Objective To study and evaluate frequency-doubled-double-pulse laser (FREDDY) lithotripsy of ureteral calculi. Methods The experience of 150 cases of ureteral calculi treated with FREDDY from April to December in 2001 was summarized.94 are male patients and 56 female with an average age of 42.There were 48 cases of upper,35 middle and 64 lower ureteral stone. Results Of 150 cases,136(90.6%) were successful on the first lithotripsy.Of which in 131 cases (96.8%) the stone fragment completely expelled in one week.The procedure failed in 9 cases of upper ureteral calculi.Among them,5 cases was due to up drift of calculi or incomplete lithotripsy and was then shifted to ESWL therapy.2 was due to angular twist of the ureter and changed to open operation,and another 2 was due to perforation of ureter during the procedure.Of the 5 failed cases with middle and lower ureteral calculi,1 was due to incomplete lithotripsy,nonfragmentation in 1 case and failure of ureteroscopy in 3(changed to open operation).Different degree of hematuria was seen in every case after operation.High fever or pyonephrosis after operation has not been observed.The average operation time was 32 minutes,and the average time for laser working was 3.3 minutes.The average hospitalization after operation was 2.5 days. Conclusions FREDDY is a kind of laser with the characteristics of single function,simple operation,safe,less damage to the soft tissue and high efficiency of lithotripsy.The procedure is indicated if ESWL failed or not indicated.

Objective:To examine the clinical value of combining indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence navigation with blue dye in sen-tinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for patients with breast cancer. Methods:A total of 89 patients with early-stage breast cancer who met the inclusion criteria were admitted at Shantou Central Hospital, Guangdong from May 2013 to April 2014. In phase one, ICG and blue dye were applied in all 53 patients, and then SLNB and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) were performed based on fluores-cence signal or visual sense of the lymph nodes. In phase two, 36 patients with early-stage breast cancer were included. ALND was omitted when sentinel lymph nodes were frozen showing negative result. Rates of detection, accuracy, and false-negative were calcu-lated. Results:A total of 89 patients were monitored, of which the total rate of SLNB detection was 96.6%(86/89). In the validation pe-riod, the rates of detection, accuracy, and false-negative were 94.3%(50/53) 98.0%(49/50), and 2.6%(1/38), respectively. In the alter-ative period, the rates of detection reached 100%. Of the 196 sentinel lymph nodes, 179 showed fluorescence signal, 142 exhibited blue dying, 54 only demonstrated fluorescence signals, and 45 demonstrated metastasis with five signaling fluorescence. About 24.7%of patients were diagnosed with SLN metastasis (22/89), where SLNB in two patients showed fluorescence signal but without blue dye. No ipsilateral lymph node relapsed were observed during a median follow up of 25 months. Conclusion:Combination of ICG fluores-cence navigation with blue dye in SLNB is safe for patients with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate an effective method to produce large numbers of pure corporal smooth muscle cells in vitro according to the requirement of study.

METHODSIn this study, we used the primary tissue culture technique to isolate and culture the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSM) from human males with normal erectile function and New Zealand white rabbits. The cells were identified in regard to morphological and growing characteristics via immunohistochemical methods (including alpha-smooth muscle actin, desmin, myocin and factor VIII related antigen), special dye techniques (including Masson and Van Gieson) and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSCCSM were isolated and cultured successfully with high purity. Morphologically, the cells were spindle shaped and grow on top of each other, resembling a "hill and valley" in appearance. When characterized in immunohistochemistry, the cells were stained with alpha-smooth muscle actin, desmin and myocin, but not with anti-factor VIII, an endothelial marker.

CONCLUSIONThe CCSM, which can be isolated and cultured successfully, may be used for further studying their biological function. The CCSM cultured in vitro was proved to be useful to evaluate and investigate the effect of some new medicine for penile erection. There is also a clinical and theoretical significance in further studying the experimental mechanisms of erectile dysfunction.

Animals ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; chemistry ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Penis ; cytology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the telephone follow-up of surgery patients with lung cancer and to analyze the prognosis factors. METHODS: From October 2011 to January 2012, 1635 post-surgery lung cancer patients from January 2002 to August 2011 were followed up by telephone interview. The data from follow-up and clinical characteristics were collected and analyzed. Among these patients, 116 patients with complete and reliable clinical data were further analyzed to determine the effective factors of lung cancer metastasis and long-term survival. RESULTS: The average response rate in the follow-up was 36.1%, and the response rate was related to the interval time after the operations. The shorter the interval, the higher the response rate. The response rate in female patients was higher than that in male patients (P<0.001).The response rate was higher in patients younger than 40 (56 %) than that in the patients aged between 50-59 and over 60 (39% and 24% respectively, P<0.001). There was no statistical difference between patients from urban and rural areas (P=0.844). In the 116 patients with complete and reliable clinical data, statistical analysis confirmed that the metastasis and high lymph node staging were factors to increase patients' risk of death (with odd ratio 0.212 and 1.818 respectively, P<0.001). The adenocarcinoma grade, high lymph node staging and advanced age were related to the metastasis risk (odds ratio 2.353, 2.181 and 2.908, respectively). CONCLUSION Time, gender and age are the influencing factors in the telephone follow-up. Metastasis, lymph node metastasis, pathologic type and age are related to the lung cancer prognosis in the small-scale sample.
Adenocarcinoma ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Telephone ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the response of aging-related symptom complex to small-dose supplement of growth hormone.

METHODSThirty patients, aged 42 to 77, with aging-related symptom complex and normal serum testosterone were studied. Each subject received growth hormone at the dosage of 0.04 U/kg, 3 times/week for six months. Before and after treatment, body weight, grip strength, abdomen circumference, IPSS, uroflow rate, prostate volume, serum testosterone, cholesterol, triglyceride, PSA, IGF-1, glucose and side effects were determined in every case. Self Rating Scale used by Bosphorus university was adopted.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the rating scores were significantly improved, grip strength and serum level of IGF-1 increased, and abdomen circumference and serum cholesterol decreased. Whereas, IPSS, uroflow rate, prostate volume, serum testosterone, triglyceride, PSA, glucose and body weight were not significantly changed.

CONCLUSIONSix months treatment with small-dose growth hormone can improve aging-related symptom complex with little adverse effect.

Adult ; Aged ; Aging, Premature ; drug therapy ; Andropause ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth Hormone ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood

Objective:To explore the preparation and preliminary research on the characteristics of modified nano-bioglass hydrogel.Methods:(1) The nano-bioglass suspension was prepared by adding 67 mL nano-silica suspension into 400 mL saturated calcium hydroxide solution, and its suspension stability was observed. (2) The hydrogel with final mass fraction of 10% gelatin and 1% sodium alginate was prepared and set as control group. On the basis of the hydrogel in control group, the nano-bioglass suspension prepared in experiment (1) was added to prepare the hydrogel with the final mass fraction of 0.5% bioglass, 10% gelatin, and 1% sodium alginate, and the hydrogel was set as the experimental group. The gelling time at 4 and 25 ℃and the dissolution time at 37 ℃ of hydrogel in 2 groups were recorded, and the gelation at 4 and 25 ℃and dissolution condition at 37 ℃of the hydrogel in 2 groups were observed. The hydrogel in 2 groups were collected and cross-linked with 25 g/L calcium chloride solution after cold bath at 4 ℃, and the compression modulus was measured by Young′s modulus tester. In addition, the hydrogel in 2 groups were collected and cross-linked as before, and freeze-drying hydrogel was made at -20 ℃. The relative volumes were measured and the porosity of hydrogel in 2 groups was calculated. The number of sample in the experiment was 3. (3) Fibroblasts (Fbs) were isolated and cultured from 12 C57BL/6J mice of 24 hours old and the morphology was observed by inverted microscope, and the third passage of Fbs were cultured for the following experiment. Fbs were collected to make single cell suspension with the cell concentration of 1×10 5/mL. The single cell suspension was divided into experimental group and control group according the random number table (the same grouping method below), which were added with hydrogel in experimental group and control group prepared in experiment (2), respectively. At culture hour 12, 24, and 48, cells of 3 wells in each group were collected to detect the survival rate by cell counting kit 8 method. (4) The third passage Fbs were collected to prepare the single cell suspension with the cell concentration of (3.0~4.5)×10 7/mL, which was divided into experimental group and control group, with 1 tube in each group. The single cell suspension in 2 groups were added with green fluorescent probe DIO for staining and then added with 9 mL hydrogel in experimental group and control group prepared in experiment (2), respectively. The mixed solution of Fbs and hydrogel in 2 groups was cross-linked as before to make cell-loaded hydrogel. On culture day 3, the survival of cells in the hydrogel was observed by laser confocal microscope. The cell-loaded hydrogel was prepared as before and without added with green fluorescent probe DIO. On culture day 7, the adhesion and extension of cells in the hydrogel were observed by scanning electron microscope. (5) Twelve 6-week-old female BALB/c-nu nude mice were collected and divided into experimental group and control group, with 6 mice in each group. A round full-thickness skin defect wound with diameter of 1 cm was made on the back of each mouse. Immediately after injury, one cell-loaded hydrogel block in the experimental group and the control group prepared in experiment (4) was placed in the wound of each mouse in the experimental group and the control group, respectively. On post injury day (PID) 7 and 14, 3 nude mice in each group were sacrificed to collect the wound and wound margin tissue, which was stained with hematoxylin-eosin to observe the wound healing. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test. Results:(1) The nano-bioglass particles could be uniformly dispersed in water and had good suspension stability. (2) The hydrogels of the 2 groups were molten at 37 ℃, and no precipitation of particle was observed. The dissolving time of the hydrogel in the experimental group and the control group at 37 ℃ was 5 and 10 min, respectively. The gelation time of the hydrogel in the experimental group and the control group at 25 ℃ was 30 and 180 min, respectively, and the gelation time of the 2 groups at 4 ℃ was 5 and 10 min, respectively. The compression modulus of hydrogel in the experimental group was (53±6) kPa, which was significantly higher than (23±6) kPa in the control group ( t=6.364, P<0.01). The porosity of the hydrogel in the experimental group was (86.1±2.1)%, which was similar to (88.2±4.4)% in the control group ( t=1.210, P>0.05). (3) The cells were in long fusiform, and the proportion of nuclei was high, which was accorded with the morphological characteristics of Fbs. At culture hour 12, 24, and 48, the survival rate of cells in the experimental group was (84±4)%, (89±4)%, and (130±10)%, which was similar to (89±5)%, (90±4)%, and (130±11)% in the control group, respectively ( t=1. 534, 0.611, 0.148, P>0.05). (4) On culture day 3, the cells in the two groups had complete morphology in the hydrogel, no nuclear lysis or disappearance were observed, the cytoplasm remained intact, and the fluorescence intensity of the cells in the experimental group was significantly stronger than that in the control group. On culture day 7, the cells in the experimental group and the control group adhered and stretched in the hydrogel, and the number of cells in the experimental group adhered to the hydrogel was significantly more than that in the control group. On PID 7, the wound area of the nude mice in the control group and the experimental group were reduced, the reduction area of mice in the experimental group was more obvious, and a large amount of inflammatory cells were seen in and around the wound in the 2 groups. On PID 14, the wound area of the nude mice in the control group was larger than that of the experimental group, and the number of inflammatory cells in and around the wound was significantly more than that in the experimental group. Conclusions:Nano-bioglass hydrogel possesses good physical, chemical, and biological properties, cell loading potential, and the ability to promote wound healing, which means it has a good potential in clinical application.