Objective To construct an aneurismal model with estrogen deficiency and investigate the mechanism of estrogen deficiency in the formation and development of intracranial aneurysm. Methods Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into experimental, sham-operative and blank control groups (n=10). Rats in the experimental group were ovariectomized and those in the sham-operative group were removed the adipose issue nearby the ovary only; while the rats in the blank control group were done nothing. Two weeks after the ovariectomized or sham operation, elastase dropped around the right external carotid artery and the crotch of the carotid artery and the carotid artery was ligated by two lines at 1.5 mm far from the crotch, and then sheared between the two lines to successfully induce the aneurysm. At 6 weeks of the successful construction of aneurysm model, the estrogen was detected and the aneurysm was harvested for pathological staining. Results The experimental group showed a lower estrogen level (105.00±12.96 pmol/L) than the sham-operative group (178.50±25.96 pmol/L) and the blank control group (180.40±18.70 pmol/L, P<0.05). Aneurismal length dilatation rates in the experimental group and the sham-operative group were (131.31±6.63)% and (109.90±3.44) %, respectively (P<0.05). Aneurismal diameter dilatation rates in the experimental group and sham-operative group were (125.10±5.49) % and (106.82±2.49) %, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion Estrogen deficiency may promote the formation and development of the intracranial aneurysm. This experiment provides a simple model for investigating the relationship between estrogen deficiency and aneurysm development.

BACKGROUNDCurrent surgical practice for nephron sparing surgery allows at least 1 cm margin of normal tissue around the tumour. However, recent studies show that the width of the margin is not important, even simple enucleation is as effective as partial nephrectomy. We explored whether margin size has significant impacts on clinical outcomes in nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma of 4 cm or less.

METHODSBetween 1998 and 2006, 115 patients with sporadic, pathologically confirmed, renal cell carcinoma 4 cm or less (T1a) and normal contralateral kidney were treated by nephron sparing surgery using a margin less than 5 mm. The surgical margin status was evaluated from frozen and permanent paraffin sections.

RESULTSMean and median tumour diameter were 3.3 cm and 3.5 cm (range 1.0-4.0). The mean margin width was 2.2 mm (median 2.0, range 0-6). In addition, 114 cases had margins 5 mm or less (99.1%), 97 cases (84.3%) had margin 3 mm or less, and 26 cases had margin zero (22.6%). None of the patients had positive surgical margins. No patients died during follow-up (mean 65 months). There were no any major surgical complications and no distant metastasis was detected. Local recurrence was detected in one case (0.9%) at a different site of the kidney.

CONCLUSIONSFor early localized renal cell carcinoma of 4 cm or less, as long as tumour is completely excised, the size of margin in nephron sparing surgery is not important. Nephron sparing surgery with 5 mm margin is enough for tumour control. It provides excellent renal function preservation, favourable long term progression free survival and is not associated with an increased risk of local recurrence.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrons ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of transurethral prostatectomy with the bipolar plasmakinetic technique (PKRP) in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSA total of 712 BPH patients underwent transurethral prostatectomy with the bipolar plasmakinetic technique. The patients averaged 70.6 years of age and 52 g (range 35-102 g) in estimated prostate weight preoperatively. Comparative analyses were made on the maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), residual urine volume and scores on IPSS and QOL obtained pre- and post-operatively.

RESULTSThe operations lasted 20-120 minutes (mean 51 min), the resected tissues weighed 15-96 g (mean 46 g), and no transurethral resection syndrome (TURS) occurred. The catheters were removed 4 -5 days after surgery. The patients were followed up for 1 -52 months (mean 27.6 mo). Obvious reduction was observed in the average Qmax from 4.7 ml/s preoperatively to 19. 1 ml/s postoperatively, in the mean IPSS score from 26.6 to 5. 8, and in the mean QOL score from 5.4 to 1.7, all with significant differences (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTransurethral prostatectomy with the bipolar plasmakinetic technique is a safe and effective means for the treatment of BPH.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of local application of cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen 4-Ig (CTLA4-Ig) adenovirus on the burn wound with alloskin grafting upon the murine immune function.

METHODSSixty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into A (operation control), B (CTLA4-Ig transfection) and C (normal control) groups, with 20 mice in each group. Skin wounds (full-thickness loss) sized 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm were created on the backs of mice in A and B groups. Then the skin grafts of the same size obtained from C57BL mice were grafted into the skin wounds. 0.1 g of cross-linking polyacrylic resin (carbomer cream) without adenovirus was daubed onto the wounds in A group, and the same amount of carbomer cream with adenovirus in titers of 5 x 10(9)/L was daubed onto the wounds in B group, while no treatment was given in C group. 1 ml of 10% SRBC (sheep red blood cell) was injected intraperitoneally to all the mice of the three groups on the 1st post injury day (PID). Splenocytes from BALB/c, C57BL and Kunming mice were harvested for mixed lymphocyte culture on 7, 14, 21 and 28 PIDs. Agglutination assay was used in the same time to detect the SRBC antibody titers.

RESULTSThe reaction of murine splenocytes in B group to the donor (C57BL) splenocytes was suppressed in a specific way (P < 0.05) within 14 PIDs. There was no difference in the titers of anti-SRBC antibody among the 3 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLocal application of CTLA4-Ig recombinant adenovirus exhibited no influence on the murine humoral immunity, but might induce systemic and specific T cell tolerance in immunity system.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; immunology ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Immune Tolerance ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Skin Transplantation ; immunology ; Transplantation, Homologous ; immunology