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 explore the iodine nutrition level of people, prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders and the thyroid function of women of childbearing age in pasturing areas of Tibet. Methods Thirty families were selected respectively in pastoral Dangxiong county and agricultural Qushui county of Lhasa in 2009,drinking water and edible salt samples were collected to test iodine content; at least 50 people from each crowd of the following populations including children aged 8 - 10, women of childbearing age of 18 - 49 old and male adults aged 18 - 60 were randomly sampled and to measure their urinary iodine content and for thyroid palpation. Direct titrimetric method was used to test salt iodine(GB/T 13025.7-1999); As3+-Ce4+ oxidation reduction process to test water iodine (GB/T 5750.1-2006); As3+-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry using ammonium persulfate digestion to test urine iodine(WS/T 107-2006), and goiter examination was based on Diagnostic and Classificatory Criteria of Endemic Goiter (WS 276-2007). Results The median of water iodine was 1.3 μg/L in pasturing area and 0.7 μg/L in agricultural areas, there was no statistical significant difference between them(Z =- 1.809, P ＞ 0.05).There was no iodized salt used in pastoral people, but iodized salt coverage rate was 90.0％(27/30) in agricultural residents. The median of urinary iodine among people of pasturing areas was 50.2 μg/L, lower than that of agricultural areas( 193.2 μg/L, Z =- 10.48, P ＜ 0.01 ). However, the goiter rate in pasturing area[1.0％(1/100)]was significantly lower than that of agricultural areas[18.0％(18/100) , x2 =16.8, P ＜ 0.01]. Serum level of FT4 and TT4 in pastoral population[(14.0 ± 2.0)pmol/L, (85.6 ± 17.5)nmol/L] was significantly lower than that of agricultural areas[(16.2 ± 6.3)pmol/L, (95.4 ± 21.1)nmoL/L, t =- 2.06, - 2.20, all P ＜ 0.05]. The thyroid dysfunction rate[5.9％ (2/34)]and subclinical hypothyroidism rate[2.9％ (1/34)]in pastoral population was significantly lower than that of agricultural areas[25.5％(12/47), 21.3％(10/47), x2 =5.328, 5.651, all P ＜ 0.05]. Conclusions Pastoral areas of iodine intake is significantly lower than the agricultural areas, urinary iodine levels reflect a serious iodine deficiency in pastoral people, but the blood biochemical and urinary iodine and goiter rate does not match,and shows hidden iodine hunger, which does not constitute a goiter epidemic.

Cancer, an abnormal cell proliferation resulted from multi-factors,has the highest morbidity and mortality among all the serious diseases. Considerable progress has been made in cancer biology in recent years. Tumor immunology, cancer stem cells (CSCs), autophagy, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) have become hot topics of interests in this area. Detailed dissection of these biological processes will provide novel directions, targets, and strategies for the pharmacological evaluation, mechanism elucidation, and new drug development of traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; physiopathology

Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Ganglioneuroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurofibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Paraganglioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To study the national surveillance results and learn the current situation of iodized salt consumption at household level in 2008, and to find out the remaining problems and to provide scientific basis for developing control strategies against iedine deficiency disorders. Methods In 2008, in accordance with the requirements of the "National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Surveillance Program (Trial)", the surveillance was conducted at county level in 31 provinces and at division level in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. In each county 9 townships were randomly selected according to their sub-area positions of east, west, south, north and center;4 villages were randomly sampled in each chosen township;8 households were randomly selected in each chosen village. In every county with 9 or less townships, 1 township was randomly selected respectively in the east, west, south,north and center sub-areas;4 villages were randomly sampled in each chosen township;15 households were randomly selected in each chosen village. Edible salt from these households was collected. Iodized salt coverage rate, proportion of qualified iodized salt and consumption rate of the qualified iodized salt of the households in each province were counted and analyzed. Iodized salt was determined by direct titration;the salt samples from Sichuan and other enhanced salt were detected by arbitration. Results Totally 2817 counties (districts, cities, banners) and 14 divisions of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps reported the monitoring results, monitoring coverage reached 99.96%(2831/2832). Mean of iodine content was 31.51 mg/kg.Sixteen provinces had a variation coefficient of iodine content for more than 20%. A total of 826 968 households were tested of their edible salt, in which iodized salt 798 725 copies, non-iodized salt 28 243 copies, and unqualified iodized salt 20 270 copies. Weighted by population,at national level, the coverage rate of iodized salt was 97.48%, qualified rate of iodized salt 97.16%, and consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 94.79%.Twenty seven provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps had a qualified iodized salt coverage rate of above or equal 90.00%. Tibet, Hainan, Xinjiang and Tianjin provinces (regions) had a qualified iodized salt coverage rate lower than 90.00%. Further, 2487 counties had the rate high or equal 90.00% accounting for 87.82% (2487/2831) of complementing monitoring counties. One hundred and four counties and 1 division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps had the coverage rate of iodized salt below 80.00%. Conclusions Sixteen provinces(autonomous regions and municipalities) have relatively a high degree of variation coefficient in salt iodine content. The quality of iodized salt needs to be improved. The coverage rate of iodized salt and the qualified iodized salt at national level are both above or equal 90.00%. However, the non-iodized salt problem is still serious and have a relatively lower coverage of iodized salt in Tibet, Hainan and Xinjiang.

Objective To understand the current level of iodized salt coverage in areas with intensified monitoring measure in China in 2008. Methods In accordance with the "National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Surveillance Program (Trial)" of Ministry of Health issued in 2007, the selected key counties (cities, districts and banner) were divided into 5 sub-areas, 1 non-iodine townships(towns, street offices) was sampled randomly in each sub-area, 4 administrative villages (neighborhood committees) were sampled from each selected township;15households salt samples in each selected village were randomly collected. All salt samples were detected by semiquantitative kit at first. The salt samples that can not be determined by the kit were tested by direct titration and the arbitration act (GB/T 13025.7-1999) detection. Iodized salt determination criteria: reagent color change in semiquantitative test kit or iodine content ≥ 5 mg/kg were identified as iodized salt. Otherwise, the salt samples were identified as non-iodized salt. Results All the provinces(autonomous regions, municipalities) except Tibet in China had conducted a specific survey on iodized salt coverage in non-iodized salt high-risk areas, which revealed that the national coverage rate of iodized salt was 93.01%(130 928/140 770). At the provincial level, twenty provinces and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp had a iodized salt coverage over 90%, while the other six provinces (Beijing, Xinjiang, Zhejiang, Fujian, Tianjin and Jiangxi) between 80% - ＜ 90% and the rest four provinces,such as Guangxi, Qinghai, Guangdong and Hainan, lower than 80%. At the county level, 64.57%(277/429) of all the surveillance counties had a iodized salt coverage over 95% while 10.02%(43/429) lower than 80%. Among all the six types of areas where specific survey were conducted, areas with incomplete iodized salt distribution network and areas with crude salt production had a iodized salt coverage lower than 90%, 81.74%(4978/6090) and 86.53%(17 098/19 759), respectively. In raw salt production area, there were 10 out of 21 provinces with iodized salt coverage rate below 90%, it consisted of 47.6%(10/21) of the total monitoring provinces in the same type areas.There were 8 out of 16 provinces with iodized salt coverage rate lower than 90% in the areas with faultiness iodized salt network, it consisted of 50.0%(8/16) of the sampling provinces in the same type area. Conclusions Most provinces(21) in China have a relatively high iodized salt coverage at household level during this specific survey.Areas with incomplete iodized salt distribution network and crude salt production are the most affected areas by noniodized salt. Aiming at the high-risk non-iodized salt areas discovered during this survey, corresponding intervention measures should be implemented with joint efforts from sectors concerned.

OBJECTIVETFo compare the efficacy and complications rate of intramedullary (IM) nailing or K-wire versus plating fixation for clavicular fractures.

METHODSPubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, CNKI, VIP and Wangfang databases were searched to find all randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of clavicle fractures using plating versus IM nailing or K-wire. The methodologic quality of the studies was assessed. After independent study selection by 2 authors ,data were collected and extracted independently. Outcomes of postoperative shoulder functional measurement, the efficacy and information of the operation and complications rate were meta-analyzed using RevMan 5 software.

RESULTSNine hundreds and seventy-six patients in 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 3 quasi-RCTs were involved in the meta-analysis,of which 5 studies compared the K-wire and the plating fixations and 8 studies compared the IM nailing and the plating fixations. The overall odds ratio(OR) (with 95% CI) of the operation efficacy for K-wire versus the plating was 3.79 (1.93, 7.46). The overall weighted mean difference (with 95% CI) of Constant Shoulder score for plating versus IM fixation was -1.39 (-3.43, 0.65) in 6 studies. The overall OR of the plating versus IM nailing was 9.34(2.70, 32.32) for the overall major complications in 5 studies and 5.04 (1.52,16.77) for the revision rate in 5 studies.

CONCLUSIONThe current limited evidences suggested that the IM fixation could reduce the incidences of the overall major complications and the revision surgery, while the post-operative efficacy of the plating was superior to the K-wire. More high quality RCTs are still needed in the future.

Bone Nails ; Bone Wires ; Clavicle ; injuries ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of miR-23a and metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1) and their clinical significance in colon carcinoma.

METHODSA total of 92 cases of colon carcinomas were collected with both the tumor and paired normal tissue samples for the study. The miR-23a targeting MTSS1 was evaluated by luciferase reporter vector. Cell invasion potential was evaluated by trans-well invasion assay. In-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to detect miR-23a and MTSS1 expression.

RESULTSMiR-23a downregulated the expression of MTSS protein and enhanced the invasiveness of colon carcinoma. The expression rates of miR-23a and MTSS1 were 87.0% (80/92) and 17.4% (16/92) in colon carcinoma cases, respectively (P < 0.01). The up-regulation of miR-23a expression was associated with an advanced clinical stage (P = 0.029) and depth of invasion (P = 0.000). The expression of miR-23a was higher in the tumors with lymph node metastasis than those without (P = 0.041). Down-regulation of MTSS1 expression was associated with an advanced clinical stage (P = 0.027) and depth of invasion (P = 0.017). The expression of MTSS1 was lower in the tumors with lymph node metastasis than those without (P = 0.009). The expression of miR-23a had significantly negative correlation with that of MTSS1 (r = -0.594, P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONSMiR-23a expression promotes colon carcinoma cell growth, invasion and metastasis through inhibition of MTSS gene. Both the low expression of MTSS1 and high expression of miR-23a may serve as important biological markers for the malignant phenotypes of colon cancer, such as invasion and metastasis.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo study the HLA-DRB1 genetic polymorphism in the Ewenki of Inner mongolia.

METHODSHLA-DRB1 allele polymorphisms in 84 normal Ewenki were determined by PCR with sequencing based typing (SBT).

RESULTSTwenty-five HLA-DRB1 alleles were observed. The allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*03011(14.88%) is the highest; the allele frequencies of HLA -DRB1*09012 (13.69%), DRB1*07011(8.92%), DRB1*04011(9.52%) and DRB1*12011(8.33%) are lower.

CONCLUSIONThe distribution of HLA-DRB1 alleles frequencies in normal Ewenki from Inner Mongolia exhibits a unique profile, which is of important reference value for studies on anthropology and related illnesses in Ewenki population.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Ethnic Groups ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of cap-assisted endoscopic nylon loop ligation (C-ENLL) as a new and simple method on gastric fundus submucosal tumors. Methods 74 cases with small gastric fundus submucosal tumors ≤2.00 cm in diameter were reviewed between January 2015 and June 2016. All cases were treated by C-ENLL. The clinical efficacy was analyzed. Results All the 74 patients underwent endoscopic ultrasonography before operation, 70 cases originated from the muscularis propria, 3 cases originated from the muscularis mucosae, 1 case originated from the submucosa. The average diameter of the lesions ranged 0.50 ～ 1.80 cm. C-ENLL achieved an en bloc resection rate of 100.0％, with a mean total procedure time of 26 min. Two patients developed delayed perforation, were treated with nylon rope and metal clip purse suture wound. All of whom were managed successfully. There was no delayed bleeding after operation. Pathological examination showed that 66.2％ (49/74) of the tumors were gastrointestinal stromal tumors. No tumor recurrence was observed during the follow-up. Conclusion The C-ENLL may be a feasible and safe method for the treatment of small gastric fundus submucosal tumors.