The aim of this study was to investigate the trend in testicular volume changes after orchiopexy in children with cryptorchidism. The clinical data of 854 children with cryptorchidism who underwent orchiopexy between January 2013 and December 2016 in Shenzhen Children's Hospital (Shenzhen, China) were retrospectively analyzed. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 2.8 (2.5) years, and the duration of follow-up ranged from 1 year to 5 years. Ultrasonography was conducted preoperatively and postoperatively. The variables analyzed included age at the time of surgery, type of surgical procedure, laterality, preoperative testicular position, preoperative and postoperative testicular volumes, and the testicular volume ratio of them. The average testicular volumes preoperatively and at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years postoperatively were 0.27 ml, 0.38 ml, 0.53 ml, 0.87 ml, and 1.00 ml, respectively ( P < 0.001). The corresponding testicular volume ratios were 0.67, 0.76, 0.80, 0.83, and 0.84 ( P < 0.001). The mean volume of the undescended testes was significantly smaller than the mean normative value ( P < 0.001, lower than the 10 th percentile). The postoperative testicular volumes in children with cryptorchidism were generally lower than those in healthy boys but were still greater than the 10 th percentile and exhibited an increasing trend. The older the child is at the time of surgery, the larger the gap in volume between the affected and normal testes. Although testicular volume tends to gradually increase after orchiopexy for cryptorchidism, it could not normalizes. Earlier surgery results in affected testicular volumes closer to those of healthy boys.
Humans ; Male ; Cryptorchidism/diagnostic imaging* ; Orchiopexy ; Child, Preschool ; Testis/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Organ Size ; Ultrasonography ; Infant ; Child ; Postoperative Period ; Follow-Up Studies

Objective To investigate the protective effect of HMS5552 on pancreatic islet β-cell injury in diabetic rats and study the mechanism.Methods A total of 40 SD rats were fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet for 8 weeks combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ)to induce type 2 diabetic rat models.The successful model rats were divided into model group(0.9％NaCl by gavage)and experimental group(30 mg·kg-1 HMS5552 by gavage).The other 20 normal rats served as the normal group(0.9％NaCl was given by gavage).Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to detect the pathological changes of pancreatic islets.The INS-1 cells were divided into blank group(normal cultured),model group(high-sugar and high-fat culture medium)and experimental-L,-M,-H groups(high-sugar and high-fat culture medium+0.3,3.0 and 30.0 μmol·L-1 HMS5552).The viability of INS-1 cells was detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method,the apoptosis of INS-1 cells was detected by Annexin V/PI method,the mRNA expression level of B cell lymphocytoma 2(Bcl-2)was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)method;the expression level of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT)pathway and apoptosis protein was detected by western blotting.Results HE staining showed that the pathological damage of pancreas in the experimental group rats was significantly less than that in the model group.The cell viability of the blank group,model group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups were(99.67±2.40)％,(48.18±4.18)％,(61.74±4.78)％,(70.74±6.36)％and(78.30±4.68)％,respectively;apoptosis rates were(10.40±4.66)％,(48.60±3.27)％,(35.90±4.45)％,(28.07±5.35)％and(18.30±3.04)％,respectively;the relative expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA were 1.00±0.03,0.32±0.04,0.59±0.05,0.62±0.04 and 0.72±0.12,respectively;phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K)/PI3K ratios were 1.00±0.00,0.34±0.05,0.46±0.02,0.64±0.01 and 0.81±0.01,respectively;phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT)/AKT ratios were 1.00±0.00,0.28±0.12,0.63±0.02,0.74±0.06 and 0.87±0.09,respectively.The above indexes in the model group compared with the blank group,the differences between the above indexes of the experimental-L,-M,-H groups and the model group were statistically significant(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion HMS5552 can improve glucose metabolism in diabetic rats and protect pancreatic β-cells by regulating the expression of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of HMS5552 on pancreatic islet β-cell injury in diabetic rats and study the mechanism.Methods A total of 40 SD rats were fed with high-sugar and high-fat diet for 8 weeks combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ)to induce type 2 diabetic rat models.The successful model rats were divided into model group(0.9％NaCl by gavage)and experimental group(30 mg·kg-1 HMS5552 by gavage).The other 20 normal rats served as the normal group(0.9％NaCl was given by gavage).Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to detect the pathological changes of pancreatic islets.The INS-1 cells were divided into blank group(normal cultured),model group(high-sugar and high-fat culture medium)and experimental-L,-M,-H groups(high-sugar and high-fat culture medium+0.3,3.0 and 30.0 μmol·L-1 HMS5552).The viability of INS-1 cells was detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method,the apoptosis of INS-1 cells was detected by Annexin V/PI method,the mRNA expression level of B cell lymphocytoma 2(Bcl-2)was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)method;the expression level of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/AKT)pathway and apoptosis protein was detected by western blotting.Results HE staining showed that the pathological damage of pancreas in the experimental group rats was significantly less than that in the model group.The cell viability of the blank group,model group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups were(99.67±2.40)％,(48.18±4.18)％,(61.74±4.78)％,(70.74±6.36)％and(78.30±4.68)％,respectively;apoptosis rates were(10.40±4.66)％,(48.60±3.27)％,(35.90±4.45)％,(28.07±5.35)％and(18.30±3.04)％,respectively;the relative expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA were 1.00±0.03,0.32±0.04,0.59±0.05,0.62±0.04 and 0.72±0.12,respectively;phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K)/PI3K ratios were 1.00±0.00,0.34±0.05,0.46±0.02,0.64±0.01 and 0.81±0.01,respectively;phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT)/AKT ratios were 1.00±0.00,0.28±0.12,0.63±0.02,0.74±0.06 and 0.87±0.09,respectively.The above indexes in the model group compared with the blank group,the differences between the above indexes of the experimental-L,-M,-H groups and the model group were statistically significant(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion HMS5552 can improve glucose metabolism in diabetic rats and protect pancreatic β-cells by regulating the expression of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective: To analyze the incidence and the related risk factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, evaluate the accuracy of preoperative enhanced CT in judging retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis, and investigate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis on the prognosis. Methods: Retrospective analyses were made on 398 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgery as the primary therapy and accepted retropharyngeal lymph node exploration and clearance during surgery in Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to clarify the related risk factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis on prognosis. The retropharyngeal lymph nodes of 218 cases with available preoperative enhanced CT images were evaluated by two experienced radiologists and compared with postoperative pathological results. Results: Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis were confirmed in 54 of 398 (13.6%) cases according to postoperative pathology. The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative enhanced CT in the diagnosis of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis were 34.6% and 91.1%, respectively, and the overall accuracy was 84.4%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the site of the primary lesion and pathological N stage were independent risk factors for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with primary lesion located in the posterior wall of hypopharynx (OR=4.83, 95% CI: 1.27-18.40), N2 stage (OR=6.30, 95% CI: 2.25-17.67), and N3 stage (OR=26.89, 95% CI: 5.76-125.58) were prone to retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. The 5-year overall survival rate of the 398 patients was 50.4%, and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 48.3%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that T stage, N stage, retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis, and radiotherapy were independent influencing factors for overall survival (T stage: HR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.06-1.54; N stage: HR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.14-1.40; retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis: HR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.47-3.08; radiotherapy: HR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.38-0.76) and disease-free survival of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (T stage: HR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.06-1.51; N stage: HR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.13-1.37; retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis: HR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.56-3.21; radiotherapy: HR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.40-0.77). Conclusions: Metastasis of retropharyngeal lymph nodes in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is not rare. Enhanced CT is of low accuracy and limited value in diagnosing retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Primary lesions located in the posterior wall of the hypopharyngx, N2 stage, and N3 stage are independent high-risk factors for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. The prognosis of hypopharyngeal cancer patients with retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis is worse, and active surgical exploration and clearance can effectively reduce the mortality caused by retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis.
Humans ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/pathology* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Prognosis ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neoplasm Staging

Objective: To analyze the incidence and the related risk factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, evaluate the accuracy of preoperative enhanced CT in judging retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis, and investigate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis on the prognosis. Methods: Retrospective analyses were made on 398 patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgery as the primary therapy and accepted retropharyngeal lymph node exploration and clearance during surgery in Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to clarify the related risk factors of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis on prognosis. The retropharyngeal lymph nodes of 218 cases with available preoperative enhanced CT images were evaluated by two experienced radiologists and compared with postoperative pathological results. Results: Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis were confirmed in 54 of 398 (13.6%) cases according to postoperative pathology. The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative enhanced CT in the diagnosis of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis were 34.6% and 91.1%, respectively, and the overall accuracy was 84.4%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the site of the primary lesion and pathological N stage were independent risk factors for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with primary lesion located in the posterior wall of hypopharynx (OR=4.83, 95% CI: 1.27-18.40), N2 stage (OR=6.30, 95% CI: 2.25-17.67), and N3 stage (OR=26.89, 95% CI: 5.76-125.58) were prone to retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. The 5-year overall survival rate of the 398 patients was 50.4%, and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 48.3%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that T stage, N stage, retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis, and radiotherapy were independent influencing factors for overall survival (T stage: HR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.06-1.54; N stage: HR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.14-1.40; retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis: HR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.47-3.08; radiotherapy: HR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.38-0.76) and disease-free survival of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (T stage: HR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.06-1.51; N stage: HR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.13-1.37; retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis: HR=2.24, 95% CI: 1.56-3.21; radiotherapy: HR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.40-0.77). Conclusions: Metastasis of retropharyngeal lymph nodes in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is not rare. Enhanced CT is of low accuracy and limited value in diagnosing retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Primary lesions located in the posterior wall of the hypopharyngx, N2 stage, and N3 stage are independent high-risk factors for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. The prognosis of hypopharyngeal cancer patients with retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis is worse, and active surgical exploration and clearance can effectively reduce the mortality caused by retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis.
Humans ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/pathology* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Prognosis ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neoplasm Staging

Ventricular Function, Right ; Heart Ventricles/diagnostic imaging* ; Echocardiography

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the cervical lymph node density (LND) and the prognosis of hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 241 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma who underwent surgery in Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital from January 2014 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, including 229 males and 12 females, aged 37-81 years. The LND was calculated, i.e. the ratio of the number of lymph nodes with metastasis to the total number of lymph nodes removed. The patients were divided into low LND group and high LND group based on the cutoff value of LND determined by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve). The univariate and multivariate analyses of the disease-free survival (DFS) and the overall survival (OS) were performed in two groups. Results: With the cutoff value of 0.068, 165 patients were in the low LND group (<0.068) and 76 patients in the high LND group (≥0.068). T stage, N stage, maximum lymph node diameter, extracellular invasion of lymph node, and postpharyngeal lymph node metastasis were associated with LND (statistical values were -3.15, -6.82, 23.37, 20.44, and 30.18, respectively, all P values were<0.05). The univariate analysis showed that age, T stage, N stage, maximum diameter of cervical lymph nodes, extracapsular invasion, retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis and LND were the main factors affecting the patients' DFS (χ²=9.31, 7.30, 20.09, 15.30, 9.04, 19.44, 50.27, all P values<0.05) and OS (χ² were 5.02, 12.94, 18.28, 15.91, 7.95, 16.88, 49.45, all P values<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that patients with age≤60 years old and LND≥0.068 had reduced DFS [HR values were 0.61 (95%CI 0.43-0.88) and 2.23 (95%CI 1.44-3.45), both P values<0.05]; patients with advanced T stage and LND≥0.068 had reduced OS [HR values were 1.73 (95%CI 1.02-2.93) and 2.39 (95%CI 1.51-3.80), both P values<0.05]. Conclusion: LND is a prognostic factor for patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma after surgery, with worse prognosis in patients with LND≥0.068.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are major public health and social issues worldwide. The long-term follow-up of COVID-19 with pulmonary TB (PTB) survivors after discharge is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively describe clinical outcomes, including sequela and recurrence at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge, among COVID-19 with PTB survivors. Methods From January 22, 2020 to May 6, 2022, with a follow-up by August 26, 2022, a prospective, multicenter follow-up study was conducted on COVID-19 with PTB survivors after discharge in 13hospitals from four provinces in China. Clinical outcomes, including sequela, recurrence of COVID-19, and PTB survivors, were collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge. Results Thirty-two COVID-19 with PTB survivors were included. The median age was 52 (45, 59) years, and 23 (71.9％) were men. Among them, nearly two-thirds (62.5％) of the survivors were moderate, three (9.4％) were severe, and more than half (59.4％) had at least one comorbidity (PTB excluded). The proportion of COVID-19 survivors with at least one sequela symptom decreased from 40.6％ at 3 months to 15.8％ at 24 months, with anxiety having a higher proportion over a follow-up. Cough and amnesia recovered at the 12-month follow-up, while anxiety, fatigue, and trouble sleeping remained after 24 months. Additionally, one (3.1％) case presented two recurrences of PTB and no re-positive COVID-19 during the follow-up period. Conclusion The proportion of long symptoms in COVID-19 with PTB survivors decreased over time, while nearly one in six still experience persistent symptoms with a higher proportion of anxiety. The recurrence of PTB and the psychological support of COVID-19 with PTB after discharge require more attention.

In order to reveal the molecular mechanism of blue labeled genic male sterility (BM-type GMS) and utilize the heterosis of BM-type GMS, we used the anthers of white-seed plants WS (sterile) and light blue seed plants WF (normal fertility) as experimental materials to analyze the differences in gene expression between them by transcriptome technology. And we also verified the genes expressed in anthocyanin synthesis in this study. Compared with WF, a total of 2352 differentially expressed genes were detected in WS. According to GO functional annotation, these genes could be divided into 3 categories and 43 subgroups. They are mainly involved in biosynthesis, phenylpropane metabolism, L-phenylalanine catabolism, membrane components, plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ATP binding, protein serine/threonine kinase activity, etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed that there were 159 genes enriched in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, followed by the phenylalanine pathway, including 136 differentially expressed genes. Other genes are also involved a variety of amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism and sugar metabolism pathway. Related to anthocyanin metabolism, several structural genes of key enzymes were differentially expressed, and most of them were up-regulated in WF, while only Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) and colorless anthocyanin dioxygenase (ANS) were down-regulated. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the expression of 10 genes related to anthocyanin metabolism had the same trend as that in transcriptome sequencing data. Sequence homology analysis showed that the two selected transcription factors (DN48762c2g1 and DN25944c0g1) are clustered into the same cluster as the transcription factors regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in maize, rice and Arabidopsis thaliana, which might be candidate genes for the blue aleurone layer of light blue seed plants in wheat. And fluorescence quantitative analysis showed that the expression level of DN48762c2g1 and DN25944c0g1 in WF was significantly higher than that in WS. In conclusion, the genes related to the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway are not only related to the blue grain trait, but also may be involved in the anther abortion of BM-type GMS.

Objective: To observe the dynamic impacts of shock waves on the severity of lung injury in rats with different injury distances. Methods: Simulate open-field shock waves; detect the biomechanical effects of explosion sources at distances of 40, 44, and 48 cm from rats; and examine the changes in the gross anatomy of the lungs, lung wet/dry weight ratio, hemoglobin concentration, blood gas analysis, and pathology. Results: Biomechanical parameters such as the overpressure peak and impulse were gradually attenuated with an increase in the injury distance. The lung tissue hemorrhage, edema, oxygenation index, and pathology changed more significantly for the 40 cm group than for the 44 and 48 cm groups. The overpressure peak and impulse were significantly higher for the 40 cm group than for the 44 and 48 cm groups ( < 0.05 or < 0.01). The animal mortality was significantly higher for the 40 cm group than for the other two groups (41.2% . 17.8% and 10.0%, < 0.05). The healing time of injured lung tissues for the 40 cm group was longer than those for the 44 and 48 cm groups. Conclusions The effects of simulated open-field shock waves on the severity of lung injuries in rats were correlated with the injury distances, the peak overpressure, and the overpressure impulse.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Blast Injuries ; etiology ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Explosions ; Lung Injury ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley