Objective To evaluate the role of Gla-bound protein and its Gla residue in urinary lithogenesis. Methods Calcium oxalate crystal matrix was produced by calcium oxalate supersaturation crystallization in fresh urine of normal subjects and calcium oxalate stone formers. Protein-bound Gla was determined in the crystal matrix and urine of normal subjects and in the calcium oxalate stone formers by high performance liquid chromatography. Results Protein-bound Gla in the crystal matrix and urine of calcium oxalate stone formers were significantly less than that of normal subjects. Conclusions Highly carboxylated Gla-bound proteins are inhibitory factors of calcium oxalate calculus. Insufficient carboxylation of urinary Gla-bound proteins may be correlated with urinary lithogenesis.

Waste plastics in the environment is called"gray pollution"as a result of difficult degradation and when dis-posed by incineration,secondary pollutants are released.In this paper the formation mechanism and path of some persistent or-ganic pollutants in the process of waste plastic incineration disposal and their potential hazards to the ecological system,even to human beings are briefly reviewed,and valuable references and suggestions are given.Some of effective measures which should be taken to inhibit the formation of these toxic organic compounds during waste disposal and reduce their negative effect on mankind.

Objective To establish a colony of genetic idiopathic hypercalciuric rats model which can stablely descend and initially explore the mechanism of idiopathic hypercalciuric development. Methods The male and female rats with the highest 24-h urine Ca excretion and normal serum calcium,phosphorus and 1,25(OH)2D3 were chosen for inbreeding to propagate the colony until the stable hypercalcinuria was achieved in filial generation. Immunohistochemical determination (SP method) was undertaken to determine the VDR expression in model rats duodenum. Results The content of two 24 h urine Ca excretion in 93% male and 92% female generation 7 model rats was double standard deviation more than that in the normal group(2.56?0.86 mg/d vs. 1.12?0.18 mg/d,2.86?1.16 mg/d vs. 1.15?0.12 mg/d respectively)(F=27.10,P*0.05). VDR expression was remarkably increased in model rats duodenum(F=14.23,P

