Intrauterine infusion of platelet-rich plasma improves fibrosis by transforming growth factor beta 1/Smad pathway in a rat intrauterine adhesion model.

This study aims to elucidate the effects of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in fibrosis development in intrauterine adhesion (IUA), and the associated underlying mechanisms are also explored, which are expected to be a potential therapeutic scheme for IUA. In this research, PRP was obtained and prepared from the peripheral venous blood of rats. A rat model was induced by mechanical injury. Further, PRP was directly injected into the uterus for treatment. The appearance and shape of the uterus were assessed based on the tissues harvested. The fibrosis biomarker levels were analyzed. The transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1) and Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (Smad7) levels, the phosphorylation of Smad2 (p-Smad2), and the phosphorylation of Smad3 (p-Smad3) were analyzed, and the molecular mechanism was investigated by rescue experiments. It was found that PRP improved the appearance and shape of the uterus in IUA and increased endometrial thickness and gland numbers. The administration of PRP resulted in a decrease in the expressions of fibrosis markers including collagen I, α-SMA, and fibronectin. Furthermore, PRP increased Smad7 levels and decreased TGF-ß1 levels, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3. Meanwhile, administration of TGF-ß1 activator reversed the therapeutic effects of PRP in IUA. Collectively, the intrauterine infusion of PRP can promote endometrial damage recovery and improve endometrial fibrosis via the TGF-ß1/Smad pathway. Hence, PRP can be a potential therapeutic strategy for IUA.

Scientific publications in urology and nephrology journals from China: A 10-year analysis.

BACKGROUND: The scientific research in urology and nephrology of China has developed significantly. The present study was designed to analyze the outputs of publications in urology and nephrology journals from three regions of China: mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong. METHODS: The numbers of articles, impact factors, citation reports and other indexes within this category between 2000 and 2009 were extracted for quantity and quality comparisons from PubMed and the ISI (Institute for Scientific Information-currently called the Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge) database. RESULTS: There were 3100 articles from the mainland (36.5%), Taiwan (46.8%) and Hong Kong (16.7%), and the increasing trend in each region was significant (p < 0.001). The accumulated impact factor and total citation of Taiwan exceeded the other two regions, while the average impact factor and citation of Hong Kong was highest. There were differences between the three regions on the most popular journals. INTERPRETATION: Although the quantity of articles in urology and nephrology from the mainland has exceeded Taiwan and Hong Kong since 2008, there is a considerable gap in the quality of articles between the mainland and the other two regions.

Prospective trial comparing transrectal ultrasonography and transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy for persistent hematospermia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic yield of transrectal ultrasonography and transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy in patients with persistent hematospermia, and to determine the advantages and disadvantages of both modalities. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 106 patients with persistent hematospermia of mean duration 20.5 months. All patients were evaluated by both transrectal ultrasonography and transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy after excluding definite etiological lesions beyond the reproductive duct system. The diagnostic yield and other technical parameters of both modalities were compared. RESULTS: Final diagnoses were made in 93 patients (87.7%), with transrectal ultrasonography and transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy showing overall diagnostic yields of 45.3% and 74.5%, respectively (P < 0.001). The diagnostic yield of combining transrectal ultrasonography and transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy was significantly higher than that of each modality alone (both P < 0.001). Of the 114 findings of diagnostic value, the most frequent was calculus (47.4%, n = 54), followed by obstruction/stricture (37.7%, n = 43), cyst (8.8%, n = 10), dysplasia (3.5%, n = 4), polyp (1.8%, n = 2) and benign mass (0.9%, n = 1). Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy showed significant superiority in detecting calculi and obstruction/stricture. Hematospermia disappeared in 95.3% (101/106) of all patients and in 97.6% (83/85) of patients receiving transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy therapy during follow up. No major adverse effects occurred during and after examination. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic yield of transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy for persistent hematospermia was significantly superior to that of transrectal ultrasonography, especially in lesions diagnosed with calculi and obstruction/stricture. Combining both modalities might provide extra benefits for patients with persistent hematospermia.