10 h. Results 15 patients had been misdiagnosed as epididymis orchitis or acute abdomen and undergone orchiectomy because of necrosis of the testicles,including 11 cases of intrascrotal torsion (testicular torsion in scrotum with an orchiectomy rate of 79%) and 4 cases of cryptorchidism with torsion.3 cases scrotal orchidopexy has been performed and during the follow up ( 6～36 months) the testicle in 2 of which appeared viable and normal while testicular atrophy has been observed in 1.In recent years 11 adolescents underwent exploration because of acute scrotal pain,7 cases being testicular torsion and 4 acute epididymitis. Conclusions It is emphasized that in younger patients suffering suddenly from pain in scrotum, especially occurring at night,the diagnosis of testicular torsion should be considered.Differentiating cryptorchidism with torsion from incarcerated hernia or acute abdomen,testicular torsion in scrotum from acute testitis and epididymitis should be serious considered.In order to save the testicle with early surgical exploration orchidopexy might be mandatory to aviod recurrence.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC).Methods The clinical and follow up data of PACC patients treated with surgery in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University between 1999 and 2012 were analyzed retrospectively.Results A total of 16 PACC were identified including 13 male and 3 female patients.The age of the patients ranged from 38 to 71 with an average of 57 years old.Six patients presented as abdominal pain,while low back pain in 3 patients,abdominal distention in 2 patients,emaciation in 2 patients,jaundice in 2 patients and melena in 1 patient.Elevated CA19-9 level was observed in 8 patients and 2 patients had elevated serum CEA.The tumors were located in the uncinate process in 1 patient,head in 9,body and tail in 6.The superior mesenteric vein was invaded in 2 cases and 1 patient had hepatic artery invasion.The tumor invaded both the celiac trunk and splenic artery in 1 patient.One patient had just undergone intra-operative needle aspiration biopsy due to unresectable tumor.All the other 15 patients underwent surgical excision with R0 resection.Among the 10 patients received pancreaticoduodenectomy,2 had superior mesenteric vein resection and replacement and 1 had hepatic artery resection.Five patients underwent distal pancreatectomy without spleen preservation.The mean size of these tumors was 5.7 cm × 4.6 cm,12 cases had a surrounding envelope,while lymphatic metastasis was observed in 8 cases.The follow up data of 15 patients were collected and the median postoperative survival was 21 months,and the survival rate of 1,3,5 year was 71.4％,28.6％,7.1％.Conclusions Pre-operative diagnosis of PACC is extremely difficult due to lack of specific clinical features and lab tests.Surgery is the first line treatment for PACC,and the prognosis of PACC is better than that of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Objective To compare the short-term efficacy of pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) and standard pancreaticoduodenectomy (SPD) for the treatment of periampullary carcinoma.Methods The clinical data of 85 patients with periampullary carcinoma who were admitted to the Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from October 2010 to October 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.Forty-four patients who underwent PPPD were divided into the PPPD group and 41 patients who underwent SPD were divided into the SPD group.The pancreatic fistula(Grade B and above), biliary fistula, blood loss, intra-abdominal infection, delayed gastric emptying (DGE) and prognosis were analyzed.Patients were followed up by telephone interview and outpatient examination once every 3 months within postoperative 1 year and once every 6 months within postoperative 2-3 years till October 2014.Count data were analyzed using the chi-square test, measurement data with normal distribution were presented as M(Qn) and comparison was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test.The survival curve was drawn by the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival rate was analyzed using the Log rank test.Results The operation time was 195 minutes (180 minutes, 240 minutes) in the PPPD group and 210 minutes (180 minutes,300 minutes) in the SPD group, with a significant difference (Z =-2.090, P ＜ 0.05).The volume of intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion and duration of postoperative hospital stay were 200 mL(113 mL,288 mL), 0 mL(0 mL, 0 mL) and 17 days(12 days, 24 days) in the PPPD group, and 200 mL(150 mL, 325 mL),0 mL(0 mL, 400 mL) and 16 days(12 days, 30 days) in the SPD group respectively, with no significant differences between the 2 groups (Z =-1.185,-1.780,-0.533, P ＞0.05).There was no perioperative death and incidence of overall complication was 42.4％ (36/85) with pancreatic fistula, intra-abdominal infection and DGE as the top 3 common postoperative complications.The incidence of DGE was 20.5％ (9/44) in the PPPD group,which was significantly different from 4.9％ (2/41) in the SPD group (x2=4.571, P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of pancreatic fistula, biliary fistula, intra-abdominal infection, postoperative bleeding and 2 or more complications were 20.5 ％ (9/44), 2.3 ％ (1/44), 15.9％ (7/44), 4.5 ％ (2/44), 25.0％ (11/44) in the PPPD group, and 14.6％ (6/41), 4.9％ (2/41), 19.5％ (8/41), 7.3％ (3/41), 14.6％ (6/41) in the SPD group, respectively, showing no significant difference between the 2 groups (x2=0.495, 0.423, 0.295, 0.190, 1.425, P ＞ 0.05).Eighty-five patients were followed up for 6-47 months with a median time of 31 months, and postoperative overall 1-and 3-year survival rates were 95.3％ and 75.5％, respectively.The 1-and 3-year survival rates were 97.7％ and 78.9％ in the PPPD group, and 92.7％ and 71.7％ in the SPD group, respectively, with no significant difference in 3-year survival rate (x2=0.690, P ＞0.05).The 3-year overall survival rate was 80.5％ in patients without lymph node involvement (LNI) compared with 54.9％ in patients with LNI, showing a significant difference (x2=4.290, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Both PPPD and SPD have good short-term efficacy for periampullary carcinoma.There is no significant difference between PPPD and SPD concerning short-term survival rate of periampullary carcinoma.PPPD has shorter operation time, but has a higher postoperative DGE incidence.LNI is a significant prognostic factor for short-term survival of periampullary carcinoma.PPPD is not recommended while the lymph nodes are involved.

