Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet is associated with erectile dysfunction in young Taiwanese men.

Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF) is a protective or predisposing factor for many diseases; however, the relationship between CHHF and erectile dysfunction (ED) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate associations between CHHF and ED among young men of Southeast Asian origin. In this cross-sectional study, sexually active Taiwanese men aged 20-40 years were enrolled via an online questionnaire comprising general demographic information, comorbidities, subjective thermal sensations of their hands and feet in the past 6 months, and their erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Participants who reported cold sensation of hands and feet were classified to have CHHF; those with IIEF-5 score ≤ 21 were considered to have ED. Total 54.2% and 27.9% of participants had ED and CHHF, respectively. Men with CHHF were significantly younger, had lower body mass index and IIEF-5 scores (p < 0.001), and a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.033) along with higher prevalence of ED, psychiatric disorders, and insomnia (p < 0.001). After adjusting for predisposing factors of ED, CHHF (odds ratio 1.410, 95% confidence interval 1.159-1.714; p = 0.001) remained an independent predictor of ED. Thus, CHHF is independently associated with ED, affecting more than a quarter of young Taiwanese men. Autonomic dysregulation and subclinical endothelial dysfunction may be common pathophysiologies of CHHF and ED.

Extracellular Vesicular Analysis of Glypican 1 mRNA and Protein for Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis.

Detecting pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in its early stages and predicting late-stage patient prognosis undergoing chemotherapy is challenging. This work shows that the activation of specific oncogenes leads to elevated expression of mRNAs and their corresponding proteins in extracellular vesicles (EVs) circulating in blood. Utilizing an immune lipoplex nanoparticle (ILN) biochip assay, these findings demonstrate that glypican 1 (GPC1) mRNA expression in the exosomes-rich (Exo) EV subpopulation and GPC1 membrane protein (mProtein) expression in the microvesicles-rich (MV) EV subpopulation, particularly the tumor associated microvesicles (tMV), served as a viable biomarker for PDAC. A combined analysis effectively discriminated early-stage PDAC patients from benign pancreatic diseases and healthy donors in sizable clinical from multiple hospitals. Furthermore, among late-stage PDAC patients undergoing chemotherapy, lower GPC1 tMV-mProtein and Exo-mRNA expression before treatment correlated significantly with prolonged overall survival. These findings underscore the potential of vesicular GPC1 expression for early PDAC screenings and chemotherapy prognosis.

Combining prostate health index and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging may better predict extraprostatic extension after radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PCa), preoperative prediction of extraprostatic extension (EPE) can facilitate patient selection for nerve-sparing procedures. Since both multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and prostate health index (PHI) have shown promise for the diagnosis and prognostication of PCa, we investigated whether a combination of mpMRI and PHI evaluations can improve the prediction of EPE after RP. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with PCa and treated with RP were prospectively enrolled between February 2017 and July 2019. Preoperative blood samples were analyzed for PHI (defined as [p2PSA/fPSA] × âˆštPSA), and mpMRI examinations were performed and interpreted by a single experienced uroradiologist retrospectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to determine the performance of mpMRI, PHI, and their combination in predicting EPE after RP. RESULTS: A total of 163 patients were included for analysis. The pathological T stage was T3a or more in 59.5%. Overall staging accuracy of mpMRI for EPE was 72.4% (sensitivity and specificity: 73.2% and 71.2%, respectively). The area under the ROC of the combination of mpMRI and PHI in predicting EPE (0.785) was higher than those of mpMRI alone (0.717; p = 0.0007) and PHI alone (0.722; p = 0.0236). mpMRI showed false-negative non-EPE results in 26 patients (16%), and a PHI threshold of >40 could avoid undiagnosed EPE before RP in 21 of these 26 patients. CONCLUSION: The combination of PHI and mpMRI may better predict the EPE preoperatively, facilitating preoperative counseling and tailoring the need for nerve-sparing RP.

Chondroma of the urinary bladder: A case report.

RATIONALE: Chondromas are benign tumors comprising cartilaginous tissue that commonly occur in the small bones of the hands and feet. Chondromas are extremely rare in extraskeletal soft tissues, and only six cases of bladder chondromas have been reported thus far. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 75-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and urinary symptoms, including increased frequency and a weak stream. DIAGNOSIS: Cystoscopy revealed a well-defined bladder mass over the anterior bladder wall. The pathology report showed neoplastic chondrocytes within the hyalinized and focal myxoid matrix, and immunopositivity for S-100, leading to the seventh known diagnosis of bladder chondroma. INTERVENTIONS: The tumor was endoscopically resected. The postoperative stay was uneventful, and 5 days later, the patient was discharged after the removal of the urinary catheter. OUTCOMES: One month after surgery, repeated cystoscopy showed no recurrence of the bladder tumor, and the patient reported improvement in urinary symptoms and relief of lower abdominal pain. LESSONS: Chondromas of the urinary bladder can present as urinary symptoms and abdominal pain in older patients. Transurethral resection is the treatment of choice.

Retrospective study of the differences in patient characteristics and revenue between male and female surgeons in Taiwan.

Surgery is traditionally a male-dominated field, and gender differences exist despite the growing numbers of female surgeons. A handful of studies have evaluated the condition in Asian societies. We aimed to examine the difference between female and male surgeons in urology, general surgery, and gynecology by analyzing a nationwide, population-based database. We identified surgeons with a clinical experience of six to thirteen years between 1995 to 2013 from the National Health Insurance Research Database. We collected patient numbers and revenue per month in outpatient and inpatient care, as well as monthly numbers of surgeries conducted by female and male surgeons in urology, general surgery, and gynecology, for analysis. Original student's t-test and wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the differences between female and male surgeons, and p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Female urologists and general surgeons had a significantly higher ratio of female patients in Taiwan. Female urologists had patient numbers, revenues, and numbers of surgeries comparable to male urologists. In contrast, female general surgeons had significantly less involvement in outpatient and inpatient care and had low monthly revenues. Female general surgeons contradictorily performed more oncological surgeries per month than males. However, the difference in numbers of oncological surgeries was not significant after excluding breast cancer surgeries. Female gynecologists had a similar amount of outpatients and outpatient revenue but significantly less inpatient care and numbers of surgeries per month. A gender-based gap exists among surgeons in Taiwan. The gap between females and males appeared narrower in urology than in general surgery and gynecology. Management of diseases related to female sex organs, including breast, were more common among female surgeons. Efforts should be made to decrease gender stereotypes, to ensure that patients receive the best care regardless of the sex of the surgeons.

The Prostate Health Index aids multi-parametric MRI in diagnosing significant prostate cancer.

To evaluate the performance of the Prostate Health Index (PHI) in magnetic resonance imaging-transrectal ultrasound (MRI-TRUS) fusion prostate biopsy for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). We prospectively enrolled 164 patients with at least one Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADS v2) ≥ 3 lesions who underwent MRI-TRUS fusion prostate biopsy. Of the PSA-derived biomarkers, the PHI had the best performance in predicting csPCa (AUC 0.792, CI 0.707-0.877) in patients with PI-RADS 4/5 lesions. Furthermore, the predictive power of PHI was even higher in the patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions (AUC 0.884, CI 0.792-0.976). To minimize missing csPCa, we used a PHI cutoff of 27 and 7.4% of patients with PI-RADS 4/5 lesions could have avoided a biopsy. At this level, 2.0% of cases with csPCa would have been missed, with sensitivity and NPV rates of 98.0% and 87.5%, respectively. However, the subgroup of PI-RADS 3 was too small to define the optimal PHI cutoff. PHI was the best PSA-derived biomarker to predict csPCa in MRI-TRUS fusion prostate biopsies in men with PI-RADS ≥ 3 lesions, especially for the patients with PI-RADS 3 lesions who gained the most value.

Predictive factors for disease recurrence in patients with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with curative surgery.

BACKGROUND: Few prognostic factors have been proposed for patients with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study aimed to investigate the possible predictive factors for disease-free survival (DFS) after curative surgery for RCC stage T3 or higher. METHODS: Patients with locally advanced RCC who underwent cure-intended partial or radical nephrectomy, with or without tumor thrombectomy, at our institution from April 1, 2005 to October 31, 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Those undergoing cytoreductive nephrectomy were excluded. Preoperative data, including surgical and pathologic characteristics, were assessed for correlation with DFS. Chi-square tests, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses were performed to determine potential predictive factors. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 159 patients were included for analysis. The mean duration of follow-up was 37.9 months, and 119 (74.8%) patients remained disease-free during follow-up. Disease recurrence was found in 40 (25.2%) patients, and pathologic T stage, capsule penetration, Fuhrman grade, thrombocytosis, renal vein thrombosis, and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were significantly associated with disease recurrence on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, Fuhrman grade 3 or 4 (HR = 5.70, p = 0.0003, 95% CI = 2.23-14.56) showed significant associations with DFS. CONCLUSION: In patients with locally advanced RCC, Fuhrman grade was associated with worse DFS after curative surgery. Urologists should closely monitor patients with high Fuhrman grades.

Risks of forgotten double-J ureteric stents after ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

Delayed double-J ureteric stent (DJ) removal may cause severe morbidity. We aimed to identify high-risk patients for forgotten DJs to prevent iatrogenic injury and improve safety. Data of patients with DJs placed after ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy (URSL) between 2000 and 2013 from the National Health Insurance Database in Taiwan were included. Forgotten DJs were defined as indwelling DJs for > 6 months after URSL, which is approximately two times longer than the expiratory duration. Age at stenting, sex, socioeconomic status, specialty of stenting physician, comorbidities, postoperative emergency room visiting and abdominal plain x-ray filming frequencies, and alpha blocker use for > 7 days after stenting were analysed. Of 13,058 patients, 12,969 (99.31%) had timely removed DJs while 89 (0.68%) had forgotten DJs. Per a univariate analysis, patients with forgotten DJs were older, female, and of low socioeconomic status, and the use of more than one DJ for one URSL, placement by non-urologists, and less frequent postoperative abdominal plain x-ray filming and postoperative alpha blocker use were risk factors. Per a multivariate analysis, elderly patients (Odds ratio [OR] = 3.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-8.32, p = 0.0085), DJ placement by non-urologists (OR = 9.63, 95% CI 6.09-15.24, p < 0.0001), more than two DJs for one URSL (OR = 2.93, 95% CI 1.58-5.42, p = 0.0006), and less frequent postoperative abdominal plain x-ray filming (OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.86, p = 0.0016) were significantly associated with forgotten DJs. Forgotten URSL-related DJs are infrequent in Taiwan. Old age, complicated DJ insertion requiring more than two stents for one URSL, and stent placement by non-urologists are risk factors. Physicians should be aware of these high-risk patients.

Can we treat bladder cancer with intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin in patients with prior tuberculosis infection? A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with T1 or high-grade superficial bladder cancer or those with carcinoma in situ after transurethral resection. A personal history of tuberculosis infection has been viewed as a relative contraindication for BCG therapy, because it may increase the risk of complications or decrease the treatment effectiveness. We determined the safety and efficacy of intravesical BCG treatment for patients with prior tuberculosis infection by analyzing the data obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. METHODS: We included patients who were newly diagnosed with bladder cancer from 2000 to 2009 and who received adjuvant intravesical BCG therapy within 3 months after the surgery. We excluded those who developed upper urinary tract cancer during the study period. Disease recurrence, disease progression, and major adverse effects were compared between patients with and without a prior diagnosis of tuberculosis infection until December 31, 2011. RESULTS: Among the 3915 patients included, 187 (4.8%) had been previously diagnosed with tuberculosis infection. The proportion of men (84.0% versus 76.9%) and older patients was higher in the group with a prior tuberculosis infection than in those without a prior tuberculosis infection. Significant differences in disease recurrence (20.3% versus 22.8%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-1.21, p = 0.404) or disease progression (10.2% versus 12.8%, HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.46-1.17, p = 0.191) were not observed between the two groups. None of the patients with a prior tuberculosis infection had severe urinary tract infections, whereas four (0.1%) patients without such an infection developed severe urinary tract infections. CONCLUSION: A prior tuberculosis infection did not affect the treatment efficacy or safety of intravesical BCG treatment. The efficacy and safety of intravesical BCG therapy are comparable between bladder cancer patients with and without prior tuberculosis infections.

Prostate health index density predicts aggressive pathological outcomes after radical prostatectomy in Taiwanese patients.

