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 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.

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.

Objective To compare clinical effects of mini-incision pulmonary lobectomy with or without thoracoscopic assistance. Methods A total of 64 patients, in order of precedence of the operation, were divided into two groups according to a random numbers table. The Group A was given thoracoscopy-assisted mini-incision pulmonary lobectomy while the Group B underwent simple mini-incision lobectomy. Results The length of incision was significantly shorter in the Group A (5.3?0.6 cm) than in the Group B (8.9?0.5 cm) (t=-24.360,P=0.000); the intraoperative blood loss in the Group A (279.7?74.0 ml) was significantly less than that in the Group B (331.7?42.5 ml) (t=-3.330,P=0.002); the drainage volume at the first postoperative day was remarkably less in the Group A (162.5?47.4 ml) than in the Group B (202.0?49.2 ml) (t=-3.220,P=0.002). Complications were noted in 5 patients in the Group A and 11 patients in the Group B (?~2=4.099,P=0.043). The Group A presented a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay (8.0?2.2 d) than the Group B (9.7?1.9 d) (t=-3.280,P=0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in the operating time between the two groups (t=-1.130,P=0.262). A follow-up observation was carried out in 57 patients for 6~12 months. Local recurrence was observed in 1 patient with stage Ⅲa lung squamous carcinoma at 6 months after operation in the Group A, whereas in the Group B, distant metastasis with local recurrence was found in 2 patients with stage Ⅲa small-cell lung carcinoma and in 1 patient with lung adenocarcinoma at 7~8 months after surgery. All the 4 patients died within 1 year. Three patients ended with other diseases unassociated with the surgery. No local recurrence or distant metastasis was found in the remaining 50 patients. Conclusions As compared with simple mini-incision pulmonary lobectomy, thoracoscopy-assisted mini-incision procedure provides less surgical invasion, fewer complications, and quicker postoperative recovery.

Objective To research the feasibility and superiority of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) in the diagnosis and treatment of thoracic traumas.Methods Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was used in 40 patients with thoracic traumas,including thoracic exploration,repair of pulmonary laceration,and evacuation of clotted hemothorax.[WTHZ]Results All the 40 patients were cured,including simple VATS in 31 patients,thoracoscopy-assisted mini-incision surgery in 8 patients,and conversion to open surgery in 1 patient.The time of operation was 79.9?33.1 min.The amount of blood clots and noncondensing blood cleared was 567.5?177.8 ml.The closed thoracic drainage tube was removed at 24~48 h postoperatively,with a drainage volume of 220?45.6 ml.The length of hospital stay was 4~13 d(mean,8.7 d).The sutured wound healed by first intention in all the patients.No postoperative complications were observed.Follow-up reviews in 35 patients for 6~12 months(mean,8.6?2.6 months) revealed uneventful recovery and no trauma-related complications.Conclusions As compared with conventional open surgery,VATS has shown advantages of exact diagnosis,timely management,little invasion,and quick recovery for patients with thoracic traumas.

50%) rate of 11.6%.Conclusions Endovascular stent placement is a safe and effective procedure and may be selected as the first choice for severe subclavian arterial occlusion.Short-term follow-up shows a satisfactory clinical outcome.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of thoracoscopy-assisted mini-incision procedure in patients with lung cancer.Methods From January 2003 to June 2003,66 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were treated in our hospital by lobectomy combined with mediastinal lymph node resection using thoracoscopy-assisted mini-incision(36 patients,VATS Group)or traditional surgery(30 patients,traditional group).The clinical and follow-up data of the two groups were compared after the operation.Results No significant difference was found in the operation time between the VATS and traditional groups(114.6?47.4)min vs(123.3?43.9)min,t=-0.768,P=0.449],while the postoperative hospital stay of the VATS group was significantly shorter than that in the traditional group (9.2?1.4)d vs(10.5?1.7)d,t=-3.408,P=0.001].Log-rank test showed that the survival curve in the two groups was comparable(?2=0.270,P=0.605).Cox regression model indicated that the pathological characteristics(risk ratio:3.912,P=0.000),TNM stage(risk ratio:3.737,P=0.000),and lymph node metastasis(risk ratio:15.495,P=0.000)were independent,unfavorable prognostic factors for the disease;whereas,no relation was detected between the thoracotomy incision and prognosis(P=0.414).Conclusions Thoracoscopy-assisted mini-incision procedure is a safe and reliable approach for patients with lung cancer with satisfying outcomes.