Radiography ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the incidence and angiographic features of exercise-induced ST-segment elevation in patients without prior myocardial infarction.

METHODSExercise-induced ST-segment elevation occurred in 15 out of 4601 consecutive patients without prior myocardial infarction underwent treadmill exercise testing during a 2-year period. The coronary angiographic features of the 15 patients (13 males, aged between 40 - 75 years) were analyzed.

RESULTSCoronary angiography revealed one hemodynamically relevant stenotic vessel in 6 patients, two hemodynamically relevant stenotic vessels in 6 patients, three hemodynamically relevant stenotic vessels in 3 patients. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was affected in 12 patients. Left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis was evidenced in 1 patient and right coronary artery stenosis in 7 patients. Severe (90% - 100%) occlusions were visualized in 8 out of 13 patients with LAD or LMCA lesions. Elevated ST-segment leads were consistent with the ischemic area where the blood supply of myocardium was affected by diseased vessels.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of exercise induced ST-segment elevation in patients without prior myocardial infarction is very low and mostly due to severe fixed coronary artery stenosis, especially in LAD. The location of ischemic myocardium can be suggested by ST-segment elevation leads during exercise.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged