FOXP4 promotes proliferation of human spermatogonial stem cells / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Continuous self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) is vital for maintenance of adult spermatogenesis. Although several spermatogonial stem cell regulators have been extensively investigated in rodents, regulatory mechanisms of human SSC self-renewal and differentiation have not been fully established. We analyzed single-cell sequencing data from the human testis and found that forkhead box P4 (FOXP4) expression gradually increased with development of SSCs. Further analysis of its expression patterns in human testicular tissues revealed that FOXP4 specifically marks a subset of spermatogonia with stem cell potential. Conditional inactivation of FOXP4 in human SSC lines suppressed SSC proliferation and significantly activated apoptosis. FOXP4 expressions were markedly suppressed in tissues with dysregulated spermatogenesis. These findings imply that FOXP4 is involved in human SSC proliferation, which will help elucidate on the mechanisms controlling the fate decisions in human SSCs.

Severe Pulmonary Embolism, Thrombosis of Lower Extremity, Unexpected Mild Renal Disorder in MPO-ANCA Associated Vasculitis: A Case Report / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) associated vasculitis is an autoimmune disease usually with severe multiple dysfunction syndrome, especially prominent acute renal failure. A 65-year-old woman was admitted with progressive dyspnoea for six months and fever, sputum with blood, pain of the lower extremities and intermittent claudication for two days, indicating multiple organ involvement (respiratory system, blood vessels). The renal involvement was relatively mild, presenting with microscopic haematuria. The chest computed tomography demonstrated multiple pulmonary embolisms. Ultrasound and computed tomography angiography for the lower extremity vessels showed venous and arterial thrombosis. Exclusion of other diseases that can cause multiple organ damage and thrombosis, the positive perinuclear ANCA and MPO-ANCA strongly support the diagnosis of MPO-ANAC-associated vasculitis. The patient's physical condition has been greatly improved by treatment with corticosteroids and anticoagulation.

Establishment of individualized early warning model for predicting recurrence after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy in patients with lumbar disc herniation / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

【Objective】 To explore the establishment of individualized prediction model of recurrence after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy （PELD） in patients with lumbar disc herniation （LDH）. 【Methods】 We selected 124 LDH patients treated with PELD in Department of Orthopedics， The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University， from January 2017 to January 2020 as the research subjects. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed， and the independent risk factors affecting PELD recurrence in the LDH patients were screened by univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis， respectively； the correlation histogram prediction model was established. 【Results】 Age， history of diabetes， course of disease， work intensity and IDDG were the risk factors for the recurrence of PELD in LDH patients （P<0.05）. Based on the risk factors screened out， the prediction model of the histogram was established， and the model was verified. The results showed that the C-index of the modeling set and the validation set was 0.944 （95% CI： 0.902-0.963） and 0.969 （95% CI： 0.911-0.978）， respectively. The correction curves of both groups were well fitted with the standard curves. The areas under the ROC curve （AUC） in the two groups were 0.944 and 0.969， respectively， which proved that the model had good prediction accuracy. 【Conclusion】 LDH patients have many independent risk factors for recurrence after PELD， and the model based on risk factors with good predictive ability can be useful in preoperative evaluation， appropriate patient selection， and decrease of recurrence rate after PELD.

Comparison of Risk Factors for the Progression of Coronary Lesions in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Non-diabetes Mellitus / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】Diabetes mellitus is a risk equivalent for coronary heart disease. This retrospective study was designed to investigate the risk factors of the progression of coronary lesions in patients with type 2 diabetes（T2DM）and Non- diabetes Mellitus（NDM）.【Methods】 526 patients with T2DM and 425 patients with NDM at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between March 2001 and January 2017 who underwent coronary imaging studies（coronary angiography or coronary CTA）twice during the same period were enrolled. The effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the progression of coronary lesions were analyzed in parallel in these two types of patients.【Results】Risk factors of the progression of coronary lesions in T2DM patients included smoking（OR = 1.836，95% CI：1.030~3.371，P = 0.04），Lp（a） ［OR = 1.001，95% CI：1.000~1.002，P = 0.004（baseline）；OR = 1.001，95% CI：1.000~1.002，P = 0.009（re-examined）］，HbA1c leve［l OR = 1.471，95% CI：1.030~2.100，P = 0.034（re-examined）］，uncontrolled LDL-C（OR = 1.882，95% CI：1.091~3.245，P = 0.023），TC［OR = 2.029，95% CI：1.028~4.008，P = 0.041（re-examined）］and low HDL-C ［OR = 0.017，95% CI：0.040~0.729，P = 0.017（re-examined）］. Comparative risk factors in NDM included BMI［OR =1.746，95%CI：2.462~2.712，P = 0.026（baseline）；OR = 0.001，95%CI：0~0.394，P = 0.025（re-examined）］，uncontrolled LDL-C（OR = 2.875，95%CI：1.669~4.952，P < 0.001）and low ApoA［OR = 0.282，95%CI：0.082~0.971，P = 0.045 （baseline）；OR = 0.117，95%CI：0.038~0.835，P = 0.029（re-examined）］. Lowest level of progression was found in the group with HbA1c<6.5%［0（0~3.4）points/year vs 0.3（0~3.0）points/year vs 1.0（0~5.1）points/year，P = 0.049. 0（-0.4~2.7）points/year vs 0.6（0~4.0）points/year vs 0.9（0~4.2）points/year，P=0.029］in T2DM patients.【Conclusion】Except for achievement of LDL- C goals，there might be some differences in risk factors for progression of coronary lesions between T2DM and NDM patients. Smoking，Lp（a），TC，HDL- C and control levels of HbA1c are independent predictors in T2DM as well as BMI and ApoA in NDM. Lowering HbA1c to less than 6.5% may delay progression of lesion.

Long-effective and slowly released calcium cyanamide can inhibit mosquito growth and development: Implications for the prevention and control of dengue fever

Dengue fever is one of the most serious mosquito-borne infectious diseases in the tropical world, causing substantial human morbidity and mortality, yet there is no specific treatment till now, and the main measures preventing dengue fever include applying pesticide to kill adult vector mosquitos and removing standing water to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes etc. Appropriate uses of such approaches can reduce dengue epidemic risk via reducing mosquito density. In fact, vector control using insecticides is the most common method to prevent and control mosquito-borne disease transmission. Nevertheless, recent research has shown that Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti, the two key vectors for dengue fever transmission, have rapidly developed high resistance to the most commonly used adult insecticide pyrethroid (deltamethrin and permethrin) and larvicide organophosphate (temephos). Therefore, it is of great significance to obtain a new drug with longer-term efficacy to prevent dengue virus transmission. Pesticides currently used act on adult stage of mosquitoes, typically applying to the environment where mosquito bites (on humans) occur, and very few target on egg or juvenile stages of the mosquitoes in the water environment. Calcium cyanamide (CaCN2), widely used as a fertilizer in many different settings, was recently shown to have potential to prevent tropical diseases by eliminating or inhibiting the growth and development of intermediate hosts. The main compounds of calcium cyanamide (CaCN2) are CaCN2 (50%- 60%) and calcium oxide (15%). The representative products of calcium cyanamide (CaCN2) are PERLKA® from Germany and ROEBON® from China. CaCN2 has recently been recognized to have the fungicidal effect on the pathogens of the soil borne diseases and addition of CaCN2 could benefit the thermophilic phase and the composting could quickly reach the sanitary standard and will contribute to solve the feces disposal problems. According to our team's long-term investigation and research, we found that ROEBON® (50% CaCN2) can be used to eliminate Oncomelania and effectively control the spread of schistosomiasis. In the latest research, we have confirmed that 10 mg/L CaCN2 (20 mg/L ROEBON®) can completely inhibit the emergence of mosquito larvae and the population growth from the perspective of inhibiting development and the efficacy can lasts for three months. Calcium cyanamide is a good candidate drug to control mosquito-borne infectious diseases transmission, especiallly for dengue fever prevention. In 2014, Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks in European Commission promoted preliminary opinion on potential risks to human health and the environment from the utilization of calcium cyanamide as fertilizer, but convincing evidences for the causal connections between the exposure to CaCN2 and human health damages are missed. Given a 96-h acute zebrafish toxicity study, the No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) of calcium cyanamide to zebrafish was 100 mg/L CaCN2. In summary, most of the data are based on the evaluation of the effect of CaCN2 as a fertilizer, and the related research as a mosquito inhibitor is still very scarce. The research on toxicity of CaCN2 in mosquitoes needs to be further strengthened.

