OBJECTIVETo access the prevalence of menopause-like symptoms, and their related factors in old and middle-aged males in the area of Hefei.

METHODSThis study included 1 026 males aged over 45 years that came to the clinic for health examination. We collected their personal data, and evaluated their general health status and the results of the questionnaire investigation using the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale.

RESULTSThe total incidence of menopause-like symptoms was 64.7% among the old and middle-aged males in Hefei area, of which 58.1% were mild, 30.9% moderate and 11.0% severe. The average AMS score was 31.2 +/- 6.8, in which the scores on psychological, physical and sexual function symptoms were 8.3 +/- 2.1, 12.4 +/- 4.8 and 9.3 +/- 4.5, respectively. Sexual function symptoms were increased significantly with the increase of age (P < 0.05), but psychological and physical symptoms showed no obvious correlation with age (P > 0.05). The main risk factors of menopause-like symptoms included age, smoking, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, but physical exercise was an important protective factor against them.

CONCLUSIONWith the increase of age, the prevalence of male menopause-like symptoms rises and sexual function declines gradually, but psychological and physical scores are not affected significantly. Age, general health status and lifestyle are closely associated with the prevalence of menopause-like symptoms among old and middle-aged males.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Andropause ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of the BKCa channel in prostate smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) on the membrane potential in SD rats with chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP).

METHODSCAP models were established in 20 SD rats by castration and injection of 17 beta-estrogen, and another 20 were taken as normal controls. PSMCs were cultured and purified in vitro, and treated with DiBAC4, followed by quantitative observations on the dynamic changes of the cell membrane potential by laser confocal microscopy.

RESULTSThe extracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]o) was increased and the BKCa channel was activated, which induced the hyperpolarization of the PSMC membrane in both the CAP models and normal control rats. This effect was weakened with Iberiotoxin (IbTX), a specific blocker of the BKCa channel, but the amplitude of the hyperpolarization was obviously lower in the CAP than in the control group. The DiBAC4 fluorescence intensity induced by hyperpolarization was 18.78 +/- 2.92 in the former and 38.85 +/- 7.10 in the latter (P < 0.05), while that induced by IbTX was 1.61 +/- 0.46 and 6.12 +/- 1.32 (P < 0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSignificant decrease of BKCa-mediated hyperpolarization in the CAP model can reduce its abilities of regulating the membrane potential and suppressing the excessive contraction of PSMCs, which may result in pelvic pain syndrome and lower urinary tract symptoms.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Prostate ; cytology ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo construct a rat model of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CP) and investigate the difference in the quantitative expression of voltage-dependent calcium channels of prostate smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) between the models and controls.

METHODSWe established a CP rat model by estrogen induction, cultured and purified the PSMCs in vitro, and extracted total RNA by Trizol. Then we measured the mRNA expression of the cal subunit in the calcium channel subtypes by reverse transcription and SYBR Green I real time RT-PCR, and compared it with that of the controls.

RESULTSThe expressions of the L-, T- and P/Q-type calcium channels were found in both the CP and control groups, and that of the CaV1.2 L-type calcium channel was significantly increased in the former as compared with the latter (0.048 +/- 0.024 versus 0.031 +/- 0.015, t = 2.846, P = 0.007), but there were no statistically significant differences in the T- and P/Q-type calcium channels between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe number of CaV1.2 L-type calcium channels of PSMCs and calcium influx were increased in CP patients, which may be involved in the mechanism of CP.

Animals ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels, Q-Type ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels, T-Type ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the difference in intracellular calcium ion [Ca2+]i concentration in prostate smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) between SD rat models of chronic abacterial prostatitis (CAP) and normal controls, and to evaluate the role of [Ca2+]i concentration in CAP.

METHODSWe established CAP models in SD rats using purified prostate protein and Freund's complete adjuvant, cultured in vitro and then purified the PSMCs of both the CAP models and normal controls. Continuous dynamic scanning was performed under the laser confocal scanning microscope after incubation of the cells with FLUO-3AM.

RESULTSThe fluorescence intensities of [Ca2+]i in the PSMCs were 80.39 +/- 9.00 and 27.95 +/- 10.04 in the CAP models and normal controls, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe concentration of [Ca2+]i increased in the PSMCs of the CAP rat models, which might enhance the constriction of PSMCs and subsequently increase the sensibility to pain and cause lower abdominal pain.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Chronic Disease ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms of tumor suppressor gene PTEN and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Jiamusi Han population. Methods The blood samples of 132 patients with naso-pharyngeal carcinoma(nasopharyngeal carcinoma group)and 73 healthy people(control group)were selected from September 2008 to January 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University. The whole genome DNA was extracted,and the pol-ymorphisms of rs532678 and rs701848 were detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The relationship be-tween the polymorphism of PTEN gene and nasopharyngeal carcinoma was analyzed. Results The genotype and allele frequen-cy distributions of rs532678 and rs701848 loci were in line with the Hardy-Weinberg genetic balance law in the two groups (P > 0. 05). The genotypic frequency of CC,CT and TT at the rs532678 locus of PTEN gene in the control group was 0. 630, 0. 342 and 0. 027 respectively;and the allele frequency of C and T was 0. 801 and 0. 198 respectively. The genotypic frequency of CC,CT and TT at the rs532678 locus of PTEN gene in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma group was 0. 716,0. 265 and 0. 015 re-spectively;and the allele frequency of C and T was 0. 852 and 0. 147 respectively. There was no significant difference in geno-type distribution and allele frequency distribution at the rs532678 locus of PTEN gene between the two groups(P > 0. 05). The genotypic frequency of CC,CT and TT at the rs701848 locus of the PTEN gene in the control group was 0. 657,0. 342 and 0. 000 respectively;and the allele frequency of C and T was 0. 828 and 0. 171 respectively. The genotypic frequency of CC,CT and TT at the rs701848 locus of PTEN gene in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma group was 0. 424,0. 500 and 0. 075 respectively;and the allele frequency of C and T was 0. 674 and 0. 325 respectively. The frequencies of CT,TT genotype and T allele of rs701848 locus in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P < 0. 05). The frequencies of CC genotype and C allele in the nasopharyngeal carcinoma group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P < 0. 05). The individual with CT + TT genotype at the rs701848 locus of PTEN gene had higher risk for naso-pharyngeal carcinoma(P < 0. 05,OR = 2. 606,95％ confidence interval:1. 439 - 4. 720). The risk for nasopharyngeal carcino-ma in the individual with CT + TT genotype was 2. 606 times as much as the individual carrying CC genotype. Conclusion The rs532678 polymorphism of PTEN gene is not associated with the susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The polymor-phism of rs701848 locus is associated with the susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The individual carrying CT + TT genotype has higher risk for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of retarded removal of the unilateral necrotic testis after long-time (> 24 h) spermatic cord torsion on the contralateral testis in rats.

METHODSThirty-three male SD rats aged 21 -42 days were divided into a sham-operation group (n = 11), a torsion-reservation group (n = 12) and a torsion-orchiectomy group (n = 10). The rats of the sham-operation group received dartos pouch orchidopexy on the left testis, while those of the latter two groups underwent 720 degrees unilateral spermatic cord torsion on the left side. Ninety-six hours later, the rats of the torsion-reservation group received detorsion with the ipsilateral testis preserved, while those of the torsion-orchiectomy group underwent orchiectomy. Three months after operation, blood samples were obtained from the rats for measurement of serum testosterone and antisperm antibodies by ELISA, and meanwhile testes and epididymides were harvested for determination of the volumes of various structures and the diameter of seminiferous tubules with stereological methods.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the level of serum testosterone among the three groups. Anti-sperm antibody positive was found in only 1 animal in the torsion-reservation group. The Leydig cell nuclei in the contralateral testis appeared larger in the torsion groups than in the sham-operation group. Marked morphological changes were observed in 1, 3 and 0 of the animals in the sham-operation, torsion-reservation and torsion-orchiectomy group, respectively, mainly including atrophy of seminiferous tubules and reduced number of spermatogenic cells. The volume of the contralateral testis was increased by 19% and 21% in the torsion-reservation and torsion-orchiectomy group, respectively, in comparison with that in the sham-operation group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the volume of seminiferous tubules of the contralateral testis among the sham-operation, torsion-reservation and torsion-orchiectomy groups ([1.15 +/- 0.07], [1.30 +/- 0.04] and [1.35 +/- 0.05] cm3). The volume of the interstitial tissue was significantly increased in the latter two groups ([0.36 +/- 0.02 and 0.34 +/- 0.03] cm3) as compared with the former ([0.25 +/- 0.02] cm3) (P < 0.05). The diameters of the seminiferous tubules exhibited no significant differences among the three groups ([226.00 +/- 7.00], [223.00 +/- 6.00] and [221.00 +/- 3.0] microm).

CONCLUSIONLong-time unilateral spermatic cord torsion may result in compensatory hypertrophy of the contralateral testis, and orchiectomy does not significantly affect the histology of the contralateral testis and epididymis.

Animals ; Epididymis ; pathology ; Male ; Necrosis ; Orchiectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; pathology ; surgery ; Testis ; pathology ; surgery

This study aims to validate our hypothesis that acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) may contribute to the symptom of pain in patients with chronic prostatitis (CP). We first established a CP rat model, then isolated the L5-S2 spinal dorsal horn neurons for further studies. ASIC1a was knocked down and its effects on the expression of neurogenic inflammation-related factors in the dorsal horn neurons of rat spinal cord were evaluated. The effect of ASIC1a on the Ca²⁺ ion concentration in the dorsal horn neurons of rat spinal cord was measured by the intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]i) intensity. The effect of ASIC1a on the p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was also determined. ASIC1a was significantly upregulated in the CP rat model as compared with control rats. Acid-induced ASIC1a expression increased [Ca²⁺]i intensity in the dorsal horn neurons of rat spinal cord. ASIC1a also increased the levels of neurogenic inflammation-related factors and p-p38 expression in the acid-treated dorsal horn neurons. Notably, ASIC1a knockdown significantly decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the levels of p-p38 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in acid-treated dorsal horn neurons were significantly decreased in the presence of PcTx-1, BAPTA-AM, or SB203580. Our results showed that ASIC1a may contribute to the symptom of pain in patients with CP, at least partially, by regulating the p38/MAPK signaling pathway.
Acid Sensing Ion Channel Blockers/pharmacology* ; Acid Sensing Ion Channels/genetics* ; Animals ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Chelating Agents/pharmacology* ; Chronic Disease ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Egtazic Acid/pharmacology* ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Imidazoles/pharmacology* ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/genetics* ; Male ; Pain/genetics* ; Peptides/pharmacology* ; Phosphorylation/drug effects* ; Posterior Horn Cells/metabolism* ; Prostatitis/complications* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Pyridines/pharmacology* ; Rats ; Spider Venoms/pharmacology* ; Up-Regulation ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism*

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to be involved in the pathogenic initiation and progression of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP); however, the comprehensive expression profile of dysregulated miRNAs, relevant signaling pathways, and core machineries in CNP have not been fully elucidated. In the current research, CNP rat models were established through the intraprostatic injection of carrageenan into the prostate. Then, next-generation sequencing was performed to explore the miRNA expression profile in CNP. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) bioinformatical analyses were conducted to reveal the enriched biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components and signaling pathways. As a result, 1224, 1039, and 1029 known miRNAs were annotated in prostate tissues from the blank control (BC), normal saline injection (NS), and carrageenan injection (CAR) groups (n = 3 for each group), respectively. Among them, 84 miRNAs (CAR vs BC) and 70 miRNAs (CAR vs NS) with significantly different expression levels were identified. Compared with previously reported miRNAs with altered expression in various inflammatory diseases, the majority of deregulated miRNAs in CNP, such as miR-146b-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-150-5p, and miR-139-5p, showed similar expression patterns. Moreover, bioinformatics analyses have enriched mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), endocytosis, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathways. These pathways were all involved in immune response, which indicates the critical regulatory role of the immune system in CNP initiation and progression. Our investigation has presented a global view of the differentially expressed miRNAs and potential regulatory networks containing their target genes, which may be helpful for identifying the novel mechanisms of miRNAs in immune regulation and effective target-specific theragnosis for CNP.
Animals ; Computational Biology ; Databases, Genetic ; Gene Expression Profiling ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Male ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Prostate/metabolism* ; Prostatitis/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVE: To compare accuracy of anterior cervical pedicle screws between assist of rapid prototyping 3D guide plate and free-hand insertion, and evaluate the safety of two methods. METHODS: Eight adult cervical cadaver specimens after formaldehyde immersion, including 4 males and 4 females, aged 32 to 65(40.3±5.6) years old. After X-ray examination to exclude bone damage and deformity, 4 of them (3D guide plate group) randomly selected were for CT scan to obtain DICOM format data, and the data was imported into Mimics software for model, designed the ideal entry point and nail path for anterior cervicaltranspedicular screw (ATPS). After obtaining the personalized guide plate of the nail channel, it was exported as STL data, and the individual guide plate was printed by rapid prototyping and 3D printing technology. In turn, with the assistance of 3D guide plates, one-to-one personalized ATPS screws were placed on the four lower cervical cadaver specimens. Another 4 (free-hand group) lower cervical cadaver specimens were implanted with ATPS screws using free-hand technique. All specimens were performed CT thin-layer scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction after operation. The Tomasino method was used to evaluate the safety of the screws on the CT cross-sectional and sagittal images, to determine whether there was a cortical puncture of the lower and inner edges of the pedicle. According to the CT rating results, gradeⅠandⅡwere safe, and grade Ⅲ- Ⅴ were dangerous.And the accuracy of screws was recorded and analyzed between two groups. RESULTS: Two screws were inserted in each segment from C CONCLUSION The 3D printing rapid prototyping guide plate assisted insertion of the anterior cervical pedicle screw can significantly improve the accuracy and safety, and provide a theoretical basis for further clinical application.
Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Printing, Three-Dimensional

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution of body mass index (BMI) and risk factors for obesity in children with Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA). METHODS: The children with DBA who attended National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, from January 2003 to December 2020 were enrolled as subjects. The related clinical data and treatment regimens were recorded. The height and weight data measured within 1 week before or after follow-up time points were collected to calculate BMI. The risk factors for obesity were determined by multivariate regression analysis in children with DBA. RESULTS: A total of 129 children with DBA were enrolled, among whom there were 80 boys (62.0%) and 49 girls (38.0%), with a median age of 49 months (range 3-189 months). The prevalence rate of obesity was 14.7% (19/129). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the absence of ribosomal protein gene mutation was closely associated with obesity in children with DBA (adjusted OR=3.63, 95%CI: 1.16-11.38, adjusted P=0.027). In children with glucocorticoid-dependent DBA, obesity was not associated with age of initiation of glucocorticoid therapy, duration of glucocorticoid therapy, and maintenance dose of glucocorticoids (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a high prevalence rate of obesity in children with DBA, and the absence of ribosomal protein gene mutation is closely associated with obesity in children with DBA.
Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan/genetics* ; Pediatric Obesity/complications* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Ribosomal Proteins/genetics* ; Mutation