OBJECTIVETo measure the levels of urinary prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients with or without overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and determine whether urinary PGE2 can serve as a biomarker for BPH-related OAB.

METHODSThis study included 86 BPH patients and 34 male control subjects without lower urinary tract symptoms. Based on the OAB symptom scores (OABSS), the BPH cases were classified as BPH/OAB (n =49) and BPH/non-OAB (n = 37) to be treated orally with tamsulosin alone and tamsulosin + tolterodine-tartrate, respectively, for 12 weeks. We measured the urinary PGE2 levels of all the subjects by ELISA before and after medication, the total PGE2 level normalized to the concentration of the urinary creatinine (PGE2/Cr). We also obtained the residual urine volume, Qmax, prostate volume, PSA level, IPSS and OABSS of the BPH patients, and compared them among different groups.

RESULTSThe baseline PGE2/Cr level was significantly lower in the control than in the BPH/OAB and BPH/non-OAB groups (both P <0.05), and higher in the BPH/OAB than in the BPH/non-OAB patients (P <0.05). After 12 weeks'treatment, the urinary PGE2/Cr level was remarkably decreased with relief of the OAB symptoms in the BPH/OAB patients (P <0.05) , but not in the BPH/non-OAB group (P >0.05). The concentration of PGE2 was not correlated with the IPSS storage score and OABSS of the BPH/OAB patients (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with BPH/OAB have significantly higher urinary PGE2/Cr levels than those with BPH/non-OAB and normal controls, which tend to decrease with the alleviation of OAB symptoms. Our findings suggest that urinary PGE2 can be a potential biomarker for BPH/OAB.

Aged ; Biomarkers ; urine ; Case-Control Studies ; Dinoprostone ; urine ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; urine ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; complications ; urine

Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Child ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; enzymology ; etiology ; pathology ; virology ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; pathology ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Male

Torpor refers to a state in which the metabolic activity in the body of the living animal is greatly reduced during the period of reduced food supply, which is manifested as a substantial decrease in body temperature, metabolic level, and exercise level. Mammals have a strict body temperature regulation system to maintain a constant body temperature. When the energy supply is insufficient for a long time, some mammals will enter a hibernation state. Torpor is very similar to the hibernation state. The research on the mechanism of torpor state is of great significance in aerospace, military medicine and other fields. This review summarizes the specific mechanisms regulating the occurrence of torpor from four aspects: adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (adcyap) neurons, leptin, pyroglutamylated RFamide peptide (QRFP) neurons, and sympathetic nervous system, aiming to provide ideas for further research on the mechanism of torpor.

Objective To explore the effect of budesonide(BUD) on dendritic cell(DC) and airway inflammation in the asthmatic mice.Methods Forty female Kunming mice were divided into 4 groups:asthmatic model group,therapeutic control group,BUD treated group,and normal control group,with 10 mice in each group.Mice were sensitized by an intraperitoneal injection of 50 ?g ovalbumin(OVA) adsorbed to 1 mg aluminum hydroxide dissolved in 0.2 mL saline.Animals were boosted on the 14th day in the same way.From the 21th to 35th days,and mice were challenged with 10 g/L aerosolized OVA for 30 min a day to establish a murine model of asthma.To evaluate the effect of BUD,60 minutes prior to OVA exposure,the mice were treated with 1 mg aerosolized BUD or placebo(saline).Control animals were sensitized intraperitoneally with saline and challenged with aerosolized saline alone.Eosinophil(EOS) count,degree of mucus secretion and DC count around the airways were measured by haematoxylin and eosin staining,periodic acid schiff's staining,immunochemistry technique and computerized image analysis system.Results In asthmatic model group,EOS count,DC count and the degree of mucus secretion around the airways were increased compared with nomal control group(P_a0.05).In BUD treated group,EOS count,DC count and the degree of mucus secretion around the airways were decreased compared with the asthmatic model group(P_a

Background A stable diabetic cataract animal model is a premise for screening and evaluating the drug for cataract therapy.Galactose cataract model is widely used in relevant experimental study,but the onset,extent and the type of lens opacification may be different due to different modeling way.Objective This study was to investigate the manifestations and pathological characteristics of cataract induced by D-galactose.Methods Fifty-six SPF SD rats were randomly divided into cataract-model group and control group and 28 rats for each group.50% D-galactose feed was given daily in model group,and regular feed was given in control group.Lenses of rats were examined under the slit lamp through the 30-day period at a 2-day interval,and then the opacity of lenses was graded on the modified Suryanarayana criteria.The body weight of rats was recorded and compared between two groups at day 5,10,15,20,25 and 30.The lenses samples were obtained for the histopathological examination by hemotoxylin and eosin staining.The wet weight,dry weight of the lenes and their ratio were detected and compared between these two groups.The use of animals followed the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The body weight was reduced in model rats compared with control rats with the statistically significant difference from 10 days through 30 days(P＜0.05).The different grades of opacification of lens cortical and nuclear progressed in model rats throughout the experiment duration,but the lenses were clear in control rats.The slit-lamp microscopy and pathological examinations revealed that lenses opacity in model rats started from the cortex at the equator zone and developed towards central zone gradually with the lapse of experimental time.Following the entire opacity of lens cortex,lens nucleus were cloudy and expanded.The swelling and degeneration of the fiber cells in lens cortex,the differentiation,migration and denuclearation delay of lens epithelial cells were seen in model rats under the light microscope.The wet weight of lenses was increased and the dry weight was decreased in model rats in comparison with control rats in experimental 30 days,showing significant difference between two groups(t=138.571,t=52.468,P＜0.05).Conclusion The development of galactose-induced cataract animal model resemble one of age-related cortical cataract in human with the similar generating mechanism.This cataract model is reproducible and classifiable.

Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery

A new method of determination of COHb is reported in this paper by two- wavelength second-derivative spectrophotometry.Blood was diluted with a solution of THAM containing Na_2S_2O_4.The second-derivative spectrum was measured in the region of 500-600 nm and the derivative absorbance differerce ?Ax was deter mined at the wavelengths of 564 nm and 576 nm.Then the solution was satura- ted with CO gas.The second-derivative spectrum of COHb was measured in the same region.The derivative absorbance difference ?A_(100) was determined at the same wavelengths.The COHb in blood was calculated by the ratio of ?Ax to ?A_(100).The results of determination of COHb in standard blood samples were in good agreement with the theoretical values.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Manipulations ; Osteitis ; pathology ; therapy ; Sacroiliac Joint ; pathology ; Sclerosis ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the clinical and X-ray features of bone lesion in early congenital syphilis. Methods Between 1997 and 2005, 48 cases of early congenital syphilis were diagnosed. Among those 48 cases, there were 16 cases with bone lesions detected. The clinical and radiographic features of these 16 cases of bone lesion in early congenital syphilis were retrospectively analyzed. There were 10 males and 6 females with an age between 25-57 d. All patients were confirmed with serology and radiographs of limbs. They were given Penicilin G of 15-20 WU?kg-1?d-1, 3 times a day in a total of 14 days for one course of treatment. Results Rapid plasma reagent test(RPR) of all the cases was positive and they were 3 cases with 1∶128, 2 cases with 1∶64, 6 cases with 1∶32, 3 cases with 1∶16 and 2 cases with 1∶8. All the cases were positive for TPPA. 30 parents of 16 cases were tested for RPR and TPPA. The results showed that 16 mothers were positive for RPR, 13 fathers were positive for RPR. All the parents were positive for TPPA, and negative for HIV test. The main clinical features included active disorder, swelling of involved limbs, malnutrition, light body weight and multi-organ functional lesion. The main X-ray features were metaphysitis, periostitis and osteomyelitis involving all of the long bones of the extremities. Widen of the junction between epiphysis and diaphysis was the characteristic features of early congenital syphilis. After treatment, RPR became negative and sclerotic lesion was recovered and only remain periosteum proliferation. Hutchinson teeth were seen in some patients. Conclusion Bone lesions in early congenital syphilis has its characteristic clinical and radiographic features. The bone lesion could be cured after effective treatment.