Objective To study the prevalence of the mtDNA A1555G gene mutation in Chinese population with nonsyndromic hearing impairment.Methods PCR-RFLP,directional sequencing of PCR products were applied in 325 patients with nonsyndromic hearing impairment and 50 normal controls.Results The mutation rate of the mtDNA A1555G was 14.5% (47/325),28 of 47 cases were homozygosis,19 of 47 cases were heterozygosis.The same mutation was not detected in the control subjects.Conclusion The mutation rate of the mtDNA A1555G is relatively high in the Chinese NSHI patients,the mutation type includes both heterozygosis and homozygosis.

We describe an unusual complication of coital trauma in a 29-year-old man who presented with a 3-year history of hematospermia and post-coital gross hematuria. Using urethroscopy under a semi-tumescent penis, an isolated urethral injury with active bleeding was detected at the prostatic urethra. The patient was successfully treated with transurethral fulguration. We suggest that isolated posterior urethral injury is one of the causes of male coital trauma, which might be asymptomatic when the penis is flaccid but show symptomatic bleeding when the penis is erect.
Adult ; Coitus ; Ejaculation ; Female ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Male ; Urethra ; injuries ; Urethral Diseases ; etiology

Abstract: Due to the continued emergence of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the ongoing pandemic has resulted in severe mortality over the past two years. After the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants, the most recent new variant of concern (VOC) strain to emerge is Omicron (B.1.1.529), which evolved as a result of the accumulation of a large number of mutations. The Omicron variant, which has a much higher transmission rate than the Delta variant, soon replaced the Delta variant and others, is now the dominant variant worldwide. The emergence of Omicron poses new challenges for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and has raised a number of concerns worldwide. Recently, cases of Omicron infection have been reported in several parts of China, and therefore this paper provides a comprehensive analysis and summary of the epidemiology and immune escape mechanisms of the Omicron variant. We also suggest some therapeutic strategies against the Omicron variant, including rapid diagnosis, genome analysis of emerging variants, ramping up of vaccination drives and receiving booster doses, updating the available vaccines, designing of multivalent vaccines able to generate hybrid immunity, up-gradation of medical facilities and strict implementation of adequate prevention and control measures need to be given high priority to handle the on-going COVID-19 pandemic successfully.

AIMTo describe an unusual symptom of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSA patient presented to our urology clinic having experienced post-coital gross hematuria for 2 years. He had not experienced lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). A series of examinations were performed to determine the source of bleeding.

RESULTSThe prostate was defined as the active bleeding source responsible for the patient's post-coital hematuria. Endoscopic fulguration did not alleviate the symptom. The use of dutasteride, a dual inhibitor of 5alpha-reductase, solved the problem.

CONCLUSIONThis study reports for the first time that post-coital gross hematuria is one of the clinical presentations of BPH, which can be successfully treated with 5alpha-reductase inhibitor.

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors ; Azasteroids ; therapeutic use ; Coitus ; physiology ; Dutasteride ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Hematuria ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Urinary Tract

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papilloma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Radiography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the management experience with transnasal endoscopic technique for meningoencephalocele.

METHODSNine patients with endonasal encephalomeningocele were managed by transnasal endoscopic surgery, and the skull base defect was repaired by fascia.

RESULTSEight cases were successfully managed at the time of the first operation, and no relapse case was found during 1 to 4 years follow-up. Only one case of a two years old child relapsed with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea one month after operation. During the second operation, titanium mesh uncovering was found, and replacement of titanium mesh by fascia via skull base defect was done, without relapse one and half years after the second operation. Another case of a one year old child got a fever one day after operation, but no white blood cell was found in the cerebrospinal fluid, and the temperature recovered to normal after release cerebrospinal fluid management. There were no complications of cranial infection, hemorrhage, edema and water retention in brain to be found in all cases.

CONCLUSIONSIt is not only minimally invasive, safety and efficiency of transnasal endoscopic technique for meningoencephalocele, but also had a clear operating view for better recolonization of the position of leak and the structure of operating field, therefore, transnasal endoscopic technique is the first choice for the management of endonasal encephalomeningocele. The accurate localization of leak and selection of the appropriate repairing materials are the key point for the successful operation.

Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Encephalocele ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; surgery ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; methods

OBJECTIVETo prepare a decellularized whole laryngeal scaffold by utilizing a perfusion-decellularized technique, reseed cells on it, and construct decellularized laryngeal muscles.

METHODSPerfusion decellularized larynxes were obtained by common carotid arterious perfusion with detergents. Then they were performed by macroscopic view, histological examination, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cartilage viability. Decellularized laryngeal scaffold were then reseeded with inducted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Composites were transferred into greater omentums of rabbits after one day's adherence and harvested after eight weeks. Macroscopic view, histological examination and immunohistochemistry were performed.

RESULTSPerfusion larynxes became transparent after two hours. Histology and SEM indicated that perfusion method showed better decullularized effect. More vintages and collagen fibers but no intact cell or nuclei were retained in the decellularized matrix. Porosity measured by Image pro plus 6.0 was 80.4% +/- 3.2% (x +/- s). Chondrocyte vitality assay indicated chondrocyte vitality rate in the perfusion group was 86.9% +/- 1.5%. After eight weeks, vascularization formed and integrated cartilage frameworks still remained. Histological examination could clearly show the presence of muscle bundles and vessels. Immunohistochemical examination indicated that sarcomeric-alpha actin expressed positively in corresponding areas.

CONCLUSIONSIt is feasible to reseed MSCs into the decellularized laryngeal muscle matrix for constructing tissue-engineered laryngeal muscles. This in vivo maturation into the omentum could be the first step before in situ implantation of the construct.

Animals ; Extracellular Matrix ; Feasibility Studies ; Laryngeal Muscles ; cytology ; physiology ; Larynx, Artificial ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining sorafenib with chemotherapy in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, American Society for Clinical Oncology abstracts, and European Society for Medical Oncology abstracts were searched. Randomized clinical trials that compared the efficacy and safety of sorafenib plus chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative advanced breast cancer with placebo plus chemotherapy were eligible. The endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), duration of response (DOR), overall response rate (ORR), clinical benefits, and adverse effects. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.2.6 (The Nordic Cochrane Centre), and the fixed-effect model weighted by the Mantel-Haenszel method was used. When considerable heterogeneity was found (p<0.1), further analysis (subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, or random-effect model) was performed to identify the potential cause. The results are expressed as hazard ratios or risk ratios, with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The final analysis included four trials comprising 844 patients. The results revealed longer PFS and TTP, and higher ORR and clinical benefit rates in patients receiving sorafenib combined with chemotherapy compared to those receiving chemotherapy and placebo. OS and DOR were similar in the two groups. Meanwhile, the incidence of some adverse effects, including hand-foot skin reaction/hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, rash, and hypertension, were significantly higher in the sorafenib arm. CONCLUSION: Sorafenib combined with chemotherapy may prolong PFS and TTP. This treatment was associated with manageable toxicities, but frequent dose interruptions and reductions were required.
Arm ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Diarrhea ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy* ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Medical Oncology ; Odds Ratio ; Population Characteristics ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Skin ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of serum sex hormones and parathyroid hormone (PTH) with the biochemical markers of bone turnover in aged men.

METHODSWe collected the laboratory data of 465 men aged 60- 93 (73. 1 +/- 8. 3) years old, who came for routine physical examinations in our hospital. We obtained the levels of serum follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), PTH, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25(OH) D3), and bone turnover markers C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), osteocalcin (OC) and amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP). We also determined free testosterone (FT) , bioactive testosterone (BT) , testosterone secretion index (TSI) and FT index (FTI), and analyzed the correlation of each index with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.

RESULTSThe concentrations of serum FSH, LH, and SHBG increased, while the levels of FT, BT, TSI, FTI, PTH, CTX, OC and PINP decreased with age, especially in those over 80 years old (P <0.05). PTH was positively correlated with CTX, OC and PINP (r =0. 227, 0. 269 and 0. 162, P <0. 01), even after the adjustment for age, while SHBG negatively correlated with OC (r = -0. 100, P <0.05). The bone turnover markers increased with the elevation of the PTH quartiles, with significant differences between the first and the fourth quartile (P <0. 01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age was correlated inversely with CTX, OC and PINP ( beta = -0. 126, -0. 141 and -0. 122, P <0.05) , PTH positively with the three markers (beta = 0. 196, 0.279 and 0.189; P <0. 001), and SHBG negatively with OC ( beta = -0. 100, P <0.05) .

CONCLUSIONAging is the fundamental cause of reduced bone turnover in aged men. The levels serum PTH and SHBG are significantly associated with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; physiology ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immunogenicity of the decellularized laryngeal scaffold.

METHODSTwelve perfused, decellularized laryngeal scaffolds were obtained from rabbits through common carotid artery perfusion with detergents. The twelve decellularized laryngeal scaffolds and the twelve fresh larynxes were then implanted in para-laryngeal muscles of rabbits and harvested after two weeks, four weeks, twelve weeks and twenty-four weeks, respectively. Macroscopic view, histological examination and lymphocyte infiltration test were performed.

RESULTSThe decellularized larynxes were implanted and preserved the laryngeal extracellular matrix and laryngeal architecture. The decellularized larynx did not show obvious immunological rejection after implanted into the para-laryngeal muscles of the recipient rabbits. The volume of implanted larynx became smaller but retained cartilage scaffold. The larynxes in the control group presented the serious immunological rejection and the majority tissues of the larynxes were disintegrated and substituted by the fibrous connective tissues after four weeks. The peripheral tissues were damaged and necrotic at different degrees. The quantity of the lymphocyte infiltration in the control group was higher than that in the experiment group and the result had the statistical significance (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPerfused, decellularized technique can construct a low immune laryngeal cartilage scaffold which could be a satisfactory material for laryngeal repair.

Animals ; Cartilage ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; immunology ; Larynx, Artificial ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Male ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds