Objective To study the diagnostic value of 3-dimensional CT reconstruction in posterior urethral strictures or ankylurethria.Methods Thirty patients with strictures or ankylurethria of posterior urethra caused by pelvic fracture underwent helical CT scan and 3-dimensional reconstruction of the urethral canal as well as radiographic urethrography before and post open urethral reconstruction to observe the urethral anatomy,the length and position of the urethral strictures,the depth of periurethral scar.Results The mean stricture or ankylurethria length measured by radiographic urethrography was 4.0 cm (range from 1.0 cm to 7.0 cm),and the correlation coefficient of stricture or ankylurethria length was 0.92,21 (70%) patients were diagnosed accurately by radiographic urethrography.The mean stricture or ankylurethria length measured by 3-dimensional CT reconstruction was 4.3 cm (range from 1.2 cm to 7.6 cm),and the correlation coefficient of stricture or ankylurethria length was 0.96,there were 28(93%) patients diagnosed accurately by 3-dimensional CT reconstruction.The mean stricture or ankylurethria length measured by open urethral reconstruction was 4.2 cm (range from 1.5 cm to 7.5 cm).Five patients with urethrorectal fistula were also diagnosed accurately by 3-dimensional CT reconstruction rather than by radiographic urethrography.Conclusions 3-dimensional CT reconstruction of the urethral canal can accurately evaluate the urethral anatomy,the length and position of the urethral strictures,as well as the depth of periurethral scar after crush injury and provide useful information for operation that may not be provided by radiographic urethrography.3-dimensional CT reconstruction may become the most valuable means for detecting posterior urethra strictures or ankylurethria with urethrorectal fistula.

OBJECTIVETo achieve differential diagnosis of normal and malignant gastric tissues based on discrepancies in their dielectric properties using support vector machine.

METHODSThe dielectric properties of normal and malignant gastric tissues at the frequency ranging from 42.58 to 500 MHz were measured by coaxial probe method, and the Cole?Cole model was used to fit the measured data. Receiver?operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the discrimination capability with respect to permittivity, conductivity, and Cole?Cole fitting parameters. Support vector machine was used for discriminating normal and malignant gastric tissues, and the discrimination accuracy was calculated using k?fold cross?

VALIDATION

RESULTSThe area under the ROC curve was above 0.8 for permittivity at the 5 frequencies at the lower end of the measured frequency range. The combination of the support vector machine with the permittivity at all these 5 frequencies combined achieved the highest discrimination accuracy of 84.38% with a MATLAB runtime of 3.40 s.

CONCLUSIONThe support vector machine?assisted diagnosis is feasible for human malignant gastric tissues based on the dielectric properties.

Objective:To evaluate the application value of fast frozen section in end-to-end anastomosis of pos-terior urethra. Methods.. 102 cases of posterior urethral atresia were randomly enrolled into two groups. After re-secting the scar tissue, 46 cases (group A) underwent end-to-end anastomosis of posterior urethra by the surgeon 's experience of urethral mucosa tissue. 56 cases (group B) underwent the same process by fast frozen section con-firmed urethral mucosa. All patients were pulled out catheter after 3 weeks. Clinical outcomes of the patients were compared between the two groups. Results: The successful results of group A is 78% (34/46), and group B is 93% (52/56). Conclusions: Frozen section can avoid mistakes due to lack experience of the operator, and guide to operation scientifically and accurately, and improve the surgical success rate.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEThe actual evaluation of immunological function is significant for studing the tumor development and devising a treatment in time. The aim of this study is to evaluate the immunological function of advanced lung cancer patients systematically, and to discuss the clinical significance.

METHODSThe nucleated cell amounts of advanced lung cancer patients and the healthy individuals were counted. The immune cell subsets and the levels of IL-4, INF-gamma, perforin and granzyme in CD8+T cells by the flow cytometry were measured. The proliferation activity and the inhibition ratio of immune cells to several tumor cell lines were evaluated by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe absolute amounts and subsets of T, B, NK cells of advanced lung cancer patients were lower than the healthy individuals (P < 0.05); However, the proportion of regulatory T cells of advanced lung cancer patients (4.00 +/- 1.84)% was lower than the healthy individuals (1.27 +/- 0.78)% (P < 0.05). The positive rates of IFN-gamma perforin, granzyme in CD8+T cells decreased while them in IL-4 did not in the advanced lung cancer patients compared to the healthy control group (P < 0.05). The proliferation activity of immune cells, the positive rate of PPD masculine and the inhibition ratio to tumor cells in the advanced lung cancer patients was lower than the healthy subsets obviously (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere was a significant immune depression in the advanced lung cancer patients compared to the healthy individuals.

