OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of two different circumcision procedures with the Shang Ring and compare their advantages and disadvantages.

METHODSA total of 527 adult males with phimosis or redundant prepuce underwent Shang Ring circumcision by conventional outward replacement (n = 254) and inward placement (n = 273), respectively. We observed the in-ring nocturnal pain, complications, ring-removal pain, degree of edema, recovery time, and patients' satisfaction after surgery, and compared them between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the conventional outward placement (5.9%) of the Shang Ring, the inward placement method showed the advantages of mild in-ring nocturnal pain, a low complication rate, significantly reduced ring-removal pain, and mild edema, but exhibited longer healing time.

CONCLUSIONIn Shang Ring circumcision for phimosis and redundant prepuce in adult males, each of the outward and inward placement methods has advantages and disadvantages of its own, but the latter is more advantageous and feasible.

Adult ; Circumcision, Male ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; Edema ; etiology ; Foreskin ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Satisfaction ; Penile Diseases ; etiology ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Prostheses and Implants ; Wound Healing

Objective To study the value of fast dynamic contrast enhanced MRI in the diagnosis of orbital occupying lesions. Design Retrospective ease series.Participants 21 patients with orbital occupying lesions.Methods All the 21 patients were performed on fast dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and were verified by pathology.The raw datum were processed by the software of GE Functool. Parameters such as time-intensity curve(TIC),time to peak(Tpeak),1 minute enhancement ratio(ERlmin)and maximum enhancement ratio(ERmax)were analyzed to study the characteristics of orbital diseases on fast dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.Main Outcome Measures TIC,ERlmin,and ERmax.Results The characteristics of TIC between benign diseases and malignant tumors were different. Of the 16 cases of benign lesions,12 demonstrated as continuous increasing type,and of 5 cases of malignant lesions,3 cases of lym- phoma were all platform type.The ER1min of the malignant tumors(150.47?42.18)was higher than that of the benign lesions (101.37?43.02)(P=0.021).Cavernous hemangiomas had special progressing enhancing model.Conclusions Fast dynamic contrast enhanced MRI is valuable to distinguish malignant tumors from benign occupying lesions.(Ophthalmol CHN,2007,16:305-308)

OBJECTIVETo explore the potential role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the pathophysiological process of hypertension caused by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODSThe concentration of serum NPY were measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 417 subjects (97 normotensive controls without OSAS, 113 cases of normotensive with OSAS, 73 cases of hypertensive without OSAS and 134 cases of hypertensive with OSAS. Further, the mean NPY level were compared in four groups and the possible effective factors on NPY were discussed.

RESULTS(1) The concentration of NPY in four groups were (50.5 +/- 37.2) pmol/L in normal controls, (76.0 +/- 39.9) pmol/L in normotensive with OSAS group, (66.9 +/- 36.2) pmol/L in hypertensive without OSAS group and (86.8 +/- 36.8) pmol/L in hypertensive with OSAS group. Whether the patients with OSAS combined with hypertension or not, the concentration of NPY in the serum raised remarkably compared with those without OSAS and hypertension, the highest level of serum NPY was detected in OSAS combined with hypertension group. (2) Pearson correlation analysis indicated that both SBP and DBP related to the serum NPY significantly in non-OSAS group (AHI <10), while the BMI, abdominal circumference, AHI as well as the lowest level of SaO2 correlated to NPY besides SBP in OSAS group with (AHI > or =10). (3) Multiple linear regression model showed that the abdominal circumference and AHI were contributing factors to SBP, while neck circumference and BMI were contributing factors to DBP. The level of NPY in the serum were significantly affected by AHI and BMI, in which the former one had greater influence.

CONCLUSIONThe increased level of serum NPY may play weakly potential roles in the pathophysiological process of hypertension caused by OSAS.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuropeptide Y ; blood ; Obesity ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; complications ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study early change features of microRNA (miRNA) in the peripheral blood of Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma induced liver injury rats, and to look for the miRNA biomarkers in the peripheral blood of early liver injury.

METHODSSixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group and the Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma (abbreviated as STRR) group, 30 in each group. Rats in the STRR group was administered with STRR decoction at 12 g/kg (2 mL/100 g), while equal volume of the distilled water was given to those in the control group. Rats were anesthetized on day 3, 7, 14, and 28, and 28 days after withdrawal. The serum samples were withdrawn. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bile (TBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), and albumin (ALB) were detected. The globulin (GLO) level was calculated. HE staining was performed on the liver tissue to observe the pathomorphological changes. The whole blood was collected on day 7, 14, and 28 to perform the microarray test. The differentially expressed miRNAs were screened and verified by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe ALT activity obviously increased on day 7 - 28 in the STRR group (P <0.05). The histopathological results showed the degeneration and swelling of the liver cells on day 28. In the microarray test, there were 11, 22, and 13 up regulated expressed miRNAs on day 7, 14, and 28, respectively. There were 1, 13, 2 down regulated expressed miRNAs on day 7, 14, and 28, respectively. By target gene prediction and pathway analysis of differentially expressed miRNA on day 7, 14, and 28, they involved in regulating and controlling signal transduction, cellular interaction, cytoskeleton. Differentially expressed miRNA might possibly participate in the process of liver injury. The RT-PCR result of the expression of miR-291a-5p with the peak time efficiency on day 7 showed that the expressions of miR-291a-5p in the peripheral blood and the liver tissue were basically identical.

