Leiomyomas of the bilateral tunica albuginea of testes: a case report

Leiomyoma of the bilateral testicular tunica albuginea is extremely rare. To our knowledge, there are only 3 definitely reported cases. This is the first report of bilateral testicular tunica albuginea leiomyomas as a potential cause of male infertility. Herein, we report a case of a 47-year-old man who presented with painless bilateral testicular masses for more than 30 years, besides he also suffered from unexplained infertility. The complete resection of the tumors was performed. The final pathological diagnosis was leiomyomas of the bilateral tunica albuginea. Postoperatively, the patient underwent testicular biopsy. Histopathology confirmed moderate atrophy of bilateral testes, and the number of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules were significantly decreased. In this case, bilateral testicular dysplasia is the root reason for the patient’s infertility. Thus, despite the benign nature of bilateral testicular tunica albuginea leiomyomas, they may cause bilateral testicular hypoplasia and infertility in men. In the case of men with fertility requirements, early local mass excision is often necessary.     

IGF‐I concentrations are positively associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis in women

BACKGROUND. Alterations in the growth hormone (GH)/insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) axis are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but previous studies have yielded conflicting results. In addition, the T1169A polymorphism in the GH1 gene has been associated with IGF‐I levels.

AIMS. To investigate whether IGF‐I concentrations and the T1169A polymorphism of the GH1 gene are associated with cardiovascular risk factors and the intima media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery.

METHODS. Fasting plasma IGF‐I concentrations (n = 1008) were measured in a large population‐based OPERA (Oulu Project Elucidating Risk of Atherosclerosis) cohort. Genotype variants were determined by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

RESULTS. Low IGF‐I concentrations associated with several cardiovascular risk factors including age, adiposity, and high triglyceride, fasting insulin and C‐reactive protein concentrations in the analysis of all subjects. In the multivariate models, however, IGF‐I concentrations were positively associated with the mean IMT of women (ß = 0.127, P = 0.009) whereas the association in men was weaker and negative (ß = ?0.088, P = 0.034). The 1169A allele was associated with low low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in both sexes and with low systolic blood pressure levels in women.

CONCLUSIONS. IGF‐I concentrations were associated with several traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The observed gender difference in the association between IGF‐I concentrations and carotid artery atherosclerosis warrants further study. The GH1 1169A allele may be associated with a favourable metabolic profile.     

核因子-κB在高脂饮食兔颈总动脉球囊损伤后的动态变化及其与内膜增生的关系

目的观察高脂饮食兔颈总动脉球囊损伤后核因子κB(NF-κB)表达的变化及其与动脉内膜增生的关系。方法对高脂饮食兔颈总动脉球囊损伤后不同时间段的颈总动脉标本采用组织形态学方法检测内膜增生;采用原位杂交方法检测损伤血管NF-κB mRNA的表达。结果⑴球囊损伤后,内膜面积随时间逐步增生,中层各时段均未见明显变化,内膜/中层比率随时间逐步增长。对照侧内膜轻度增生但明显较损伤侧轻(P<0.05)。⑵球囊损伤后6 h即可见NF-κB表达,并于2周达高峰,4周仍有较强表达。NF-κB在损伤侧表达均强于对照侧(P<0.05)。结论高脂饮食兔颈总动脉球囊损伤后,NF-κB被激活,从而引起炎症反应,导致内膜增生可能是再狭窄发生的重要机制之一。     

腹股沟疝解剖学特点与临床诊治

为了加深医学院校学生对腹股沟斜疝和鞘膜积液的理解,并提高临床医生术中寻找疝囊或腹膜鞘状突的技能,本文对斜疝和鞘膜积液的形成机理、分类及相互关系从解剖学的角度进行了相关探讨.强调了鞘状突等于疝,其壁即是腹膜这一观点,从而有利于提高斜疝和鞘膜积液术前诊断、术中操作的准确性,减少术后复发的可能性.     

大黄虫丸抗实验性动脉粥样硬化的拆方研究

目的：观察大黄虫丸各功效组分对家兔实验性动脉粥样硬化（AS）的作用。方法：采用免疫损伤加高脂饲料喂养建立家兔AS模型。将雄性新西兰家兔随机分为9组,正常组,模型组,丹参组每日给予丹参0.5 g·kg^-1,拆方1号低、高剂量组每日分别给予0.5,1.0 g·kg^-1,拆方2号低、高剂量组每日分别给予0.75,1.5 g·kg^-1, 拆方3号低、高剂量组每日分别给予0.8,1.6 g·kg^-1,连续给药60 d后处死。从大体形态、病理形态及超微结构方面观察药物作用,同时采用图像分析系统测定AS斑块面积、血管内膜厚度（IT）和内-中膜厚度（IMT）。结果：大黄虫丸各功效组分均能减少家兔主动脉内膜脂质沉积,使AS斑块面积减小（P<0.05）；抑制血管平滑肌细胞增殖和胶原纤维增生,减轻内膜增厚；降低IT,IMT,IT/IMT比值（P<0.05）,干预收缩性血管重塑；减轻线粒体肿胀,减少泡沫样细胞形成。结论：大黄虫丸各功效组分均有一定的抗AS作用,其中以拆方1号作用最为明显,这可能与其疏通经络、活血化瘀、破瘀生新等功效有关。     

附睾及睾丸鞘膜血管平滑肌瘤

目的 :提高对附睾及睾丸鞘膜血管平滑肌瘤的认知水平。方法 :回顾性复习了二例临床罕见的附睾及睾丸鞘膜血管平滑肌瘤的诊治资料。结果 :肿瘤行手术切除 ,术后病理证实为血管平滑肌瘤。随访至今 ,无复发。结论 :附睾及睾丸鞘膜血管平滑肌瘤的术前诊断较困难 ,确诊需经病理学检查 ,手术切除是最佳治疗方法     

Early stent occlusion is not always caused by thrombosis

Early occlusion of intracoronary stents has been exclusively attributed to thrombosis. Using intracoronary angioscopy, we have found 2 patients in whom this common and serious complication of coronary stenting was caused by obstructive intima dissection rather than thrombosis. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Electric waves recorded from the testicle: are they capsular or from the testicular tissue?

We demonstrated in a previous study that electric waves could be recorded from the testicle by applying the electrodes either directly to the tunica albuginea (TA) or transcutaneously. As the TA contains smooth muscle fibres which presumably transmit the electric waves, we investigated the hypothesis that the electric waves recorded from the testicle originated from the TA. During the repair of inguino-scrotal hernia in 24 men [age 36.6 +/- 8.6 years (mean +/- SD)], the tunica vaginalis was everted because of the presence of hydrocele. The electric activity of the TA was recorded by three surface electrodes and that of the testicle by three needle electrodes. The recorded potentials were amplified and displayed on an electromyographic apparatus. Triphasic slow waves (SWs) were recorded from the TA. They showed similar frequency, amplitude and conduction velocity from the three electrodes of the individual subject and were reproducible. They were followed or superimposed by bursts of action potentials (APs) which occurred randomly. No waves were recorded from the three needle electrodes inserted into the testicular tissue. The current study could demonstrate that the electric waves recorded from the electrodes applied to the testicle were derived from the TA and not from the testicular tissue. This finding apparently denotes that the TA has a resting tone and probably motile activity, the role of which in testicular function needs to be studied.     

赤芍防止高脂喂养兔颈总动脉球囊损伤术后血管狭窄的实验研究

目的 观察赤芍提取物对高脂喂养兔颈总动脉球囊损伤术后血管狭窄有无防止作用。方法 采用Clowes方法建立兔颈总动脉球囊损伤模型,并给予赤芍提取物。免疫组化染色测定兔颈动脉新生内膜成分、增殖细胞核抗原(proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA)及巨噬细胞表达;血管特殊染色观察Ⅰ型胶原增生;图像分析系统测定新生内膜面积。结果赤芍提取物可减少PCNA阳性细胞数,抑制Ⅰ型胶原增生,减轻新生内膜形成。结论 赤芍对高脂喂养所致动脉粥样硬化兔颈总动脉球囊损伤术后再狭窄血管有显著防治作用。