Androgen deprivation therapy can effectively suppress the progression of prostate cancer, but accumulating evidence for the relationship of testosterone with prostate cancer challenges the conventional wisdom. High levels of testosterone are not risk factors for prostate cancer, nor promote its development. On the contrary, a low testosterone level indicates a worse pathological stage. So far there has been no strong evidence to prove the role of testosterone in the occurrence and progression of prostate cancer. Therefore, the relationship between testosterone and prostate cancer is quite complicated and deserves further investigation.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Testosterone

AIM: To quantitatively investigate transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) and its receptors in normal bulbar conjunctival tissues and pterygium tissues. METHODS: Thirty cases of pterygium patients were randomly selected to undergo surgical resection of pterygium lesion, and the normal margin of bulbar con-junctival tissues were collected as control. Gene expres-sion was detected quantitatively by the method of quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) analysis. RESULTS: The expression level of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 was 4.26×10-7±1.45×10-7 and 1.08×10-10±0.68×10-10 in normal bulbar conjunctival tissues, while 10.67×10-7±7.47×10-7 and 8.23×10-11±6.63×10-11 in pterygium tissues. The expression level of TGF-βRⅠand TGF-βRⅡwas 0.003015±0.0036 and 5.33×10-5±5.05×10-5in normal bulbar conjunctival tissues, while 0.000379±0.000281 and 1.002×10-5±9.04×10-6 in pterygium tissues. The expression level of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 in pterygium was elevated (P<0.01). TGF-β1 expression level in pterygium increase 2.9±2.8 times than in normal conjunctiva. TGF-β2 expression level in pterygium increase 7.5±1.4 times than in normal conjunctiva. The expression level of TGF-βRⅠin pterygium was significantly lower (P<0.05). The expression level of TGF-βRII in pterygium was significantly lower (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: QRT-PCR is an effective method to quantitatively detect gene expression in eye. The upregulation of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 and downregulation of their receptors expression may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pterygium, which is noteworthy further investigation in diagnosis and treatment of pterygium.real-time PCR; gene expression

Transforming growth factor-?(TGF-?) is a kind of multifunctional cytokine that regulates cell growth,differentiation,cellular senescence,apoptosis,wound healing and embryo development.As a tumor suppressor,deregulated or aberrant TGF-? signaling has been strongly implicated in human solid tumors,as well as in normal and malignant hematopoiesis.TGF? exerts an inhibitory role during the whole procedure of hematopoiesis.As a cell cycle inhibitor,it maintains cells in a quiescent state and can downregulate expression of hematopoiesis activators and oncoproteins.In malignant hematopoiesis,altered expression of coactivators or corepressors involve in TGF-?-induced transcriptional responses and loss/disruption of TGF-? target gene expression.Then malignant cells grow and differentiate abnormally.In acute promyelocytic leukemia,PML-RAR? may inhibit TGF-? signaling through inhibition of cPML and nPML.Degradation of PML-RAR? by ATRA restores this signaling pathway.

Objective: To prepare sustained-release polylactic acid microspheres containing bupivacaine (BUP-PLA-MS) and to measure its dissolution in vitro. Methods: BUP-PLA-MS was prepared with polylactic acid (PLA) as carriers using the water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion solvent evaporation method. The powder particle characteristics of BUP-PLA-MS were evaluated comprehensively, and its dissolution characteristics in vitro were studied. Results: It was indicated that bupivacaine formed molecular dispersion within PLA matrix by differential thermal analysis(DTA). The in vitro release behavior of bupivacaine could be best described by Higuchi equation, with t 1/2 =22.76 h. Conclusion: Release of bupivacaine from microspheres is sustained in vitro.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Parotid Diseases ; pathology ; Parotid Gland ; pathology ; Recurrence

Background Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a diverse group of diseases determined by genetic and environmental factors.Considerable research has been done on genes associated with the development of the heart.Recently,focus is on the role of transcription factor NFATc1 in the development of proper valve and septa.As part of a larger study,high density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scanning was used to explore the relationship between NFATc1 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to ventricular septal defect (VSD) in the Chinese Han population.Methods One hundred and ninety-two pediatric patients with congenital VSD and 192 matching healthy control subjects were studied.The haplotype reconstructions were calculated by PHASE2.0 software.Haploview software was used to perform linkage disequilibrium assessment and define haplotype blocks.The algorithm used for defining the blocks was the confidence interval method.Results The NFATc1 gene region can be divided into 11 haplotype blocks.Strong linkage disequilibrium existed within blocks 6,8,9,and 11.Three SNPs (rs7240256,rs11665469,and rs754505) within the NFATc1 gene had significant correlation with VSD by single marker association analysis.In addition,two haplotypes correlated with VSD.Conclusions NFATc1 is associated with the occurrence of VSD and it may be a predisposing gene to CHD in Han Chinese.This finding has set a direction for further genetic and functional studies.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the plasma unconjugated bilirubin(UCB)and electrical activity of brain in term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia,and explore the parameters that possess the prognostic value and deduce a series of discriminant for prognostic judgment.Methods Thirty-two neonates with hyperbilirubinemia and 31 neonates without hyperbilirubinema(control group)were studied with standard EEG,and they were assessed for their neurological development in 3 and 6 months.A statistical method of Bayes Discriminant analysis was adopted to set up an equation with values of parameters of EEG,clinic datum and consequence.Stepdic and Dis-grim processes were used to pick out the parameters which had great significance for predicting the outcome of nervous system development.A series of discriminant was deduced for prognostic judgment and then cross validation was performed to assess the accuracy of the discriminant.Results 1.The standard EEG and brain electrical activity map records indicated that the hyperbilirubinemia group had longer maximum duration of interburst interval(IBI),longer mean duration of IBI,lower amplitude under all conditions,more anterior dysrhythmia(AD)in wake,and higher incidence of sleep-wake cycle disturbance.2.The plasma concentration of UCB was linear correlated with AD in wake.3.Gestational age,birth weight,plasma concentration of UCB,burst duration of IBI in trace alternate,amplitude in all sleep state,AD in wake,brief burst not in quiet sleep and sleep-wake cycle disturbance might play important roles in predicting the outcome of neonates with hyperbilirubinemia.Conclusions Cerebral electrical activity is an effective tool for predicting neurologic outcome of neonates with hyperbi-lirubinemia.Cerebral electrical activity and clinic data will provide a new method for accurately predicting neurological development and prognosis.

Objective To investigate the prognostic values of serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and beta-2 microglobulin(?2-MG) levels in patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML). Methods The associations of serum LDH and ?2-MG levels at diagnosis,remission and relapse with treatment and prognosis in 68 patients with AML were retrospectively analysed. Results There were no difference in LDH and ?2-MG between AML subtypes patients.The level of serum LDH and ?2-MG at diagnosis and relapse were much higher than those at remission.Patients with lower level of LDH and ?2-MG got higher CR rate and longer term overall survival and disease-free survival.Patients with higher level of both LDH and ?2-MG got lower CR rate,shorter term of overall survival and disease-free survival than those with higher level of LDH or ?2-MG or those with normal level of LDH and ?2-MG. Conclusion LDH and ?2-MG is a singificant prognostic indicator for AML.While combined LDH and ?2-MG are more definite for the treatment and diagnosis.

Objective To observe the changes of rotation behavior and tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive neurons and investigate how Mrh-aFGF affects them in substantia nigra of Parkinson disease rats. Methods After building a rat model of Parkinson disease by injecting 6-OHDA into substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area,we used Mrh-aFGF to intervene rats by lateral ventricle injection to observe how behavior of rats induced by apomorphine and tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive neurons in substantia nigra of rats changes,then quantitatively analyzed the change of tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive neurons. Results Rotation behavior was not found in control group,otherwise,actuation time was shorted,time length was prolonged,and average velocity of rotation was accelerated in Parkinson disease rats(P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of testosterone undecanoate (TU) in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) by meta-analysis.

METHODSWe searched Pubmed (until April 1, 2014), Embase (until March 28, 2014), Cochrane Library (until April 17, 2014), CBM (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), CNKI (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), Wanfang Database (from January 1, 2000 to February 2, 2014), and VIP Database (from January 1, 2000 to Febru ary 2, 2014) for randomized controlled trials of TU for the treatment of LOH. We evaluated the quality of the identified literature and performed meta-analysis on the included studies using the Rveman5. 2 software.

RESULTSTotally, 14 studies were included after screening, which involved 1 686 cases. Compared with the placebo and blank control groups, TU treatment significantly increased the levels of serum total testosterone (SMD = 6.22, 95% CI 3.99 to 8.45, P < 0.05) and serum free testosterone (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.86 to 6. 85, P < 0.05) but decreased the contents of luteinizing hormone (WMD = -2.23, 95% CI -4.03 to -0.42, P < 0.05), sex hormone binding globulin (WMD = 2.00, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.63, P < 0.05). TU also remarkably reduced the scores of Partial Androgen Deficiency of the Aging Males (WMD = -9.49, 95% CI -12.96 to -6.03, P < 0.05) and Aging Males Symptoms rating scale (WMD = -2.76, 95% CI -4.85 to -0.66, P <0.05) but increased the hemoglobin level (SMD = 2.35, 95% CI 0.29 to 4.41, P < 0.05) and packed-cell volume (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.36 to 7.33, P < 0.05). However, no significant changes were shown in aspertate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, prostate-specific antigen, or prostate volume after TU treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTU could significantly increase the serum testosterone level and improve the clinical symptoms of LOH patients without inducing serious adverse reactions. However, due to the limited number and relatively low quality of the included studies, the above conclusion could be cautiously applied to clinical practice.

Androgens ; therapeutic use ; Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; blood ; drug therapy ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacology