OBJECTIVETo study the numbers and locations of spermatic veins, testicular arteries, and lymphatic vessels in the spermatic cord of the varicocele patient under the laparoscope.

METHODSFifty-seven varicocele patients received laparoscopic ligation of spermatic veins, during which we recorded the numbers and observed the locations of spermatic veins, testicular arteries, and spermatic lymphatic vessels.

RESULTSDuring the surgery, we identified 3.3 ± 1.2 spermatic veins, 1.4 ± 0.9 testicular arteries, and 4.3 ± 1.1 spermatic lymphatic vessels. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two side in the numbers of the spermatic veins, testicular arteries and spermatic lymphatic vessels (P > 0.05). The testicular arteries were seen on the exterior of the spermatic veins and winding around them, while the spermatic lymphatic vessels mostly between the veins.

CONCLUSIONThe spermatic veins, testicular arteries, and lymphatic vessels in the spermatic cord of the varicocele patient have their specific anatomic characteristics. Laparoscopic identification of these vessels may contribute to the surgical treatment of varicocele.

Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Ligation ; Male ; Spermatic Cord ; anatomy & histology ; Testis ; Varicocele ; pathology ; Veins ; anatomy & histology

Objective To observe the changes in hypersplenism after orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT) and investigate the effect of OLT on hypersplenism. Methods Based on the clinical data of 14 eligible OLT patients operated on in our hospital during two and a half years, an analysis of the pre operative values of the thickness of the spleen, blood WBC and PLT count was made,and the postoperative pattern of changes of portal flow velocity was observed. Results Blood WBC and PLT count returned to normal 1 month after the operation, and the thickness of spleen reduced about 17.0% in the first month , but had no additional change at 1 year later. Portal flow velocity increased significantly 1 month after operation , then decreased slowly in the first year. Portal flow velocity , blood WBC and PLT count were all significantly related to the thickness of the spleen. Conclusions The high velocity of portal flow after OLT was mostly attributed to increased flow from the splenic vein; the main cause of the decrease in the level of blood WBC and PLT in hypersplenism before operation is augmentation of splenic volume; the recuperation of hypersplenism after OLT relies on the extent of reversion of splenic volume. It is not necessary to perform splenectomy in patients with hypersplenism when they receive OLT.

A set of primers amplified the VP1 gene of foot-and-mouth disease vims (FMDV) was designed and synthesized. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique detected the RNA of FMDV was established after selecting the best purification method, reagents and reaction conditions. Samples of fresh milk, lymph node, spinal cord, vesicular skin, milk powder, cotton swab, mouse and meat in daughter-house were detected by RT-PCR, positive rates were41.4% (24/58), 13.33% (2/15), 20% (1/5), 100% (1/1), 100% (1/1), 37.5% (12/32), 100% (2/2) and 10% - 70%, respectively. However, positive rate of cockroach detected by RT-PCR was 0. The results showed that the established FMDV RT-PCR technique provided a more sensitive, specific and reliable method for diagnosis and epizootic study of the foot-and-mouth disease.

AIM: To explore the relationship between the expression of caspase-2 and caspase-3 and the apoptosis in retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of rats, as well as the therapeutic effects of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)on the ischemic and reperfused retina.METHODS: This experiment was conducted at the laboratory of Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College from February 2007 to July 2007. The models of retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury were made by transiently elevating intraocular pressure. A total of 28 rats were divided into Normal and Operative Groups. Operative group was divided into six subgroups. In each subgroup there were four rats. The left eyes of rats were used for I/R and the right eyes were used for intravitreal injection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as treatment group. After reperfusion we divided our subgroups according to the reperfusion time as 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 hours. The retinal ganglion cell number was counted by using optic microscope(BX-51,Olympus). Apoptosis was assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labelling (TUNEL) method, and the expression of caspase-2,caspase-3 was studied by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and strept avidin-biotin complex (SABC)immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: No positive apoptotic cells were observed in the normal rats' retinae, but there were a significant number of positive apoptosis cells in 6-24 hours after transient ischemia followed by a decrease at 48 hours. The number of apoptotic cells reached a maximum at 24 hours after ischemia .The expression of caspase-2 gradually increased as early as at 6 hours, reached a peak at 24 hours, then decreased between 48 and 72 hours. Similarly, caspase-3 has the same rule with caspsae-2 in the time courses of expression in retinal tissues.BDNF administered before reperfusion inhibited the expression of apoptosis and ameliorated the retinal tissue damage. It also decreased caspase-2 and caspase-3 expression in ischemic/reperfused retina.CONCLUSION: Retinal ischemia-reperfusion can induce apoptosis of cells in the retina. BDNF rescues retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury through down-regulation of cell apoptosis and caspase-2 and caspase-3 expression. BDNF have a neuroprotective effect on retina.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the positive sera of autoantibodies against the human beta1-adrenoceptor from patients with congestive heart failure on activity of L-Type Ca2+ channel in guinea pig cardiac myocytes.

