Objective To investigate cholecystokinin (CCK),carbachol, and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)stimulating peptide chain elongation in mouse pancreatic acini in vitro and its molecular mechanism. Methods ~3H-lecucine incorporation assay was used to measure the basal and secretagogues-stimulated pancreatic acini elongation rates. Western blot was applied to analyse the effect of phosphorylation of the elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and the eEF2 kinase. MEK inhibitor (PD98059), SAPK/p38 inhibitor (SB202190), and mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) were used to respectively block MEK, SAPK/p38, and mTOR intracellular pathways or the phosphatase inhibitor (calyculin A) pretreatment before CCK treatment. Results All secretagogues except VIP increased the peptide chain elongation in mouse pancreatic acini in vitro. All secretagogues except VIP inhibited the phosphorylation level of eEF2 on Thr-56 and increased the phosphorylation level of eEF2K on Ser-366, which might correlate with their activation status. MEK inhibitor PD98059 partially reversed the dephosphorylation of eEF2 induced by CCK, as did treatment p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190, mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, and the phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A.Conclusion CCK increases peptide chain elongation via inducement of dephosphorylation of eEF2 and eEF2 kinase phosphorylation in pancreatic acini in vitro. CCK-induced dephosphorylation of eEF2 in pancreatic acinar cells involves MEK, SAPK/p38, and mTOR, the three intracellular pathways.

OBJECTIVETo study the pathological change of rats' benign hyperplastic prostate (BHP) after radical denervation.

METHODSA total of 65 male spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) at 30 weeks age were randomly assigned into treatment group, sham surgery control group and normal control group. In surgery group, all the axonal branches of the major pelvic ganglion (MPG) supplying the bilateral prostate were truncated, followed performing of cystostomy; In sham surgery control group, only cystostomy was performed; In normal control group, no procedure was performed. The rats were sacrificed at 3, 7, 11, 15 and >or= 21 d post-operation respectively. The gross morphological changes of prostate in all animals were observed.

RESULTSIn treatment group, the prostate in 3 d post-operation showed granular solidification and shrunken volume and the changes occurred gradually over time. The glandular epithelial cells showed gradual degeneration, necrosis and detachment. The glandular epithelium became progressively thinner, the smooth muscles elongated and thinned progressively and the stromal components showed mild to moderate overgrowth. At the later stage, the glandular epithelium, glandular lumen and smooth muscles gradually disappeared and the prostate was largely replaced by connective tissues. Electron microscopic study showed that the glandular cells gradually underwent vacuolar degeneration and the structures of basement membrane became fuzzy. The smooth muscles cells degenerated overtime and the fibroblasts and collagenous fibers in the stroma overgrew slowly. At the late stage, most of the glandular cells became necrotic, the basal membrane and smooth muscle cells disappeared and collagenous fibers were highly hyperplasic. In surgery group in 3 d post-operation, the S-100 staining of nerve fiber was diffuse and disappeared after 11 d while it persisted normally in other groups. The two values in sham surgery control group showed no significant changes post-operatively.

CONCLUSIONSAfter radical denervation, the rat prostate with benign hyperplasia (gland and smooth muscles) undergoes dramatic atrophic changes and the volume decreases significantly. It suggests that this treatment may represent a novel therapy for BPH.

Animals ; Denervation ; methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Prostate ; innervation ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; surgery ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR

BACKGROUNDThe treatment for long bone defects has been a hot topic in the field of regenerative medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of calcium sulfate (CS) combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on long bone defect restoration.

METHODSA radial bone defect model was constructed through an osteotomy using New Zealand rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 in each group): a CS combined with PRP (CS-PRP) group, a CS group, a PRP group, and a positive (recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2) control group. PRP was prepared from autologous blood using a two-step centrifugation process. CS-PRP was obtained by mixing hemihydrate CS with PRP. Radiographs and histologic micrographs were generated. The percentage of bone regenerated bone area in each rabbit was calculated at 10 weeks. One-way analysis of variance was performed in this study.

RESULTSThe radiographs and histologic micrographs showed bone restoration in the CS-PRP and positive control groups, while nonunion was observed in the CS and PRP groups. The percentages of bone regenerated bone area in the CS-PRP (84.60 ± 2.87%) and positive control (52.21 ± 4.53%) groups were significantly greater than those in the CS group (12.34 ± 2.17%) and PRP group (16.52 ± 4.22%) (P < 0.001). In addition, the bone strength of CS-PRP group (43.10 ± 4.10%) was significantly greater than that of the CS group (20.10 ± 3.70%) or PRP group (25.10 ± 2.10%) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONCS-PRP functions as an effective treatment for long bone defects through stimulating bone regeneration and enhancing new bone strength.

Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; drug effects ; Calcium Sulfate ; pharmacology ; Male ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVEThe study was to reveal the vascular changes in three different supercharging flap models. From this study, we want to investigate which vessel, the artery or the vein is more important in elongating perforator flap survival and why.

METHODSTwelve rats were divided into three experimental groups. The left side flaps in all groups were pedicle using xiphoid perforator as control group. The right side flaps were supercharging experimental group. Group I, flap supercharged based on artery and vein of pubis perforator. Group II, flaps supercharged based on artery of pubis perforator. Group III, flaps supercharged based on vein of pubis perforator. Near-infrared fluorescent angiography was performed using SPY imaging system pre-and-aft operation and all angiography videos were compared and analyzed.

RESULTSShowed in angiography video of SPY, in control group and vein supercharging group, blood supply could be observed the immediately reducing, and almost be disappeared the amount of perfusion to distal area. It shows relatively constant necrosis in the distal side of control group and vein supercharging group, and the necrosis of vein supercharging group smaller than these of control group. In artery, vein supercharging group and artery supercharging group, blood perfusion could be observed separately perfusion in the upper and low area of flap. There are complete survival showed on the artery supercharging group and artery and vein supercharging group.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings indicated that congestive flap necrosis attribute to insufficiency of arterial blood. Arterial inflow was demonstrated more important for improved survival of distal flap than venous outflow.

Angiography ; Animals ; Arteries ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; physiology ; Veins

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the ' buddy-in-jail ' technique applied to complex coronary artery lesions during percutaneous coronary intervention.Methods A total of 12640 PCI cases from 4 different hospitals admitted between June 2014 to June 2017 were reviewed. Among them, the balloons or stents were unable to be delivered into the lesions in 25 cases. The "buddy-in-jail"technique was applied in 21 of these 25 cases. According to the guidewires used, the 21 cases were divided into the hydrophilic coated guidewire group(n=9) and non-hydrophilic coated guidewire group(n=21). The rates of procedural success and complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results 18 cases(18/21)were successfully treated with the "buddy-in-jail " technique. The success rates were similar between patients using the same artery(9/11) as the "buddy" vessel patients using other arteries(9/10) (P=0.593). Procedural success rates were also similar between patients using hydrophilic-coated guidewires (7/9) and non- hydrophilic coated guidewires(11/12)(P=0.386). All the wires were successfully taken out without complication.Conclusions "Buddy-in-jail" technique offers a potential alternative approach for patients with difflculty in delivering the balloon or stent to the target lesion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the polluted SY River on children's growth and sex hormones, and provide scientific data for assessment of the polluted status of the SY River.

METHODSThe study areas were selected randomly from the SY River Basin. Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), phthalates (DEP, DBP, DMP, DEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were measured both in the river water and in the drinking water. School children were selected by cluster sampling (n=154). Physical development indexes (height, weight, bust-circumference, and skinfold thickness) and sex hormones [testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2)] were measured for all the children.

RESULTSThe contents of Pb and Hg exceeded Class V standards of surface water quality in each section of the river and other indicators exceeded Class III. Compared to the control area, the concentrations of Pb, Hg, As, BPA, DEP, and DBP in the drinking water were significantly higher than in the polluted area (P<0.05). Children from the control area had significantly lower E2 and T than children from the polluted area (P<0.05). Among anthropometric results, only skinfold thickness had statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), while the other indexes showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe drinking water has been polluted by the SY River and affected serum sex hormone levels of children living in the polluted area.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Development ; drug effects ; Child ; Child Development ; drug effects ; China ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Rivers ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; toxicity ; Water Pollution, Chemical ; adverse effects ; Water Supply ; analysis

Aim To observe the protective effects of cordycepin ( Cor) on dopaminergic neurons in 1-meth-yl-4-phenyl-1 , 2 , 3 , 6-tetrahydropyridine ( MPTP )-in-duced mouse model of Parkinson's disease ( PD) and to explore its mechanism. Methods C57BL/6 mice were administered with MPTP to establish the PD mod-el. Mice in Cor groups were pretreated with Cor (2.5,5.0 and 10.0 mg·kg-1 ) by intragastric administra-tion, respectively. The motor functions of the mice were observed in the open-field test, rotarod test and pole test. The content of DA, the numbers of TH-im-munoreactive cells and apoptotic cells were measured respectively by HPLC-ECD, immunohistochemistry staining and TUNEL staining. The expression of apop-tosis related proteins and MAPK signaling pathway-re-lated proteins ( p38 , p-p38 , ERK1/2 , p-ERK1/2 JNK1/2 and p-JNK1/2 ) were determined by Western blot. Results Cor could significantly improve the mo-tor dysfunction in PD mice. The contents of DA, DOPAC and HVA in the striatum remarkably increased after administration of Cor in MPTP-induced mice. Mo-reover, Cor could obviously reduce both the loss of TH-immunoreactive neurons and the numbers of TUNEL-positive cells in substantia nigra pars compacta ( SNpc) of PD mice. The protein expressions of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were markedly down-regulated,whereas those of Bcl-2 and the ration of Bcl-2/Bax were significantly up-regulated by Cor pre-treatment followed by MPTP treatment. Furthermore, the protein expressions of p-p38 , p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK1/2 signif-icantly decreased in substantia nigra in Cor groups. Conclusions The results suggest that Cor can protect DA neurons against MPTP-induced injury by inhibiting apoptosis, which may be closely relevant to the inhibi-tion of MAPK signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of the expanded submental island flap in facial soft tissue defect.

METHOD12 patients with facial soft tissue defects were treated with the expanded submental island flaps during September 2004 to September 2008. At the first stage, soft tissue expander was implanted in the neck. At the second stage, the submental island flap was designed to repair the facial soft tissue defect. The largest size of the flap was about 16 cm x 9 cm.

RESULTAll flaps survived well except for one case of partial epidermal necrosis at the distal part of the flap. The wound healed with dressing. 4 patients were followed up for 6-24 months with satisfactory results.

CONCLUSIONThe submental artery was a constant branch of facial artery. Large cervical flap with high quality tissue can be provided after expansion. The expanded submental island flap is a good choice for repairing the facial soft tissue defect.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cerebral Arteries ; transplantation ; Child ; Facial Injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVELiteratures on the development and function of prepuce was reviewed. To compare the merit and demerit of treatment for redundant prepuce by conventional circumcision or by removing the root skin of the penis. To investigate the ideal method and time of treatment for redundant prepuce.

METHODSThe extended length of the penis and the extended skin of penis were carefully measured and the excess skin at the root of the penis was removed from the surface of Colle's fascia. Then the remaining distal skin was drew back to suture to the root of the penis. As for the cases complicated with stenosis of prepuce, longitudinal incision was performed along the constricted area to release stenosis, followed by transverse closure of the wound.

RESULTS110 adult cases of simple redundant prepuce and 40 cases complicated with stenosis were treated by this way. Functional and cosmetic results were achieved without any complications in all cases. All patients were satisfied with the result.

CONCLUSIONSRemoval of the excess skin at the root of the penis should be preferred to the conventional circumcision for treatment of redundant prepuce. The ideal time for intervention is at or after adolescence, when the prepuce has developed maturely. Non-operative methods should be taken to treat phimosis and adherent prepuce before adolescence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Circumcision, Male ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of autologous dermal-fat strip grafting in penile augmentation and elongation.

METHODSFrom May 2004 to December 2010, 24 patients underwent penile enhancement with free dermal-fat strip grafting. Through suprapubic incision, the superior suspensory ligament and part deep suspensory ligament are cutted off to lengthen the penis. The resulted dead space is filled with the autologous dermal-fat strip (6.0-9.5 cm in length, 1.2-1.5 cm in width and 0.6-0.8 cm in depth) to enhance the penis.

RESULTSPrimary healing was achieved in 23 cases. Incisional fat liquefaction happened in one case which healed after dressing change. The penile appearance was satisfactory both at rest or erection. The penile length and circumference increased by 2.5-4.8 cm (average, 3.2 cm) and 1.8-3.0 cm (average, 2.4 cm), respectively. 18 patients were followed up for 3 months to 5 years. All the patients were satisfactory on the cosmetic and functional results. No complication happened.

CONCLUSIONSIt is safe and effective for penile augmention and elongation with autologous dermal-fat strip grafting and disconnection of penile suspensory ligament.

Adipose Tissue ; transplantation ; Humans ; Ligaments ; surgery ; Male ; Organ Size ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods