OBJECTIVETo search for an optimum method for testicular prothesis implantation in the treatment of testis loss.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the surgical methods and outcomes of 53 cases of terminal prostate cancer and 4 cases of unilateral testicular torsion treated by implantation of testicular prothesis with the polypropylene mesh.

RESULTSThe 57 male patients all received testicular prothesis with the polypropylene mesh. All the patients were satisfied with the appearance and size of the scrotum after surgery. No scrotal hematoma, prosthesis infection, or autoimmune disease occurred postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONTestis loss is not a rare condition clinically, for the treatment of which surgical implantation of testicular prothesis with the polypropylene mesh can achieve both a fine tissue compatibility and a desirable scrotal appearance.

Humans ; Male ; Polypropylenes ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; surgery ; Surgical Mesh ; Testis

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma were widely used in strengthening spleen under different disease conditions, and were easily and often misused each other. Therefore, DNA barcode was used to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma from their adulterants to ensure the safe use. The sequence lengths of ITS2 of Atractylodes macrocephala, Atractylodis Rhizoma (A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana) were both 229 bp. Among the ITS2 sequences of A. macrocephala, only one G/C transversion was detected at site 98, and the average GC content was 69.42%. No variable site was detected in the ITS2 sequences of A. lancea. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of both A. japonica and A. coreana were 0.013. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of A. macrocephala, A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana were less than the minimum interspecific genetic distance of adulterants. The ITS2 sequences in each of these polytypic species were separated into pairs of divergent clusters in the NJ tree. DNA barcoding could be used as a fast and accurate identification method to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Atractylodis Rhizoma, from their adulterants to ensure its safe use.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Pressure Ulcer ; metabolism ; pathology ; Skin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

Objective To study the difference in therapeutic effects and side effects of ibuprofen versus indomethacin for symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the premature infants.Methods Meta analysis was used to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the data extracted from 6 public papers about comparative study of ibuprofen and indomethacin.Results The rate of ductal closure was similar with the two treatment regimes (intravenous ibuprofen and indomethacin).In side effects on PDA,the incidence of oliguria induced by ibuprofen was significantly lower than that of indomethacin though there were no difference in other side effects.Conclusions The efficacy of ibuprofen for the early treatment of PDA in preterm infants is similar with indomethacin,and has low incidence of oliguria.

BACKGROUND: Direct anterior minimum invasive surgery (DAMIS) total hip arthroplasty has been considered as the total hip arthroplasty that is most consistent with the minimally invasive standards. In theory, there is a low incidence of complications in the DAMIS total hip arthroplasty. However, because minimally invasive surgery demands high surgery skills, the incidence rate of complications is high in the early period of its learning curve. Lateral decubitus position DAMIS was considered to provide a better perspective, so that, the incidence of surgical complications may be reduced. OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of lateral decubitus position DAMIS for total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Totally 62 cases from the Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University between April 2013 and April 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, and randomly assigned to two groups: lateral decubitus position group (n=31) and supine position group (n=31). Incision length, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, acetabular cup angle, hospital stay, Harris scores, Visual Analogue Scale score, and SF-36 score were compared between the two groups. Complications at postoperative 1 year were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Operative time was longer and intraoperative blood loss was more in the lateral decubitus position group than in the supine position group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in incision length and hospital stay between the two groups (P > 0.05). (2) There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P >0.05). (3) There were no significant differences in the anteversion and abduction angles of acetabular cup between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) There were no significant differences in Harris hip score, Visual Analogue Scale score, and SF-36 the quality of life scores between the two groups before surgery and 1 year after surgery (P > 0.05). (5) In conclusion, DAMIS total hip arthroplasty can abandon special traction bed when patients are in lateral decubitus position. The short-term effects are the same with supine DAMIS total hip arthroplasty.

AIM:To investigate the effect of insulin on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and to evaluate the intracellular signaling pathways involved.METHODS:VSMCs separated from Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The proliferation of VSMCs induced by insulin was assayed by [3H]-thymidin incorporation. The protein expression and activity of p-ERK1/2 were determined by immunblot and [?-32P]ATP incorporation.RESULTS:Insulin induced cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. The proliferative effect of insulin on VSMCs was inhibited partly by LY294002 (48.8%),an inhibitor of PI-3 kinase,and the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (43.6%),respectively. Moreover,phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and activity of ERK1/2 induced by insulin were also inhibited partly by LY294002.CONCLUSION:PI-3 kinase and ERK1/2 are involved in insulin induced VSMCs proliferation.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy often results in potentially life-threatening side effects including hypotension. However, the mechanism has not been completely elucidated. In order to determine whether IL-2 modifies vascular tone, we investigated the effect of IL-2 on rat thoracic aorta rings and the underlying mechanisms. Effects of IL-2 on the contraction of high KCl and phenylephrine (PE) preconstricted rat thoracic aorta with or without endothelium were determined by organ bath technique. To explore the mechanism, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue, and cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin were used. IL-2 (10-1000 U/ml) caused concentration-dependent relaxation of aorta rings preconstricted with PE (10 micromol/L) in endothelium-intact rings, but had no effect on KCl (120 mmol/L) preconstricted rings. Removal of the endothelium, or pretreatment with L-NAME (0.1 mmol/L) or methylene blue (10 micromol/L) or indomethacin (10 micromol/L), inhibited the relaxation of IL-2. The results indicate that the relaxation by IL-2 in rat aorta ring is endothelium-dependent and is possibly mediated by the NO-guanylyl cyclase pathway and cyclooxygenase-dependent pathway.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; physiology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; pharmacology ; Guanylate Cyclase ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Male ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

To investigate the effects of gambognic acid (GA) on TRAIL-induced apoptosis of cancer cells, human colon HT-29 cancer cells were treated with GA to promote apoptosis. Inhibition of the cell proliferation was measured with MTT assay and cell apoptosis was detected with formation of DNA ladders in agarose gel electrophoresis, and activation of caspase activity. The content of cytosolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured with flow cytometry. The activities of Caspase-3, -8, -9 were detected using spectrophotometric assay. The levels of c-FLIP, CHOP, DR4 and DR5 in cells were tested by Western blot. Combination of GA (1 µg · mL(-1)) and TRAIL (40 ng · mL(-1)) significantly reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis of HT-29 cells over those induced by each agent alone. Percentage of apoptotic cells was increased to 45.5%. GA markedly enhanced the intracellular ROS generation. Expression of CHOP, DR4 and DR5 was up-regulated to 7.38, 5.41, and 4.85 times of the control group, respectively. GA promoted activation of Caspase-3, -8, and -9 by TRAIL (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression of anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIP was down-regulated to 0.22 ± 0.08 times of the control group. In conclusion, GA sensitizes HT-29 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by promoting ROS-activated ERS pathways, up-regulating of DR4 and DR5, and inhibiting c-FLIP expression.
Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Shengmai Injection (SMI) on the fatality rate of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSLiterature associated with randomized controlled trials (RCT) or quasi-RCT of SMI in treating patients with AMI were retrieved by computerized searching from Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 3, 2007), PubMed (1980 - 2007), EMBASE (1979 -2007.4) , OVID (1979 - 2007.4), Chinese Biological Medicine Database (1979 - 2007.4), CNKI (1980 -2007.4), VIP (1989 - 2007.4) and those in Chinese Conference Treatises in cardiovascular diseases were hand searched (update to Dec 2006). Quality of them was evaluated with the method recommended in Cochrane Reviewer's Handbook 4.2.6, and statistical analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration's Rev Man 4.2.9 software.

RESULTSFour RCT (conducted in China), involving 376 AMI patients meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. All the included RCT were graded as C. The results of meta-analyses indicated that the fatality rate in the SMI treated group was cut down [RR: 0.18, 95% CI (0.04, 0.77)], but the decreasing trend become insignificant when SMI was used in combination with vasoactive agents [RR: 0.67,95% CI (0.29, 1.51)].

CONCLUSIONSAccording to the present evidence, the fatality rate can be decreased by combined use of SMI with the conventional therapy of modern medicine. However, it is necessary to do further research on whether SMI is suitable for combined use with vasoactive agent, the opportunity and method of doing that way. As the evidence obtained is not strong enough due to the rather poor quality of current studies enclosed, further studies with high-quality, large-scale trials are required for identification.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Injections ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with local advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed prognosis in 191 patients with advanced gastric cancer, of whom 71 were treated with NAC and 120 received surgery only between February 2007 and July 2013. Postoperative complication rate was recorded. Survival by clinicopathological features, pathological T and N stages, and histopathological tumor regression was retrospectively compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAccording to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, none of the 71 patients in the NAC followed by surgery group showed complete response, 36 showed partial response, 25 had stable disease, and 10 had progressive disease. The chemotherapy response rate was 50.7%; the disease control rate was 85.9%. Grade 3/4 adverse events were seen in less than 20% patients, with acceptable toxicities. No difference was found in the overall postoperative complication rates between the two groups (7 versus 22 cases, P=0.18). Median survival time was significantly different, at 54 months in the NAC combined with surgery group and 25 months in the surgery-only group (P=0.025).

CONCLUSIONIn patients with operable gastric adenocarcinomas, NAC can significantly improve overall survival without increasing surgical complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology