Carcinoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; Teratoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Carcinosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Busheng Huoxue Capsule (BHC) on the quality of life (QOL) in senile male osteoporosis (OP) patients, and to explore its mechanisms.

METHODSTotally 200 senile primary OP patients were randomly assigned to two groups according to random digit table method, 100 in each group. Patients in the treatment group took BHC plus caltrate-D (600 mg CaCO3), while those in the control group took alendronate (70 mg per week) plus caltrate-D. The therapeutic course was 12 months for all. Chinese medical symptom score and quality of life (QUALEFFO-41) score, bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar vertebra (L2 -L4) and left femoral neck were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Serum free testosterone (FT) and estradiol (E2) were also measured.

RESULTSChinese medical symptom scores and QUALEFFO-41 scores, serum FT and E2 levels increased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The therapeutic effect was superior in the treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After treatment the BMD of lumbar vertebra (L2 -L4) and the left femoral neck were somewhat improved (P < 0.05), but with no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBHC could effectively improve the QOL of senile male OP patients, which might be correlated with elevating the BMD levels and regulating the levels of sex hormones.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life

Connexin-43 (Cx43) expression in prostate cancer (PCa) cells and the potency of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in the cells were investigated, with an attempt to elucidate the reason why the so-called "bystander effect" mediated by thymidine kinase (TK) suicide gene therapy on PCa cells is not of significance and to explore the role of GJIC in PCa carcinogenesis. mRNA and protein expression of Cx43 in a PCa cell line PC-3m was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and strapt-avidin-biotin-enzyme complex (SABC) immunohistochemical staining, and inherent GJIC of PC-3m cells was assayed by scrape-loading and dye transfer (SLDT) assay. The expression of Cx43 in human normal and malignant prostate tissues was determined by SABC immunohistochemistry as well. It was found that Cx43 mRNA and protein expression in PC-3m cells was slightly reduced as compared with positive controls and the location of Cx43 protein was aberrant in cytoplasm rather than on membrane. Assessment of paraffin sections demonstrated that the expression of Cx43 protein in PCa cells was abnormally located and markedly diminished as compared with normal prostatic epithelial ones, displaying a negative correlation to the pathological grade (chi2=4.025, P<0.05). Additionally, capacity of inherent GJIC in PC-3m cells was disrupted, which was semi-quantified as (+) or (-). It was indicated that both down-regulated expression of Cx43 mRNA and aberrant location of Cx43 protein participated in the mechanisms leading to deficient GJIC in PC-3m cells. Lack of efficient GJIC is a molecular event, which may contribute not only to limited extent of "bystander effect", but also to initiation and progression of prostatic neoplasm.

OBJECTIVETo explore the methods and therapeutic efficacy of restitution combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for treating osteoporosis vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).

METHODSRecruited were 132 senile patients with OVCF who were willing to receive minimally invasive therapy were assigned to the comprehensive treatment group and the percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) group. The 89 vertebral bodies in the 68 cases of the comprehensive treatment group received restitution combined with PVP, while the 81 vertebral bodies in the 64 cases of the control PKP group received PKP alone. All patients completed the follow-ups for more than 3 years. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Cobb's angle, the height ratios of the diseased vertebral anterior edge and middle edge. The operation time for a single centrum, the perspective time during the operation, the incidence of bone cement leakage, the injection rate of the bone cement, the cost of hospitalization, and the hospital days were compared between t he comprehensive treatment group and the PKP group.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment in the same group, the VAS and ODI were significantly lower, the height ratios of the diseased vertebral anterior edge and middle edge, and the Cobb's angle were obviously improved in the two groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the aforesaid indices between the two groups after treatment at the same time point (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of bone cement leakage, th e injection rate of the bone cement, or the hospital days between the two groups (P > 0.05). But the operation time f or individual vertebral body, the perspective time during the operation, and the cost of hospitalization were obviously less in the comprehensive treatment group than in the PKP group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSRestitution combined PVP could achieve the same therapeutic efficacy as that of the PKP. It could effectively restore the diseased vertebral height and correct the spinal kyphosis. Besides, there was no statistical difference in the incidence of bone cement leakage.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; complications ; Posture ; Spinal Fractures ; etiology ; therapy ; Vertebroplasty ; methods

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the precise locations of the blood vessels and nerves surrounding the seminal vesicles (SV) in men and provide some anatomical evidence for SV-related minimally invasive surgery.

METHODSWe observed the courses and distribution of the blood vessels and nerves surrounding SVs and obtained the data for positioning the SV neuroplexes in 20 male pelvises.

RESULTSOne branch of the neuroplexes was distributed to the SVs bilaterally with the neurovascular bundles, (2.85 ± 0.18) cm from the median sulcus of the prostate (MSP), while another branch ran through the Denonvillier fascia behind the SV, (0.81 ± 0.06) cm from the MSP. The arterial SVs (ASV) originated from the inferior vesical artery and fell into 4 types, 55% going directly to the SVs as one branch, 15% running between the SV and the ampulla of the deferent duct as another branch, 25% downward as 2 branches to the SV and between the SV and the ampulla of the deferent duct respectively, and 5% as the other ASVs. The shortest distance from the ASV through the prostatic neuroplexus to the posterior SV was (1.08 ± 0.09) cm.

CONCLUSIONIn SV resection, neuroplexus injury can be reduced with a bilateral distance of < 2.85 cm and a posterior distance of < 0.81 cm from the MSP, and so can bleeding by vascular ligation between the SV and the ampulla of the deferent duct.

Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; blood supply ; innervation ; Seminal Vesicles ; blood supply ; innervation ; Vas Deferens ; blood supply ; innervation

Adult ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Fractures, Ununited ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Transplantation, Autologous

Objective To explore the clinical feature of severe enterovirus 71 (EV71) associated hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD),and genotype of EV71.Methods Fluorescent quantitation PCR was done for detecting EV71.RT-PCR was performed to amplify VP1 for sequencing and identifying genotype.A retrospective analysis was performed based on the clinical data of 15 cases with severe EV71 infection.Results EV71 nucleotide was positive in all 15 cases.The genotype of EV71 was C4.All cases had abnormal temperature and followed with nervous symptoms in the early stage.Average time was 1.26 days from onset to severe complications appearance.Eleven cases progressed to neurogenic pulmonary edema.Four cases accepted nasal continuous positive airway pressure.Eleven cases accepted oral trachea cannula mechanical ventilation.Except for 3 cases died,one case abandoned,others 11 cases were cured.Conclusion The isolated strains of EV71 in this study are all C4 genotype.All cases with severe EV71 infection were followed with nervous symptoms in the early stage,most of whom would progress to neurogenic pulmonary edema.The mortality would be cut down by using mechanical ventilation in early stage.

The killing effects of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) approach by the addition of several commonly clinical chemotherapeutic agents on hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) cells PC-3m were investigated. After transferring of the HSV-tk gene into PC-3m cells, mRNA and protein expression of HSV-tk was detected by reverse-transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and strept avidin-biotin complex (SABC) immunohistochemical method. The killing effect of GCV, cisplatin (CDDP), etoposide (VP-16), vincristine (VCR), methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), and suramin on PC-3m cells was evaluated by morphological assessment analysis, trypan blue exclusion assay and MTT assay respectively. Additionally, the cooperative effect of HSV-tk/GCV system combined with the above agents on the target cancer cells was determined by MTT. Furthermore, apoptosis and necrosis induced by GCV plus 5-Fu or suramin was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that that there was HSV-tk mRNA and protein expression in pDR2-tk plasmid transduced PC-3m cell. Combination of GCV with VP-16, VCR, 5-Fu or suramin led to an enhanced cellular killing effect, but with CDDP resulted in a reduced one and with MTX in an approximate one. FCM revealed that synergistic use of GCV and 5-fu or suramin resulted in a rather large proportion of apoptosis and necrosis with the apoptosis index being 36.38% and 35.51%, and the proportion of necrosis being 33.05% and 28.87%, respectively. In conclusion, HSV-tk/CGV approach by addition of certain clinical available chemotherapeutic drugs brings on statistically significant enhanced cell killing over single-agent treatment. Our results highlight the potential for such new combination therapies for future treatments of HRPC.