BACKGROUND: There are models to predict pathological outcomes based on established clinical and prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-derived parameters; however, they are not satisfactory. p2PSA and its derived biomarkers have shown promise for the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of this study was to investigate whether p2PSA-derived biomarkers can assist in the prediction of aggressive pathological outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients who were diagnosed with PCa and treated with RP between February 2017 and December 2018. Preoperative blood samples were analyzed for tPSA, free PSA (fPSA), percentage of fPSA (%fPSA), [-2]proPSA (p2PSA), and percentage of p2PSA (%p2PSA). Prostate health index (PHI) was calculated as (p2PSA/fPSA) × âˆštPSA. Prostate volume was determined by transrectal ultrasound using the ellipsoid formula, and PHI density was calculated as PHI/prostate volume. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were estimated for various PSA/p2PSA derivatives. Aggressive pathological outcomes measured after RP were defined as pathological T3 or a Gleason score (GS) >6 as determined in RP specimens. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-four patients were included for analysis. Postoperative GS was >6 in 86.1% of the patients, and pT stage was T3a or more in 54.2%. Among all PSA- and p2PSA-derived biomarkers, PHI density was the best biomarker to predict aggressive pathological outcomes after RP. The odds ratio of having an aggressive pathological outcome of RP was 8.796 (p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, adding %fPSA to base model did not improve the accuracy (area under curve), but adding PHI and PHI density to base model improved the accuracy by 2% and 16%, respectively, in predicting pT3 stage or GS ≥ 7. The risk of pT3 stage or GS ≥ 7 was 20.8% for PHI density <1.125, and 64.6% for PHI density >1.125 (sensitivity: 74.6% and specificity: 88.9%). CONCLUSION: PHI density may further aid in predicting aggressive pathological outcomes after RP. This biomarker may be useful in preoperative counseling and may have potential in decision making when choosing between definitive treatment and active surveillance of newly diagnosed PCa.

Urodynamic characteristics might be variable in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients with different non-bladder co-morbid conditions.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to identify the impact of non-bladder co-morbid conditions on the urodynamic characteristics of patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. METHODS: Patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis completed the screening questionnaires for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, temporo-mandibular disorders, multiple chemical sensitivities, tension/migraine headache, and localized myofascial pain disorder. They underwent either conventional pressure-flow urodynamic studies or video-urodynamic studies. Urodynamic variables were compared between patients with and those without co-morbid conditions. RESULTS: Of 111 patients (16 males and 95 females) with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis, 87 (78.4%) had at least one co-morbid condition (62% males vs 82% females, p = 0.005). Those with concomitant irritable bowel syndrome were younger and had urodynamic characteristics of smaller catheter-free voided volume, lower catheter-free average flow rate, smaller bladder volume on the first desire to void, and more prevalent dysfunctional voiding than those without irritable bowel syndrome. Patients with concomitant localized myofascial pain disorder also had larger bladder volume at the first desire to void and lower pressure at maximum flow than those without co-morbid myofascial pain disorder. There were no significant differences in urodynamic parameters between bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients with and those without other co-morbidities. CONCLUSION: Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients, especially females, are more likely to have non-bladder co-morbidities, especially tension/migraine headache and localized myofascial pain. Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis Patients with co-morbid irritable bowel syndrome are younger and more likely to have abnormal urodynamic findings.

Standardized report for early complications of radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Radical prostatectomy (RP) is one of the curative treatment options for patients with prostate cancer to achieve long-term survival, but it is accompanied by potential complications. The Martin criteria used as a format for reporting complications has become standard in recent years. However, it has not been applied in RP in Asian countries. In the present study, we investigated the early complications of RP developing within 90 days in our institute according to the Martin criteria. METHODS: Between January 2003 and November 2011, patients with organ-confined adenocarcinoma of the prostate who received RP in our institute were retrospectively reviewed. The operation was done as open RP, or minimally invasive RP, including laparoscopic RP and robot-assisted laparoscopic RP (RaLP). The preoperative, operative, postoperative, and pathological parameters were recorded for analysis. Definitions of complications were adopted from previous reports. Surgical and medical complications developed within 90 days postoperatively were identified respectively; severity of each complication was classified according to Clavien-Dindo classification. Clavien-Dindo classification grade III or higher complications were viewed as major complications. RESULTS: A total of 359 patients were included; 280 (78%) underwent open RP, 45 (12.5%) received laparoscopic RP, and 34 (9.5%) had RaLP. The overall complication rate was 40.1%, and the major complication rate was 13.1%. There was no surgical mortality. Diarrhea requiring conservative treatment (13.6%), minor urine leakage (9.5%), and gout attack (4.2%) were the leading complications. Minimally invasive RP had higher rates of lymph leakage (p = 0.015) and upper-extremity neuropathy (p = 0.048). Body mass index >25 kg/m(2) and use of neoadjuvant hormone therapy were predictors for overall and major complications, whereas diabetes mellitus also predicted the development of major complications. Besides lower case volume and learning curve for RaLP, patients' higher age at surgery and higher risk for disease progression compared to the Western series may be responsible for the higher complication rates. CONCLUSION: The early complication rates of RP in our patients were slightly high compared to the Western series. By standardized report, being overweight, diabetes mellitus, and use of neoadjuvant hormone therapy were identified as predictors of early complications in our series.

Qualitative analysis of the chemical constituents in Hedyotis diffusa by HPLC-TOF-MS.

A high performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF-MS) method was developed for analysing the chemical constituents in Hedyotis diffusa, which is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the field of cancer treatment. The compounds were identified either by comparing the retention time and mass spectrometry data with those of reference compounds or by analysing mass spectrometry data and retrieving reference literature. Among the detected chromatographic peaks, nine components were unambiguously identified, most of which were iridoids. This study is expected to provide an effective and reliable pattern for comprehensive and systematic characterisation of the complex TCM systems.

Detection of Stage I nasopharyngeal carcinoma by serologic screening and clinical examination.

In a prospective study, 42 048 adults residing in Zhongshan City, Guangdong, China, were followed for 16 years, and 171 of them developed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Although Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody levels of the cohort fluctuated, the antibody levels of 93% of the patients with NPC were raised and maintained at high levels for up to 10 years prior to diagnosis. This suggests that the serologic window affords an opportunity to monitor tumor progression during the preclinical stage of NPC development, facilitating early NPC detection. We reviewed the clinical records of the 171 patients with NPC in the prospective study to assess the efficacy of early NPC detection by serologic screening and clinical examination. Of the 171 patients, 51 had Stage I tumor (44 were among the 73 patients detected by clinical examination and 7 were among the 98 patients presented to outpatient department). Initial serologic screening predicted 58 (95.1%) of the 61 patients detected within 2 years. The risk of the screened population (58/3093) raised 13 times relative to cohort (61/42 048) during this period. Clinical examination detected all the 58 predicted cases, and 35 (60.3%) of which were diagnosed with Stage I tumor. The serologic prediction rate fell to 33.6% (37/110) 2 to 16 years after screening. The proportion of cases detected by clinical examination fell to 40.5% (15/37). The proportion of Stage I tumors among the cases detected by clinical examination during both periods remained at about 60%. We concluded that early detection of NPC can be accomplished by repeated serologic screening to maintain high prediction rates and by promptly examining screened subjects to detect tumors before the symptoms develop.

Determination of polyamines in human urine by precolumn derivatization with benzoyl chloride and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A simple and sensitive HPLC/Q-TOF MS method for simultaneous determination of 1,3-diaminopropane, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine and acetyl-spermine in human urine was developed in electrospray-ionization source by positive ion mode. The samples were firstly pretreated by 10% HClO(4) and then derivatized by benzoyl chloride with 1,6-diaminohexane as internal standard. The derived polyamines were separated on a C(18) column by a gradient elution with methanol-water, and then sensitively detected with Q-TOF MS. The limits of detection for polyamines ranged from 0.02 to 1.0 ng ml(-1) with excellent linearity within the range from 1 to 1000 ng ml(-1) except acetyl-spermine from 5 to 1000 ng ml(-1). The intra- and inter-day R.S.D. for all polyamines were 2.0-14.7% and 3.9-12.9%, respectively. The method was applied to determine the polyamines in human urine from 10 cancer patients and 15 healthy volunteers. Results showed that the mean levels of polyamines in urine of patients were all higher than those in healthy volunteers. The cluster analysis was used to establish the distinction mode between cancer sufferers and healthy individuals.

