OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological characteristics of papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis.

METHODSUsing routine pathology and immunohistochemistry, we observed the surgically obtained samples from 2 cases of papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis, analyzed their pathological features and clinical presentations, and reviewed the related literature.

RESULTSThe 2 patients were both adult males. The tumors typically manifested as painless swelling in the epididymis, with occasionally dull pain and tenesmus in 1 of the cases. Pathologically, the lesions exhibited three morphological features, i. e., dilated ducts and small cysts surrounded by fibrous connective tissue, adenoid papillary hyperplasia into the cysts embraced by fibrovascular stroma, and acidophil substance present in the cysts. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumors were strongly positive for CK8/18, CK7, and EMA, but negative for CK20, CEA, MC, Calretenin, P53, P63, SMA, VHL, and CD10, with the positive rate of Ki-67 <1%. Follow-up visits revealed good prognosis in both cases.

CONCLUSIONPapillary cystadenoma of the epididymis is a rare benign tumor in the male urogenital system, which may be accompanied by the VHL syndrome. Surgery is the first choice for its treatment.

Adult ; Cystadenoma, Papillary ; chemistry ; pathology ; Epididymis ; Genital Neoplasms, Male ; chemistry ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Duodenum ; surgery ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the correlation relationship between acupuncture at Dicang (ST 4), Hegu (LI 4) and Houxi (SI 3) on the affected side of peripheral facial paralysis patients and activated areas in brain functional areas and central regulation mechanism of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) treatment.

METHODSEighteen cases with left peripheral facial paralysis were randomly divided into a Hegu group, a Dicang group and a Houxi group, 6 cases in each group. They were treated with electroacupuncture at left Dicang (ST 4), Hegu (LI 4) and Houxi (SI 3), respectively, and were examined with fMRI covering the whole brain at the same time. The fMRI data was analyzed by SPM software.

RESULTSIt was found that the left precentral gyrus area and the left postcentral gyrus area were activated when electroacupuncture at left Hegu (LI 4), and the right precentral gyrus area and the bilateral postcentral gyrus area were activated when electroacupuncture at left Dicang (ST 4), and there was no activated area at precentral gyrus area and post central gyrus area when electroacupuncture at left Houxi (SI 3).

CONCLUSIONThe sensory importation information from Hegu (LI 4) and Dicang (ST 4) can converge and coincide in the brain and may influence each other.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Facial Paralysis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Human Body ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Young Adult

The dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of the 50% alcohol extracts of Polygonum multiflorum was comparatively investigated on either normal or CCl4-induced chronic liver injury rats, by determining the general condition, serum biochemical indices and liver histopathology, coupled with the factor analysis. The dosages were 10 and 20 g raw materials per kg body weight. Compared with the normal control group, the normal high dose group showed significant increases of the serum alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), as well the frequent incidences of inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatic sinus enlargement and fiber stripes formation in histopathological sections. Compared with the model control group, the model low dose group showed significant declines of serum ALT, aspartate transaminase (AST) and total bile acid (TBA) (P < 0.05), as well the alleviation of vacuoles of hepatocytes, but no amelioration of the inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous tissue hyperplasia; moreover, the model high dose group showed significant degeneration declines of serum HMGB-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), as well the evident alleviation of vacuoles degeneration of hepatocytes, inflammatory cells infiltration and fibrosis degree. The factor analysis showed that the low dosage treatment had almost neither injuring effect on the normal rats nor protective effect on the model rats; while the high dosage treatment showed observable injuring effect on the normal rats, expressed by the significant increases of the factor-1 (HMGB-1, TNF-α and IL-1β as the main contributors) and factor-2 (TBIL, ALT and TBA as the main contributors) relative to the normal control group. The liver protective effect of the high dosage treatment could be observed with the significant reduction of the factor-1, indicating the effective alleviation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, it could illustrated the phenomenon of symptom-based prescription theory of Polygonum multiflorum on rat livers: the high dosage of the herb had either an injuring effect on normal rats, or a therapeutic effect on the rats with chronic liver injury.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bile Acids and Salts ; metabolism ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fallopia multiflora ; chemistry ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of Sodium Morrhuate on ECV-304 between its lipo- and normal preparation.

METHODSThe ECV-304 cell line was supplemented with Sodium Morrhuate and lipo-Sodium Morrhuate in order, and the result on morphology (microscope, Giemsa Staining and electron microscope), cell activity (MTT), and flow cytometer between the two preparation were compared.

RESULTSIn normal preparation group, cell's edema occurred. Chromatin was like catkins. Tumefaction and degeneration of mitochondrion and endoplasmic reticulum appeared. In lipo-Sodium Morrhuate group, the membrane was creased and processus appeared. Chromatin aggregates to the membrane of nucleus was like crescent, and then broken. The apoptotic body was formed. MTT changes showed that the curve of the normal preparation group was steep and the change time was short relatively, which cues the vital cells decreased sharply. The curve of lipo-Sodium Morrhuate group was gentle and the change time was long relatively, which cues the vital cells decreased slowly. The flow cytometer showed that typical apoptosis peak appeared.

CONCLUSIONThe normal preparation group shows an acute toxic effect on ECV-304 cell line, which result in a necrosis course, while lipo-Sodium Morrhuate shows a gradual releasing process, which may indicate a apoptosis course.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Sclerosing Solutions ; Sodium Morrhuate

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of aloesin and arbutin on normal cultured human melanocytes in synergetic method.

METHODSBuilding up the system of cultured human melanocytes. The cultured melanocytes in vitro were treated with the mixture of aloesin and arbutin. The cell viability and tyrosinase activity was measured by MTT assay, utilization of L-Dopa as the substrate respectively; melanin content was measured by image analysis system. Furthermore, the effects of the mixture on melanocytes were compared with that of aloesin and arbutin.

RESULTSThe mixture of aloesin and arbutin showed an inhibition on tyrosinase activity of human melanocytes and reduced significantly melanin content. Between the mixture and the single use of aloesin or arbutin, there is significant difference (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the mixture has little influence on melanocytes viability and there is negative significance.

CONCLUSIONThe mixture of aloesin and arbutin can significantly inhibit the tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis of cultured human melanocytes. It showed the effects of aloesin and arbutin in a synergistic manner. It is worth to give farther study later.

Arbutin ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of NGF, estrogens and minoxidil on the growth of human hair follicle in vitro.

METHODSIn a model of human hair follicle in vitro, the follicle was separately treated with the NGF, estrogens and minoxidil. The growth of the hair follicle was measured in length with an eyepiece micrometer. The effects of the NGF, estrogens and minoxidil were evaluated by measuring the rates of incorporation of 3H-TdR of DNA synthesis.

RESULTSThe growth of the human hair follicle was showing significantly faster in the 100 ng/ml NGF and 125 micrograms/ml minoxidil groups, compared with the control (P < 0.05), but the growth was significantly inhibited in the 0.5 microgram/ml 17 beta-E2 group (P < 0.05). There was no difference shown for the growth of the hair follicle in the group mixed with 100 ng/ml NGF and 0.5 microgram/ml 17 beta-E2 (P > 0.05). The rates of incorporation of 3H-TdR in the groups were shown that the results just correlated with the results of the above-mentioned method.

CONCLUSIONSThe 100 ng/ml NGF and 125 micrograms/ml minoxidil could increase the growth of human hair follicle while the 0.5 microgram/ml 17 beta-E2 could inhibit it. The 100 ng/ml NGF could neutralized the effect of the 0.5 microgram/ml 17 beta-E2.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Middle Aged ; Minoxidil ; pharmacology ; Nerve Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

Objective To explore a new technology system with single-portal and without special equipment to complete the arthroscopic treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods All the patients with CTS were randomly divided into two groups, modified endoscopic carpal tunnel release (MECTR) group (22 cases) and open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) group (24 cases). Nine parameters were evaluated, which including operation time, intraoperative complications, two-point discrimination 3 months after the operation, hospitalization time, scar pain score, incision infection rate, each patient's symptom amelioration (Kelly grading), the time needed to resume normal lifestyle and activity, symptoms of sympathetic dystrophy. Results No significant difference was observed between the MECTR group and OCTR group in regard to incision infection rate, intraoperative complications, two-point discrimination,symptoms of sympathetic dystrophy and clinical symptoms amelioration. In comparison to OCTS, MECTR significantly decreased operation time, hospitalization time, scar pain score and the time needed to resume normal lifestyle and activity. Conclusion MECTR for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome has higher patient satisfaction, shorter operation time and hospitalization time, earlier return to work or normal lifestyle, less postoperative scar pain, so it is an effective method for the treatment of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to observe the human hair follicle apoptosis status affected by fluorine and the antagonism effect by selenium in vitro.

METHODSThe single hair follicles were separated and cultured, then they were added in different concentrations of sodium fluoride and sodium selenite. Chosen the appropriate concentrations, they were divided into 7 groups. The TUNEL was used to investigate the apoptotic cells of different parts. The morphous of hair follicles was observed consecutively and electron microscope was used.

RESULTSWe found that in 1 mmol/L and 10 mmol/L sodium fluoride groups, when the human hair follicles in vitro were cultured on the 5th day, the apoptotic cells of outer root sheath (ORS), dermal sheath and hair papilla, hair bulb were obviously increased. But 0.01 mmol/L sodium selenite weakened the toxicity of 1 mmol/L sodium fluoride at the outer root sheath and hair bulb (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDifferent concentrations of sodium fluoride had different effect on the growth of human hair follicle in vitro which were cultured on 5th day. Sodium fluoride of certain concentration could accelerate the apoptosis of human hair follicle in vitro. Sodium selenite of certain concentration could act antagonism to the toxicity of sodium fluoride.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sodium Fluoride ; pharmacology ; Sodium Selenite ; pharmacology ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo find the reasons why patients always have temporomandibular disorders (TMD) after condylar fracture by analyzing the stress distribution change of the condylar surface whose subcondylar fracture ware fixed by miniplate during the whole healing process.

METHODSAnalyzing the stress distribution change of the condylar surface whose subcondylar fracture were fixed by miniplate during the whole healing process by three-dimension finite element method (3D FEM).

RESULTSDuring the whole healing process of the fracture, the miniplate osteosynthesis was helpful to the biomechanics environment rehabilitation of the condylar local, but it still had difference with normal after fixing 12 weeks long.

CONCLUSIONThe difference of stress distribution of condylar surface that fractured and fixed by miniplate with normal may be part of the reason of TMD after the subcondylar fracture miniplate osteosynthesis.

Adult ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Mandibular Condyle ; Mandibular Fractures