Persistent Muellerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a rare form of male pseudohermaphrodism without the feature of ambiguous genitalia. We present a case of PMDS with transverse testicular ectopia (TTE).
Abnormalities, Multiple ; Adult ; Disorders of Sex Development ; pathology ; surgery ; Hernia, Inguinal ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Mullerian Ducts ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Testicular Hydrocele ; surgery ; Testis ; abnormalities ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of phytoestrogens (daidzein and genistein) on the testosterone production of rat Leydig cells and the possible mechanisms.

METHODSPrimary Leydig cells were obtained from 3-month old male SD rats using discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation. The effects of phytoestrogens at various concentrations were evaluated by ELISA, with hCG as the positive control. The mRNA expression of P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) was analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSGenistein at 0.1 micromol/L obviously promoted the secretion of testosterone and upregulated the mRNA level of P450scc. At a higher concentration of 5 micromol/L, however, both daidzein and genistein significantly inhibited the testosterone production of Leydig cells (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGenistein can promote the testosterone production of Leydig cells at a low concentration (0.1 micromol/L), but both daidzein and genistein can inhibit it at a higher concentration ( >5 micromol/L).

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Leydig Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Male ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; biosynthesis

This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (r-ATG) combined with cyclosporine A (CsA) and to analyse the efficacy-related factors in children with aplastic anemia (AA). Twenty five AA children treated with r-ATG [3.5 mg/(kg·d)×5 days] combined with CsA were analyzed retrospectively. The lymphocyte subgroups, CD4(+)/CD8 ratio and expression of CD55, CD59 on surface of neutrophils and erythrocytes in peripheral blood were detected by direct immunofluorescence method and flow cytometry; the responsive time, effective rate, adverse effects and infections after immunosuppressive therapy (IST) were analyzed; the distribution of T-lymphocyte subgroups in IST-effective and IST-uneffective groups was compared, and therapeutic efficacy-related factors were evaluated. The results showed that the response to treatments was found in 21 out of 25 cases, the total responsive rate was 84.0%; the response time was 3 - 6 months, average of 4 months; the effective rates in month 3, 6, 9, 12 after treatment were 56.0%, 72.0%, 80.0% and 84.0% respectively. The AA children with age ≥ 5 years old, course of disease < 6 months and absolute neutrophil value ≥ 1.5 ×10(9)/L on 30 days after IST had good curative effect; the effective rate in AA children with age ≥ 5 years old, course of disease < 6 months, high or reverse ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) and absolute neutrophil value ≥ 1.5×10(9)/L after IST was higher than that in AA children with age < 5 years old, course of disease ≥ 6 months, normal ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) and absolute neutrophil value after IST < 1.5×10(9)/L (94.4% vs 57.1%, 90.4% vs 50.0%, 94.1% vs 62.5%, 94.1% vs 62.5%) (P < 0.05). The high effective rate was observed in AA children with decrease of CD55 and CD59 expression, but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) as compared with normal expression of CD55, CD59. It is concluded that the treatment using r-ATG (3.5 mg/kg·d × 5 d) combined with CsA is a safe and effective for children with AA. Age, course of disease and absolute neutrophil value on 30 days after IST are the main factors affecting curative affect.
Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Effects of dietary supplementation with fructooligosaccharides on the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus in Miichthys miiuy fries were investigated. Nine hundred Miichthys miiuy fries were divided into 3 groups, each with triplicates. The basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with carnitine groups were considered as the negative and positive controls respectively. Results showed that the nitrogen concentration in excreted feces decreased significantly in fries fed the diet supplementation with 1000 x 10(-6) fructooligosaccharides and 200 x 10(-6) carnitine (P<0.05). The ammonic-nitrogen concentration decreased significantly in the carnitine group only (P<0.05), indicating the decreasing tendency caused by the supplementation with fructooligosaccharides. Supplementation with both did not have significant effects on the concentration of phosphorus in feces of Miichthys miiuy fries.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Dietary Supplements ; Feces ; Fishes ; metabolism ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Oligosaccharides ; administration & dosage ; Phosphorus ; metabolism

Positional asphyxia of restraint means that when an individual was limited in an abnormal body position, asphyxia would take place owing to the disorder of spontaneous respiratory function, and finally it lead to die. So, it belongs to a special type of the mechanical asphyxia. From the cases reported, we could found that it would take place in several conditions. Because the cases were not caused enough recognition, the study has been researched carefully only in recent years. Following the more cases reported, many experts of forensic medicine had investigated it on the mechanism of death and the standard of identification, but they could not reach to agreements. So, they have changed the directions of the researches, began to value the factors of risk and research how to avoid it. In the following text, the mechanism of death, factors of risk, preventive methods, standard of identification and prospecting of positional asphyxia of restraint were reviewed.
Alcoholic Intoxication/physiopathology* ; Animals ; Asphyxia/prevention & control* ; Cause of Death ; Diaphragm/physiopathology* ; Expert Testimony/standards* ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Muscle Fatigue ; Posture/physiology* ; Respiratory Mechanics ; Restraint, Physical/adverse effects*

【Objective】The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of cabozantinib combined with anti-PD-L1 antibody on the growth of subcutaneous transplanted malignant melanoma in mice.【Methods】Established mouse subcutaneous xenograft model using mouse melanoma cell line B16- F10，and then randomly divided into five groups：saline control group，vehicle control group，anti PD- L1 antibody group，cabozantinib group，cabozantinib in combined with anti- PD- L1 antibody group （combination group）. Tumor growth was observed and tumor volume was measured every 2 days. The research endpoint was defined as when the tumor volume reached 2 000 mm3 or the difference between the groups was statistically significant. Then the mice were sacrificed and tissue samples were taken at the endpoint of the study. Infiltrating immune cells including CD4 + ，CD8 + T lymphocytes and myelogenous suppressor cells （MDSC）were detected by flow cytometry. In addition，B16-F10 cells cultured in vitro were treated with different drugs， the apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry ，and the protein expressions of AKT ，p-AKT ，mTOR and p-mTOR were detected by western blot assay.【Results】B16- F10 melanoma xenograft model showed that anti- PD- L1 antibody group had no obvious antitumor effect ，while both cabozantinib group and combination group produced significant antitumor effect，and the combination group had more obvious antitumor effect compared to cabozantinib group（P=0.001 5）. B16- F10 cells were treated with different drugs in vitro，and the apoptosis rate of the combination group was significantly higher than that of cabozantinib group at 24 h and 48 h，respectively（24 h:P=0.003 5；48 h:P=0.002 9）. Western blot assay showed that the combination group and cabozantinib group had no significant effect on the protein expression of AKT and mTOR，but both could reduce their phosphorylation levels，and the combination group was more remarkable. 【Conclusion】Cabozantinib in combined with anti-PD-L1 antibody had synergistic anti-tumor effect，which might be achieved by promoting B16-F10 cells apoptosis and inhibiting of AKT/mTOR pathway.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protein expression, methylation promoter, somatic and germ-line mutations of E-cadherin gene (CDH1) in hereditary gastric cancer in China and to investigate its possible roles.

METHODSEight probands diagnosed with ICG-HGC criterion were enrolled in our database from June 1994 to October 2007. Tumor tissues were detected for CDH1 expression by using immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods. CDH1 DNA sequencing was performed for all its 16 exons both in tumor and normal tissues of the same patients to detect somatic and germ-line mutations. Methylation promoter study was performed by using specific primers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods.

RESULTSIHC analysis confirmed that the CDH1 expression was negative in 7 probands and downregulated in the other on proband. Six mutations in five probands were found with DNA sequencing: two silent mutations and four missense mutations. All six mutations were absent in normal tissues, thereby excluded its presence in germ-line cells. Both DNA missense mutations and gene silencing through promoter methylation was found in 4 probands. Two probands has only promoter methylation and one proband had only silent mutation. No DNA missense mutations or promoter methylation was found in one proband.

