OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of penile frenulum lengthening in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE).

METHODSThirty-four males with PE were enrolled in this study, of whom 8 had received circumcision six months before and 4 had redundant prepuce, all with short frenulum. Those with a history of circumcision underwent reconstruction and lengthening of the frenulum, and those without received frenulum lengthening only.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) was significantly increased at 1 month after operation ([1.35 ± 0.49] vs [5.71 ± 2.69] min, t = -9.42, P <0.01), (1.42 ± 0.5) vs (5.31 ± 2.74) min in the patients without circumcision (t = -7.41, P <0.01), (1.12 ± 0.35) vs (7.00 ± 2.20) min in those with circumcision (t = -7.24, P <0.01), and (1.50 ± 0.58) vs (4.75 ± 1.71) min in those with redundant prepuce (t = -3.81, P <0.05). Totally, 94% of the patients were satisfied with their sexual intercourse postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONPenile frenulum plays an important role in penile erection. Reconstruction and/or lengthening of the frenulum can prolong penile erection and IELT in PE patients.

Adult ; Circumcision, Male ; rehabilitation ; Coitus ; Ejaculation ; Foreskin ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Premature Ejaculation ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods

Objective To evaluate the changes of peripheral blood interleukin(IL) 2, IL 10, IL 13 in the serum of asthmatic children and their effect on the pathogenesis of asthma.Method The serum levels of IL 2,IL 10,II 13 in 16 cases of asthmatic children and 10 cases of healthy controls were measured by ELISA methods.Results The serum levels of IL 2,IL 13 in asthmatic patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls( P

OBJECTIVESTo explore a sensitive and specific method for detection of bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and verify the credibility of the established method.

METHODSbcl-2/IgH hemi-nested PCR primers were designed using the professional primer design software. Fifty-two samples of pathologically diagnosed DLBCL and 10 fresh tonsil tissues were amplified using hemi-nested touch down-PCR to detect bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced.

RESULTSbcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement was detected in 6 of 52 DLBCL samples and 2 of 10 fresh tonsil tissues using one-way method. By using the hemi-nested PCR for the second round amplification, 5 of DLBCL were positive, but all of the fresh tonsil tissues were negative. The positive PCR products were sequenced and analyzed on the Internet, 3 of 8 cases obtained by one-way method were false positive, 5 positive cases amplified using hemi-nested PCR were all bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement. PCR products of 3 false positive cases were homologous to BAC331191 and LLNLR-245D11 in human chromosome 19 and RP11-498P10 in chromosome 1.

CONCLUSIONThere are false positive results using common primers for detecting bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement. The mechanism may be that highly homologous sequences to human genome exist in commonly used primers. The specificity of the diagnosis could be improved by hemi-nested PCR using the combination of primers we designed and the traditional ones.

Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain ; Genes, bcl-2 ; genetics ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological features, histogenesis and prognosis of mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC).

METHODSFive MTSCCs were studied with histochemical, immunohistochemical staining, electron microscopy, and review of the related literatures.

RESULTSFour cases of MTSCC were females and one was male. Three patients presented with flank discomfort and two were incidentally found with health examination. In gross examination, the tumors were circumscribed. The cut surface was solid, gray-white, yellow or red. Necrosis was present in one case of high-grade MTSCC. Microscopically, low-grade MTSCC was mainly consisted of tubular, spindle cell and mucinous stroma with relatively bland morphology, and mitoses were rare. While in the high-grade area of one case, the cells were spindle or polymorphic with severe atypia and high mitotic activity, without mucinous stroma and tubular structure. Mucin was positive for Alcian blue. The neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin (5/5), CKpan (5/5), CK7 (5/5), CK19 (5/5), 34betaE12 (1/5), EMA (5/5), E-cadherin (3/5), CD10 (1/5), P504S (5/5), and CAM5.2 (5/5). The Ki-67 index was low (< or = 5%) in the low-grade component, while it was high (15%) in the high-grade component. Ultrastructural study showed short microvilli along glandular lumens. The nuclear membrane was focally invaginated. Four cases were followed up for 3 to 52 months, and recurrence and metastasis were not found.

CONCLUSIONSMTSCC occurs predominantly in females and it is a rare kidney neoplasm. Most of MTSCCs are low-grade and the prognosis is relatively good. However, the patients of high-grade MTSCC should be closely followed up.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Leiomyosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nephrectomy ; Racemases and Epimerases ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effect and mechanisms of luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucuronide (LGU) on oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced H9C2 cardiomyocytes injury. METH-ODS The protective effect of LGU on OGD-induced H9C2 cardiomyocytes death were investigated by MTT assay. The microfilament change of H9C2 cardiomyocytes was detected by phalloidin staining and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate was also detected by LDH kit. In order to explore the possible mechanisms of LGU, ATP content, intracellular Ca2+fluorescent intensity and concentra-tion, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)and the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by ATP kit,CLSM(Fluo-3/AM probe),Ca2+kit,CLSM(JC-1 probe)and western blotting meth-od, respectively. RESULTS The inhibition of H9C2 cardiomyocyte survival rate inducedby OGD was improvedby pretreated with LGU in a concentrationdependent manner. The microfilaments injury as well as the increase of LDH leakage rate were also improvedby pretreated with LGU.The ATP content was significantly decreased,intracellular Ca2+fluorescent intensity and concentration were significantly increased and the MMP was significantly decreased 4 hafter OGD. LGU significantly reversed the de-crease of intracellular ATP content,the increase of Ca2+fluorescent intensity and concentration and the decrease of MMP.The release of cytochrome C,the expressionsof caspase-9 and caspase-3 in H9C2 cardiomyocytes were increased 16 h after OGD.LGUsignificantly inhibited the changes of these apop-tosis-related proteins. CONCLUSION LGU has a significant protective effect against OGD-induced H9C2 cardiomyocytes injury through inhibiting calcium overload,increasing ATP content,improving mi-tochondrial function and inhibiting apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo compare the nature of the metabolites formed from the phase I metabolism (hydroxylation and oxidation) and phase II metabolism (glutathionyl conjugation) of PCBs that have different chlorine substitution patterns. To discuss the structure-activity relationships and metabolic mechanisms of PCBs.