METHODUsing whole cell patch-clamp technique, we quantitatively researched the ionic intensity and density of L-type Ca2+ channel (ICa-L).

RESULTSThe beta-adrenocepter agonist isoprenaline increased the ICa-L peak intensity and density from (997.09 +/- 227.5) pA and (8.20 +/- 0.86) pA/pF to (2241.01 +/- 348.5) pA and (18.98 +/- 1.18) pA/pF, respectively (P < 0.01). The positive sera of autoantibodies against the beta1-adrenoceptor could also increase ICa-L peak intensity and density from (963.57 +/- 207.56) pA and (8.14 +/- 0.72) pA/pF to (1382.41 +/- 241.36) pA and (11.70 +/- 1.03) pA/pF (P < 0.01). Esmolol, a beta1-adrenoceptor antagonist blocked these effects of isoprenaline and autoantibodies.

CONCLUSIONSHuman cardiac positive sera of autoantibodies against the beta1-adrenoceptor has an isoproterenol-like effect on cardiac myocytes receptor. It may participate in the pathophysiologic process of cardiac myocytes.

Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; metabolism ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Failure ; immunology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitive effects of chimeric oncolytic adenovirus SG235 on leukemia cells in vitro.

METHODSThe ability of SG235 to infect leukemia cells and the expression of CD46 on blasts from the patient with leukemia were detected by flow cytometry (FACS). The cytotoxicity of the virus was evaluated by MTT assay. Apoptosis induced by SG235 was detected with Annexin-V/PI staining and TUNEL assay followed by FACS analysis.

RESULTThe majority of leukemia cells from the patient with acute leukemia was CD46-positive. GFP-positive cells were 45.1%, 35.7%, 54.2%, 37.0%, 30.1%, %67.1, 17.2% and 33.1% in Mutz-1, Kasumi-1, K562, HL60, Molt- 4, RPMI8226, L428, and Jurkat cell lines treated with SG235-EGFP vector at MOI (multiplicity of infection) of 50 for 48 h.SG235 treatment resulted in marked growth inhibition and apoptosis of Kassumi-1 cells, and also significantly inhibited expression of p-Akt.

CONCLUSIONThe chimeric oncolytic adenovirus SG235 can infect leukemia cell effectively and results in the growth inhibition and apoptosis of Kasumi-1 cells in vitro.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Cofactor Protein ; metabolism ; Oncolytic Viruses ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the discrepancy of aldosterone synthesis process and potential regulation abnormality between aldosterone-producing adenoma(APA) and normal adrenal(NA) with microarray. Methods cRNA probes labelled with biotin were prepared from mRNA of APAs(APA group,n=10) or NAs(control group,n=7).The probes were hybridized with oligonucleotide microarray of target gene expression profile.Expression levels were read from the fluorescent intensity scanned.The difference of gene expression profile was analyzed by computer software.Differentially expressed genes were verified by real-time RT-PCR. Results Compared with control group,97 genes were up-regulated and 168 genes were down-regulated in APA group.In the genes related to steroid hormone synthesis,only CYP11B2 was significantly up-regulated.In the physiologic regulators of aldosterone synthesis,CYB5A,CYP17A1,DUSP1 and HMGCR were down-regulated,while RENBP and NR1H2 were up-regulated.As a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of cortisol,the expression of CYP17A1 gene was inhibited. Conclusion Among the aldosterone synthesis related enzyme and corresponding regulatory genes in APA,CYP11B2 may be a key synthetase,and the suppressed physiologic regulators of aldosterone synthesis may indicate the existence of neoplastic modulation.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the chemical components of the essential oil extracted from six cultivars' Juhua (Zaogongju, Wangongju, Huangyaoju, Chuju, Xiaoboju and Daboju) produced in Anhui province of China, which were breed from Chrysanthemum morifolium, and to provide scientific basis for quality control.

METHODThe essential oils of the six cultivars'Juhua were extracted by water-steam distillation and separated by GC capillary column chromatography. The components were quantitatively determined with normalization method, and identified by GC-MS.

RESULTFrom Zaogongju, Wangongju, Huangyaoju, Chuju, Xiaoboju and Daboju, 247, 226, 246, 182, 216 and 122 chromatographic peaks were detected, among them 75, 54, 78, 50, 53 and 43 components were identified,which were composed of 85.67%, 82.80%, 81.38%, 73.22%, 71.51% and 72.87% of the total essential oil, respectively.

CONCLUSIONMonoterpenoid compounds were higher more than sesquiterpenoid compounds in the five juhua except for Chuju. There was no difference in the constituents of essential oil of Zaogongju and Wangongju. And verbenyl acetate was the main chemical constituent and composed of 32.10% and 37.85% of the total essential oil, respectively. (1R)-Camphor and bisabolol oxide A were the main chemical constituents in Huangyaoju, which were composed of 28.70% and 12.58% of the total essential oil, respectively. beta-Selinene and borneol were the main chemical constituents in Chuju, which were composed of 17.85% and 12.84% of the total essential oil, respectively. Eucalyptol was the main chemical constituent in Xiaoboju, which were composed of 21.33%. Verbene oxides and chrysanthenone were composed of 25.32% and 8.26% of the total essential oil, respectively, in the Daboju. The common chemical constituents were camphene, borneol, bornyl aceate, (1R)-camphor, (-)-4-terpineol, alpha-terpineol, eucalyptol, cis-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, juniper camphor, beta-sesquiphellandrene, alpha-curcumene and beta-farnesene in the six cultivars' Juhua produced in Anhui province of China. The resultant data provided the further evidences to distinguish Juhua' cultivars and scientific basis for quality control of Juhua.

Boranes ; chemistry ; Bornanes ; chemistry ; Camphor ; chemistry ; China ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; Cyclohexanols ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Monoterpenes ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; Terpenes ; chemistry ; Tetrahydronaphthalenes ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEAnalysis of the constituents of the essential oil extracted from the Xiaoboju, one of commercial breed came from the flowers of the Chrysanthemum morifolium, processed by the aeration-desiccation and desiccation after the sulfur-bumin fumigation, and to provide scientific basis for quality control.

METHODThe essential oil was extracted by water-steam distillation and separated by GC capillary column chromatography. The components were quantitatively determined with normalization method, and identified by GC-MS.

RESULTFrom the aeration dried sample and the dried sample after sulfur-burnin fumigation, 216 and 211 components were detected, among them fifty and six-five components were identified, which were composed of 73.21% and 82.32% of the total essential oil, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe yield of the essential oil extracted from the aeration dried sample was 3.50%, and that from the dried sample after sulfur-bumin fumigation was 4.22%. The latter is 1.2 times higher than the former. The components of the essential oil of both samples are mostly monoterpenoids and secondly sesquiterpenoids compounds, but there are marked differences between the compounds contained in the two samples. Therefore, the processing of flowers of the C. morifolium should be strictly controlled and standardized.

Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; Desiccation ; methods ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; methods ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Monoterpenes ; analysis ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; Sulfur ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo analyze the chemical components of the essential oil extracted from five cultivars' Hangjuhua (Zaoxiaoyangju, Chixiaoyangju, Dayangju, Yizhongdabaiju and Xiaotangju), which were breed came from the Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat, and provide scientific basis for quality control.

METHODThe essential oil of five cultivars' Hangjuhua were extracted by water-steam distillation and separated by GC capillary column chromatography. The components were quantitatively determined with normalization method, and identified by GC-MS.

RESULTFrom the Zaoxiaoyangju, Chixiaoyangju, Dayangju, Yizhongdabaiju and Xiaotangju, 179, 167, 209, 211 and 270 chromatographic peaks were detected, among them 54, 56, 60, 55 and 65 components were identified, which were composed of 73.40%, 64.14%, 65.19%, 53.55% and 62.89% of the total essential oil, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe common chemical constituents were juniper camphor, 1, 3, 3-trimethylcyclohex-1-ene-4-carboxaldehyde, borneol, alpha-curcumene, alpha-bisabolol, cis-caryophyllene, benzyl benzoate, methyl beta, beta-dimethylbenzenepropanoic acid ester, 2, 4-decadienal and heneicosane in the essential oil of the five cultivars' Hangjuhua. Among them, juniper camphor is most which were composed of 11.96%, 10.51%, 10.95%, 13.28% and 10.77% of the total essential oil, and methyl beta, beta-dimethylbenzenepropanoic acid ester is second, which were composed of 1.51%, 1.86%, 2.52%, 4.89% and 2.51% of the total essential oil, respectively. There are marked differences in the compounds contained in the five samples. The juniper camphor is a characteristic constituent in the essential oil of Hangjuhua. The resultant data provided the evidences to establish Hangjuhua' cultivars and scientific basis for quality control of Hangjuhua.

Animals ; China ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Mice ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Quality Control ; Volatilization