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies of the urinary system, however, its pathogenic mechanism is not clear.Stanniocalcin (STC) is a type of glycoprotein hormone with multiple biological functions.Recently, the role of STC in the pathogenesis of cancer is of intriguing interest, and many researches have been performed to clarify underlying mechanism. We emphasized the role of STC in the underlying mechanism of RCC progression, from the aspects of STC inducing hypoxia adaptation of tumor cells, promoting tumor angiogenesis, also promoting cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis, and inhibiting the immune response.Conclusively, STC could be used as both a promising biomarker for RCC diagnosis and a theraputic target of renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND:Hidden blood loss, after total knee arthroplasty, attracts surgeons’ attention. There are various hypotheses about etiopathogenisis of hidden blood loss, but no one can reasonably explain its mechanism. OBJECTIVE:To research the correlation of free fatty acids and hidden blood loss after total knee arthroplasty, and explore the etiology and mechanism of hidden blood loss after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS:Clinical data of 42 osteoarthritis patients who underwent primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty were colected in this study. Intraoperativeand postoperative dominant blood loss was recorded. Blood samples were colected preoperatively and 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours postoperatively. Changes in hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, hematocrit and free fatty acids were detected in blood. Hidden blood loss was obtained by Gross equation. Simultaneously, stains were added to the blood smear. Changes of cels morphology were observed under a microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Hemoglobin and erythrocyte count decreased significantly at 24 and 48 hourspostoperatively, and significant differences were determined as compared with that preoperatively (P< 0.01). (2) Free fatty acids levels increased significantly within 24 hours after surgery, and decreased to preoperative levels at 72 and 96 hours later.Hidden blood loss was also significant at 24 and 48 hours after surgery, which showed positive correlation with free fatty acids content. (3) A plenty of abnormal erythrocytes were observed under the microscope. At 24 and 48 hours postoperatively, erythrocyte shrinkage and damage were mainly presented. At 96 hours, no significant abnormality was found. (4) These results indicated that free fatty acids were strongly associated with postoperative hidden blood loss. Surgeon should pay attention to the fatty droplets which may enter into the circulation in the process of reaming the femoral canal so as to reduce intraoperative total blood loss.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the understanding and application of the Chinese Urological Association (CUA) guidelines of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) (2011 edition) in Chinese urologists.Methods The survey was conducted between September,2012 and November,2012.Questionnaires designed by the CUA were used to investigate the understanding and management of BPH in CUA-registered urologists,who work in clinic for at least 20 hours per week.Data,including general characteristics of the urologists,understanding of BPH,BPH diagnosing in suspected patients,BPH treatment,and follow up,were collected.7500 questionnaires were distributed.A total of 4 897 participants responded (response rate 70.0％).86 questionnaires with incomplete information and 37 duplicate questionnaires were excluded.And 4 774 validate questionnaires were included for the analysis,finally.The mean age of those investigated urologists was (39.9±9.2) years old.Among them,3 802 (81.0％) urologists work in the tertiary hospital,878 (18.7％) urologists work in the secondary hospital and 12 (0.3％) urologists work in the other hospital.The district distribution in those urologists included 455 (9.6％) in northeast china,812 (17.1％) in north china,1 696 (35.6％) in east china,869 (18.2％) in south china,634 (13.3％) in southwest china,295 (6.2％) in northwest china.1 835 (43.8％) urologists have less than ten years working experience.1 505 (35.9％) urologists have 11 to 20 years working experience.The 21 to 20 years working experience was reported in 705 (16.8％) urologist.And the other 149 (3.5％) urologists have working experience more than 31 years.The educational background in this study included doctor degree in 732 (15.8％) urologists,master degree in 1 729 (37.4％) urologists,bachelor degree in 2 067 (44.7％)urologists and college degree in 101 (2.1％) urologists.The position composition included 834 (18.2) directors,1 371 (30.0％) deputy directors,1 605 (35.1％) attendings and 765 (16.7％) residents.The data were analyzed using rank-sum test,2 test,or Fisher's exact test.Results The understanding of BPH clinical progression and progression-associated risk factors in Chinese urologists was poor.Compared to the guidelines,the rate of consistent were only 43.4％ (2 023/4 665) and 10.2％ (477/4 660),respectively.The initial evaluation methods for suspected BPH patients were in low consistency with the guidelines (20.2％,845/4 181) and were inconsistent among different areas [66.5％ (290/436) in northeast china,64.7％ (556/859) in south china,55.6％ (158/284) in northwest china,55.1％ (922/1 672) in east china,54.7％ (435/795) in north china,48.0％ (296/617) in southwest china].The participants showed poor understanding of the primary goal of treatment for BPH (4.9％ consistent,229/4 666) and the criteria about watchful waiting (22.5％ consistent,1 051/4 674).However,the understanding of surgical indications for BPH was good (94.6％ consistent,4 410/4 663).The therapeutic effects of 5α-reductase inhibitor for BPH were acknowledged by 93.4％ (4 388/4 699) participants.The consistent rate with the guidelines of follow-up examinations was low for patients with watchful waiting (7.8％,355/4 531),medication treatment (8.4％,373/4432),and surgery (44.8％,2 105/4 702).Conclusions The understanding of the CUA BPH guidelines is poor in Chinese urologists.Target training in the specific urologists with tailored contents is necessary.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dose-rate and leaf position tolerance on the point dose in step-and-shoot intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT). Methods IMRT plans of 2 prostate cancer patients were selected and recalculated for a water phantom.An ionization chamber was used to measure the dose of some points in the phantom at five nominal dose-rates:100 MU/min,200 MU/min,300 MU/min,400 MU/min and 500 MU/min.It was necessary to adiust the position of the water phantom to locate the ionization chamber in region where the dose gradient was very low in order to minimize the effect of dose gradient on the measured results.When measuring the effect of leaf position tolerance on point dose,the dose-rate was kept constant and the values of tolerance were 1 mm,2 mm,3 mm and 4 mm.This work was conducted on a Varian 23EX equipped with a Millennium 120-leaf multi-leat collimator(MLC).The treatment planning system was Varian Eclipse. Results As the dose-rate increased,the error between the measured dose and the calculated dose also enlarged.The difference between the maximum and the minimum was 1.2%.When MLC control system was working normally,tlle effect of leaf position tolerance on the measured point dose was very little and negligible. Conclusions The dose-rate must be selected suitably to ensure that the delivery can be finished in a short time with the radiobiological effect taking into account.It should be noted that the error between the measured dose and the calculated dose increases with the trend of inereasing more rapidly at higher dose rates.The value of leaf position tolerance should not be set too large,in order to minimize the difference between the measured dose and the planned dose in the region of steep gradient and find as early as possible when the multi-leaf collimator control system performs improperly.

