Assessment of testicular volume in neonates in the tropical province of China.

BACKGROUND: Testicular volume in neonates is a potential indicator of testicular development during the fetal period, particularly the masculinization programming window. Reliable measurements of testicular volume provide an opportunity for early detection of testicular abnormalities. This study aimed to assess the testicular volume in neonates and evaluate its relationship with gestational week and birth weight in Hainan Province, China. METHODS: Data on 458 neonates who underwent ultrasonography examinations at our institution from 2018 to 2022 were collected. The neonates were categorized by gestational week, birth weight, and presence of cryptorchidism. We evaluated the testicular volume among different groups and its relationship to gestational week and birth weight. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the right and left testicular volume in neonates without cryptorchidism. However, a significant difference was observed between normal birth weight and low birth weight neonates in terms of testicular volume. Similarly, there was a significant difference between premature and full-term neonates in testicular volume. Bilateral testicular volume showed positive and significant correlations with gestational week and birth weight. Additionally, a significant difference was noted in testicular volume between the affected side in neonates with cryptorchidism and the same side in normal birth weight full-term neonates. CONCLUSIONS: We established the normal range of testicular volume for neonates in Hainan Province and demonstrated that testicular volume is positively correlated with both birth weight and gestational week. Cryptorchidism also affects testicular volume during the neonatal period, likely due to reduced androgenic exposure in utero, particularly during the masculinization programming window. The findings of this study have significant implications for assessing testis development during fetal development.

Effect of icariin on the transformation efficiency of induced pluripotent stem cells into sperm cells in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of icariin on the transformation efficiency of germ cell-like cells from mouse induced pluripotent stem cells into sperm cells in vitro. METHODS: Firstly, mouse induced pluripotent stem cells were induced and cultured to transform into germ cell-like cells, and the primordial germ cell-like cells were identified by Western blot and RT-PCR. Then, different concentrations of icariin (0.1µg/mL, 1µg/mL, 10µg/mL and 100µg/mL) were added into the culture medium, and the obtained primitive germ cell-like cells were cultured, Western blot and RT-PCR were used to identify the obtained sperm cells, the transformation efficiency was compared. RESULTS: The primordium germ cell-like cells obtained from mouse induced pluripotent stem cells in vitro specially expressed Oct-4 protein, C-kit protein, Mvh mRNA, Fragilis mRNA and Stella mRNA. The sperm cells were specially expressed VASA, SCP3 and γH2AX proteins. RT-PCR showed that the sperm cells were specially expressed Ddx4, Tp2 and Prm1 mRNA. Compared with the control group, the expression level of VASA protein (1.744±0.283, 2.882±0.373, 6.489±0.460), SCP3 protein (2.250±0.306, 7.058±0.521, 8.654±0.804), γH2AX protein (4.304±0.433, 5.713±0.339, 9.268±0.545), Ddx4 mRNA (1.374±0.145, 2.846±0.194, 4.021±0.154), Tp2 mRNA (1.358±0.130, 3.623±0.326, 5.811±0.390) and Prm1 mRNA (1.326±0.162, 3.487±0.237, 4.666±0.307) in 0.1µg/mL, 1µg/mL, 10µg/mL icariin experimental groups were all lower than that of VASA protein (10.560±0.413), SCP3 protein (13.804±0.642), γH2AX protein (11.874±0.464), Ddx4 mRNA (6.4005±0.361), Tp2 mRNA (7.314±0.256) and Prm1 mRNA (7.334±0.390) in 100µg/mL icariin experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: Icariin can promote the transformation of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells into sperm cells in vitro, and it is concentration-dependent manner in a certain concentration range.

Chemotherapy Combined With Surgery in a Case With Metanephric Adenoma.

Background: Metanephric adenoma is an extremely rare renal neoplasm, especially in pediatrics. Chemotherapy combined with surgery in metanephric adenoma has not been reported. Methods: We describe a case of metanephric adenoma in a child less than 2 years old, which were treated by chemotherapy combined with surgery. Results: Nephron sparing surgery was performed after regular chemotherapy, and the pathological result was metanephric adenoma. Conclusion: Pediatric metanephric adenoma is extremely rare; the clinical manifestations and imaging examinations lack specificity. Nephron sparing surgery is recommended as the preferred treatment for metanephric adenoma. Long-term follow-up and more in-depth molecular genetic research are still needed to determine the benign or malignant of metanephric adenoma and whether chemotherapy drugs have an effect on it.

Comparative study of testicular volume in children with unilateral cryptorchidism of different ages in the tropical province of China.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the testicular volume in children with unilateral cryptorchidism of different ages in Hainan Province, China. METHODS: The study included 424 children (ranging in age from 0 month to 4 years) with unilateral cryptorchidism or normal who were treated from 2017 to 2021 at our institution. They were divided into different groups according to age. We evaluated the correlation of testicular volume between the children with cryptorchidism and the normal children among different groups. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in testicular volume between the affected side and the healthy side. There was no difference in testicular volume between the left side and the right side of each control group. There were significant differences between the affected side of cryptorchid groups and the same side of the control groups. There were no significant differences between the healthy side of cryptorchid groups and the same side of the control groups. There were no significant differences between the affected side of left cryptorchid groups and right cryptorchid groups. There were no significant differences between the healthy side of left cryptorchid groups and right cryptorchid groups. There were significant differences in testicular volume among different age groups of the control group, while there were no differences in the cryptorchid groups. CONCLUSIONS: The development of testicular volume in children with unilateral inguinal cryptorchidism is affected in earlier age, and there was no compensatory testicular adaptation in the healthy testis.