By direct communication between clinicians and laboratorians, obstacles between clinical work and laboratory diagnosis were unequivocally found at an academic conference. Many clinical physicians feel disappointed and frustrated at the laboratory diagnosis by semen analysis and frankly express their expectations, as to recognize the role and significance of laboratory diagnosis, understand the value of routine semen analysis, work out the puzzles in the analysis of sperm morphology, fulfil the requirements for the identification of cells in semen, and obtain responses from and initiate discussions among laboratorians about the relevant questions. Both laboratorians and clinicians are appealing for strengthened management and earlier establishment of national standards and operating specifications for laboratory diagnosis by semen analysis.
Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Communication ; Humans ; Interprofessional Relations ; Male ; Physicians ; Semen ; Semen Analysis

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Poisoning ; complications ; Rhabdomyolysis ; chemically induced ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the correlation of ADC values on 3.0 T MR with the pathological grades in pT1b clear cell renal cell carcinoma(CCRCC).Methods Conventional MR images,ADC values and Fuhrman pathological grading of pT1b CCRCC were performed in 30 patients.Grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ were defined as low-grade group; grade Ⅲ and IV were defined as high-grade group.The differences of ADC values among four different pathologic grades were compared with a one-way analysis of variance. The comparison of ADC values of two different grade groups was performed with t test,and the ROC curve was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of ADC value. Correlation between pathological gradings and ADC values was assessed with Spearman rank correlation analysis. Results ( 1 ) The mean ADC value of grading Ⅰ ( 10 patients ), Ⅱ ( 8 patients ),Ⅲ ( 7 patients ),IV ( 5 patients ) was ( 0.94 ± 0.11 ) ×10-3 mm2/s,(0.82 ±0.13) × 10-3 mm2/s,(0.68 ±0.09) × 10-3 mm2/s,(0.59 ±0.03) × 10-3 mm2/s,respectively.Significant differences of ADC values among the four grades were present (F =16.422,P =0.000 ).( 2 ) The mean ADC value of the low-grade group was significantly higher than that of the high-grade group(t =5.738,P =0.000).Sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing the low-grade group was 88.9％ and 83.3％ respectively.There was a negative correlation between pathological grading and ADC value ( r =-0.807,P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The ADC values of pT1b CCRCC have close correlation with pathological gradings.They can be used to predict the degree of tumor malignancy preoperatively and guide surgical planning.

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma of the kindey (MTSCC-K).Methods Five cases of pathologically confirmed MTSCC-K were analyzed retrospectively.All patients underwent CT scanning,and 4 cases underwent conventional MR and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) scanning.MR enhancement ratio for the tumor was calculated according to MR signal intensity of pre-and post-contrast in tumor and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of tumor and normal renal cortical.Results Two case located in the right kindey,and 3 cases located in the left kindey.The maximum diameter of lesions ranged from 3.2 cm to 7.1 cm.Five cases showed nearly round shape with clear borderline.Pseudocapsule was found in 4 cases,3 cases had necrosis and cystic,and 1 case had calcification.There were no hemorrhage,fat and invasion of adjacent tissue.Isodensity or hypodense tumors were found on plain CT.Isointense or hyperintense tumors were found on plain T1WI,while isointense or mixed-signal tumors were found on plain T2WI.Slightly homogeneous or heterogeneous enhancement was observed on dynamic enhanced CT or MR,and the solid component of tumors showed hyperintense on DWI and hypointense on ADC.The mean CT value of tumor at the plain,cortical and nephrographic phase was 32.6 HU,46.5 HU and 66.5 HU,respectively.The mean ADC value of tumor and normal renal cortical was 1.23 × 10-3 mm2/s and 2.31 × 10-3 mm2/s,respectively.The mean MR percentage of enhancement value of tumor was 32.7％ and 104.9％,respectively.Conclusions The imaging characteristics of MTSCC-K include nearly round shape,pseudocapsule,clear borderline,necrosis,cystic and calcification.There is no invasion of adjacent tissue and seldom malignant appearances.Isodensity or hypodense can be observed on plain CT,isointense or hyperintense on plain T1WI,and a mild continuously enhancement on dynamic enhanced scanning.

In traditional biomedical research, a series of mechanism and measures had been taken for identity protection of data subjects, such as data disclosure in aggregated methods, information restricted in public only after identified variables removal and etc. The purpose of such process was aimed to properly keep confidentiality of health information for the target subjects in research. As the protection of subject privacy was viewed as one of the most essential principle of medical ethics in human research, the effects to fulfill and accomplish such process can help to maintain the trust and support among participants and social public. Currently, such traditional modes of privacy safeguard are widely-applied in genetics and genomics study. However, the universal applicability also causes a number of controversies, and the effectiveness remains to be proven. Nowadays, the risk assessments of data subjects’ privacy call for taking the whole“data context” into consideration, not just self-restricted in isolation and confined to quality control of data disclosure. With the soaring increasing of data resources in research involved human subjects, the issues of releasing genetic data have caused more and more public attention, especially for the sensitive domains of privacy protection. Based on the core problem and principles, this article attempted to discuss the controversial bioethical issues such as data context, data-intruder concept, privacy of data subject, identity control of releasing data, potential risk of individual identification, privacy protection of data subject, and etc. We hope these considerations can provide references to the bioethical understanding of biobanks research and decision-making of ethic review.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of local mild hypothermia on the ischemic cerebral tissues. Methods A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was prepared in Wistar rats to compare the difference of the cerebral infarction volume and neurologic function and the serum concentration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) between the local mild hypothermia group and the normal temperature group. Results It was found that the cerebral infarction volume was 84.90?11.36 and 128.95?13.42 mm 3 in the local mild hypothermia group and the normal temperature group, the neurologic function score 0.95?0.17 and 1.60?0.24, and the serum concentration of NSE 9.19?3.42 and 13.55?4.07ng/ml,respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that the local mild hypothermia treatment exerted protective effect on the ischemic neurons.

OBJECTIVETo compare the short-term clinical outcome between unilateral fixation fusion (ULF) and minimally invasive spine transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

METHODSThe clinical data of 39 patients with LDH were retrospectively analyzed from June 2008 to March 2013. There was 22 males and 17 females, aged from 45 to 75 years old with an average of 56.9 years. Therer were 3 cases in L3,4, 15 cases in L4,5, 21 cases in L5S1. Among them, 21 patients underwent unilateral fixation fusion (ULF group) and 18 underwent minimally invasive spine transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF group). Operation time, blood loss, the times of radiographic exposure and hospital stay were noted and compared between two groups. Radiograph informations were regularily accessed and VAS, ODI scores were recorded at 3 days and 3, 6, 12 months after operation, respectively. According to modified Macnab criteria, the clinical effects were evaluated at final follow-up.

RESULTSAll operations were successful without severe complications. The averaged operative time and the times of radiographic exposure in ULF group [(95 ± 25) min and (4.2 ± 0.4) times] were less than that of MIS-TLIF group [(120 ± 35) min and (10.1 ± 3.9) times] (P < 0.05). But, the mean blood loss and hospital stay in MIS-TLIF group [(75 ± 45) ml and (7.2 ± 2.2)d ]were less than that of ULF group [(165 ± 60) ml and (11.0 ± 3.7) d] (P < 0.01). All patients were followed up from 12 to 45 months with an average of 29.5 months. The VAS and ODI score had significantly improved during the follow-up and no significant differences were found between two groups at the same time point (P > 0.05). The postoperative radiographs showed internal fixation position was good. And all patients obtained bone fusion by CT scan at 1 year after operation. There was no significant differences in modified Macnab criteria between two groups at the latest follow-up (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFavorable short-term clinical effects can be achieved in suitable LDH patients with ULF or MIS-TLIF surgical procedures.

Aged ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of pain associated with chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in the rat model of prostatic inflammation.

METHODSThirty-six male SD rats were equally randomized to an experimental and a control group, the former injected with 50 μl of 3% λ-carrageenan into the ventral prostate to make the model of non-bacterial prostatic inflammation, while the latter with the same volume of sterile saline solution. At 1, 2 and 4 weeks after modeling, the prostate, L6-S1 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord were harvested for examination of the expressions of the nerve growth factor (NGF), transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), and calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSThe expressions of NGF, TRPA1 and CGRP in the prostatic tissue were all significantly increased in the experimental group as compared with the control (P <0.05), with a gradual decrease with the prolonging of time (P <0.05). In the L6-S1 DRG and spinal cord, the expressions of NGF, TRPA1 and CGRP exhibited no significant differences between the experimental and control groups at 1 week after modeling (P >0.05) and kept at high levels in the experimental group at 2 and 4 weeks, though not significantly different from those at 1 week (P >0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in the expressions of the three proteins in the experimental rats among different time points (P <0.05), but not between the two groups at any time point (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe molecular mechanism of CP/CPPS can be evaluated in the rat model of prostatic inflammation established by injecting λ-carrageenan into the prostate. TRPA1 may play an important role in connecting the upstream and down-stream pathways of CP/CPPS-associated pain.

Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Carrageenan ; Chronic Disease ; Chronic Pain ; metabolism ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Pelvic Pain ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; TRPA1 Cation Channel ; TRPC Cation Channels ; metabolism

Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; pathology

The gene (eg1) encoding for novel endoglucanase 1 was cloned previously from Chinese straw mushroom Volvariella volvacea. EG1 has high thermal stability and optimal pH at neutral and shows great potential in textile and paper industry applications. To improve the expression level of EG1 in Pichia pastoris, the increasing copy number of clone, and its high cell density fermentation in 3.2L fermenter for its high-level expression were investigated in this work. By electro-transformation of pPICZalphaB-egl into GS115EG11 integrated with single copy of eg1 gene, A resistant transformant with 3.8 times higher level expression than GS115EG11 was screened from YPDSZ plate containing 2000 microg/mL of Zeocin. The effect of initial cell density, pH and methanol on its expression and biomass accumulation was evaluated in shaking culture. Optimal EG1 production was observed when initial cell density OD600 was 5.0. EG1 production and biomass accumulation did not seem to vary when cells were induced at different pH values. Both of EG1 and cell density were found to increase with higher methanol concentrations, reaching 62.48 IU/mL and 31.7 (OD600) respectively after 120 h induction with 2.0% (V/V) methanol compared to 30.24 IU/mL and 17.79 (OD60) with 0.25% methanol induction. EG1 expression was further increased by 6.4 times higher than shaking culture after 95.5 hours induction with methanol in fed-batch fermentation, so totally 34 times higher than that for GS115EG11 was achieved by screening of high Zeocin resistant clone and high cell density fermentation. The production of EG1 with 543.36IU/mL CMC activity and 8.80mg/mL protein expression was obtained in Pichia pastoris.
Cellulase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Culture Media ; Electroporation ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Fungal Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Volvariella ; enzymology ; genetics