OBJECTIVETo introduce different surgical treatment for gyncomastia at different grades.

METHODS37 cases with gynecomastia were divided into three grades as: grade I with fat as main tissue, grade II with proliferated fibro-gland as main tissue, grade III with big and ptosis breasts and sagging skin. Different surgical methods were chosen according to the different grades of gyncomastia. These include liposuction, subareolar fibroglandular tissue removing, combined technique of the two methods, and breasts resection with free transplantation of nipple-areola complex.

RESULTSAll patients were satisfied for the appearance of post-operative flat male chest. Complications, such as scar, numbness of nipple and areola were acceptable for them.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent surgical methods should be chosen for the gynecomastia at different grades. It can improve both the physical and psychological problems for patients.

Adolescent ; Gynecomastia ; classification ; surgery ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Male ; Mammaplasty ; methods ; Nipples ; transplantation ; Retrospective Studies

The status of marine bioresources and the marine eco-environment issues were summarized and discussed, and the strategies for the development of Chinese marine bioresources in the future were proposed. The degradation of marine eco-environment and unreasonable exploitation of the resources resulted in acute decline of Chinese marine bioresources. The feasible stratagies for the sustainable use of marine bioresources should be to intensify the basic research on marine bioresources science, to strengthen the protection of the marine environment and conservation of marine living resources, and to exploit and utilize marine bioresources scientifically and reasonably by using high-technology including marine biotechnology.

Objective To observe the influence of coal burning fluorosis on learning and memory ability in rats and reveal its possible mechanisms. Methods Healthy 48 SD rats were divided into control, low-fluoride and high-fluoride group. All rats in fluoride exposed groups were fed with the eom polluted by drying processes with burning coal containing high level of fluoride obtained from the endemic fluorosis area to produce the animal model of fluorosis. The experiment period were 3,6 mouths, respectively. The ability of leaning and memory was measured by Morris test and cholinesterase activity detected by photometric method at 3 or 6 month after experiment, respectively. Results Fluoride contents signifieantlly influenced the escape latency, the numbers of crossing the platforms and the time of staying the platforms(the value of F was 29.29,6.47,6.50, respectively, P<0.01).In addition, the numbers of crossing the platforms and the time of staying the platforms were influenced by the exposed time(the value of F was 16.11,45.59, P<0.01). Furthermore, the fluoride contents and the exposed time had an interaction between the numbers of crossing the platforms and the time of staying the platforms (the value of F was 4.67,5.68, P<0.05 or<0.01). Three months after the experiment, the mean values of escape latency [(14.71± 4.85)s] of rats in highly fluoride exposed group were significantly prolonged as compared with controls [(9.28±4.22)s]; 6 month after the experiment, the mean values of escape latency[(12.42±8.03)s, (17.48± 8.05)s] of rats in both groups exposed to fluoride were significantly prolonged as compared to controls [(7.04± 3.29)s, P<0.05]. The decreased numbers of crossing the platforms[(1.62±0.87)number] and the declined time of staying the platforms[(16.70±5.02)s] were found in the rats exposed to high fluoride as compared to controls [(3.53±1.67 )number, (23.33±5.35)s, P<0.05]. The fluoride contents obviously influenced the activities of acetylcholinesterase and butylcolinesterase (the value of F was 12.83,13.27, P<0.01). On the other hand, the times of breeding also influnced the activities of butylcolinesterase (the value of F was 16.26, P<0.01). In 3 months of the experiment, the activities of butylcolinesterase [(0.55±0.12)kU/g] in low fluoride exposed group were significantly decreased in comparison with controls[(0.73±0.10)kU/g, P<0.05]. The activities of acetylcholinesterase[(0.62±0.42)kU/g] and butylcolioesterase[(0.58±0.10)kU/g] in high fluoride group were significantly decreased as compared to eontrois[(1.41±0.52), (0.73±0.10)kU/g, P<0.05]. The correlation analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the cholinesterase and the escape latency(r=-0.68, P< 0.01), and a positive correlation between the cholinesterase and the time of staying the platforms(r=0.57, P< 0.01). Conclusions The ability of learning and memory in rats with coal buring fluorosis was decreased, which might be connected to the decreased activity of cholinesterase in a dose-effect correlation.

OBJECTIVETo compare the long-term influence of vertebral fixation through or across the affected vertebra on vertebral morphology.

METHODSClinical data of 48 patients with simple thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures who were admitted between Jan. 2008 and Dec. 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them 36 cases (28 males and 8 females) were fixed through the injured vertebra (group A) and 12 cases (8 males and 4 females) were fixed across the injured vertebra (group B). All patients were followed up for 6-36 months (mean 11.5 months). The vertebral body height, endplate angle and neurofunction were compared between the two groups before surgery, a week after surgery and at the end of the follow-up period.

RESULTSThere was no statistically significant difference in vertebral body height,endplate angle and neurofunction before operation between group A and B (P > 0.05). Vertebral body height and endplate angle improved in both groups a week after operation and at the end of the follow-up period as compared with those before operation (P < 0.05), and the efficacy in group B was significantly better than that in group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in neurofunction between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe fixation method through the injured vertebra had a better reduction effect, more stable fixation, and a better long-term effect on vertebral morphology than that across the injured vertebra in the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of carvedilol on stabilizing atherosclerosis plaque.

METHODSForty five male Japanese white rabbits were divided randomly into 5 groups with 9 for each. One group was fed up with normal diet as blank control. In other four groups, the common carotid artery of rabbits fed up with high cholesterol diet were injured by balloon. Three groups of them were transfected by wild-type p53 gene 8 weeks later, and then two groups of them were treated with carvedilol (3 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1)) and metoprolol (6 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1)) respectively, high cholesterol diet should be continued for other 4 weeks. Serum lipid, hypersensitive C-reaction protein (hsCRP), oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were measured in 0, 8, 12 weeks after experiment. The apoptosis rate of smooth muscle cell (SMC) in endomembrane and the local expression of p53, bcl-2, bax, alpha-actin were examined after experiment, and the carotid arteries were examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe typical carotid atherosclerotic plaques were observed in balloon-injured groups. The local expression rates of p53 in groups transfected by wild type p53 gene were higher obviously than them in other two groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the rabbits received simple transfection, the thickness of the fibrous cap in rabbits received carvedilol and metoprolol were all increased, but the change could be observed significantly in carvedilol group (P < 0.05). Compared with metoprolol, carvedilol could reduce the level of serum hsCRP, oxLDL, MDA, and increase the concentration of SOD and GSH-PX significantly (P < 0.05 or 0.01), but two medicines had no obvious influence to serum lipid. The apoptosis rate of SMC in endomembrane, the local expression of bax gene and bax/bcl-2 ratio were decreased, the positive expression rates of alpha-actin and bcl-2 were enhanced in carvedilol group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBoth carvedilol and metoprolol can improve the stability of the plaque, but carvedilol is superior. Its mechanisms may lie in that carvedilol still has function of anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, decreasing the apoptosis rate of SMC in addition to its function of blocking beta-receptor.

Animal Feed ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carbazoles ; pharmacology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; genetics ; pathology ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Male ; Metoprolol ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Propanolamines ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the plasma DNA level and investigate its clinicopathological significance in women with cervical cancers.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from 42 cervical cancer patients, 20 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CINIII) and 20 healthy women. The plasma DNA was extracted using a commercial kit and detected by a fluorescentmeter.

RESULTSThe mean plasma DNA level in stage I cervical cancer patients was 12.78-/+5.58 ng/ml, significantly higher than that in CINIII patients (8.10-/+3.06 ng/ml) and normal controls (7.60-/+3.87 ng/ml) (P=0.001). The mean DNA level in stage II-III patients was 17.99-/+7.81 ng/ml, significantly higher than that in stage I patients (P=0.02). No significant difference was found in plasma DNA level between CINIII patients and the normal controls (P>0.05). When the cut-off for diagnosis of cervical cancer was 15.70 ng/ml, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 38.10%, 92.50%, 84.21% and 58.73%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONPlasma DNA level is closely related with malignant transformation and development of cervical cancer, and may become a useful means for differential diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; diagnosis ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; blood ; diagnosis ; DNA, Neoplasm ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo confirm the therapeutic effect of dendritic cell (DC) vaccine on treatment for mice with lymphoma and the protective effect of DC vaccine loaded with different antigens on the tumor-bearing BAL B/c mice.

METHODSFirstly, a mouse tumor model was set up by s. c. inoculation of 1 x 10(6)/mouse A20 tumor cells. Then different DC vaccines were injected, respectively, and the tumor size and survival time were observed. Secondly, the immunized mice with DC vaccines were challenged with A20 tumor cells, and observed whether a new tumor occurred in the mice and the time of survival.

RESULTSThe tumor of mice immunized with Id-DC vaccines grew slower than the controls (mean time of survival was 40.4 days vs. 33.4 days), but statistically not significantly different. The tumor of mice injected with CPP-Id-DC vaccines grew slower than that injected with Id-DC vaccines and controls, and one of 5 mice got CR and the tumor in another one mouse became stable. The median survival time was 70.8 days during a 90-days observation period. The difference was significant (P<0.01). The mice injected with Id-DC vaccines were challenged with A20 tumor cells showed new tumor occurred at 7 - 12 days, and 1 of the 5 mice survived for 60 days. The mice injected with CPP-Id-DC vaccines had no tumor.

CONCLUSIONThe DC loaded with CPP-Id was better than that loaded with Id alone in treating B cell lymphoma, and It can enhance their antitumor responses and prolong the survival time of the A20 tumor animal models. The vaccine of DC loaded with CPP-Id can protect mice from A20 tumor cell challenge.

Animals ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Female ; Immunoglobulin Idiotypes ; immunology ; Lymphoma ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Peptide Fragments ; therapeutic use ; Peptides ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-aging effects and reveal the underlying mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extract (SBG) in D-galactose-induced rats. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups: vehicle control group, D-galactose group, and D-galactose combined with 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG. A rat aging model was induced by injecting subcutaneously D-galactose (100 mg x kg(-1)) for ten weeks. At the tenth week, the locomotor activity (in open-field test) and the learning and memory abilities (in Morris water maze test) were examined respectively. The urine was collected using metabolic cages and analyzed by high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analyses. The SBG at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg x kg(-1) treatments groups could significantly ameliorate aging process in rats' cognitive performance. The 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG regulated citrate, pyruvate, lactate, trimethylamine (TMA), pantothenate, β-hydroxybutyrate in urine favorably toward the control group. These biochemical changes are related to the disturbance in energy metabolism, glycometabolism and microbiome metabolism, which is helpful to further understanding the D-galactose induced aging rats and the therapeutic mechanism of SBG.
Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Galactose ; Memory ; drug effects ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Rats ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

AIMTo explore the modulation of 5-HT on GABA-activated current (I(GABA)) in the membrane of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and its mechanism.

METHODSRat DRG neurons were isolated mechanically and enzymatically, on which whole-cell patch clamp recording and repatch technique for intracellular dialysis were performed.

RESULTSIn the majority of neurons examined (92.0%, 69/75) GABA induced a concentration-dependent inward current. In neurons sensitive to GABA preapplication of 5-HT produced potentiation effect (82.6% , 57/69) on I(GABA). Preapplication of 5-HT at concentrations of 1 x 10(-6), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-4) and 1 x 10(-3) mol x L(-1) potentiated I(GABA) by (35 +/- 8)% (n=8), (47 +/- 11)% (n=10), (65 +/- 17)% (n=9) and (75 +/- 18)% (n=11), respectively. This effect was mimicked by alpha-methyl-5-HT (1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1)), a specific 5-HT2 receptor agonist, and reversed by cyproheptadine, a selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist. The potentiation of I(GABA) by 5-HT was irrespective to whether the I(5-HT) presents or not in a subset of neurons. The concentration-response curves for GABA before and after pretreatment with 5-HT manifested the same threshold value and similar EC50 (2.0 x 10(-5) and 1.9 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1), respectively) , while the maximal value of I(GABA) for the latter was 33.6% higher than that for the former. Intracellular dialysis with GDP-beta-S or H-7 abolished the potentiation of I(GABA) by 5-HT, while H-9 did not.

CONCLUSION5-HT can potentiate GABA-activated current via PKC-dependent phosphorylation of GABA(A) receptor following the activation of 5-HT2 receptor.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cyproheptadine ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; physiology ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Neurons ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Protein Kinase C ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2 ; Serotonin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists ; Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists ; Signal Transduction ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the effect of fetoscopic photocoagulation of communicating placental vessels in twin-twin transfusion syndrome(TTTS)(selective or non-selective) on the perinatal outcomes.Methods Six cases of TTTS admitted in our department from Dec.2006 to Jun.2008 underwent fetoscopic photocoagulation of communicating vessels.Under direct real-time sonographic guidance,a 3-mm-diameter fetoscope was percutaneously inserted through the maternal abdominal wall into the amniotic cavity of the recipient twin.A combination of ultrasonographic and fetoscopic vision was used to identify the crossing vessels which were systematically coagulated using Nd:YAG laser fiber or bipolar electrocoagulation.Results All the 6 mothers tolerated the procedure without major complications.Two fetal survival rate was 33.33%.Conclusion Fetoscopic photocoagulation of communicating placental vessels in TTTS can effectively improve perinatal outcomes.