METHODS4-Cl-biphenyl (PCB3), 4,4'-Cl-biphenyl (PCB15), 3,4,3',4'-Cl-biphenyl (PCB77) were used for in vitro metabolic study. LC/MS and UV-Vis studies were performed for metabolites identification.

RESULTSThe cytochrome P-450 catalyzed hydroxylation rate decreased as the number of chlorine substitutions increased. In this reaction, PCB3 was fully metabolized, approximately half of the PCB15 was metabolized and PCB77 was not metabolized at all. The oxidation rate of PCB15-HQ was higher than that of PCB3-HQ under various oxidation conditions. The LC/MS and UV-Vis data suggest that in the conjugation reaction of PCB15-Q and GSH, the Michael addition reaction occurs preferentially over the displacement reaction.

CONCLUSIONThe metabolic profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are dramatically affected by chlorine substitution patterns. It is suggested that the metabolic profiles of PCBs are related to their chlorine substitution patterns, which may have implications for the toxicity of PCB exposure.

Hydroxylation ; Molecular Structure ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo screen for mutations of fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene in 4 patients with Marfan syndrome in order to provide prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.

METHODSPotential mutations of the FBN1 gene in the probands were detected with PCR and DNA sequencing. Subsequently, genomic DNA was extracted from amniotic fluid sampled between 18 to 20 weeks gestation. The mutations were confirmed with denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography - robust microsatellite instability (DHPLC-MSI) analysis with maternal DNA as reference. The products were further analyzed by direct sequencing and BLAST search of NCBI database.

RESULTSAn IVS46+1G>A substitution was identified in patient A at +1 position of intron 46 of the FBN1 gene. Two novel missense mutations were respectively discovered at positions +4453 of intron 35 in patient B (Cys1485Gly) and position +2585 of intron 21 in patient C (Cys862Tyr). In patient D, a novel deletion (c.3536 delA) was found at position +3536 of intron 28. In all of the 4 cases, the same mutations have been identified in the fetuses.

CONCLUSIONFBN1 gene analysis can provide accurate diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, which can facilitate both prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Fibrillin-1 ; Fibrillins ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Marfan Syndrome ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation, Missense ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sequence Deletion

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of a novel marker, kidney-specific-protein (Ksp)-cadherin, in renal epithelial neoplasms and its clinicopathologic significance.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study (using EnVision method) for Ksp-cadherin, CD10, vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen and CK7 was carried out in normal human kidney samples, as well as in 166 cases of primary renal neoplasms (including 120 cases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 20 cases of papillary RCC (type I papillary RCC 15 cases and type II papillary RCC 5 cases), 18 cases of chromophobe RCC and 8 cases of oncocytoma).

RESULTSKsp-cadherin was expressed in distal convoluted tubules of normal kidney in a membranous pattern. It was also detected in 23% (27/120) of clear cell RCC, 20% (4/20) of papillary RCC, 100% (18/18) of chromophobe RCC and 75% (6/8) of oncocytoma. High expression of CD10 and vimentin was noted in clear cell RCC and papillary RCC. CD10 was also expressed in chromophobe RCC in cytoplasmic pattern, compared with membranous staining in the other tumors. CK7 expression was mainly seen in chromophobe RCC and papillary RCC, while epithelial membrane antigen was expressed in all variants of RCC. On the other hand, the expression of Ksp-cadherin in clear cell RCC correlated with tumor stage and grade.

CONCLUSIONSKsp-cadherin is expressed in normal distal convoluted tubules and the related neoplasms. It carries relatively high specificity and sensitivity in diagnosis of chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma. The expression of Ksp-cadherin also correlates with biologic behavior of clear cell RCC.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic protozoan parasite that can infect almost all warm-blooded animals including humans with a worldwide distribution. Micronemes play an important role in invasion process of T. gondii, associated with the attachment, motility, and host cell recognition. In this research, sequence diversity in microneme protein 6 (MIC6) gene among 16 T. gondii isolates from different hosts and geographical regions and 1 reference strain was examined. The results showed that the sequence of all the examined T. gondii strains was 1,050 bp in length, and their A + T content was between 45.7% and 46.1%. Sequence analysis presented 33 nucleotide mutation positions (0-1.1%), resulting in 23 amino acid substitutions (0-2.3%) aligned with T. gondii RH strain. Moreover, T. gondii strains representing the 3 classical genotypes (Type I, II, and III) were separated into different clusters based on the locus of MIC6 using phylogenetic analyses by Bayesian inference (BI), maximum parsimony (MP), and maximum likelihood (ML), but T. gondii strains belonging to ToxoDB #9 were separated into different clusters. Our results suggested that MIC6 gene is not a suitable marker for T. gondii population genetic studies.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cats ; Cell Adhesion Molecules/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Deer ; *Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Goats ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sheep ; Swine ; Toxoplasma/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Toxoplasmosis/*parasitology ; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/*parasitology

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Poverty Areas ; Young Adult