Objective To promote the diagnostic accuracy of intrapancreatic accessory spleen (IPAS).Methods The clinical data of 10 cases of IPAS admitted in Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital from Apr 2005 to Dec 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.Results There were ten cases of IPAS confirmed pathologically.Only 1 of the ten cases was diagnosed correctly and definitely with IPAS preoperatively.The other 9 cases were misdiagnosed with benign or malignant pancreatic tumors,including nonfunctional neuroendocrine neoplasms in 5 cases,pancreatic neuroendocrine cancers in 3 and pancreatic intraductal adenocarcinoma in one.All the nine misdiagnosed patients has no specific symptoms or laboratory indexes.All the IPASs located in the tail of the pancreas with the mean diameter (1.3 ±0.2) cm(0.8-2.5 cm).7 cases of IPAS show strikingly similar dynamic enhancement to the spleen on the CT scans and/or MRI.Accessory spleen around the splenic hilum was found in five cases.Conclusions Morphological study plays an important role in the diagnosis and IPAS carries parallel dynamic enhancement to the spleen on CT scans and/or MRI.IPAS should be considered as a differential diagnosis while the lesion is no more than 2.5 cm in diameter and when other accessory spleens were shown around the splenic hilum.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for periampullary carcinoma.Methods The clinical data of 96 periampullary carcinoma patients who received PD with or without pylorus preservation at Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University from October 2010 to September 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.The risk factors associated with delayed gastric emptying were analyzed.The univariate and multivariate analysis were done using the chi-square test and Logistic regression model respectively.Results A total of 17 patients had postoperative delayed gastric emptying, with the incidence of 18％.The results of univariate showed that female sex, pancreatogastrostomy, increased intraoperative blood loss and transfusions and postoperative abdominal infection were risk factors of delayed gastric emptying (x2 =4.512, 6.412, 6.245, 6.695, 6.816, all P ＜ 0.05).The results of multivariate analysis revealed that only pancreatogastrostomy and postoperative abdominal infection were independent risk factors of delayed gastric emptying (OR =4.031 and 5.281).Conclusions Pancreatogastrostomy and postoperative abdominal infection indicate a higher incidence of delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticodudenectomy for periampullary carcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the impact of aderent perirenal fat (APF) on retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RLPN). Methods Clinical data of 52 patients who underwent RLPN for a small renal tumor from October 2013 to December 2015 was analyzed retrospectively. All the patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of APF by preoperative computed tomography imaging. Clinical data was collected including patients' age, gender, BMI, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, American Society of Anesthesiologists score (ASA), intra-abdominal fat (IAF), tumor size, RENAL Nephrometry score (RNS), operative time, warm ischaemia time (WIT), estimated blood loss (EBL), and length of hospital stay. Results Between the two groups, the BMI, tumor size, WIT, length of hospital stay were similar [(26.70 ± 3.33) kg/m2 vs (25.65 ± 4.01) kg/m2, (3.53 ± 1.21) cm vs (3.64 ± 1.05) cm, (27.17 ± 7.55) min vs (25.21 ± 5.64) min, (12.54 ± 4.06) d vs (10.61 ± 3.70) d, P > 0.05)], as well as the ASA and RNS. APF patients were older [(59.25 ± 11.03) y vs (49.71 ± 11.86) y, P = 0.004]. There were a high proportion of men (75.0% vs 46.4%, P = 0.036), patients with hypertension (62.5% vs 28.6%, P = 0.014), and patients with diabetes (41.7% vs 14.3%, P = 0.026). In the APF group, IAF was more [(2.02 ± 0.47) cm vs (1.35 ± 0.66) cm, P = 0.000], operative time was longer [(146.08 ± 45.45) min vs (119.32 ± 28.83) min, P = 0.017], and EBL was higher [(82.92 ± 45.73) ml vs (51.79 ± 25.10) ml, P = 0.005]. Conclusion The adherent preirenal fat sticking renal results in a longer operative time and a higher EBL, but has no influences on the WIT and length of hospital stay. APF makes it difficult to expose the tumor, not to remove it.

Objective: To investigate the effects of emodin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and damage in HK-2 cells. Methods: The HK-2 cells were divided into blank group, emodin group, LPS group, and LPS+emodin group. The emodin group was treated with culture medium containing 0.5 μg/ml emodin, the LPS group was treated with culture medium containing 10 μg/ml LPS, the LPS+emodin group was treated with culture medium containing both 0.5 μg/ml emodin and 10 μg/ml LPS, and the blank group was cultured with fresh medium. Twelve hours later, HK-2 cells from each group were harvested for the analysis. The mRNA levels of oligonucleotide receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in each group were determined by RT-PCR. Results: Compared to the blank group, the mRNA levels of NLRP3 (2.74 ± 0.38 vs. 1.00 ± 0.14), IL-1β (2.40 ± 0.33 vs. 1.00 ± 0.19), and IL-18 (3.00 ± 0.42 vs. 1.00 ± 0.07), NGAL (31.73 ± 3.41 vs. 1.00 ± 0.07), and TNF-α (9.73±1.60 vs. 1.00 ± 0.11) significantly increased by LPS stimulation (P<0.05). Compared to the LPS group, the mRNA expression of NLRP3 (1.98 ± 0.24 vs. 2.74 ± 0.39), IL-1β (1.54 ± 0.24 vs. 2.40 ± 0.33), and IL-18 (2.09 ± 0.53 vs. 3.00 ± 0.42), NGAL (16.76 ± 1.72 vs. 31.73 ± 3.41) and TNF-α (9.73 ± 1.60 vs. 4.65 ± 1.09) in HK-2 cells of LPS+emodin group significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusions The emodin protects HK-2 cells from LPS-induced damage and inflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Objective: To investigate the effects of different expression of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) with the proliferation of MHCC97H human liver cancer cells in vivo and its mechanism. Methods: Human peripheral blood-derived monocyte was induced to differentiate into M2-type TAMs and was identified by flow cytometry. The co-culture model of TAMs and MHCC97H human liver cancer cells was established, and the expression of MAGL in TAMs cells was detected by qRT-PCR. The expression of MAGL in TAMs cells was detected by plasmid transfection. ELISA and qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels and secretion levels of inflammatory factors in TAMs cells. The subcutaneous tumor model of MHCC97H mice was constructed to observe the effect of different expression of MAGL in TAMs cells with the proliferation of MHCC97H human liver cancer cells in vivo. F-test was used for the measurement of homogeneity of variance between two independent samples. A t-test was used for homogeneity of variance, and the corrected t-test was used for non-homogeneity of variance. Results: Human peripheral blood-derived monocytes were successfully induced to differentiate into M2-type TAMs. An in vitro co-culture model was established. qRT-PCR showed that MHCC97H human liver cancer cells significantly down-regulated the expressional level of MAGL in TAMs cells. The constructed subcutaneous tumor model of mice demonstrated that up-regulation up-regulation of MAGL expression in M2-type TAMs inhibited the proliferation of MHCC97H human liver cancer cells in vivo. Furthermore, the mechanistic study illustrated that the high expression of MAGL promoted the transcription and secretion of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in M2-type TAMs cells. Conclusion The overexpression of MAGL inhibits the proliferation of MHCC97H hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vivo, and its mechanism may be associated to the release of inflammatory factors that from TAMs cells.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine formulas clearing away heat and promoting blood circulation-Biejiayinzi (BJYZ), Gexiazhuyu Tang (GXZYT) and Fugan Wan (FGW) on liver fibrosis in CCl4 mice by screening and analyzing formula-syndrome database of kidney and liver fibrosis based on the principle of formula-syndrome, compared with pivot-harmonizing decoction.

METHODTen-week-old male C57BL/6 mice, with the weight of (20 +/- 3) g, were randomly divided into 6 groups: the normal group, the model group, the BJYZ group, the GXZY group, the FGW group and the XST group. Except the normal group, other groups were abdominally injected with 10% CCl4 olive oil solution a dose of 2 mL x kg(-1) body weight for four weeks, three times each week. Meanwhile, the latter four groups were administered with extracts of BJYZ, GXZYT, FGW and XST, respectively, once every day, concomitantly continued CCl4 administration. The normal and the model groups were given the same volume of deionized water. The levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), Alb and TBil were detected by chemiluminescence. The hydroxyproline (HYP) content was detected by acid hydrolysis method. The hepatic collagen deposition was evaluated with Sirius red staining.

RESULTCompared with the normal group, the model group recorded notable decrease in weight and increase in the ratio of liver weight and body weight and the ratio of spleen weight and body weight, with obvious fatty degeneration and inflammatory necrosis in liver cells. Collagen fiber deposition was so notable to form fibrous septums and pseudolobules. The levels of serum ALT, AST, TBil, gamma-GT, the HYP content in liver tissue and the deposition of hepatic collagen were significantly increased in the model group. Compared with model group, Serum AST were significantly decreased in BJYZ group as gamma-GT decreased in the GXZYT group, without notable decrease in degeneration and inflammatory necrosis in liver cells and collagen deposition. The GXZYT group showed significant decrease in gamma-GT, with slight improvement in degeneration and inflammatory necrosis in liver cells and reduction in collagen deposition. The ratio of liver weight and body weight, AST, gamma-GT and HYP content were significantly decreased in the FGW group, with slight improvement in degeneration and inflammatory necrosis in liver cells and reduction in collagen deposition. The XST group showed decrease in the ratio of liver weight and body weight, with no obvious change in inflammation and fibrosis of hepatic tissue.

CONCLUSIONFGW shows the best effect of prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis in CCl4 mice.

Animals ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Body Temperature ; drug effects ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Organ Size ; drug effects

Objective    To explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of histone methylase G9a inhibitor BIX-01294 on apoptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods    MTT assay and Colony-forming Units were adopted to determine the effects of BIX-01294 on the growth and proliferation of ESCC cell lines EC109 and KYSE150. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the apoptosis status of ESCC cells after the treatment of BIX-01294. The effects of BIX-01294 treatment on the expressions of G9a catalytic product H3K9me2, DNA double-strand break (DSB) markers, and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results    BIX-01294 inhibited the growth of EC109 and KYSE150 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05), and BIX-01294 with the inhibitory concentration 50%(IC50) significantly inhibited the formation of colony (P<0.05). After 24 hours treatment of BIX-01294 (IC50), the apoptosis rate of EC109 cells increased from 11.5%±2.1% to 42.5%±5.4%, and KYSE150 cells from 7.5%±0.9% to 49.2%±5.2%(P<0.05). The expression level of the G9a catalytic product, H3K9me2, significantly decreased (P<0.05); while the expression of the DSB marker γH2AX was dramatically enhanced (P<0.05). We also found that the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was activated and the expression levels of cleaved caspase3 and cleaved PARP were significantly elevated (P<0.05). Conclusion    BIX-01294, the inhibitor of methyltransferase G9a, prompted apoptosis in ESCC cells by inducing DSB damage and activating mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.