Artificial cavernosa-like tissue based on multibubble Matrigel and a human corpus cavernous fibroblast scaffold.

Ex vivo tissue culture of the human corpus cavernosum (CC) can be used to explore the tissue structural changes and complex signaling networks. At present, artificial CC-like tissues based on acellular or three-dimensional (3D)-printed scaffolds are used to solve the scarcity of primary penis tissue samples. However, inconvenience and high costs limit the wide application of such methods. Here, we describe a simple, fast, and economical method of constructing artificial CC-like tissue. Human CC fibroblasts (FBs), endothelial cells (ECs), and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were expanded in vitro and mixed with Matrigel in specific proportions. A large number of bubbles were formed in the mixture by vortexing combined with pipette blowing, creating a porous, spongy, and spatial structure. The CC FBs produced a variety of signaling factors, showed multidirectional differentiation potential, and grew in a 3D grid in Matrigel, which is necessary for CC-like tissue to maintain a porous structure as a cell scaffold. Within the CC-like tissue, ECs covered the surface of the lumen, and SMCs were located inside the trabeculae, similar to the structure of the primary CC. Various cell components remained stable for 3 days in vitro, but the EC content decreased on the 7th day. Wingless/integrated (WNT) signaling activation led to lumen atrophy and increased tissue fibrosis in CC-like tissue, inducing the same changes in characteristics as in the primary CC. This study describes a preparation method for human artificial CC-like tissue that may provide an improved experimental platform for exploring the function and structure of the CC and conducting drug screening for erectile dysfunction therapy.

Low XIST expression in Sertoli cells of Klinefelter syndrome patients causes high susceptibility of these cells to an extra X chromosome.

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the most common genetic cause of human male infertility. However, the effect of the extra X chromosome on different testicular cell types remains poorly understood. Here, we profiled testicular single-cell transcriptomes from three KS patients and normal karyotype control individuals. Among the different somatic cells, Sertoli cells showed the greatest transcriptome changes in KS patients. Further analysis showed that X-inactive-specific transcript ( XIST ), a key factor that inactivates one X chromosome in female mammals, was widely expressed in each testicular somatic cell type but not in Sertoli cells. The loss of XIST in Sertoli cells leads to an increased level of X chromosome genes, and further disrupts their transcription pattern and cellular function. This phenomenon was not detected in other somatic cells such as Leydig cells and vascular endothelial cells. These results proposed a new mechanism to explain why testicular atrophy in KS patients is heterogeneous with loss of seminiferous tubules but interstitial hyperplasia. Our study provides a theoretical basis for subsequent research and related treatment of KS by identifying Sertoli cell-specific X chromosome inactivation failure.

Altered molecular signature of intestinal microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome patients compared with healthy controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have reported significant changes in intestinal microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients based on quantitative real-time PCR analysis. AIMS: We aimed to review the alterations in intestinal microbiota. METHODS: An online search up to June 9, 2016, was conducted. This systematic review and meta-analysis included differential expression of intestinal microbiota in patients with IBS versus healthy controls (HCs) and subgroup analysis. We assessed the quality of the included studies using an original assessment tool. RESULTS: A total of 13 articles involving 360 IBS patients and 268 healthy controls were included. The quality assessment scores for these articles ranged from 5 to 8. Significant differences in expression in IBS patients were observed for Lactobacillus (SMD=-0.85, P<0.001, I2=28%), Bifidobacterium (SMD=-1.17, P<0.001, I2=79.3%), and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (SMD=-1.05, P<0.001, I2=0.0%) but not Bacteroides-Prevotella group, Escherichia coli or other genera or species. Subgroup analysis showed that diarrhea-predominant IBS patients had significantly different expression of Lactobacillus (SMD=-1.81, P<0.001) and Bifidobacterium (SMD=-1.45, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of bacterial colonization including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and F. prausnitzii was observed in IBS patients, particularly in diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). Microbiota changes participate in the pathogenesis of IBS and may underlie the efficacy of probiotic supplements.

[Long-term outcome of tension-free hernioplasty for inguinal hernia complicated with liver cirrhosis and ascites].

OBJECTIVE: To review tension-free repairing for the patients with inguinal hernia complicated with cirrhosis and ascites. METHODS: Tension-free herniorrhaphy was performed in 16 cases with inguinal hernia complicated with cirrhosis and ascites from November 1999 to November 2003. The laboratory data before and after the operation were compared and analyzed in this group. RESULTS: Of the patients, 13 cases were male and 3 were female, the mean age was (64 ± 12) years (range, 37 - 85 years). The liver function was classified as A degree in 4 case, B degree in 10 cases and C degree in 2 patients by using Child score. The operation was successfully carried out in all patients without complications and post-operative hepatoencephalopathy. There was no significant change in the plasma total protein, bilirubin, prothrombin activity and international normalized ratio (INR) after the operation. And the levels of albumin, globulin and white blood cell count changed remarkably after the operation (all P < 0.05). Plasma albumin level was obviously effected by the operation and treatment (P = 0.006). The mean follow-up time was 72.5 months (57 - 102 months). No recurrence occurred during the follow-up. There was no patient died in 30 days after the operation. Seven cases (43.8%) died in the later period of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The tension-free repairing is feasible for the inguinal hernia complicated with cirrhosis and ascites. More attention should be paid to the level of plasma albumin and it should be corrected in time. The liver cirrhosis and its complications will progress after the operation with a poor prognosis.