Objective To study the mechanism of male infertility. Methods Forty sperms from 8 normal males as control and 60 sperms from 12 males with infertility were observed by SEM.The ultrastructure of acrosomes was analyzed and compared. Results Spermatozoa with obscure ringed rips in infertile group acounted for 66.7%(40/60),serrate 65.0%(39/60);but in control group,the proportions were 10.0 % (4/40) and 5.0%(2/40),respectively.The ratios of acrosome to head in infertile group were ( 70.0 ?8.0)%,greater than controls (57.7?6.4)%.The ratios of acrosome membrane which was not intact were 70.0%(42/60) in infertile group and 22.5%(9/40) in control group.Acrosomes with rough surface were 68.3%(41/60) and 20.0%(8/40) respectively in the 2 groups;Acrosomes with particles adhesive to the surface were 65.0%(39/60) and 27.5%(11/40) respectively. Conclusions Abnormal acrosome structure is one of the causes of male infertility.

0.05). Conclusions These results suggest that NKX3.1 is prostate-specific homeobox gene,and it may play an important role in the development of prostatic carcinoma.It is shown that analysis of the expression of NKX3.1 in prostatic carcinoma will benefit the diagnosis and treatment of prostatic carcinoma.

AIM: To study the effect of RNA interference on hypoxia-inducible factor-2(HIF-2) in the renal cell cancer in vitro and in vivo.METHODS: HIF-2 RNAi was synthesized and inserted into RNA interference eukaryotic expression vector which was confirmed by sequencing.The vector was transfected into the renal cancer cell 786-0 and positive clone was selected by using G418.The HIF-2 expression was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting method.The growth of cells was measured by MTT method.Nude mouse xenograft assays were also done.RESULTS: Compared with empty vector group and control group,the amounts of HIF-2 mRNA and protein expression were lower in the HIF-2 RNAi group,the difference was significant(P

Objective To present the experience of diagnosis and treatment of 21 cases of retrocaval ureter. Methods 21 cases of retrocaval ureter were retrospectively analysed. Results The main clinical symptom was right waist pain in 20 cases,4 of them with typical renal colic.8 cases had gross hematuria and calculus in the renal pelvis.1 case was void of symptom.The diagnosis of the disease depended mainly on intravenous urography (IVU) and retrograde ureteropyelography (RGU).IVU and RGU showed a "S" shaped upper ureteral segment with dilatation. Ureteral replacement and ureteroplasty were carried out in 20 cases which have been followed up from 2 months to 28 years with an average of 13 years.The symptom disappeared in 19 cases,with hydronephrosis and hydroureter significantly reduced on IVU and ultrasonography.1 case underwent ureteral reanastomosis because of stenosis at anastomosis site. Conclusions In patients with hydronephrosis and hydroureterosis of upper segment on the right side,the possibility of retrocaval ureter should be considered.Intravenous urography and retrograde ureteropyelography are the main means of diagnosis.Ureteral replacement and ureteroplasty are the treatment of choice.

Objective To improve the levels of diagnosis and treatment of testicular torsion. Methods The clinical data of 39 cases of testicular torsions were summarized and analyed.All the 39 cases had the essential clinical symptom of colic in testis,and 20 cases had the positive Prehn's sign.Eight cases underwent out examination of radionuclide imaging of scrotum,which showed unilateral defect of radionuclide distribution.The 8 cases were all diagnosed as testicular torsions.B-ultrasound showed that the positions of testis and epididymis were changed in scrotum and the blood supply in testis was reduced clearly or disappeared. Results Five cases who received operation within 12 hours from attack time had testicles survival.Of 5 cases who had operation within 12 to 24 hours from attack time 3 had testicles survival.Of 27 cases who had operation more than 24 hours from attack time only 6 had testicles survival.Two cases had no operation. Conclusions It is helpful to get diagnosis for early testicular torsion by Radionuclide imaging of scrotum and B-ultrasound are helpful to make diagnosis of early testicular torsion.Early diagnosis and timely treatment are key of improving therapeutic effect.

Objective To investigate the basic biological functions of NKX3.1 with construction of a series of eukaryotic expression vector of NKX3.1 to study its effects on cell cycle and apoptosis.Methods The full-length reading frames (ORF) of NKX3.1 was amplified from normal human prostate tissue with polymerase chain reaction (PCR),the ORF was cloned into T vector,and then NKX3.1 was cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+) and pcDNA3.1 (-) with this T vector as template.NKX3.1 in pEGFP C1 was transfected into PC3 cell line,and C1 pEFP was taken as control to observe the localization of NKX3.1 in cells.At the same time,NKX3.1 in pcDNA3.1 and pcDNA3.1 were transfected into PC3 cells and the cells were collected after 24 ～48 hours to detect cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry.Results The eukaryotic expression vector of NKX3.1 was constructed successfully.Fluorescent protein was ocated in the nucleus after transfection of NKX3.1 in pEGFP C1,but pEGP C1 was both expressed in nucleus and cytoplasm.There was significant effect on the early apoptosis (P＜0.01),but no effect on the cell cycle (P ＞ 0.05) after transfection of NKX3.1 compared to PC3 cell-transfected with empty vector of pcDNA3.1.Conclusions The result data suggest that NKX3.1 be nuclear protein and have effect on the early apoptosis of PC3 cell line based on the construction of eukaryotic expression vector.

Objective To cladfy the dependence of neural nitric oxide synthase mRNA (nNOSmRNA) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA (eNOSmRNA) on androgens (testosterone [T] and dihydrotestosterone [DHT]). Methods 160 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into Groups A (56 rats, 5 weeks old), B (50 rets,10 weeks old) and C (54 rats, 58 weeks old). Groups A, B and C were all subdivided respectively into five Subgroups. Subgroup 1: intact osntrels; Subgroup 2: castrated; Subgroup 3: castrated with testosterone ubdecanoate 25 mg/kg·mon-1, intramuscular injection, Subgroup 4: castrated with testosterone undecanoate 50 mg/kg·mon-1, intramuscular injection and Subgroup 5: treated with finaeteride 4.5 mg/kg·day-1, orally. Four and ten weeks after treatments described above, one half of the rats were killed. Serum samples were token for measurements of T, free testosterone (FT) and DHT by raclioimmunoassay. Penile samples were treated with liquid nitrogen and then stored at-80℃. nNOSmRNA and eNOSmRNA were detected by semiquantitative reveres-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Dot blot. Resulte There was no significant difference between Subgroup 1 and Subgroup 2 or Subgroup 5 in all Groups A, B and C. The expression of penile eNOSmRNA of Group A was significantly increased (4 weeks model) (P＜0.05) or increased (10 weeks model) (P＞0.05) in Subgroup 2 or 5 compared with those in Subgroup 1.There wes no significant difference between Subgroup 1 and Subgroup 2 or Subgroup 5 of Group B in 4 weeks model (P＞0.05). There was an elevation when animals were castrated or treated with finasteride in the 10 weeks model.The expreseion of penile eNOSmRNA of Group C was significantly increased (10 weeks model) (P＜0.05) or increased (4 weeks model) in Subgroup 2 compared with those in Subgroup 1.The production of eNOSmRNA in Subgroup 5 was also increased (including 4- and 10-week models). When T was supplied for castration, the penile eNOSmRNA was desreased to some extent; the greater the dose of T given, the lower penile eNOSmRNA was observed. Conclusions The expression of eNOSmRNA in SD rat penile tissue increases while T or DHT diminishes. Sometimes androgens medaulate penile eNOSmRNA in opposite directions. There is no srrelation between the expression of nNOSmRNA and androgens (including T and DHT) . Androgens give rise to penile erection probably not via the NOS pathway.

OBJECTIVETo assay the existence of SHBG in prostatic tissue and analyze the effects of SHBG on the prostate and prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODSProstate tissue cytosolic and nuclear fractions were obtained from 32 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 11 cases of elderly control, and 22 cases of the normal young and middle-aged. SHBG in cytosol and nucleus was evaluated by two-site immunoradiometric assay based on the 125I-labelled monoclonal antibody.

RESULTSThe study testified the existence of SHBG in the cytosol of prostatic tissue. SHBG in BPH tissue [(5.11 +/- 1.37) fmol/g wet tissue] was a little more than that in the young and middle-aged group [(4.98 +/- 1.39) fmol/g wet tissue] and the elderly group [(5.06 +/- 1.27) fmol/g wet tissue], but there was no significance among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHBG in the prostate can bind and accumlate androgen, which is related to prostatic physiology and contributes to the etiology of BPH.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; chemistry ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the erectile function of adults after circumcision.

METHODSNinty-five patients were investigated on erectile function by questionnaire before and after circumcision, respectively.

RESULTSEighteen patients suffered from mild erectile dysfunction before circumcision, and 28 suffered from mild or moderate erectile dysfunction after circumcision(P = 0.001). Adult circumcision appeared to have resulted in weakened erectile confidence in 33 cases(P = 0.04), difficult insertion in 41 cases(P = 0.03), prolonged intercourse in 31 cases(P = 0.04) and improved satisfaction in 34 cases(P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONSAdult circumcision has certain effect on erectile function, to which more importance should be attached.

Adult ; Circumcision, Male ; adverse effects ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics, diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of incidental renal cell carcinoma(RCC).

METHODS109 cases of incidental RCC treated in 20 years were analyzed retrospectively and compared with 247 cases of non-incidental RCC.

RESULTSThe age, sex and side between incidental RCC and non-incidental RCC were not significant (P > 0.05). Compared to the non-incidental RCC,the diameter of incidental RCC [(4.1 +/- 1.7) cm] was smaller and its stage was lower (P < 0.01). Ultrasonography and CT can improve the detection rate of incidental RCC significantly, and operation is more effective for incidental RCC than for non-incidental RCC (P < 0.01). The 3 and 5 year cancer specific survival rates in patients with incidental RCC were higher than those of non-incidental RCC(P < 0.01). The detection rate of incidental RCC was higher from 1990 to 1999 (39.3%) than from 1980 to 1989 (15.6%) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIncidental RCC is not another type of RCC, but a developing stage of RCC without appearance of a symptoms. Ultrasonography and CT are important to diagnose incidental RCC. Low pathological stage, small size, early diagnosis, and radical nephrectomy indicate better prognosis of incidental RCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed