[Transurethral enucleation plus pneumo-cystostomy rotary cut for large benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility, effectiveness and practicability of transurethral enucleation plus pneumocystostomy rotary cut (TUE + PCRC) for large benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: We performed TUE + PCRC for 26 BPH patients aged 62 - 85 years with the prostate volume of 80 - 165 ml. We conducted transurethral enucleation of the hyperplastic prostate glands and pushed them into the bladder, followed by bladder puncture for pneumo-cystostomy rotary cut. RESULTS: All the surgical procedures were successfully accomplished, with the mean surgical time of 41 (32 - 54) minutes and intraoperative blood loss < 60 ml in all the cases. Twenty-three of the patients were followed up for 2 - 8 months, which revealed no stricture of the urethra or any other severe complications. Compared with the preoperative baseline, significant improvement was achieved in the IPSS (6.5 +/- 2.2 vs 26.2 +/- 2.4), QOL (1.4 +/- 0.9 vs 4.6 +/- 1.2) and Qmax ([5.8 +/- 1.0 ] vs [19.6 +/- 2.8] ml/s) of the patients after surgery (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: TUE + PCRC, with its advantages of short operation time and less severe complications, is a safe and effective approach to the management of large BPH.

[X-ray guided internal urethroplasty with PlasmaKinetic electrodes for urethratresia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate endourethral surgery for urethratresia under the X-ray guide. METHODS: We performed transurethral urethroplasty for 11 patients with urethratresia using the PlasmaKinetic electrodes under the guidance of C arm xanthippe. RESULTS: In the 11 cases, operations were all successful, 9 achieved smooth urination and 2 needed regular urethral dilation. CONCLUSION: X-ray guided internal urethroplasty with PlasmaKinetic electrodes is a simple and efficient treatment for urethratresia.

[Expressions of cadherin molecules CDH18 and PCDH17 in human azoospermic testes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of cadherin molecules CDH18 and PCDH17 in normal and azoospermic human testes and their significance. METHODS: We studied the routine pathological slices of normal and non-obstructive azoospermic human testis tissues for changes in the tight junction of Sertoli-germ cells, and identified the differential gene expression profiles of the normal and azoospermic testis tissues using cDNA microarrays containing multiple cadherin molecules. The results were confirmed by Western blot. RESULTS: Abnormal tight junction of the Sertoli-germ cells was observed in 37.5% of the azoospermic testis samples, and obvious changes were seen in the expressions of some cadherin molecules, with down-regulation of CDH18 and PCDH17. CONCLUSION: Cadherin molecules such as CDH18 and PCDH17 may play a certain role in the development and progression of azoospermia, which might be related with the abnormal tight junction of the Sertoli-germ cells.

[Expression of COX10 in human non-obstructive azoospermia testes].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of COX10 mRNA in the testes of non-obstructive azoospermia patients and normal men. METHODS: A cDNA microarray containing COX10 and some other genes as RBM and EIF1AY was used to identify the differential gene expression profiles in the normal and azoospermic testes. The cDNA probes were prepared by labeling mRNA from azoospermic and normal testis tissues with Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP respectively through reverse transcription. The mixed cDNA probes were then hybridized with cDNA microarray. Later the fluorescent signals were scanned and the values of Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP on each spot were calculated and analyzed. After that an ISH was employed to detect the expression of COX10 mRNA in 10 fertile and 39 non-obstructive azoospermic testes, and the expression levels were compared to evaluate the significance. RESULTS: We obtained 128 differentially expressed genes that might be related with azoospermia, among which 56 were up-regulated and 72 down-regulated, with the expression of COX10 significantly decreased. In situ hybridization confirmed that the mRNA expression of COX10 was stronger in the spermatogenic cells of the normal fertile than the azoospermic testes. CONCLUSION: COX10 may play a certain role in the development and progression of azoospermia. The technique of cDNA microarray can be applied to further studies of screening non-obstructive azoospermia associated genes.

[Antisense oligonucleotide targeting survivin induces apoptosis of renal clear-cell carcinoma cells and enhances their sensitivity to epirubicin in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) targeting survivin on the apoptosis and proliferation of renal cancer cell line 786-O and enhancement of its sensitivity to epirubicin. METHODS: ASODN targeting survivin was designed and constructed. Cultured cells were divided into 6 groups: control group, liposome group, sense oligonucleotide (SODN) group, 600 nmol/L ASODN group, and 600 nmol/L ASODN combined with epirubicin group. After transfected for 24 h, cultured cells were harvested to carry on the next tests. Cell morphological changes were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Survivin protein was detected by immunohistochemical method. Apoptosis index (AI) and proliferation index (PI) were examined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Morphological abnormalities of cells were observed in ASODN transfected groups. Expression of survivin in ASODN groups were significantly decreased compared with that in the control group, liposomes group and SODN group. AI of ASODN groups was significantly higher than that in other groups. PI of ASODN groups was significantly lower than that in other groups. The PI of ASODN combined with epirubicin group was (35.7 +/- 1.67)%, but (9.3 +/- 0.34)% or (8.5 +/- 0.21)% in liposomes group or SODN group that had combined with epirubicin. The ASODN group achieved the strongest effects to enhance apoptosis in comparison with control group (P < 0.05), while SODN did not cause statistically significant change (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of survivin protein in the renal clear cell carcinoma cell line 786-O is downregulated by survivin ASODN. ASODN targeting survivin induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of 786-O cells. Inhibition of survivin enhances sensitivity of 786-O to epirubicin.

Expression and significance of Rap1A in testes of azoospermic subjects.

AIM: To evaluate the Rap1A mRNA expression and its significance in the testes of normal and azoospermic subjects. METHODS: A cDNA microarray that contained Rap1A and some other genes such as RBM, EIF1AY was used to identify the differential gene expression profiles between the normal and azoospermic testes. cDNA probes were prepared by labeling mRNA from azoospermic and normal testicular tissues through reverse transcription with Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP, respectively. The mixed cDNA probes were then hybridized with cDNA microarray (each containing 4096 unique human cDNA sequences). The fluorescent signals were scanned and the values of Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP on each spot were analyzed and calculated. In situ hybridization was employed to detect the expression of Rap1A in the testes of 10 fertile and 39 azoospermic subjects. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-eight differentially expressed genes were found to be possibly related to azoospermia, of which 56 were up-regulated and 72, down-regulated genes. The mRNA expression of Rap1A in the spermatogenic cells of azoospermic was stronger than that in those of the fertile testes. CONCLUSION: Rap1A may play certain roles in the development of azoospermia.

[Protective effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) on germ cell apoptosis in experimentally cryptorchid rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) on the germ cell apoptosis in the rat cryptorchid. METHODS: Immature rats (22 day-old Sprague Dawley) were subjected to unilateral cryptorchid. Thirty rats were divided into three groups: sham operation group (testes still in the scrotum after operation); operation group; operation + L-NAME group(given L-NAME 10 mg/kg after operation, dip). Seven days after operation germ cell apoptosis was detected by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated-dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL). Biochemical parameters (NO, NOS) were evaluated with spectrophotometric determination. RESULTS: At the 7th day after the operation, compared with the control, the number of apoptotic germ cells in the cryptorchid testis was increased significantly, but the testis weight was decreased predominantly(P < 0.01). The levels of NO and NOS in the cryptorchid were significantly higher than the control. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of NO and NOS might be involved in the germ cell apoptosis in the cryptorchid; L-NAME could protect the germ cell from apoptosis in experimentally cryptorchid rats by reducing the activity of NOS and reducing the level of NO in the testis.

[A study of aspermia-related genes by genchips and analysis of the RAP1A gene].

OBJECTIVE: To study the differential gene expression profiles between the normal and aspermia human testes by genechips. METHODS: Probes were prepared from mRNA extracted from both normal and aspermia testes and employed on Biostar H-40s genechips to detect the differential gene expression profiles. A distinctly up-regulated gene RAP1A was analyzed by bibliogrphic retrieval. RESULTS: Six hundred and twenty-three differential expressed genes were found, among which the distinctly up-regulated gene RAP1A was closely related to human sperm regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Screening the differential gene expression profiles between the normal and aspermia human testes by genechips can be used in the study of aspermia-related genes.

[Expression of cell cycle molecules in human azoospermic testes].

AIM: To evaluate the expression and significance of cell cycle molecules in human normal and azoospermia testes. METHODS: A cDNA microarray containing cDNA of some cell cycle molecules was used to identify the differential gene expression profiles between normal and azoospermic testes. cDNA probes were prepared by labeling mRNA from normal and testis tissues with Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP, respectively, through reverse transcription. Then the mixed cDNA probes were hybridized with cDNA microarray. The fluorescent signals were scanned, and the values of Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP on each spot were analyzed and calculated. After that an ISH was employed to detect the expression of CDC10 mRNA in ten fertility and thirty-nine azoospermic testes, whose expression level was compared to evaluate the significance. RESULTS: The genes which were differentially expressed in azoospermic testes were found, among which the expression of CDC7L1 and CDC10 was up-regulated but the expression of CDK9, CDC20 and CLK3 was down- regulated. The mRNA expression of CDC10 was confirmed to be stronger in spermatogenic cells of normal fertility compared with that of azoospermic testes by in situ hybridization. CONCLUSION: The cell cycle molecules such as CDC10, CDC7L1, CDK9, CDC20 and CLK3 may play a role in the development and progression of azoospermia.