Buried penis: a histological and histochemical study of dartos fascia.

This study aimed to determine whether the abnormal deep layer of dartos fascia plays an important role in buried penis. Forty-nine patients with buried penis were treated with anatomical resection of the deep layer of dartos fascia under a microscope. Penile length was measured before and after completely resecting the deep layer to investigate the role of this layer in penile retraction. The superficial and deep layers of dartos fascia were collected from 49 patients with buried penis, the normal superficial layers were collected from 25 children/adults who underwent circumcision for nonmedical reasons, and the normal deep layers were collected from 20 adult cadavers. The penile fascia samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome, Sirius red, and Verhoeff's Van Gieson, and subjected to immunohistochemical examination and scanning electron microscopy. The penile shaft (mean ± standard deviation) was found to be significantly elongated after resecting the deep layer compared with that before resection (6.8 ± 1.9 cm vs 6.0 ± 1.6 cm, P < 0.001). An abnormal deep layer of dartos fascia characterized by disordered and fragmented elastic fibers was observed in 87.8% (43/49) of buried penis samples, whereas no abnormal deep layer was observed in normal penises from cadavers (0/20, P < 0.001). Thus, the abnormal deep layer of dartos fascia plays an important role in the buried penis. Its resection is helpful for avoiding recurrence.

Clinical features of intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with colorectal cancer and its underlying pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of both cancer and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the same patient is not uncommon, but the clinical features and pathogenesis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and ICH are still not well known. AIM: To investigate the clinical features and underlying pathogenesis of ICH in patients with CRC. METHODS: A retrospective review of CRC patients complicated with ICH from three centers between January 2014 and December 2020 was performed. Clinical data such as laboratory examinations, imaging features, prognosis, and underlying pathogenesis were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 16673 identified CRC patients, 20 (0.12%) suffered from ICH. There were 13 males and 7 females, with an average age (mean ± SD) of 68.45 ± 10.66 years. Fourteen patients (70%) had distant metastases and most patients (85%) showed an elevation of one or more cancer biomarkers. The hemorrhagic lesions in 13 patients (65%) were in the intracerebral lobe. Four patients were completely dependent and 4 died within 30 days after hemorrhage. Intratumoral hemorrhage (50%) and coagulopathy (50%) accounted for the majority of hemorrhages. CONCLUSION: Patients with ICH and CRC often have clinical features with lobar hemorrhage, distant metastases and poor prognosis. Intratumoral hemorrhage and coagulopathy are the main causes of ICH in patients with CRC.

[Regulatory effect of Skp2 on the expression and transactivation of the androgen receptor in the progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of Skp2 in different prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and tissues, and explore its influence on the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway and development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). METHODS: The expression levels of Skp2 and AR in different PCa cell lines were detected by Western blot. After knockdown of Skp2 in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells transfected with shRNA, the expressions of AR and P27 were determined and the activity of ARR3-Luc measured by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay following treatment with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The expressions of AR and Skp2 in human naïve PCa or CRPC specimens were detected by immunohistochemical staining followed by analysis of their differences and correlation. RESULTS: The Skp2 protein expression level was significantly higher in the C4-2 or 22RV1 cells than in the LNCaP cells. DHT treatment increased the expression of Skp2 in the C4-2 cells, but knock-down of Skp2 significantly up-regulated the expression of the well-known downstream protein P27 and down-regulated that of AR. Consistently, DHT treatment increased the activity of ARR3-Luc, while knockdown of Skp2 remarkably decreased it in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells (P < 0.05). In addition, significantly higher expressions of Skp2 and AR were observed in the CRPC than in the naïve specimens (P < 0.05), with a positive correlation between the two proteins (r = 0.658 1, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Skp2 can enhance the expression and transcription activity of the AR protein in CRPC cells or tissues and is promising to be a critical molecular therapeutic target.

[Comparing the actions of the three flavone ingredients in choerospondias axillaris on arrhythmias induced by aconitine].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the actions of the three flavone ingredients in choerospondias axillaris on arrhythmias Induced by aconitine. METHOD: Langendorff perfuse was applied in the experiment, the antiarrhythmic action was to study by using aconitine on the the isolated heart; The antiarrhythmic action of the three flavone ingredients in choerospondias axillaris was to study by using i.v. aconitine in rat to induce arrhythmias. RESULT: Compared with the NS group, sample 1 and sample 2 both significantly prolonged the beginning time of VF of isolated heart and increased the dosage of aconitine, sample 3 reduced the beginning time of VF of isolated heart and decreased the dosage of aconitine, sample 1 and sample 2 both greatly prolonged the beginning time of VE, VT, VF, HA; sample 3 greatly reduced the beginning time of VT,VF. The actions of the three samples were in a concentration-dependent way. CONCLUSION: Sample 1 and sample 2 both resisted the occurrence of arrhythmias induced by aconitine, sample 3 markedly promoted the occurrence of arrhythmias induced by aconitine.