CONCLUSIONSCDH1 gene germ-line mutations are relatively rare in hereditary gastric cancer in China, and whereas CDH1 somatic mutations and promoter methylation synergistically induce CDH1 downregulation in these patients.

Cadherins ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) on edaravone (EDA)-triggered protection against myocardial toxicity induced by isoprenaline (ISO) in H9c2 myocardial cells (H9c2 cells).

METHODSH9c2 cells were exposed to ISO at different concentrations to establish a cardiac toxicity model induced by persistent excitation of β1 receptor. EDA was added before ISO as a pretreatment. PD-98059, an ERK1/2 inhibitor, was administered 1 h prior to EDA to inhibit the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Cell viability was measured using cell counter kit (CCK-8). The expressions of p-ERK1/2 and t-ERK1/2 were tested by Western blotting. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by Rhodamine123 (Rh123) staining and photofluorography.

RESULTSExposure of H9c2 cells to 80 µmol/L ISO for 24 h down-regulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation and repressed MMP. Pretreatment with 10-40 µmol/L EDA for 1 h inhibited ISO-induced myocardial toxicity and pretreatment of 40 µmol/L EDA partially rescued ERK1/2 phosphorylation and MMP level. PD-98059 abolished cardiac protection of EDA, leading to myocardial toxicity and MMP loss.

CONCLUSIONEDA can protect H9c2 cells against myocardial injury induced by ISO by suppressing ISO-triggered inhibition of ERK1/2 activation.

Animals ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Isoproterenol ; toxicity ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ERK on 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation in rats after vascular injury. Common carotid artery balloon-injury (Inj) model was established in ovariectomized rats (OVX). Female SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: OVX, E(2)+OVX, OVX+Inj, and E(2)+OVX+Inj groups. The thickness of the vessels, the plasma content of NO, and the expression of ERK, phosphorylated ERK as well as eNOS protein were measured. The results showed that compared with OVX, the vessel wall was significantly thickened and the plasma content of NO was significantly decreased in OVX+Inj group. E(2) significantly decreased the vessel thickness but increased the plasma NO content after balloon injury. E(2) inhibited the expression of ERK, phosphorylated ERK and induced the eNOS expression. There is a positive correlation between plasma NO content and eNOS protein expression, while there is a negative correlation between plasma NO content and the thickness of vessel. The plasma NO content and the expression of ERK protein were negatively correlated. These results suggest that E(2) increases the vascular eNOS protein expression and NO release, leading to the inhibition of VSMC proliferation after balloon injury by inhibiting the ERK and phosphorylated ERK protein expression.
Animals ; Carotid Artery, Common ; pathology ; Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; physiology ; Female ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Ovariectomy ; Phosphorylation ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of EUS and PET-CT in combination with spiral CT in preoperative assessment of gastric cancer invasion to the pancreas.

METHODSSixty advanced gastric cancer patients with suspected pancreatic invasion detected by spiral CT were selected in this study. All the 60 cases were then examined by EUS and 14 of them by PET-CT. The results were compared and evaluated with the findings during surgical operation and pathological results.

RESULTSThe rate of correct preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic invasion by spiral CT in advanced gastric cancer patients was 63.3%, with an overdiagnosis rate of 36.7%. The diagnostic accuracy was increased to 87.8% and overdiagnosis reduced to 7.3%, when combined with EUS. There was a significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between spiral CT alone and spiral CT combined with EUS (P<0.01), but no significant difference between spiral CT alone and spiral CT combined with PET-CT (P>0.05). Spiral CT-EUS was more valuable in assessment of tumor location and invasion than PET-CT (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe accuracy of spiral CT alone in the preoperative assessment of advanced gastric cancer with invasion to the pancreas is not high enough yet at present. Spiral CT combined with EUS can provide more accurate information on the tumor location, invasion site and extent of gastric cancer invasion to the pancreas, and reduce the overstaging rate caused by spiral CT alone. However, spiral CT combined with PET-CT does not show such improvement significantly.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreas ; pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Preoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Tomography, Spiral Computed