CONCLUSIONmiR-291a-5p could early indicate the liver injury, which could be taken as one of an early marker in STRR induced liver injury.

Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Female ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; blood ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; complications ; therapy ; Anemia, Macrocytic ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of changes in neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalcin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in Phytolaccae Radix-induced kidney injury in rats and the significance of the combined detection.

METHODWistar rats were divided into three groups: high and low dose (crude drug 40, 20 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) Phytolaccae Radix decoction groups and the control group, and orally administrated with distilled water or equal volume of Phytolaccae Radix decoction for 35 consecutive days. Their blood and urine samples were collected on day 7, 14, 21, 28, 35,42. The anatomical analysis was conducted for each group. The contents of serum total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CR) and urinary TP and ALB were detected-by means of biochemical analyzer. The concentrations of urinary NGAL, KIM-1 and IL-18 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The morphological changes of renal pathology were observed by light or electron microscopy. The curve areas of various serum or urine indexes and the combined detection were compared by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve).

RESULTRats were given Phytolaccae Radix decoction at the doses of 40, 20 g crude drug/kg daily for 35 consecutive days to induce kidney injury characterized by the degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cell and protein cast. The injury was partially reversible during the recovery period. Compared with the control group, the content of serum BUN, CR and urinary TP in each dose group mostly showed a downward trend. On day 21, the content of urinary ALB obviously increased till the end of administration. The contents of urinary NGAL, KIM-1 and IL-18 began increasing on day 7. Since day 14, high and low dose groups showed significant difference (P<0.01). The high dose group even showed notable changes during the recovery period. According to ROC analysis, the curve areas of NGAL, KIM-1 and IL-18 were 0.846, 0.837 and 0.863 (P <0.01), respectively, much higher than that of BUN and CR. The area of the combined detection was up to 0.947.

CONCLUSIONUrinary NGAL, IL-18 and KIM-1 could forecast and indicate the occurrence and development of renal injury to some degree, and show higher sensitivity and site specificity. The combined detection could further improve the test efficiency.

Acute-Phase Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipocalins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo summarize the therapeutic experience and analyse the clinical effects of anatomical plate and combined external fixator for the treatment of elderly intertrochanteric hip fractures.

METHODSFrom Oct.2006 to Jun.2009, 42 patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures were treated. Among them, 19 patients were treated with combined external fixator, included 7 males and 12 females, aged from 71 to 103 years old; according to Evans classification there were 3 of type 1, 5 of type II, 6 of type III, 5 of type IV. The other 23 patients were treated with anatomical plate, included 9 males and 14 females, aged from 73 to 97 years old; there were 5 of type I , 4 of type II, 10 of type II, 2 of type IV, 2 of type V. Comparisons and statistical analysis were made on operation time, blood loss during operation, hospitalization time, the time of loaded walking, fracture healing time and therapeutic effect.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 6 to 15 months with an average of 8.6 months. In combined external fixator group, the average operation time was (29.368 +/- 3.253) min, the average blood loss during operation was (30.526 +/- 5.242) ml, the average hospitalization time was (4.368 +/- 1.165) d, the average time of loaded walking was (14.526 +/- 1.867) weeks, the fracture healing time was (14.632 +/- 2.798) weeks; in the anatomical plate group above-mentioned indexes were (58.987 +/- 8.600) min, (256.090 +/- 30.112) ml, (13.783 +/- 1.976) d, (11.391+/- 1.644) weeks, (11.391 +/- 2.327) weeks,respectively; and there were significant differences between two groups (P<0.05). According to Harris score criterion, the scores of combined external fixator group was (86.368 0 +/- 3.640) scores,and the scores of anatomical plate group was (86.435 +/- 4.198) scores; there were no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of combined external fixator and anatomical plate for the elderly intertrochanteric hip fractures are both satisfactory and each has its own merits. Combined external fixator has advantages such as fewer complications and operative injuries than that of anatomical plate and is more suitable for the weaker with elderly intertrochanteric hip fractures.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Hip Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Weight-Bearing

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of desmopressin (DDAVP) on coagulation factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in children with mild hemophilia A.

METHODSEighteen children with mild hemophilia A were enrolled. DDAVP (0.3 μg/kg•d) was injected intravenously for 5 days. Plasma FⅧ levels and APTT were measured before and after DDAVP treatment.

RESULTSIn 16 of 18 children with mild hemophilia A, the bleeding symptoms, including the articular or musclar hematoma, were significantly alleviated as a result of DDAVP treatment. The plasma FⅧ levels increased significantly to (27±4)% and APTT was shortened to (66±10)s 60 minutes after the first dose of DDAVP treatment. The plasma FⅧ remained at the levels of 25%-30% during 3-4 days of DDAVP treatment. Five days after DDAVP treatment, the plasma FⅧ levels decreased [(21±3)%], and APTT was prolonged when compared with 1-4 days of DDAVP treatment.

CONCLUSIONSDDAVP treatment can increase plasma FⅧ levels and shorten APTT in children with mild hemophilia A. DDAVP is effective in the treatment of mild hemophilia A. The duration of DDAVP therapy for mild hemophilia A is recommended as 3 to 4 days.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Deamino Arginine Vasopressin ; therapeutic use ; Factor VIII ; analysis ; Hemophilia A ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Partial Thromboplastin Time

OBJECTIVESTo establish the animal model of acute rotator cuff tear in rabbits, and study the effect of timing of surgical repair on healing of tendon-bone interface, formation and distribution of collagens in the supraspinatus tendon insertion and biomechanical properties of supraspinatus.

METHODSSupraspinatus tenotomy was performed in the right shoulder of 90 skeletally matured male New Zealand white rabbits to establish the animal model of acute rotator cuff tear. The rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups : group of early repair, repaired at 1 week after tenotomy; group of late repair, repaired at 4 weeks after tenotomy; and group without repair, used as control. At 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after repair, healing of tendon-bone interface was observed by HE staining. Collagens were observed by Sirius Red F 3B (SR) in saturated carbazotic acid staining. The areas of type I and III collagens were measured by using imaging analysis software and the ratio of type I and III collagens were calculated. Failure loads of supraspinatus on both sides were measured. The percentage of failure loads of the surgical side was calculated and contralateral supraspinatus were uninjured.

RESULTSThere was no obvious fatty infiltration and muscle atrophy in supraspinatus in all groups. At 8 weeks, the formation of a new enthesis of supraspinatus in groups of early and late repair were observed. In groups of early and late repair, the ratio of areas of type I and III collagens at 8 weeks (2.02 ± 0.77 and 2.06 ± 0.58) was larger than that at 2 weeks (1.10 ± 0.24 and 1.14 ± 0.50, t = 3.082, 3.655, P < 0.01). At 2, 4 and 8 weeks, the percentages of failure loads of the surgical side and uninjured contralateral supraspinatus in group of early repair(38% ± 11%, 66% ± 7%, 89% ± 4%) and group of late repair (41% ± 16%, 63% ± 7%, 89% ± 9%) were both higher than that in group without repair (14% ± 6%, 32% ± 4%, 56% ± 12%); the differences were all statistically significant (group of early repair: t = 3.311, 8.549, 5.719; group of late repair: t = 3.713, 8.063, 6.044; P < 0.01). The percentage of failure loads of the surgical side and uninjured contralateral supraspinatus at 8 weeks was higher than those at 4 weeks (t = 3.878 - 4.613, P < 0.01) and 2 weeks (t = 7.158 - 10.024, P < 0.01) in all groups.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical repair within 4 weeks of acute rotator cuff tear lead to formation of a new enthesis of supraspinatus, improvement of both ratio of type I collagen in the supraspinatus tendon insertion and biomechanical properties of supraspinatus.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Rabbits ; Rotator Cuff ; pathology ; surgery ; Rotator Cuff Injuries ; Time Factors

Cloning of differentially expressed genes is one of the hottest topics in biology.It is very important in cloning genes correlated with phenotype and diseases at molecular level.Here we utilized a simple and rapid PCR-based protocol to detect and isolate cDNA fragments from differentially expressed genes of IL-6-induccd and IL-6-uninduced U937 cells in tWO easy steps.To generate cDNAs from most mRNAs,the first step was reverse transcription using three fully degenerated 6-mer oligonucleotides as primers.The second step was PGR amplification of internal regions of the cDNAs with two or three longer primers with arbitrary but defined sequences.The PCR amplification was repeated on the same cDNA templates(first step) with different sets of primers.DNA fragments were easily displayed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and then the differential recovered fragments were used directly in cloning,sequencing,and RNA reverse Northern blot analysis.In this study,seven differential ESTs are obtained;two Sequences not found in GenBank,are novel ESTs.They were proved to be differentially expressed genes related with IL-6 effect by reverse Northern hybridization.