Characterization of the in vivo and in vitro metabolic profile of PAC-1 using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

In the present study, the metabolic profile of PAC-1, a potential anticancer drug, was investigated using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric (LC/MS) techniques. Two different types of mass spectrometers--a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer and an ion trap (IT) mass spectrometer--were employed to acquire structural information on PAC-1 metabolites. A gradient liquid chromatographic system composed of 0.2% formic acid in methanol and 0.2% formic acid in water was used for metabolite separation on an Agilent TC-C(18) column. A total of 16 metabolites were detected. The corresponding product ion spectra were acquired and interpreted, and structures were proposed. Accurate mass measurement using LC-Q-TOF was used to determine the elemental composition of metabolites thereby confirming the proposed structures of these metabolites. Phase I metabolic changes were predominantly observed, including debenzylation, dihydrodiol formation, hydroxylation, and dihydroxylation. The detected phase II metabolites included PAC-1 and hydroxylated PAC-1 glucuronide conjugates. Based on metabolite analysis, several PAC-1 metabolic pathways in rat were proposed.

The effects of distraction osteogenesis on mandibular growth in growing minipigs: a report on three-dimensional morphologic changes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to investigate the morphologic changes of distraction osteogenesis performed on the mandible in growing minipigs. METHODS: Eighteen piglets were divided into four groups. In group A (n = 6), animals received unilateral osteotomy and the distractor device was activated for 2 weeks after a 1-week latency period. In group B (n = 6), animals underwent the osteotomy procedure and distractor placement. In group C (n = 3), animals received the distractor, and in group D (n = 3), only four reference pins were placed. After completion of distraction, the head portions were sent for computed tomography scanning. The coordinates of each selected mandibular landmark were recorded on three-dimensional computed tomographic reconstruction images for further mathematical linear and angular measurements to quantify morphologic changes. RESULTS: The sagittal length related to gonial region was increased in group A but decreased in group B. Although all groups had the tendency of increased ramus width, it was only significant in group B. The distraction also reduced the gonial angle and elevated the ramus inclination to the Frankfort horizontal plane at the operated side. On the contrary, osteotomy alone opened the gonial angle and flattened the ramus inclination. CONCLUSIONS: Distraction could lengthen the mandibles in growing minipigs by reducing the gonial angle and displacing the mandible posteriorly. This effect, which allows for developing a prominent gonial angle, could be further explored in treating syndromic patients with the deficiency in the gonial region. A greater amount of overcorrection should be considered while treating growing patients because the mandibular osteotomy procedure itself seems to retard the growth.

[Effect of IL-15 on the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ cells from MDS patients].

AIM: To explore the effect of IL-15 on proliferation and differentiation of CD34 (+) cells from MDS patients. METHODS: The CD34 (+) cells were separated by magnetic bead-activated cell sorter (MACS) system, and cultured in fluid or methylcellulose semisolid medium. MTT colorimetry was used to examine the inhibitory effect of IL-15 on the proliferation of MDS CD34(+) cells.The numbers of CD34(+)cells and colony formation of CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-G, CFU-GEMM were counted. The expressions of CD33, CD13, CD71, CD19 and CD3 on cultured cells and the change of cell-cycle were analyzed by FCM. RESULTS: The recovery rate of CD34(+) cells was (75.4+/-5.2) %, the purity of CD34 (+) cells in positive fraction was (90.3+/-6.3) % and the enriched rate was (83.1+/-12.5) % in 11 MDS patients. MTT colorimetry detection showed that IL-15 could promote the proliferation of MDS CD34(+) cells. The optimal time of promotoing CD34(+) cell proliferation by IL-15 was 8 days and optimal dosage of IL-15 was 20 microg/L. After culture for 8 days with 0 microg/L IL-15 (control group) and 20 microg/L IL-15(experimental group), the number of CD34 (+) cells increased by 4.6-fold in control group and 6.3-fold in experimental group (P<0.05, n=5). The colony formation rates of experimental group were significantly higher than those of control group. The expression rates of the CD molecules (except for CD3) on CD34(+) in experimental group were notably higher than those in control group. As compared with control group, much more CD34(+) cells of experimental group were in G(2) and S phase of cell cycle(P<0.05, n=7). CONCLUSION: IL-15 can obviously promote the proliferation and differentiation of CD34(+) cells from MDS patients.