Observations on the Efficacy of Dong's Extra-point Pricking Bloodletting Therapy for Female Chloasma of Liver Depression and Qi Stagnation Type / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Dong's extra-point pricking bloodletting therapy for female chloasma of liver depression and qi stagnation type. Methods One hundred and twenty female patients with chloasma of liver depression and qi stagnation type were randomized to treatment and control groups, 60 cases each. The control group received Dong's extra-point pricking bloodletting therapy and the treatment group, conventional acupuncture. The symptom and sign score was recorded in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results The total efficacy rate was 95.5％ in the treatment group and 81.7％ in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The pre-/post-treatment symptom and sign score difference value was (0.98±0.23) in the treatment group and (0.81±0.18) in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Dong's extra-point pricking bloodletting therapy is an effective way to treat female chloasma of liver depression and qi stagnation type.

[High-frequency ultrasonography for epididymal stasis after vasectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical application of high-frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of epididymal stasis after vasectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the sonographic characteristics of 23 cases of epididymal stasis treated by vasectomy, which were divided into a mild (n = 5), a moderate (n = 11) and a severe group (n = 7) according to the results of color Doppler flow imaging. We analyzed the significance of high-frequency ultrasonography in the treatment of epididymal stasis after vasectomy. RESULTS: High-frequency ultrasonography revealed 14 cases of increased bilateral epididymal volume, 6 cases of left epididymal thickening and 3 cases of right epididymal thickening, mainly the thickening of the epididymal body and tail. After conservative treatment, 18 of the epididymal stasis cases (5 mild, 11 moderate and 2 severe) were improved, and the other 5 severe cases significantly relieved and discharged from hospital following conservative treatment combined with vasectomy reversal. CONCLUSION: Post-vasectomy epididymal stasis has typical sonographic characteristics, and high-frequency ultrasonography has an extremely important application value in the clinical classification, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Long-term effect of surgical treatment in male infertility patients with varicocele / 中国综合临床

Objective To observe the long-term effect of surgical treatment in infertile varicocele patients. Methods 180 infertile patients with varicocele accepted modified Palomo operation (retroperitoneal high ligation of internal spermatic cord vein) from 2004 to 2007, and the long-term effect of thesurgery were analyzed retrospectively, such as semen parameters and spouse pregnancy. Results The operations were performed successfully in 180 cases, and semen parameters improved significantly after the surgery (Ps ＜ 0. 05 ).Among all patients, 10 cases had spouse pregnancy within 3 months after operation;47 cases had spouse pregnancy from 3 to 6 months after operation; 25 cases had spouse pregnancy from 6 to 12 months after operation;13 cases had spouse pregnancy from 12 to 24 months after operation. The fertility rate was 52. 8% (95/180) in total. Conclusion Surgical treatment of infertile male patients with varicocele has good long-term effects, made it the first choice in these patients.

Expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha and insulin-like growth factor-II in gastric carcinoma: correlation with angiogenesis and prognosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate relationship between expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) as well as their correlation with angiogenesis and prognosis in gastric carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA expression were analyzed using in situ hybridization, microvessel density (MVD) was determined by anti-CD34 immunostaining in 118 cases gastric carcinoma.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rates of HIF-1alpha mRNA and IGF-II mRNA were 49.2% and 47.4%, respectively. In stage T3-T4 cases, positive rates of HIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA expression, the frequencies of vessel invasion, lymph node and distant metastasis were significantly higher than those in stage T1-T2 cases. The mean MVD in stage T3-T4 tumors, vessel invasion, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were significantly more frequent than those in stage T1-T2 tumors. The mean MVD in tumors with positive HIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA expression was significantly higher than those in tumors without HIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA expression. The expression of HIF-1alpha was positively correlated with IGF-II mRNA. There were positive correlations between MVD and expression of HIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA, respectively. The mean survival time and 5-year survival rate in cases with positive HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression and MVD value >/= 41.5 were significantly shorter than those in cases with negative HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression and MVD value < 41.5.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HIF-1alpha and IGF-II play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis, especially in tumor angiogenesis. So test of the expression of HIF-1alpha and IGF-II may act as a useful index of treatment and prognosis.</p>

Establishment of a high-resolution 2-D reference map of human spermatozoal proteins from 12 fertile sperm-bank donors / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To extend the analysis of the proteome of human spermatozoa and establish a 2-D gel electrophoresis (2-DE) reference map of human spermatozoal proteins in a pH range of 3.5-9.0.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In order to reveal more protein spots, immobilized pH gradient strips (24 cm) of broad range of pH 3-10 and the narrower range of pH 6-9, as well as different overlapping narrow range pH immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips, including 3.5-4.5, 4.0-5.0, 4.5-5.5, 5.0-6.0 and 5.5-6.7, were used. After 2-DE, several visually identical spots between the different pH range 2-D gel pairs were cut from the gels and confirmed by mass spectrometry and used as landmarks for computer analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 2-D reference map with pH value from 3.5 to 9.0 was synthesized by using the ImageMaster analysis software. The overlapping spots were excluded, so that every spot was counted only once. A total of 3872 different protein spots were identified from the reference map, an approximately 3-fold increase compared to the broad range pH 3-10 IPG strip (1306 spots).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The present 2-D pattern is a high resolution 2-D reference map for human fertile spermatozoal protein spots. A comprehensive knowledge of the protein composition of human spermatozoa is very meaningful in studying dysregulation of male fertility.</p>

mRNA expression of syndecan-1 and heparanase in relation to tumor progression and prognosis of gastric carcinoma / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate mRNA expression of syndecan-1 and heparanase in gastric carcinoma, and their correlation with the growth-pattern, invasion, metastasis and prognosis of gastric carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In situ hybridization technique was used to examine mRNA expression of syndecan-1 and heparanase in 118 specimens of gastric carcinoma.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rates of syndecan-1 mRNA and heparanase mRNA were 42.4% and 55.9%, respectively. The expression of syndecan-1 mRNA and heparanase mRNA were related to tumor invasion depth (chi(2) = 32.95, P = 0.001; chi(2) = 23.19, P = 0.001), vessel invasion (chi(2) = 46.22, P = 0.001; chi(2) = 33.78, P = 0.001), lymph node (chi(2) = 28.62, P = 0.001; chi(2) = 25.43, P = 0.001) and distant metastasis (chi(2) = 63.30, P = 0.001; chi(2) = 65.76, P = 0.001), and syndecan-1 mRNA positive expression was related to tumor size (chi(2) = 6.25, P = 0.012). There was a negative relationship between Syndecan-1 mRNA and heparanase mRNA expression (r = -0.844, P = 0.001). The mean survival time of cases with low expression of syndecan-1 mRNA was significantly shorter than that of cases with high expression (r = 36.48, P = 0.001), and meanwhile, the mean survival time of heparanase mRNA positive cases was significantly shorter than that of cases with negative expression (r = 34.41, P = 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The mRNA expression of syndecan-1 and heparanase can predict the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma, and can be used as markers of prognosis of gastric carcinoma.</p>