Objective To investigate the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Beijing. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed at Beijing communities in men aged over 50 years. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire was used to evaluate the symptoms. Transabdominal ultrasonography was used to measure prostate size and the residual urine volume(RUV). Uroflowmetry was performed to record the maximum flow(Q_(max)). One-way ANOVA was used to analysis the differences. Results 1644 subjects were enrolled and the mean age was 64. 5 years (range 50 - 93 years). The mean IPSS, prostate weight andQ_(max) were 9. 9±8. 2, (30. 8± 19.4) and (14. 7 ± 7. 5)ml/s, respectively. They had correlation with age (r=0. 388,0. 262, - 0.371). The prevalence of moderate-severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) was 50. 8% (835/1644). Prostate volume was greater than 20 ml in 69. 7%(1146/1644) of the subjects.Q_(max) was less than 15 ml/s in 53. 8% (883/1642) of the subjects. Conclusions In men age over 50 years in Beijing, there is positive correlation between LUTS, prostate size and age, and negative correlation between Q_(max) and age. The prevalence of BPH, defined as IPSS greater than 7, maxium flow rate less than 15 ml/s and prostate size greater than 20 ml, is 26. 8%(441/1644).

Objective: To observe the effects of interferon-induced protein 204 (p204) over-expression on apoptosis, proliferation and migration of aortic vascular adventitial ifbroblast (VAFs) in experimental rats.
Methods: Our research included in 3 groups: Iif204-Lv group, in whichVAFs were infected by Iif204-recombined lentivirus, Con-Lv group, in which VAFs carried the empty vector without virus, Blank control group, in which VAFs were untreated. VAFs proliferation was examined by MTT method, cell apoptosis was measured by lfow cytometry and the migration was detected by scratching assay and transwell chamber method. The mRNA and protein expressions of p204, p53 and p21were evaluated by real-time q RT-PCR and Western blot analysis respectively.
Results: Compared with Con-Lv and Blank control groups, Iif204-Lv group had decreased VAFs proliferation (by OD value) at 48 hours: (0.53 ± 0.05) vs (0.66±0.03) and (0.63 ± 0.06), at 72 hours: (0.89 ± 0.06) vs (1.02 ± 0.06) and (1.01 ± 0.07); distance of cell migration (by pixel): (61.00 ± 1.83) vs (74.50 ± 6.25) and (75.50 ± 7.85); number of cell migration: (61.75 ± 10.69) vs (155.25 ± 10.21) and (153.75 ± 9.40), allP<0.05. VAFs apoptosis rates were similar among different groups. Compared with Con-Lv and Blank control groups, Ifi204-Lv group presented up-regulated mRNA expressions of p204 (3.45 ± 0.15) vs (2.09 ± 0.10) and (2.06 ± 0.09); p53 (3.41 ± 0.09) vs (2.06 ± 0.07) and (2.10 ± 0.06); p21 (3.01 ± 0.08) vs (2.05 ± 0.06) and (2.11 ± 0.08), allP<0.05.
Conclusion: p204 over-expression inhibits VAFs proliferation and migration which might be partly related to the activation of p53 and p21 expression in experimental rats.

Objective:To discuss the diagnotic and therapeutic value of endoscopy on chro-nic pancreatitis(CP).Methods:To analyse the results of endoscopy in 72 cases respectively.Results:Of 72 cases,69 cases finished the endoscopy,and the success rate was 96%.ERCP showed duodenal papillary stenosis in 61 cases,and thin-diameter-pancreatic duct in 7 cases.After therapentic endoscopy,including ERCP,endoscopic sphincterotomy,and endoscopic stent-placement,the symptoms of the patients relieved at different extent,and the effective rate was 100%.Conclusion:The thinning change of the pancreatic duct is one of imaging feature in chronic pancreatits.Simple duodenal papillary stenos is may be the unigue sign during ERCP.Duodenal papillary stenosis and stone are the main cause of chronic pancreatitis.Therapeutic endoscopy can protect some patients from surgery.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in aged men and associated risk factors in Beijing. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in communities of Beijing involved 1656 men aged over 50 years.The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5),Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory for Urology ( O'Leary 1995 ) and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)questionnaires was recorded.The body mass index (BMI),prostate size was measured.The survey was conducted to make sure if the patients had diabetes,high blood pressure,hyperlipidemia,cerebrovascular history,and smoking and drinking situation.Pearson's X2 test and unconditional logistic regression were used to investigate the factors associated with sexual dysfunction. Results 1644 subjects were enrolled.The incidence of ED,reduction of sexual desire and defective ejaculation was 90.45％,60.04％ and 38.81％ respectively,and significantly different according to age ( P ＜ O.05 ). Age was positively correlated with ED (3 =0.12,P＜0.05),reduction of sexual desire (β =0.10,P＜0.05) and defective ejaculation (β =0.10,P ＜ 0.05 ) ; ED was significantly associated with BMI (β =0.07,P ＜ 0.05 ).Hypertension and prostate size were risk factors for reduction of sexual desire and defective ejaculation; There was correlation between drinking and defective ejaculation ( β =- O.31,P ＜ 0.05 ). Conelusions Compared with high prevalence of ED and lower sexual desire,the incidence of defective ejaculation were lower; this may reflect the sexual activities of aged male were more active compared with the less success of really erection.The prevalence of ED,reduction of sexual desire or defective ejaculation increased with age.BMI was the risk factor for ED.Enlarged prostate and hypertension was associated with reduction of sexual desire,and drinking was the risk factor for defective ejaculation.

Objective:To study interferon alpha (IFN-α) inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis induction of human brain vascular adventitial fibroblasts(HBVAFs)via IFI16.Methods:Cultured HBVAFs were treated with transfection IFI16 siRNA and/or IFN-α in vitro instantaneously.The protein and mRNA levels of IFI16,P53,P21 were measured by Western blot and Real-time PCR.MTT was used to detect the cell proliferation of the HBVAFs.Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results:IFN-α with terminal concentration of 2 000-5 000 kU/L induce significantly expression of IFI16 in HBVAFs,without any significant difference.Stimulated with 2 000 kU/L IFN-α up-regulated the expression of P53,P21 at protein and mRNA levels,and inhibited the cell proliferation and promote cells apoptosis in HBVAFs.Such effect was restrained by transfection with IFI16 siRNA into HBVAFs.Conclusion:IFN-α inhibits HBVAFs proliferation and induces apoptosis may partly relate to the increased IFI16 expression.

Objective To investigate the effect of interferon alpha ( IFN-α) on apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMCs) in rats and the related mechanism. Methods The cells were divided into three group:group A, group B and group C.Group A was transfected with nonspecific siRNA, group B was intervened with IFN-α and transfected with nonspecific siRNA, and group C was intervened with IFN-α and transfected with IFI204 siRNA. All the cells were cultured for 48 h. The expression of P204 mRNA was determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).P204, RAS protein levels, and phosphorylation levels of RAF and ERK were analyzed by Western blotting. The cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin-V FITC/PI method. Results As compared with group A, the expression of P204 mRNA and protein in group B was up-regulated (P<0.05), the cell apoptosis was increased (P<0.05), in the process of the above, the expression of RAS protein was decreased ( P<0.05) and the phosphorylation levels of RAF and ERK were dropped (P<0.05).In group C, the expression levels of P204 mRNA and protein were down-regulated (P<0.05), and cell apoptosis was decreased ( P<0.05) , the expression of RAS protein and the phosphorylation levels of RAF and ERK were increased ( P<0.05) . Conclusion P204 and RAS signal pathway participates in IFN-α regulation of apoptosis of VSMCs in rats.

OBJECTIVESymptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) affects both the patients' and their wives' quality of life (QOL) due to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and related events. This study was to investigate the QOL of the wives of symptomatic BPH patients being evaluated for surgical treatment.

METHODSWe included 50 couples in this study, in which the husbands were symptomatic BPH patients referred for surgical treatment. The patients were asked to fill in the forms of IPSS and BPH impact index ( BPHII), while their wives investigated with a 7-item questionnaire. The data obtained were subjected to statistic analyses.

RESULTSLUTS of the BPH patients caused sleep disturbance in 12% of their wives, decreased social activity in 12%, inadequate sexual life in 20%, psychological stress in 38%, fear of prostate cancer in 68%, fear of surgery in 40% and insufficiency for essential tasks in 14%. The decrease in the QOL of the patients' wives was not correlated with the patients' scores on IPSS and BPHII (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLUTS and related events of symptomatic BPH patients obviously decrease the QOL of their wives, but the severity of the patients' symptoms is not correlated with the decrease of their wives' QOL.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Spouses ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

AIMTo explore the protective effect of L-arginine on isolated rat heart with ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODS24 wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (each 8): control group, ischemia group, L-arginine group. The myocardiac relatively ischemia/reperfusion models in vitro were set up by using weak current stimulating isolated rat hearts. During the pre-ischemia, post-ischemia 15 min and post-ischemia 30 min, the coronary fluid was collected for testing contents of MDA and activities of both CK and LDH. Cardiac functional indexes were recorded through Pclab. At the time of 5 min, 10 min, 20 min, 30 min after ischemia, the recovery of PRP, + DP/dt(max) and - DP/dt(max) were calculated.

RESULTS(1) During the reperfusion, L-arginine group achieved better recovery of cardiac function than that of the ischemia group. (2) MDA content, CK and LDH activities both in the coronary fluid and in the myocardium of L-arginine group were lower than those of the ischemia group, while SOD activities in the myocardium of L-arginine group were higher than that of the ischemia group.

CONCLUSIONTo some extent, L-arginine could protect the myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the roles of type II 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD2) and it's signaling factors in the lung tissue in pathogenesis of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH) in neonatal rats.

METHODSSix Sprague-Dawley rats on the 19th day of pregnancy were randomly divided into PPH and control groups (n=3 each). The PPH group was intraperitoneally injected with indomethacin (0.5 mg/kg) twice daily and exposed in 12% oxygen for three days, in order to prepare a fetal rat model of PPH. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline and exposed to air. Neonatal rats were born by caesarean section from both groups on the 22nd day of pregnancy. In each group, 15 neonatal rats were randomly selected and sacrificed. 11β-HSD2 expression in the lung tissue of neonatal rats were observed by Confocal laser technology, and serum cortisol levels and prostacyclin, renin, angiotensin and aldosterone in the lung tissue of both groups were measured using ELISA.

RESULTS11β-HSD2 protein was widely expressed in the lung tissue of the control and PPH groups. The levels of 11β-HSD2 and prostacyclin in the lung tissue were lower in the PPH group than in the control group, while serum cortisol levels and renin, angiotensin and aldosterone in the lung tissue were higher in the PPH group than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS11β-HSD2 and it's signaling factors play roles in pathogenesis of PPH in neonatal rats.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 ; analysis ; physiology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Female ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; enzymology ; etiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo find sensitive and specific micro-metastic markers for prostate cancer.

METHODSUsing nested reverse transcription-PCR, we examined the expression of PSA, hK2 and PSMA mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 51 patients with prostate cancer, 33 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and 32 normal young people.

RESULTSThe expression rates of PSA, hK2 and PSMA mRNA were 52.9%, 43.1% and 64.7%, respectively in prostate cancer group, and 6.2%, 7.7% and 4.6%, respectively in control group (BPH patients and normal young people) with statistical significance (P < 0.01). Although the expression rate of PSA and hK2 mRNA increased with cancer progression, there was no statistical significance among patients in different stages. The expression rate of PSMA mRNA was higher than that of PSA and hK2 mRNA in each clinical stage.

CONCLUSIONPSMA mRNA expression detected by nested RT-PCR is of greater value for the diagnosis, therapy choice and prognostic evaluation of prostate cancer patients.

Aged ; Antigens, Surface ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; blood ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Tissue Kallikreins ; blood