OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of depression and its etiological factors in patients with cryptorchidism 6-16 years after surgical treatment.

METHODSUsing Self-Rating Depression Scale and Correlation Factor Questionnaire, we investigated the incidence of depression symptoms among 70 patients with cryptorchidism 6-16 years after surgical treatment and another 70 healthy males as controls, and analyzed the related factors of depression symptoms.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of depression symptoms was 50% in the cryptorchidism patients postoperatively, extremely significantly higher than 4.3% in the control group (χ2 = 23.5, P <0.01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the main risk factors of depression symptoms were worries about natural fertility (F = 15.8992, P <0.01), dissatisfaction with scrotal appearance (F = 4.6003, P <0.05), and the status of being married (F = 4.1002, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSymptoms of depression often occur in cryptorchidism patients after operation, and the major etiological factors are infertility, dissatisfaction with scrotal appearance, and the status of being married.

Adult ; Body Image ; psychology ; Case-Control Studies ; Cryptorchidism ; psychology ; surgery ; Depression ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility, Male ; psychology ; Male ; Marital Status ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Scrotum ; pathology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors

Tumor brings great threat to human public health. In recent years, incidence rate and mortality of tumor were rapidly increased in the world. Anti-tumor therapies have undergone the development of cytotoxic therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Among them, tumor immunotherapy is rapidly developed and becomes an important anti-tumor therapy in recent years, although it also brings some related side effects. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of immune cells, vascular vessels, fibroblasts, the extracellular matrix, etc. TME significantly affects the efficacy of immunotherapy. Macrophages in the TME are named as tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). Recently, increasing studies have shown that TAMs play an important role in the regulation of tumor immunity, especially in tumor immune surveillance and immune escape. Currently, more and more anti-tumor immunotherapy strategies targeting TAMs are at the development stage. Based on the important role of TAMs in the TME and their potential as therapeutic targets in tumor immunotherapy, we first reviewed the subtypes and functions of TAMs, as well as the roles of TAMs in tumors. Furthermore, we summarized the research progress on anti-tumor strategies targeting TAMs and the current status of drug targeting TAMs. The current review will provide new ideas and novel insights for tumor immunotherapy.

Background Qiang minority is minority groups of China with the special habits and customs and living condition. So whether the spectrum of disease and bacteria spectrum in conjunctiva are similar with Han nationality is worth paying attention. Objective Present survey was to obtain the data about bacterial species in conjunctival sac in Qiang minority population with the age 40 years old and more and the compare with matched Han nationality population. Methods This survey study was performed as the standardized training and protocol. A total of 212 eyes of 106 individuals from Qiang minority in Beichuan county and 640 eyes of 320 subjects from Han nationality in Mianyang city received questionnaire survey and ophthalmological examination. The secretion of the inferior palpebral conjunctival sac was embrocated and inoculated on blood plate for 48-72 hours. The bacteria was separated and identified. This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Sichuan Provicial People' s Hospital. Orally informed consent was obtained before the medical procedure. Results All the examinee finished the survey and examination with a good compliance. No significant difference was found in the demography between these two groups of population. The multiple bacterial positive rate in conjunctival sac was 59. 4% in Qiang minority and that of Han people was 66. 3% with a considerably difference between them (χ2 = 2. 27,P = 0. 13). The multiple bacterial species were simultaneously detected in 26.2% in Qiang minority population and 11.88% Han people, showing evidently difference (χ2 = 106. 40, P = 0. 00 ) . The positive rate of corynbaccterium in conjunctival sac of Qiang minority was statistically lower than that of Han people (20. 7% versus 45. 0% ,χ2 =31. 75 ,P = 0. 00) ,but there was no statistical difference in the positive rate of staphylococcus epidemics between two groups (χ2 = 1. 89 ,P = 0. 17). Conclusion The bacteria positive rate in conjunctiva sac is resemble in the population over 40 years in both the Qiang minority and Han nationality. The simple bacterial species is found in majority people in two groups of subjects. The positive rate of multiple bacterial strains coexistence is more in the Qiang minority. The bacterial strains is different between Qiang minority and Han nationality.

OBJECTIVE Vascular dementia (VD) refers to a progressive decline in memory and cognitive function caused by chronic cerebral ischemia. 2-Vessels occlusion (2-VO) has been widely used as a model of VD. Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine prescrip-tion,has been widely used to treat stroke and sequelae of stroke.The present study was to investigate the mechanism of Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction(XXM) against chronic cerebral ischemia injury in rats. METHODS After XXM treatment, rats were performed a memory testing with Morris water maze and motor ability testing using prehensile test and inclined screen test.Neuronal plasticity was observed by immunofluorescent staining with MAP2 antibody. Differentially expressed proteins of rat hippocampus were analyzed by Label-free quantitative proteomics. RESULTS XXM significantly alleviated 2-VO-induced learning and memory deficits, motor ability dysfunction, and neuronal plasticity injury in rats. The mechanism might be involved in up-regulation of 39 proteins and down-regulation of 13 proteins in the hippocampus of rats after XXM treatment vs 2-VO group rats.Gene ontology and pathway analysis showed that the regulated proteins are mainly involved in oxidation reduction process, intracellular signaling cascade process, and protein catabolic process, etc. The signal pathways are mainly involved in ubiquitin mediated proteolysis and phosphatidylinositol signaling system. CONCLUSION Current findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of XXM on chronic cerebral ischemia.

AIMTo investigate the possibility of using stealth liposomes modified with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) mimetic as the targeted carriers to achieve increased accumulation in tumor and enhanced intracellular delivery for the encapsulated anticancer drugs.

METHODSRGD mimetic (RGDm) as a ligand for integrins was synthesized and covalently conjugated to the active PEGylated phospholipids (DSPE-PEG-BTC) to form RGDm conjugate (DSPE-PEG-RGDm). Then RGDm-modified SL (RGDm-SL) containing DOX (RGDm-SL-DOX) and SL containing DOX (SL-DOX) were prepared by film dispersion followed by ammonium sulfate gradient method. The pH-sensitive probe, BCECF-AM, was used to study the binding of melanoma cells to DSPE-PEG-RGDm. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy were performed to evaluate the cellular association or DOX uptake for RGDm-SL-DOX or SL-DOX in vitro.

RESULTSThe melanoma cells A375 and B16 showed enhanced binding to the immobilized DSPE-PEG-RGDm. The cells treated with RGDm-SL-DOX showed remarkable increase in cellular association or DOX uptake compared with SL-DOX.

CONCLUSIONThe RGDm-modified SL could be as the targeted carriers to facilitate the delivery of the encapsulated anti-cancer drugs into tumor cells by receptor-mediated way.

Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Liposomes ; Melanoma, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oligopeptides ; Phosphatidylethanolamines ; Polyethylene Glycols

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of small fenestra stapedotomy with semiconductor diode laser and microdrill in patients with otosclerosis.

METHODSTwenty-six patients (29 ears) undergoing stapedotomy with semiconductor diode laser and 19 patients (21 ears) with microdrill were compared for the hearing results and complication rates.

RESULTSNo statistically significant differences were found in postoperative speech frequency and high frequency pure tone average in closing the air-bone gap between the two groups. The ears treated by stapedotomy with semiconductor diode laser showed significantly better preoperative minus the postoperative air-bone gap and milder dizziness.

CONCLUSIONIn spite of the good hearing outcomes in both groups, small fenestra stapedotomy with semiconductor diodelaser can achieve better results and reduce the incidence of complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fenestration, Labyrinth ; methods ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otosclerosis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Stapes Surgery ; instrumentation ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEIn order to develop the diagnostic genechip for specific detection of Schistosoma japonicum (Chinese mainland strain).

METHODSProbe and primers were designed based on the Schistosoma japonicum 5D gene encoding an immunogenic miracidial antigen. The probe for the conservative and specific gene sequence was spotted onto the specially treated glass slides by pin-based spotting robot Pixsys 5500 and was employed to make genechips. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was designed to effectively amplify the 5D gene fragment containing the probe sequence from cercaria, egg, adult worm and infected Oncomelania DNA as well as other flukes DNA, respectively. After 35 cycles by PCR, the products were then labeled with fluorescent Cy3-labeled primer, using dissymmetrical PCR. The labeled PCR products of the target genes were hybridized to the diagnostic genechips for detection of Schistosoma japonicum and a fluorescent scanner (ScanArray 3000) was used to observe and record the hybridization signals.

RESULTSThe result obtained from the study showed that a 262 bp DNA fragment was amplified from cercaria, egg and adult worm with the designed primers and enable the genechip be applied to detect a single cercaria, egg and adult worm. When the genechip was used to detect Clonorchis sinensis, Fasciolopsis busk, and Paragonimus westermani DNA, the results showed negative, indicating that the genechip had good specificity.

CONCLUSIONThe genchip technique for detection of Schistosoma japonicum was established successfully and having the characteristics of high sensitivity and specificity.

Animals ; China ; DNA, Helminth ; genetics ; Genes, Helminth ; genetics ; Genetic Techniques ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Schistosoma japonicum ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cell-killing effect of adenovirus-mediated TK-ganciclovir (GCV) gene therapy in combination with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) against murine bladder carcinoma cells in vitro.

METHODSMurine bladder carcinoma MB49 cells were transfected with the adenoviral vector containing TK gene and green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. The transfection efficiency was observed and the TK gene expression in the transfected cells was detected by RT-PCR. The survival rate of MB49 cells in response to TNF-alpha treatment and that of the TK gene-transfected cells after treatment with GCV and GCV+TNF-alpha were determined by MTT assay. The apoptosis of the cells after the treatments was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSIn cells transfected with TK gene, the cell inhibition rate increased gradually with the increment of GCV and TNF-alpha concentration. GCV in combination with TNF-alpha resulted in significantly increased killing efficiency of the cells as compared with GCV or TNF-alpha treatment alone, and the effect of the combined treatment was enhanced as the TNF-alpha concentration increased. GCV treatment (50 microg/ml) alone produced a cell killing rate of (24.39-/+1.10)%, and when combined with 5 microg/ml TNF-alpha, the rate was increased to (40.05-/+0.97) %, and further to (65.47-/+0.67) % when TNF-alpha concentration increased to 20 microg/ml. Flow cytometry revealed obvious apoptosis of the cells 8 h after treatments with TK/GCV, TNF-alpha, or TK/GCV+TNF-alpha, and the combined treatment resulted in the highest cell apoptotic rate.

CONCLUSIONTK/GCV in combination with TNF-alpha can enhance the effect of suicide gene therapy against murine bladder carcinoma cells and effectively induce apoptosis of the cells.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Ganciclovir ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Tongfu Huoxue decoction on experimental intracelebral hemorrhage and the associated machenisms.

METHODThe cerebral hemorrhage model in rats was induced by local injection of type VII collagenase and they were randomly divided into four groups. The treated groups were treated with Naoxuekang and Tongfu Huoxue decoction. The control groups were only treated with water. The changes of neurological defect were observed. The content of brain water, MDA, NO and the activity of SOD were measured.

RESULTThe cerebral hemorrhage rats showed hemiplegia, and the hemorrhage brains showed celebral edema, higher quotient of brain and content of brain water, suggesting the hemorrhage model was established successfully. After the treatment of Tongfu Huoxue decoction, the hemorrhage rats showed smaller hemorrhage volume, the brain tissue from the hemorrhage rats had lower MDA content and the quotient of brain, and also had higher activity of SOD and content of NO.

CONCLUSIONTongfu Huoxue decoction has treatment effects on cerebral hemorrhage.

Animals ; Arctium ; chemistry ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagenases ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fallopia japonica ; chemistry ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prunus ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and safety of patient controlled analgesia (PCA) technology during double balloon endoscopy(DBE) inspection.

METHODSAccording to the anesthesia, 120 patients with suspected intestinal disease were randomized into non-anaesthesia(Group A), propofol infusion with TCI vein pump(Group B), and remifentanil vein infusion with PCA pump(Group C), with 40 patients in each group. The feasibility and safety of the three methods in double balloon endoscopy(DBE) inspection were evaluated.

RESULTSThe tolerance in groups B and C was good and the procedure success rate was 100%, significantly higher than Group A(80%, 12/40, P<0.01). The fluctuation of blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation was significantly greater in groups A and B, while patients in Group C remained stable. The detection rate was 67.5%(27/40) in Group B and 72.5%(29/40) in Group C, significantly higher than that in Group A(37.5%, 15/40, all P<0.01). The depth of endoscope was longer and the length of hospital stay shorter in Group C as compared to Group B(both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe application of PCA technology in the double-balloon endoscopy inspection can meet the individualized analgesic needs of patients in different period, increase the tolerance and compliance of patients to the inspection, facilitate patient-operator communication and positions change, reduce the operation risk, and increase the success rate of double balloon endoscopy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics ; therapeutic use ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperidines ; therapeutic use ; Propofol ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult