Male genital lichen sclerosus (MGLSc) is a chronically relapsing disease characterized by a long course, gradual aggravation, and a tendency towards malignancy. Once called balanitis xerotica obliterans, MGLSc has a distinct predilection for the prepuce and glans, involving the urethra when aggravating, forming scarring tissues, and causing urethral stricture, which may seriously affect the patients'quality of life with such symptoms as urinary stream narrowing, dysuria, and painful penile erection. The etiology and pathogenesis of MGLSc have not yet been adequately explained though it is generally thought to be associated with autoimmune mechanism, genetic factors, infections, local trauma, and chronic urinary irritation. MGLSc can be fairly easily diagnosed according to its clinical manifestations and histopathological results, but can be hardly cured. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are the most important approaches, which may relieve its symptoms, check its progression, and prevent its long-term sequelae. Ultrapotent topical corticosteroids are the choice for the treatment of MGLSc. For those who fail to respond to expectant medication or have dysuria due to urethral stricture and painful erection, rational surgery may be resorted to, with importance attached to long-term follow-up. This article presents an update of the diagnosis and treatment of MGLSc and MGLSc-induced urethral stricture.
Genital Diseases, Male ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology

Pterygium is a common disorder of ocular surface with unknown etiology and pathogenesis. The epidemiological studies around the world have shown that the prevalence rates range from 0.3% to 37.46%. Pterygium is related to geographic setting, sunlight and ultraviolet exposure,age, gender, economic situation, dry eye syndrome and others. The purpose of this review is to present a summary of the more recent literature about the epidemiological study, paying particular attention to prevalence and risk factors of pterygium.

Objective: To investigate the dynamic expression of the 20S proteasome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of type 2 diabetic patients without vascular complications. Methods: PBMCs were prepared from 30 type 2 diabetic patients and 30 nondiabetic controls. The general indexes including weight, height and blood pressure were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin were measured. The protein level of the 20S proteasome was measured by Western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of the 20S proteasome β1, β2 and β5 submits were detected by real-time PCR. Results: Compared with that in the nondiabetic controls, the protein level of the 20S proteasome was significantly increased in the diabetic patients and was positively associated with glycosylated hemoglobin. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetic patients without vascular complications have an increased 20S proteasome expression, the significance of which needs to be explored by further study.

Objective: To investigate the dynamic expression of the 20S proteasome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of type 2 diabetic patients without vascular complications. Methods: PBMCs were prepared from 30 type 2 diabetic patients and 30 nondiabetic controls. The general indexes including weight, height and blood pressure were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin were measured. The protein level of the 20S proteasome was measured by Western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of the 20S proteasome β1, β2 and β5 submits were detected by real-time PCR. Results: Compared with that in the nondiabetic controls, the protein level of the 20S proteasome was significantly increased in the diabetic patients and was positively associated with glycosylated hemoglobin. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetic patients without vascular complications have an increased 20S proteasome expression, the significance of which needs to be explored by further study.

Objective To investigate the value of 64-slice spiral computed tomography(CT)angiography in preoperative evaluation of spinal vascular intervention.Methods Seventeen patients with segmental injury of the spinal cord underwent the enhanced 64-slice CT scan of the spine.Thin-slice reconstruction was done,with the slice thickness of 0.625 mm and interval of 0.625 mm.The data were transferred to the work station ADW4.2 in DICM format.Image postprocessing technologies such as volume rendering(VR),maximum intensity projection(MIP)and multi-planar reformat(MPR)were used to conduct three-dimensional reconstruction and analyze the anatomical characteristics of radiculomedullary artery.Results Radiculomedullary artery could be found in the thoracolumbar segment of 16 patients(16/17,94%).Among them,one artery(1/17,6%)went into the vertebral canal through the left intervertebral foramen of T4/5,two(2/17,12%)through the left intervertebral foramen of T10/11,one (1/17,6%)through the left intervertebral foramen of T11/12,four(4/17,24%)through the left intervertebral foramen of L1/2,two(2/17,12%)through the left intervertebral foramen of L2/3,two (2/17,12%)through the right intervertebral foramen of T11/12,two(2/17,12%)through the right intervertebral foramen of T12/L1,two(2/17,12%)through the right foramen of L2/3 andl0(10/17,59%)through the left intervertebral foramen.Either CT scan or DSA examination found no radiculomedullary artery in one patient.All the above findings were in accordance with the results of DSA examination.Conclusions Spiral 64-slice CT scan can provide significant preoperative evaluation information for spinal vascular intervention,for it can accurately and visually show the anatomical features of the radiculomedullary artery such as open position,flow tendency,caliber size and spatial relationship with the surrounding vessels.

At present,the graduate teaching of medical imaging and nuclear medicine is still facing many problems,such as paying more attention to the academic research while ignoring ideological and moral reconstruction,teaching arrangement being unreasonable,poor students' clinical practice ability,lack of scientific training system,and no mature evaluation system and so on.Therefore,in clinical teaching ideological and political education is needed as the guide,to enable students to understand the present medical environment,enhance their doctor-patient communication ability.Besides,in the clinical and scientific research ability cultivation,graduate students' learning enthusiasm should be fully mobilized to promote them to actively explore scientific problems.Furthermore the perfect clinical evaluation method and index system should be combined to assess the quality of training.

Chromosome Disorders ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Trisomy ; Trisomy 13 Syndrome

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; etiology ; Transplantation, Autologous

Autophagy is a crucial biological process of eukaryotes, which is involved in cell growth, survival and energy metabolism, while the premise of the autophagy function is activated autophagic flux. It has been confirmed that impaired autophagic flux promotes pathogenesis of many chronic inflammatory diseases, especially cancer, neurodegenerative disease and tissue fibrosis, therefore the analysis of autophagic flux state is important for revealing autophagy function and the mechanism of autophagy related diseases. Given that autophagy is a dynamic process with multiple steps, it is very hard to observe the real state of autophagic flux. Summarized here is the novel concept and current approach to detect autophagic flux. This knowledge is crucial for the researching of the biological function of autophagy, and may provide some strategies for developing autophagy-related drug.
Autophagy ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; pathology

Objective To explore the neuroprotective mechanisms of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in ischemic brain injury. Methods Brain tissues were taken out from MCAO and sham operated Sprague-Dawley rats 7 days after operation. The expression of G-CSFR, GDNF, MAP2 and GFAP was measured by using immunofluorescence co-staining. Results The expression of G-CSFR and GDNF were widely distributed in the neurons in normal brain tissues, not in the astrocytes. However, in ischemic peripheral zone, part of G-CSFR and GDNF positive cells merged with GFAP positive cells, in normal brain tissues, most G-CSFR positive cells were co-expressed with GDNF. Conclusion Cerebral ischemia induces astrocytes to express G-CSFR and GDNF, suggesting that endogenous neuroprotection by cerebral ischemia may be related with the expression and production of G-CSFR and GDNF in astrocytes in ischemic peripheral zone.