Objective To evaluate the medium-term outcomes of minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with renal function impairment.Methods Data of 811 patients who underwent minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy between Jan.2009 and Dec.2011 were retrospectively collected.Seventy-eight patients had a preoperative estimated GFR of 30-59 ml/(min · 1.73m2).The minimum follow-up was 1 year.Patients were divided into group 1 (improved or stable disease) and group 2 (worsened disease).Patient age was (42.8 ± 16.3) and (45.3 ± 14.2) separately,with male patients 41 and 7,female patients 25 and 5 respectively.Body mass index were (24.3 ± 4.1) kg/m2 and (25.4 ±5.2) kg/m2,history of open surgery or ESWL were 19 and 4.Mild hydronephrosis were 22 and 4.Staghorn stone were 22 and 5.Multiple access were 13 and 2.Operative time was (78.2 ± 30.4) min and (80.3 ±32.3) min.Stone-free rate 1 month postoperatively were recorded.Multiple regression analysis was used.Results The stone free rate at 1 month postoperatively was 85％ by CT scan.Preoperative eGFR was (38.4±12.8) ml/(min · 1.73m2),and 1 ycar postoperative eGFR was (45.1 ±15.8) ml/(min · 1.73m2)in 78 patients.Renal function had improved in 31％ of patients,but it remained the same or deteriorated in 54％ and 15％,respectively at 1 year follow-up.On multivariate regression analysis,diabetes was associated with the deterioration of renal function.Conclusions At medium-term follow-up,renal function was maintained or improved in 85％ of patients with chronic kidney disease who underwent minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy.Minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy could be an effective and safe option for the patients with chronic renal function impairment.Diabetes mellitus was independent predictive factor of renal function impairment.Therefore,patients with diabetes should be followed up carefully.Medical management is needed if necessassry.

To investigate the exon mutation of vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX or VKDC) in patients with calcium oxalate urolithasis, renal cortex and peripheral blood samples were obtained from severe hydronephrosis patients (with or without calculi), and renal tumor patients undergoing nephrectomy. GGCX mutations in all 15 exons were examined in 44 patients with calcium oxalate urolithiasis (COU) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denatured high pressure liquid chromatography (DHPLC), and confirmed by sequencing. Mutation was not found in all COU samples compared to the controls. These data demonstrated that functional GGCX mutations in all 15 exons do not occur in most COU patients. It was suggested that there may be no significant association between the low activity and mutation of GGCX in COU.

Urinary prothrombin fragment 1 (UPTF1) is a potent inhibitor of urinary stone formation. UPTF1 exerts such inhibitory effect by effective γ-carboxylation in which vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1), the rate-limiting enzyme, is involved. This study examined the correlation between VKORC1 expression and calcium oxalate urolithiasis. The renal cortex samples were obtained from patients undergoing nephrectomy and then divided into 3 groups: urolithiasis group, control group A [hydronephrosis-without-stone (HWS) group], control group B (normal control group). The localization and expression of VKORC1 in renal tissues were determined by using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence microscopy, Western blotting and SYBR Green I real-time reverse-transcription PCR. The rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) were conducted to obtain the 3'- and 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of VKORC1. The results showed that VKORC1 was located in the cytoplasm of renal tubular epithelial cells. The expression of VKORC1 in the urolithiasis group was significantly lower than that in the other two control groups (P<0.05). Moreover, the 3'- and 5'-UTR sequence of the VKORC1 gene was successfully cloned. No insertion or deletion was found in the 3'- and 5'-UTR. However, a 171-bp new base sequence was discovered in the upstream of 5'-UTR end in the urolithiasis group. It was concluded that the decreased expression of VKORC1 may contribute to the development of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in the kidney.