Objective:To investigate ultrasonographic manifestations of gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands in men, and to assess their clinical significance.Methods:From January 2014 to January 2021, male patients with gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands were collected from Department of Dermatology, Changshu No.1 People′s Hospital. The diagnosis had been confirmed by laboratory examinations, and these patients had not received relevant treatment. The real-time ultrasound imaging system SIEMENS ACUSON X300 was used to examine the penile skin and accessory gland lesions infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, with the probe frequency ranging from 7.5 to 15 MHz. Patients with tubular anechoic fluid-filled areas on the high-frequency ultrasound images received a single dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone (1 g) ; those with oval-shaped anechoic fluid-filled areas on the high-frequency ultrasound images received incision and drainage followed by intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone at a dose of 1 g once a day for 5 consecutive days; those with hypoechoic or mixed echoic areas on the high-frequency ultrasound images received intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone at a dose of 1 g once a day for 5 consecutive days, and if the nodules did not regress after 1-month treatment, local resection would be performed. One month after the treatment, the patients were followed up, and the efficacy was evaluated. Results:A total of 32 male patients with gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands were collected. They were aged 28.54 ± 3.27 years, all had a history of non-marital sexual contact, and the duration from non-marital sexual contact to the onset of symptoms was 4.45 ± 1.03 days. The disease course was 8.64 ± 1.87 days. Lesions were all solitary, and located at the external urethral meatus in 16 cases (50.00%) , at the glans penis in 7 cases (21.88%) , beside the foreskin frenulum in 5 cases (15.62%) , and at the penile raphe in 4 cases (12.50%) . Sixteen patients (50.00%) presented with sinus-like lesions, 9 (28.13%) with abscesses, 7 (21.87%) with nodules, and all had tenderness on palpation. High-frequency ultrasound examination showed tubular anechoic fluid-filled areas in 16 cases (50.00%) , oval-shaped anechoic fluid-filled areas in 7 cases (21.88%) , hypoechoic areas in 5 cases (15.62%) , and mixed echoic areas in 4 cases (12.50%) . Gonococcal infections involved the cavernous body of the urethra in 16 cases (50.00%) , cavernous body of the penis in 5 cases (15.62%) , and subcutaneous tissue of the penis in 11 cases (34.38%) . After the treatment, all the patients were cured.Conclusion:High-frequency ultrasound can be used in the assessment of skin lesions and selection of treatment regimens for male patients with gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands.

OBJECTIVE: Using network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of the 'invigorating qi and promoting blood circulation' drug pair Ginseng-Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) on treatment of ischemic heart disease (IHD). METHODS: The chemical constituents of ginseng and Danshen drug pair were identified by searching the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and the potential targets of the pair were identified. The pharmacodynamics of the pair was analyzed using network pharmacology. The targets of IHD were identified by database screening. Using protein-protein interaction network, the interaction targets of Ginseng-Danshen on IHD were constructed. A "constituent-target-disease" interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape software, Gene Ontology (GO) term enrichment analysis and biological pathway enrichment analysis were carried out, and the mechanism of improving myocardial ischemia by the Ginseng-Danshen drug pair was investigated. RESULTS: Seventeen active constituents and 53 targets were identified from ginseng, 53 active constituents and 61 targets were identified from Danshen, and 32 protein targets were shared by ginseng and Danshen. Twenty GO terms were analyzed, including cytokine receptor binding, cytokine activity, heme binding, and antioxidant activity. Sixty Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways were analyzed, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-serine-threonine kinase (PI3K-AKT) signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, interleukin 17 signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, and the advanced glycation end product (AGE)-the receptor for AGE (RAGE) signaling pathway in diabetic complications. CONCLUSION The specific mechanism of Ginseng-Danshen drug pair in treating IHD may be associated with improving the changes of metabolites inbody, inhibiting the production of peroxides, removing the endogenous oxygen free radicals, regulating the expression of inflammatory factors, reducing myocardial cell apoptosis and promoting vascular regeneration.

Objective To verify the change of the anxiety and depression of patients anteriorposterior treatment at paraurethral duct dilitation after gonococcal infection of paraurethral duct.Methods Twenty-eight patients of paraurethral duct dilatation after male gonococcal infection of paraurethral duct were enrolled,and the patients were treated in the Department of Dermatology and Venerology,the First People's Hospital of Changshu City.The anxiety and depression of patients anteriorposterior treatment were assessed and compared with Hamilton depression scale and Hamilton anxiety scale.Results The total scores of Hamilton depression scale and Hamilton anxiety scale before treatment were positively correlated with course of disease (r =0.481,P =0.0095;r =0.549,P =0.0025).The total scores of Hamilton depression and anxiety before treatment were from 1 to 31 (18.9±7.5) and from 4 to 30 (14.9±6.8).The symptoms of depression and anxiety appeared in 11 patients and 15 patients respectively.The total scores of Hamilton depression andanxiety after treatment were from 0 to 8 (4.3±1.7) and from 0 to 8 (3.3±1.7).There was no symptom of depression and anxiety.The difference of the total score of Hamilton depression and anxiety before and after treatment had statistical significance (t =12.270,P＜0.001,t =10.626,P＜0.001).The difference of positive rate of depressive and anxious symptom before and after treatment had statistical significance too (x2 =9.05,P=0.003;x2 =13.06,P=0.000).Conclusions The sequelae of gonococcal paraurethral duct infection in male paraurethral duct dilatation can result in the anxiety and depression of patients,which should be treated.Effective therapy can relieve or cure the anxiety and depression of patients without the assistance of psychotropic drugs.

Objective To evaluate therapeutic effects of wedge resection on male paraurethral duct dilatation following gonococcal paraurethral duct infection. Methods With the aid of high-frequency ultrasound images, 11 male patients with paraurethral duct dilatation following gonococcal paraurethral duct infection were treated with wedge resection. The data were collected, including the surgical duration, amount of bleeding during the surgery, period of wound healing and complications. If the ostium beside the external urethral orifice disappeared within 4 weeks after the surgery, there was no discharge from the ostium with pressure, and no tubular echoic area was observed by high-frequency ultrasound imaging, the patient was considered to be recovered. If none of the above three conditions could be met, the surgical treatment was considered to be ineffective. Results The average surgical duration was 19.19 ± 2.71 minutes(range, 14-23 minutes), the average amount of bleeding during the surgery was 11.09 ± 2.07 ml (range, 8-14 ml), and the average period of wound healing was 14.91 ± 1.45 days(range, 13-17 days). Of the 11 patients, 10 were cured, and 1 showed no response. No complications were observed in any of the 11 patients, and no defects formed in the glans penis. Conclusion Wedge resection is a kind of effective therapy for paraurethral duct dilatation following gonococcal paraurethral duct infection in males.

Objective To investigate the morphologic characteristics of gonococcal inflammation of paraurethral glands in males. Methods Eleven male patients with gonococcal inflammation of paraurethral glands were examined by both real-time ultrasound imaging (Siemens Acuson X300) and 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, Philips Achieva). Results High-frequency ultrasound imaging revealed tubular echoic areas with well-defined borders and smooth margins in all the patients. The inside of these tubular areas was weak-echoic. These tubular echoic areas were blind in one end, but open in the other end, and ran in parallel with the urethra. The mean lumen diameter was 1.1 ± 0.2 mm (range, 0.7 - 1.3 mm) , and the mean lumen length was 8.4 ± 0.6 mm (range, 7.0 - 12.0 mm). Anechoic liquid-filled areas were seen in the tubular echoic areas in two patients. Paraurethral ducts were not detected by 3.0 T MRI in these patients. Conclusions High-frequency ultrasound imaging can clearly show the morphologic characteristics of gonococcal inflammation of paraurethral glands in males, and provide valuable ultrasound images for surgery.

OBJECTIVESevere sepsis and septic shock remain the most common cause of death in intensive care units. The main causes of death in sepsis are the cardiac dysfunction and hypotension resistant to cateolamines. The prevalence of relative adrenal insufficiency in severe sepsis and septic shock was estimated at about 32%-51%. Several meta-analysis demonstrated that high-dose glucocorticoids decreased survival during sepsis, while stress doses of corticosteroids may benefit these patients. The exact reason for such widely divergent outcome produced by different doses of corticosteroid is still not understood. Therefore, the study was undertaken to observe the effects of different doses of hydrocortisone (HC) on circulating and intramyocardial inflammatory mediators in severe septic rats with myocardial injury induced by Escherichia coli (E. coli).

METHODSThe model was established by two injections of inactivated E. coli Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: high-dose of HC group (150 mg/kg), medium-dose group (20 mg/kg), low-dose group (6 mg/kg), model group (NS substituted for HC), and control group (NS for E. coli and HC). Each group had eight rats. After 2 hours of treatment, specimens were collected to measure serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), nitric oxide (NO) and total NO synthase (NOS). NO and total NOS in myocardial homogenate were also detected. The expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) of myocytes was investigated.

RESULTSAll the above-mentioned markers in model group significantly higher than those in control group. After HC injection, serum cTnI concentrations in low-dose group decreased to normal values compared to that of model group, while in another two HC groups, the concentrations were higher than those in model group. TNF-alpha level was not significantly influenced. But IL-1beta level declined to normal values, being prominent in low-dose HC group. Neither high-dose nor middle-dose HC could lower serum NO or total NOS, but low-dose HC could greatly inhibit both NO and NOS levels (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the level of NO and total NOS of myocardial homogenate between left and right ventricles. There was no iNOS expression by normal myocardium, while the expression in model group was significantly increased. After HC injection, the iNOS expressions by myocardium in three HC groups were weaker than those in model group. The intensity of iNOS signals became weak with the decrease in HC dose.