Adult ; Aged ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Granzymes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perforin ; metabolism

This study evaluated the effects of sodium hypochlorite (NaOC1) with different concentrations and exposure time on the structural,compositional and mechanical properties of human dentin in vitro.Sixty dentin slabs were obtained from freshly extracted premolars,randomly distributed into four groups (n=15),and treated with 1％,5％,10％ NaOC1 and distilled water (control group),respectively,for a total of 60 min.Attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were carried out before,10 min and 60 min after the treatment.Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and flexural strength test were conducted as well.The results showed that dentins experienced morphological alterations in the NaOC1 groups,but not in the control group.Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that the carbonate:mineral ratio (C:M),Raman relative intensity (RRI),a-axis,c-axis length and full width at half maximum (FWHM) with the increase of time and concentration in the NaOC1 groups were not significantly different from those in the control group (P＞0.05).Nevertheless,the mineral:matrix ratio (M:M) increased and the flexural strength declined with the increase of concentration and the extension of time in the NaOC1 groups (P＜0.05).Additionally,it was found that the M:M and the flexural strength remained unchanged after 1％ NaOCl treatment (P＞0.05),and the morphology changes were unnoticeable within 10 min in 1％ NaOC1 group.These results indicated that NaOC1 has no significant effects on the inorganic mineral of human dentin;but it undermines and eliminates the organic content concentration-and time-dependently,which in turn influences the flexural strength and toughness of dentins.In addition,an irrigation of 1％NaOCl within 10 min can minimize the effects of NaOC1 on the structural and mechanical properties of dentin during root canal treatment.

OBJECTIVETo develop a near-infrared fluorescence imaging system based on the fluorescence properties of methylene blue.

METHODSAccording to the optical properties of methylene blue, we used a custom-made specific LED light source and an interference filter, a CCD camera and other relevant components to construct the near-infrared fluorescence imaging system. We tested the signal-to-background ratio (SBR) of this imaging system for detecting methylene blue under different experimental conditions and analyzed the SBR in urine samples collected from 15 Wistar rats with intravenous injection of methylene blue at the doses of 0, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, or 2.0 0 mg/kg methylene blue.

RESULTSThe SBR of this imaging system for detecting methylene blue was affected by the concentration of methylene blue and the distance from the sample (P<0.05). In the urine samples from Wistar rats, the SBR varied with the the injection dose, and the rats injected with 1.6 mg/kg methylene blue showed the highest SBR (8.71∓0.20) in the urine (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis near-infrared fluorescence imaging system is useful for fluorescence detection of methylene blue and can be used for real-time recognition of ureters during abdominal surgery.

In this study,the immunological characteristics of the PhoP protein were explored with a two-component system of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb).Bioinformatics was used to predict the B and T cell epitopes of the PhoP protein.A re-combinant expression plasmid was constructed by PCR analysis of the phoP sequence and cloning into the prokaryotic expres-sion vector pET-28a(+).Competent Escherichia coli BL21 cells were transformed with the recombinant plasmid and expres-sion was induced with IPTG.The recombinant PhoP protein was purified by affinity chromatography.Serum levels of PhoP-specific antibodies in Mtb-infected mice and tuberculosis(TB)patients were analyzed with an ELISA.BALB/c mice were im-munized with the PhoP recombinant protein by intramuscular injection.Sera of mice were collected and antibody titers were detected with an ELISA and specificity was assessed by West-ern blot analysis.Mouse splenocytes were isolated and the pro-portions of IFN-y-positive cells and cytokine levels were detec-ted with an ELISpot and ELISA,respectively.Bioinformatics i-dentified 24 B cell and 11 T cell epitopes of the PhoP protein.A prokaryotic recombinant vector of PhoP was successfully con-structed and the recombinant PhoP protein was obtained by purification.Specific antibody levels to PhoP in sera of Mtb in-fected mice and TB patients increased significantly,with preci-sion of 99.9％and 82.5％,and specificity of 100％,respectively.PhoP protein immunization successfully induced production of specific antibodies in mice.Stimulated by antigens in vitro,IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were significantly increased in the splenocytes of immunized mice.Immunization with the PhoP protein induce a humoral immune response and Thl-dominated cellular immu-nity,indicating that the PhoP protein was immunogenic with diagnostic efficacy for TB.These results lay a foundation to clari-fy the role of PhoP in Mtb infection and application for diagnosis and prevention of TB.

Objective To explore the erectile function preservational mechanism of Non-transecting urethroplasty(NTU) for posterior urethral stricture.Methods From May 2012 to September 2016,62 patients with posterior urethral stricture,who were treated with NTU,were enrolled in this study.The mean age was 37.5 years old,ranging 18-48 years old.The causes were pelvic fracture urethral injury in 53 cases and iatrogenic injury in 9 cases.Preoperative urethrography and urethroscopy revealed the strictures located in posterior urethra,which was at the distal of verumontanum.The mean length of stricture was 2.1 cm,ranging 0.5-2.5 cm.The average period between trauma and surgery was 6.4 months,ranging 3 months-2 years.All patients had no previous history of urethroplasty.Their sexual hormones were in normal level.Among those patients,the IIEF-5 scores were more than 12 and number of events during NPT test were more than twice.Finally,43 cases were underwent NTU and 19 cases accepted inferior pubectomy (IP)+ NTU.All patients had a general anesthesia.The bulbar urethra was mobilized dorsally from the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa and then extended proximally up toward the perineal membrane.Scar tissue surrounding the urethra was excised and inferior pubectomy (IP) was performed as a supplemental technique to keep the suturing position without tension.The ventral hemi-circumference was then sutured with interrupted 4-0 polyglycolic sutures with tension-free anastomosis.The 18-Fr indwelling catheter was inserted.Result Average follow-up was 20.2 months,ranged from 12 to 36 months.In NTU group,NPT test revealed no significant difference in number of events (2.7 ± 0.7 vs.3.0 ± 1.0,P ＞ 0.05),duration of best episode [(16.4 ± 3.5) min vs.(16.4 ± 3.8) min,P ＞ 0.05)] or tip rigidity [(31.2 ± 4.7) ％ vs.(30.8 ± 3.5) ％,P ＞ 0.05)] between pre-and post-operation,respectively.The IIEF-5 score (19.7 ± 1.9 vs.20.4±2.1,P＜0.05)and Qmax[(8.7 ±4.0)ml/s vs.(25.5 ±4.7)ml/s,P＜0.05)] increased significant pre-and post-operation,respectively.In IP + NTU group,Qmax [(8.4 ± 4.4) ml/s vs.(23.1 ± 3.5)ml/s,P ＜ 0.05)] increased significant pre and post operation.The NPT test revealed slight decrease in number of events(2.3 ± 0.6 vs.1.6 ± 1.0,P ＜ 0.05),duration of best episode [(15.6 ± 2.4) min vs.(14.5±2.4)min,P＜0.05)] or tip rigidity [(29.8±3.0)％ vs.(25.6 ±7.1)％,P＜0.05)] between pre-and post-operation,respectively.However,the IIEF-5 scores (17.3 ± 1.6 vs.16.5 ± 2.1,P ＜ 0.05) didn't show significant difference pre-and post-operation.Stricture recurrence occurred in 3 patients,the success rate was 95.2％ (59/62) during 12 months following.Conclusion NTU is not only a safe and promising procedure for posterior urethral stricture less than 2.5cm,but also a new minimally invasive approach to preserve erectile function.

Objective To explore the mechanism of the intestinal barrier damage caused by Blastocystis hominis infections in rats. Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, and the 1-, 3-, 6- and 9-week-infection groups, of 6 rats in each group. Rats in each infection group were orally infected with B. hominis trophozoites at a density of 2 × 10⁸ parasites per rat, and the control group was given an equal volume of phosphate buffered saline solution. The 7-hour urine samples were collected 1, 3, 6 and 9 weeks post-infection for the measurement of the intestinal permeability. Then, rats were sacrificed using the cervical dislocation method, and the cecum specimens were collected for the detection of the intestinal epithelial cell permeability. The expression of tight junction-related Occludin and Claudin - 1 genes and apoptosis-related Bcl - 2 and Bax genes was quantified in cecum epithelial cells using the real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay, and cell apoptosis was detected in the rat cecum using the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results The median urinary lactolose to mannitol ratios were 0.29, 0.72, 0.44, 0.46 and 0.38 in the control group, and the 1-, 3-, 6- and 9-week-infection groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (H = 12.09, P < 0.05). B. hominis invasion and epithelial injury were observed in intestinal epithelial cells of rats infected with B. hominis, and transmission electron microscopy displayed the destruction of tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells. The relative expression of Occludin, Claudin-1, Bcl-2 and Bax genes was 1.04, 0.62, 0.71, 0.68 and 0.96; 1.03, 0.61, 0.63, 0.76 and 0.86; 1.08, 0.70, 0.75, 0.74 and 1.03; and 1.00, 1.57, 1.33, 1.35 and 1.10 in the control group and the 1-, 3-, 6- and 9-week-infection groups, respectively, and all differences were statistically significant (F = 2.86, 2.85, 3.37 and 4.45, all P values < 0.05). The median number of positive staining cells were 1.00, 13.00, 9.00, 3.50 and 1.00 in rat cecum specimens in the control group, and the 1-, 3-, 6- and 9-week-infection groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (H = 22.95, P < 0.01). Conclusion B. hominis infection may cause an increase in the rat intestinal permeability through triggering the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells to destroy the tight junction between intestinal epithelial cells, thereby destroying the intestinal barrier function.

Objective To explore the dynamic expression of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 at the maternal-fetal interface of mice post-infection with Toxoplasma gondii at early pregnancy and examine its interaction with interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Methods A total of 20 mice at day 0 of pregnancy were randomly assigned into 4 groups, including the 12-day pregnancy control group (12 dpn group), 12-day pregnancy and infection group (12 dpi group), 18-day pregnancy control group (18 dpn group) and 18-day pregnancy and infection group (18 dpi group), respectively. On the 6th day of the pregnancy, mice in the 12 dpi and 18 dpi groups were injected intraperitoneally with 150 tachyzoites of the T. gondii PRU strain, while mice in the 12 dpn and 18 dpn groups were injected with the same volume of PBS. All mice in the four groups were sacrificed on 12th and 18^th day of the pregnancy, and the number of placenta and fetus was counted and the weight of placenta and fetus was measured. Then, the placental and uterine tissues of the pregnant mice in each group were sampled for pathological examinations. The mRNA expression of PD-1, PD-L1, T. gondii surface antigen SAG-1 and IFN-γ genes was quantified using a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay, and the correlation between PD-1 and IFN-γ expression was examined. In addition, the 12 dpn group, 12 dpi group, 18 dpn group, 18 dpi group, PBS negative control of the 12 pdi group and PBS negative control of the 18 dpi group were assigned, and the PD-1 expression was determined in the uterine and placenta tissues of the pregnant mice. Results Adverse pregnant outcomes were seen in mice in the 12 dpi and 18 dpi groups, including placental dysplasia and fetal maldevelopment, and the placental weights and fetal body weights were significantly lower in mice in the 12 dpi and 18 dpi groups than those in the 12 dpn and 18 dpn groups (t = 5.52, 11.44, 12.63 and 11.67, all P < 0.01). The histopathological examinations showed that the decidua and junctional regions of the placental tissues were loosely connected in the 12 dpi and 18 dpi groups, and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration and congestion were seen in the placental and uterine tissues. qPCR assay detected significant differences in PD-1, PD-L1, IFN-γ and SAG-1 expression in the placental and uterine tissues among the 12 dpn, 12 dpi, 18 dpn and 18 dpi groups (F = 22.48, 51.23, 9.61, 47.49, 16.08, 21.52, 28.66 and 238.90, all P < 0.05), and the PD-1, PD - L1, IFN - γ and SAG - 1 expression was all significantly higher in the placental and uterine tissues of mice in the 12 dpi group than in the 12 dpn group (all P values < 0.05). The PD-1 and PD-L1 expression was significantly lower in the placental tissues of mice in the 18 dpi group than in the 18 dpn group (all P values < 0.05), and the IFN-γ and SAG-1 expression was significantly higher in the placental and uterine tissues of mice in the 18 dpi group than in the 18 dpn group (all P values < 0.05), while the PD-1 and PD-L1 expression was significantly lower in the placental and uterine tissues of mice in the 18 dpi group than in the 12 dpi group (all P values < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed PD-1 expression in the inflammatory cells of the placental tissues of mice in the 12 dpi group, and no apparent PD-1 expression in the 18 dpi group, while strongly positive PD-1 expression was found in the uterine epithelium of mice in the 12 dpi group, and mildly strong expression was in the 18 dpi group. In addition, the IFN-γ mRNA expression was positively correlated with the PD-1 mRNA expression in placental (r_s = 0.99, P < 0.01) and uterine tissues of mice in the 12 dpi group (r_s = 0.97, P < 0.01) and in placental (r_s = 0.82, P < 0.01) and uterine tissues of mice in the 18 dpi group (r_s = 0.81, P < 0.01). Conclusions Following T. gondii infection at early pregnancy, the PD-1 and PD-L1 expression shows a remarkable rise at middle pregnancy and a reduction at late pregnancy in placental and uterine tissues of mice, which appears the same tendency with IFN-γ expression during the same time period, and PD-1 expression positively correlates with IFN-γ expression. The dynamic expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 on the maternal-fetal interface of mice may be mutually mediated by IFN-γ induced by T. gondii infection.