OBJECTIVETo explore the procedures of dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC) and their application in the diagnosis and classification of venous erectile dysfunction (VED).

METHODSThis study included 103 ED patients, aged 20 to 43 years, highly suspected of VED, with disease courses of 4 months to 6 years. DICC was performed and analyses were made on the results, especially the parameters of flow-to-maintain (FTM) and pressure decay (PD) in the corpus cavernosum.

RESULTSBased on the parameters of FTM and PD, 21 of the patients were normal, 5 were suspected of VED, 39 had mild VED, 25 had moderate VED, and 13 had severe VED. Penile subcutaneous hematoma was found in 4 of the patients, all recovered after 3 to 5 days, with no other complications.

CONCLUSIONDICC is a reliable, safe and minimally invasive method for the diagnosis and classification of VED.

Diagnostic Techniques, Urological ; adverse effects ; Hematoma ; etiology ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; classification ; diagnosis ; Male ; Penile Diseases ; etiology ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Veins

Objective: To observe the role of rmh-TNF in enhancing the anti-angiogenesis effect of cisplatin on Lewis lung carcinoma in the mice.Methods: Lewis lung carcinoma model was established in C57BL/6 mice.Sixty model mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group,rmh-TNF group(1500000 U/kg),cisplatin group(6.15 mg/kg), and rmh-TNF plus cisplatin group.Twelve days after implantation of cancer cells,different drugs were injected intra- tumorallv for 3d.The expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1?(HIF-1?)gene in the tumor was identified by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry(IHC)image analysis was performed to determine the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and kinase domain region receptor(KDR)expression and the microvessel density(MVD).Expression of matrix metallo- proteinase-2(MMP-2)was detected by flow cytometry.Results: The MVD values in the control group,the rmh-TNF group,the DDP group and the combination group were(24.76?1.28),(18.95?1.22),(19.53?1.15),(10.43?1.05),respectively,with those of the rmh-TNF and DDP groups significantly lower than that of the control group and higher than that of the combination group(all P

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of left varicocele (VC) and varicocelectomy (VCT) on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the levels of nitrogen monoxidum (NO) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) in the rat testis.

METHODSWe randomly divided 60 adolescent male SD rats into four groups of equal number: sham operation control, VC model 1 (VC1), VC model 2 (VC2), and VCT. We determined the semen quality and levels of NO and IL-1 in the testis tissue, detected the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells by TUNEL, and compared the indexes obtained among different groups.

RESULTSAn experimental VC model was successfully established by partially ligating the left renal vein of the rats. Sperm concentration and motility were significantly decreased in the VC1 ([1.54 ± 1.16] x 10⁶/ml and [44.23 ± 15.46]%) as compared with those in the sham operation group ([2.80 ± 1.62] x 10⁶/ml and [72.34 ± 12.62]%) (P < 0.05), but remarkably higher in the VCT ([1.82 ± 1.34] x 10⁶/mI and [51.21 ± 12.62]%) than in the VC2 group ([1.04 ± 1.21] x 10⁶/ml and [39.23 ± 13.21]%) (P < 0.05). The levels of NO and IL-1 in the left testes were markedly elevated in the VC1 ([0.172 ± 0.030] ng/ml and [1.468 ± 0.080 ] mg/ml) in comparison with those in the sham operation group ([0.134 ± 0.021] ng/ml and [0.782 ± 0.079 ] mg/ml) (P < 0.05), and significantly higher in the VC2 ([0.198 ± 0.020] ng/ml and [1.994 ± 0.090] mg/ml) than in the VCT group ([0.141 ± 0.010] ng/ml and [0.781 ± 0.036] mg/ml) (P < 0.05). However, the NO and IL-1 levels in the right testis showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups, and the two levels were positively correlated (r = 0.492, P < 0.01). The rats of the VC1 group exhibited remarkable apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in the bilateral testes, with significant differences in the apoptosis index ( AL) between the two sides (P < 0.05) as well as in the same side in comparison with the sham operation group (P < 0.01). The Als of spermatogenic cells in the bilateral testes showed statistically significant differences in the VCT (P < 0.05) but not in the VC2 group (P > 0.05), and those in the same side manifested dramatic differences between the VCT and VC2 groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONVaricocele induces changes of the NO and IL-1 levels in the testis tissue and increases the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, which might be one of the causes of testis damage and spermatogenic dysfunction.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Germ Cells ; pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Interleukin-1 ; analysis ; Ligation ; Male ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; chemistry ; Varicocele ; complications ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical experience and the role of hepatectomy with portal vein resection and reconstruction hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODSFrom 1998 to 2003, the clinical records of 118 cases with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were reviewed.

RESULTSOf the 118 patients, 66 were performed palliative treatment; and 52 patients underwent radical resection, of which 47 patients, including 11 cases combined with portal vein resection and reconstruction, underwent hepatectomy. The rate of postoperation complication was 22.9% and 27.3% in hepatectomy with or without portal vein resection and reconstruction respectively. The 1, 3-year survival rate were 85.7%, 31.4% and 81.8%, 27.8% in hepatectomy with or without portal vein resection and reconstruction respectively (P > 0.05). Only 5 patients were alive more than 3 years (7.58%), and no patient with palliative treatment lived over 5 years.

CONCLUSIONSPortal vain invasion is not the contraindication of resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatectomy with portal vein resection and reconstruction may raise the radical resection rate of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and improve the results of prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the relationship between esophagus cancer patients and both environmental and genetic factors,through analyzing the data on birth orders from esophagus cancer patients of Shanxi province.Methods Both Greenwood and Haldane methods on birth order were used to study the 1101 cases with esophagus cancer from Shanxi province.All the patients had received surgery and were diagnosed,by pathological evidence.First certificates of the patients were confirmed through the standard genetic epidemiologic investigation.Birth order was investigated on probands of the 1101 cases with esophagus cancer and their 44 siblings.Results Results form the Greenwood method showed that there was a tendency for cases with esophagus cancer in birth orders First to Third.However,the Haldane method showed that the results were quite different between actual value and the average theory value of 6A (6A(actual value)=17 118,(X)6A(average theory value) =19 290,X=∣6A-(X)6A∣/√V6A =7.63,X ＞ 2) which suggested that the birth order had some effects on the occurrence of esophagus cancer.In addition,the actual value of 6A was lower than the theoretic average value,and the parents at younger productive age or baby at the first birth was easy to develop esophagus cancer.Conclusion Esophagus cancer was related with the birth order,especially at early order,which was not consistent with the national reports on esophagus cancer.Results from this study suggested that there were certain effects of environmental risk factors on esophagus cancer patients.

Objective To study the effect of positive lymph node number on the survival of patients with esophageal carcinoma. Methods From July 1995 to July 2005, a total of 11,447 resected lymph nodes were obtained from 1140 patients who underwent curative resection of the primary tumor with systematic lymphadenectomy at Shanxi cancer hospital. The survivals were analysed by life tables and Kaplan-Meier methods, the related factors of lymph node metastasis were assessed by Chi-square test. Results The number of positive lymph nodes was negatively related to survival rates of esophageal carcinoma. According to the number of lymph nodes resected (≥8 nodes versus <8 nodes), there was significant difference in metastatic lymph node ratio. Conclusion The number of positive lymph node can reflect the prognosis of patients better. The authors suggest that the modification of the tumor-lymphnode-metastasis (TNM) staging classification (TNM) to include the number of positive lymph nodes in the N1 category.

Objective To investigate the effect of tumor length and number of positive lymph nodes and the ratio of positive lymph nodes on survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods From July 1995 to July 2005, a total of 6,691 resected lymph nodes were obtained from 526patients who underwent curative resection of the primary tumour with systematic lymphadenectomy. The survivals were analysed by life tables and Kaplan-Meier methods. Results Among patients with regional disease, the number of positive lymph nodes (＞3) was related to an increasing risk. The proportion of positive lymph nodes compared with the number of lymph nodes dissected (20 %) conferred an increased risk. The tumor length (≤5 cm, 5 cm ＜ length ＜ 7 cm, ＞7 cm) was related to an increasing risk (84.74 %, 47.79 %,36.90 %, 35.52 %; 73.41%, 46.29 %, 23.87 %, 20.64 %; 64.44 %, 13.92 %, 0, 0). Conclusion Tumor length,the number of positive lymph nodes, and the ratio of positive lymph nodes are important prognostic factors for survival in patients with esophageal carcinoma. The PTNM classification system for patients with esophageal carcinoma might consider adding number of positive lymph nodes as an important prognostic factor.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects and complications of subinguinal microscopic ligation, laparoscopic transperitoneal varicocelectomy, laparoscopic retroperitoneal varicocelectomy, open retroperitoneal high ligation, and interventional embolotherapy in the treatment of varicocele.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study that included 632 varicocele patients treated by subinguinal microscopic ligation (group A, n = 79), laparoscopic transperitoneal varicocelectomy (group B, n = 120), laparoscopic retroperitoneal varicocelectomy (group C, n =137), open retroperitoneal high ligation (group D, n = 283), and interventional embolotherapy (group E, n = 13). We compared the baseline and 3-month postoperative semen parameters, postoperative complications, and pregnancy rate among the five groups of patients.

RESULTSThe operation time was longer in groups A ([2.02 ± 1.25] h) and E ([2.17 ± 1.02] h) than in the other three groups, while the postoperative hospital stay was the shortest in group E ([1.1 ± 0.1] d). Intestinal injury or incision bleeding occurred intraoperatively in 2 cases in group B and 1 case in group E. Postoperative scrotal edema developed in 3.7, 17, 10, and 19% of the patients in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively, but not in group E. The rate of 1-year recurrence was the lowest in group A (1.6%) and highest in group E (22%). Sperm concentration and the percentages of progressively motile sperm and morphologically normal sperm were improved postoperatively in all the patients (P < 0. 05), but there were no statistically significant differences among the five groups either in the above three parameters or in the postoperative pregnancy rate (P > 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONIn the surgical treatment of varicocele, laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach involves short operation time and few complications, subinguinal microscopic ligation has the advantages of little injury, rapid recovery, and few complications but requires specialized microsurgical techniques, and interventional embolotherapy leaves no incision scar and needs only local anesthesia and 1-day postoperative hospital stay, which is uitable for those with a contraindication to anesthesia.

Embolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Ligation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Recurrence ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Count ; Urogenital Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Varicocele ; surgery ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods

OBJECTIVETo obtain seed cells for cartilage repair through constructing recombinant human transforming growth factor beta3 vector (hTGF-beta3) and transfecting it into rat's precartilaginous stem cells (PSCs).

METHODSGene engineering technique was introduced to construct eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1 (+)-hTGF-beta3. PSCs of rats were isolated and purified with method of immunomagnetic microbeads. Then PSCs were cotransfected with plasmid hTGF-beta3 and pcDNA3.1 (+)-enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) by liner polyethyleneimine (PEI). And 48 hours later the transient expression of EGFP was observed under a fluorescence microscope, and the expression of hTGF-beta3 was detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe sequences of the recombinants were consistent with that from Genebank. Cotransfection of EGFP provided fast visual confirmation of successful transduction. The hTGF-beta3 mRNA and protein expression could be detected by RT-PCR and ELISA.

CONCLUSIONSThe recombinant plasmid is correctly constructed and successfully transfected into rat's PSCs, which is an important step to treat epiphyseal injury or other osteo-cartilage diseases with transgenic therapy.

Animals ; Cartilage ; cytology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunohistochemistry ; Plasmids ; Polyethyleneimine ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Transfection ; methods ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of phase-weighted imaging in differentiating multiple system atrophy (MSA) from idiopathic Parkinson disease (IPD).

METHODSA phase-weighted sequence was performed covering striatum in 21 patients with MSA, 20 patients with IPD, and 26 age-matched healthy volunteers after conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging examination on a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging system. An experienced neuroradiologist who were blind to the clinical diagnosis applied region of interest (ROI) on post-processing phase images to measure the phase shift value of bilateral globus pallidus, putamen, and caudate head.

RESULTSThe phase shift values at bilateral putamen of MSA group were significantly lower than those of IPD group and control group (P < 0.05), while phase shift values at other locations of MSA group were not statistically different from those of other groups. The phase shift values showed no statistical difference between IPD group and control group at all regions.

CONCLUSIONQuantitative phase-weighted imaging is a useful sequence to reflect the abnormal iron accumulation in brains of patients with movement disorders and is helpful in the differential diagnosis between MSA and IPD.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Caudate Nucleus ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Globus Pallidus ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple System Atrophy ; diagnosis ; Parkinson Disease ; diagnosis ; Putamen ; pathology