Does the presence of blind-ended vas deferens and spermatic vessels in laparoscopic exploration of non-palpable testes conclusively indicate testicular absence?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the presence of blind-ended vas deferens and spermatic vessels (VDSV) during laparoscopic exploration of non-palpable testes (NPT) indicates testicular absence or atrophy. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of patients diagnosed with NPT and treated with surgical intervention at our center from April 2013-April 2023. The dataset encompassed information such as the children's age, affected side, size of the contralateral testis, surgical procedures employed, outcomes, and histopathological examination results. All patients underwent physical examination and ultrasonography preoperatively, followed by a combination of laparoscopic exploration and exploration through inguinal or scrotal incisions during surgery. Long-term follow-up was conducted postoperatively. Results: A total of 476 cases comprising 504 NPT were included in this study: 302 cases on the left side, 146 cases on the right side, and 28 cases bilaterally. All patients underwent surgical treatment within 6-126 months (median 13 months). During laparoscopic exploration, blind-ended VDSV were found in 90 testes (72 on the left side, 18 on the right side), while exploration through inguinal or scrotal incisions revealed 52 (57.8%) testicular nodules with atrophy, which were excised, leaving 38 (42.2%) without any findings. Histopathological examination of atrophic nodules revealed fibrosis as the most common finding in 41 cases (78.8%), followed by involvement of the vas deferens in 33 cases (63.5%), calcification in 24 cases (46.2%), epididymis in 23 cases (44.2%), and hemosiderin deposition in 7 cases (13.6%). Fibrosis, calcification, hemosiderin deposition, involvement of the vas deferens, and epididymis were found in combination in 47 specimens (90.4%). Seminiferous tubules (SNT) were found in 3 specimens (5.7%), and germ cells (GC) were found in 1 specimen (1.9%). Conclusion: The presence of blind-ended VDSV during laparoscopic exploration of NPT does not necessarily indicate testicular absence or disappearance. It is possible that atrophic testicular nodules are located within the inguinal canal or scrotum. This understanding contributes to the management of non-palpable testes. Considering their unpredictable malignant potential, we recommend excision.

SubPhaser: a robust allopolyploid subgenome phasing method based on subgenome-specific k-mers.

With advanced sequencing technology, dozens of complex polyploid plant genomes have been characterized. However, for many polyploid species, their diploid ancestors are unknown or extinct, making it impossible to unravel the subgenomes and genome evolution directly. We developed a novel subgenome-phasing algorithm, SubPhaser, specifically designed for a neoallopolyploid or a homoploid hybrid. SubPhaser first searches for the subgenome-specific sequence (k-mer), then assigns homoeologous chromosomes into subgenomes, and further provides tools to annotate and investigate specific sequences. SubPhaser works well on neoallopolyploids and homoploid hybrids containing subgenome-specific sequences like wheat, but fails on autopolyploids lacking subgenome-specific sequences like alfalfa, indicating that SubPhaser can phase neoallopolyploid/homoploid hybrids with high accuracy, sensitivity and performance. This highly accurate, highly sensitive, ancestral data free chromosome phasing algorithm, SubPhaser, offers significant application value for subgenome phasing in neoallopolyploids and homoploid hybrids, and for the subsequent exploration of genome evolution and related genetic/epigenetic mechanisms.

[Causes of and risk factors for failure in catheter removal after transurethral resection of the prostate].

OBJECTIVE: To find the causes of the failure in the first catheter removal (CR) after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and the related risk factors. METHODS: We collected the clinical data on 285 BPH patients treated by TURP from June 2015 to May 2018. We divided the cases into a successful CR (SCR) and a failed CR (FCR) group and investigated the risk factors for the first CR after TURP by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: CR was successfully performed in 246 and failed in 39 of the 285 cases. In the FCR group, post-CR urinary retention occurred in 15 cases immediately after, severe urinary tract irritation in 13, massive gross hematuria in 7 and urinary incontinence in 4 within 1 month. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for CR failure included IPSS (OR = 5.106, P = 0.013), preoperative urinary tract infection (OR = 3.835, P = 0.041), prostate volume (OR = 4.160, P = 0.011) and catheter compression time (OR = 4.051, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The common causes of the failure in catheter removal after TURP included early postoperative urinary retention, urinary infection, secondary hematuria and urinary incontinence.

[Organic gallium improves tretinoin-induced osteoporosis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of organic gallium and gallium chloride on bone metabolism and their therapeutic effect against tretinoin-induced osteoporosis in rats. METHODS: Rat models of osteoporosis was established with intragastric administration of tretinoin at the daily dose of 85 mg/kg for 15 days and randomized into control, organic gallium and gallium chloride groups. After administration of the corresponding treatments (none for the control group) for 4 weeks, the changes of the indices for osteoporosis were evaluated through biochemical and pathological approaches. RESULTS: Tretinoin induced obvious changes in bone structure and contents of bone calcium and other elements, causing also significantly increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), which suggested the development of osteoporosis. Administration of organic gallium and gallium chloride treatments increased the bone density, bone cortex thickness and the percentage of bone trabecula, and Ga, Ca, P contents in the femur and teeth, but lowered the activity of TRAP and AKP, suggesting decreased bone conversion rate. Compared with gallium chloride, organic gallium required smaller dose with better safety to produce better therapeutic effect. CONCLUSION: Organic gallium can be safe and effective for treatment of tretinoin-induced osteoporosis in rats.