CONCLUSIONDifferent doses of HC might exert different effects on circulating and intramyocardial inflammatory mediators in severely septic rats with myocardial injury induced by E. coli. Low-dose HC could significantly inhibit such mediators as well as iNOS expression by cardiomyocytes. The results suggest that low dose HC exert protective effect on myocardial injury of severely septic rats.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cardiomyopathies ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Escherichia coli ; pathogenicity ; Hydrocortisone ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Male ; Muscle Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; microbiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Troponin I ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the reconstructive operative procedures of funnel chest with "sternum-costicartilage" flap carried by the abdominal rectus pedicle.

METHODS(1) In accordance with the lesioned area of funnel-like depressed deformity of anterior thoracic wall, a perpendicular median incision was designed and made; (2) The "sternum-costicartilage" flap carrying the abdominal rectus pedicle was used and reversed and transplanted to reconstruct severe funnel chest deformity.

RESULTSThe procedure was used in 7 cases from 1999 to 2005. The results of surgery were satisfactory. There were no recurrence after operation.

CONCLUSIONSThe procedure reported here is rather safe, solid and sound with good therapeutic results, and is of great value in clinical practice.

Bone Transplantation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Funnel Chest ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Rectus Abdominis ; transplantation ; Ribs ; transplantation ; Sternum ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps

This study was aimed to analyze the mRNA expression of cytokines (TGF-beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, FAS-L) in five rhesus treated with haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation after nonmyeloablative preparative regimens and to explore the role of these cytokines in the development and pathology of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD). Five rhesus monkeys received nonmyeloablative haploidentical peripheral blood stem cells transplantation. Semi-quantitative reversed transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to analyze the kinetics of cytokine mRNA expression in the transplantation and aGVHD. The results showed that five rhesus monkeys acquired hematopoietic reconstitution successfully. The graft was rejected in one monkey which survived without disease, the other four achieved mixed chimerism and full donor chimerism. Chimerism of low centigrade in one monkey achieved high centigrade at 35 days after donor stem cell infusion. Intestinal aGVHD grade III developed in one monkey. Cytokines of Th1 and Th2 changed after transplantation. In period of aGVHD, expression of TGF-beta decreased but all others increased in various levels. When donor chimerism decreased, the cytokines decreased accordingly. It is concluded that the decrease of TGF-beta mRNA may be an indicator to predict aGVHD, and can be used as a differential diagnostic indicator for intestinal GVHD.
Animals ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Graft vs Host Disease ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Haploidy ; Macaca mulatta ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The study was aimed to investigate the expression of Rac1 in human acute leukemic cell line HL-60 and effect of Rac1 on cell cycle progression and apoptosis. The mRNA expression of Rac1 in HL-60 cell line and normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. After transfection of HL-60 cells with different concentrations of Rac1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) by means of FuGENE6, the survival, cell cycle, apoptosis of HL-60 cells were observed through MTT assay, FCM test, Wright-Giemsa, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining test respectively. The results showed that Rac1 relative amount in HL-60 was 0.84 +/- 0.13, while it in the normal PBMNC was 0.26 +/- 0.1 (P < 0.01); the expression of Rac1 in HL-60 cells was significantly upregulated. Compared with sense oligodeoxynucleotide (SODN), HL-60 cell viability, after exposure to ASODN at a concentration of 2.0 g/L decreased, (73.7 +/- 5.0)% vs (93.2 +/- 3.0)% (P < 0.01), while the proportion of G(1) cells increased as (52.1 +/- 6.8)% vs (31.6 +/- 4.7)% (P < 0.05), the percentage of Annexin V positive cells increased, (19.2 +/- 2.1)% vs (4.1 +/- 1.7)% (P < 0.01), and HL-60 cells were observed to have formation of apoptotic bodies. The data presented indicate that Rac1 may be involved in regulation of HL-60 cell cycle and apoptosis, promote overproliferation of HL-60 cells and inhibit their apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cell Cycle ; physiology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology

Monitoring engraftment of donor cells after allogeneic transplantation is the key of assessing successful establishment of animal transplantation model. The purpose of this study was to establish a method for analysis of chimerism in rhesus transplantation model. Y-specific sequence in rhesus was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), method for analysis of chimerism in rhesus after sex-mismatched transplantation was established; the feasibility and sensitivity of the approach were tested by using serial DNA mixtures of sex-mismatched individuals; the accuracy of results was confirmed by chromosome karyotype analysis simultaneously; Chimerisms of one rhesus received allogeneic stem cell transplantation and the other received mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transfusion were detected by this method. The results showed that a 176 bp long sequence of PCR product was gained in male rhesus, while no product was gained in female rhesus. The sensitivity of this method was up to 0.05% (male/female DNA ratio). Male donor chimerism were found on day 7 and 14 after allogeneic stem cell transplantation by Y-specific sequence and chromosome karyotype analysis. Otherwise, male donor chimerism was found in peripheral blood at 1 hour and in bone marrow on day 30 after MSC transfusion by this method, but no male donor chimerism was found after MSC transfusion using chromosome karyotype analysis. In conclusion, this rapid, sensitive approach can used to assess chimerism in experiments of rhesus alloorgan transplantation and cell transfusion.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Models, Animal ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Transplantation Chimera ; blood ; genetics ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Y Chromosome ; genetics