Adolescent ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangiopericytoma ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Adult ; Amniotic Fluid ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

OBJECTIVETo determine whether oral statins can delay the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 50-69-year-old males who came for physical examination in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2008. We designed the inclusion criteria, followed them up for 5 years, and investigated the relationship of oral statins with the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

RESULTSTotally, 653 men met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study, of whom 283 were treated with oral statins (group 1) while the other 370 with none (group 2). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age and baseline IPSS, Qmax, and prostate volume (PV) (P > 0.05). During the follow-up, 24 cases in group 1 and 35 cases in group 2 were excluded for obvious dys-uria. A gradual increase was observed in IPSS in both groups 1 and 2 year by year from the baseline to the 5th year of follow-up, but significantly lower in the former group (4.27 +/- 1.16, 4.63 +/- 1.05, 5.27 +/- 0.96, 6.41 +/- 1.04, 7.21 +/- 1.21, and 7.93 +/-1.50) than in the latter (4.24 +/- 1.35, 5.26 +/- 1.23, 6.84 +/- 1.20, 8.75 +/- 1.84, 10.82 +/- 3.01, and 12.98 +/- 4.21) (P < 0.01); a gradual decrease was seen in Qmax, though markedly higher in group 1 ([26.56 +/- 2.09], [24.06 +/- 1.94], [21.33 +/- 1.66], [19.24 +/- 1.54], [17.44 +/- 1.53], and [16.27 +/- 1.37] ml/s) than in group 2 ([26.74 +/- 2.40], [23.62 +/- 2.01], [20.63 +/- 1.69], [17.72 +/- 1.48], [14.82 +/- 1.11], and [11.86 +/- 1.24] ml/s) (P < 0.01); and a gradual increase was found in PV, but remarkably smaller in the former group ([19.82 +/- 4.94], [22.60 +/- 4.99], [25.80 +/- 5.20], [27.92 +/- 5.05], [29.11 +/- 5.24], and [29.97 +/- 5.26] ml) than in the latter ([20.21 +/- 4.78], [24.30 +/- 4.98], [28.50 +/- 5.14], [32.84 +/- 4.77], [36.99 +/- 4.78], and [40.90 +/- 4.78] ml) (P < 0.01). Longer medication of statins was associated with better efficacy.

CONCLUSIONOral statins can significantly delay the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.

Aged ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Longitudinal Studies ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostatic epithelial RWPE-1 cells.

METHODSRWPE-1 cells cultured in vitro were treated with simvastatin at 0, 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L for 24, 48, and 72 hours followed by determination of their proliferation by MTT assay, and their apoptosis by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Cx43 were detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSAfter 72 hours of treatment with simvastatin at 10, 20, and 40 μmol/L, the inhibition rates of the RWPE-1 cells were (21.07 ± 6.41)%, (34.87 ± 9.65)%, and (47.18 ± 10.88)%, respectively, significantly higher than (1.21 ± 0.54)% in the control group (P < 0.05) and in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the cell apoptosis rates were (0.066 ± 0.016)%, (0.126 ± 0.023)%, and (0.192 ± 0.025)%, respectively, remarkably higher than (0.015 ± 0.005)% in the control (P < 0.05) and also in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 were decreasing while those of Bax and Cx43 increasing with the increased concentration of simvastatin (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 was correlated negatively with that of Bcl-2 but positively with that of Bax.

CONCLUSIONSimvastatin inhibits the proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and induce their apoptosis by acting on the gap junctional intercellular communication.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Hemiarthroplasty is widely recommended for the treatment of femoral neck fractures in elderly patients, but it is controversial in choosing cemented or cementless fixation types. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects of cemented hemiarthroplasty with cementless hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck fractures in elderly and to provide a scientific basis for the selection of clinical prosthesis. METHODS: 167 elderly patients with femoral neck fractures undergoing hemiarthroplasty in the Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2013 to March 2015 were enrolled in this study. According to the type of prosthesis, patients were divided into cementless group (n=81) and cemented group (n=86). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hemoglobin levels 1 day after surgery, reoperation rate, mortality and complications at 1 year after surgery were compared. After surgery, clinical function of hip joint was assessed by Harris scoring system. The pain was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) All patients were followed up for ≥ 12 months. (2) The operation time in the cementless group was significantly shorter than that in the cemented group (P < 0.01). (3) There was no significant difference in the intraoperative blood loss and hemoglobin levels at postoperative 1 day (P > 0.05). (4) There were no significant differences in Harris hip scores and Visual Analogue Scale score at various time points between both groups (P > 0.05). (5) The incidence of thigh pain in cementless group was slightly higher than that in cemented group at 1 week, 1 and 6 months after operation, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Two patients died from myocardial infarct in the cementless group, and one patient died from pulmonary infection in the cemented group. The mortality was not significantly different at postoperative 1 year between the two groups (P > 0.05). No complications, such as prosthesis loosening and sinking, periprosthetic fracture, and periprosthetic infection, which needed to be refurbished, occurred in both groups. (6) Our findings suggest that both cemented and cementless hemiarthroplasties can obtain satisfactory effect in the treatment of femoral neck fractures in the elderly patients. Cementless hemiarthroplasty can significantly shorten operation time.

Objective To discuss the risks of hypertension development with relation to the level of lipid variables among populations who had normal blood pressure at baseline study. Methods In April 2000, under the support of project "prevention of metabolic syndrome and multi-metabolic disorders in Jiangsu province", a cohort study was performed to obtain the baseline data among 8685 persons from age 34 to 74. In June of 2006, a follow-up investigation was carried out among those who had been in the study for 5 years after the baseline study started. 2603 persons who met the selection criteria and showed normal blood pressure during baseline study, were recruited in this investigation. The interval from the baseline to the follow-up studies was 6.38 years on average. Relationship between the risk of developing hypertension and the baseline level of lipid variables were analyzed. Results Relations between baseline lipid levels and the incidence of hypertension during the follow-up was discovered. In gender and age adjusted model, the lipid variables were all associated with hypertension(Wend test, P<0.01). In multivariable-adjusted model, HDL-C [aRR=0.71 (95%CI: 0.61-0.99)], non-HDL-C [αRR=1.28 (95%CI: 1.14-1.83)], TC/HDL-C ratio[aRR=1.41 (95%CI: 1.25-2.03)] and TG [αRR=1.49(95%CI: 1.30-2.13)] were again associated with hypertension (trend test, P<0.05). Even the αRR was much weakened after the baseline SBP, DBP were adjusted with Cox model, the significant relation of hypertension to HDL-C, TC/HDL-C ratio and TG still existed. Excluding the two factors of obesity (BMI≥28) and diabetes which had been recognized in marked linking with hypertension, lipid variables were still associated with hypertension. Conclusion Dyslipidemia might occur before being hypertensive. Hypertension was associated with HDL-C, TC/HDL-C and TG or even exclusion of obesity, diabetes and factors of smoking and drinking or baseline level of SBP, DBP were adjusted.

The GFP(green fluorescence protein)-streptavidin(SA) bi-functional fusion protein was generated and characterized in order to demonstrate novel platform for efficiently and durably modifying the cell surface with SA-tagged bi-functional proteins.The GFP-SA/pET24d construct was generated and expressed in BL21(DE3) host bacteria at the high level.The recombinant protein GFP-SA was purified through the Ni-NTA affinity chromatography,and then refolded.After biotinylation B16 tumor cells were modified with GFP-SA bi-functional fusion protein and then subjected to fluorescent microscopy and FACS analysis.The effect of surface modification on the viability and growth of B16.F10 tumor cells was evaluated by MTT staining.The GFP-SA recombinant fusion protein was expressed in BL21(DE3) at about 20 % of total bacterial proteins.The GFP-SA bi-functional fusion protein exhibited the bi-functionality,i.e.,SA-mediated high-affinity binding to biotinylated cell surfaces and GFP-emitted green fluorescence.The cell surface modification with GFP-SA bi-functional fusion protein did not affect the viability and growth of the modified B16.F10 tumor cells significantly.The GFP-SA bi-functional fusion protein was obtained and could be displayed efficiently on the surface of the biotinylated B16.F10 tumor cells through the specific and tight interaction between streptavidin and biotin,thus can be used as good trace protein and experimental control in the development of surface-modified tumor vaccine.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) on avascular necrosis of the femoral head in rabbits.

METHODSAvascular necrosis of the femoral head was induced in 26 New Zealand white rabbits by injections of horse serum and prednisolone. The rabbits were then divided into VEGF/TNFR treatment group, VEGF treatment group, and untreated model group, with another 4 normal rabbits as the normal control group. In the two treatment groups, the therapeutic agents were injected percutaneously into the femoral head. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the concentration of TNF-alpha in rabbit serum followed by pathological examination of the changes in the bone tissues, bone marrow hematopoietic tissue and the blood vessels in the femoral head.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the rabbits with both VEGF and TNFR treatment showed decreased serum concentration of TNF-alpha with obvious new vessel formation, decreased empty bone lacunae in the femoral head and hematopoietic tissue proliferation in the bone marrow cavity.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous injection of VEGF and TNFR into the femoral head can significantly enhance bone tissue angiogenesis and ameliorate osteonecrosis in rabbits with experimental femoral head necrosis.

Animals ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; therapeutic use

Vascular endothelial growth factor 121 (VEGF121) was expressed as inclusion bodies by recombinant Escherichia coli. High concentrations of both biomass (46 g dry cell/L) and VEGF121 inclusion bodies (4.5 g/L) were obtained by applying a high-cell-density culture. After the inclusion bodies were washed and dissolved, VEGF121 was refolded at 0.2 mg/ml by ultrafiltration in refolding buffer with a yield of 81%. Renatured VEGF121 was purified by anion chromatography and Sephacry S-100 chromatography with purity higher than 95% and fnal purification yield of 31%. The purified VEGF121 could stimulate the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells as demonstrated by a biological activity assay.

Adiponectin is the cytokine secreted by white adipocytes.Clinical studies have confirmed that cardiac diastolic dysfunction is accompanied with the decline of serum adiponectin level,and hypoadiponectinemia has been considered as an important independent risk factor for diastolic dysfunction.Basic research found that the decrease of adiponectin level might reduce myocardiocyte Ca2+ transport,increase myocardial inflammatory infiltration and oxidative stress,promote myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis,which can induce or aggravate cardiac diastolic dysfunction.