Primary and recurrent retroperitoneal neoplasms of non-organic origin

Having analyzed results of the treatment of 216 patients the authors came to a conclusion that recurrencies of tumors, repeat ones included, can not be considered as contraindications for operations. The most favourable results were obtained in the operative treatment of recurrent lymphosarcomas.     

The water-soluble fraction (<10 kD) of bee venom (Apis mellifera) produces inhibitory effect on apical transporters in renal proximal tubule cells

Human envenomation caused by bee stings has been reported to cause acute renal failure and the pathogenetic mechanisms of these renal functional changes are still unclear. Bee venom is also a complex mixture of enzymes and proteins. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the effects of bee venom (BV, Apis mellifera) fractions on apical transporters' activity and its related signal pathways in primary cultured renal proximal tubule cells. Whole BV was extracted into three fractions according to solubility [a water-soluble fraction (BVA), an ethylacetate-soluble fraction (BVE), and a hexane-soluble fraction (BVH)]. BVA fraction was further separated to three portions according to molecular weights: BF1 (>20 kD), BF2 (10-20 kD), and BF3 (<10 kD). Each fraction was treated to the PTCs to the ratio of BV (1 microg/ml). BVA (930 ng/ml) significantly decreased cell viability, but BVH (27 ng/ml) and BVE (43 ng/ml) did not. BF3 (710 ng/ml) among BVA fractions predominantly decreased cell viability and inhibited alpha-methyl-D-glucopyranoside (alpha-MG), phosphate (Pi), and Na(+) uptake. In addition, BF3 increased [(3)H] arachidonic acid release, lipid peroxide formation, and Ca(2+) uptake. These effects of BF3 were blocked by mepacrine and AACOCF(3) (phospholipase A(2) inhibitors) or N-acetylcysteine, vitamin C, and vitamin E (antioxidants). In conclusion, BF3 (<10 kD) among BV fractions is the most effective portion in BV-induced inhibition of alpha-MG, P(i), and Na(+) uptake and these effects of BF3 are associated with phospholipase A(2)-oxidative stress-Ca(2+) signal cascade in the primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells.     

Human sperm DNA integrity in normal and abnormal semen samples and its correlation with sperm characteristics

Reports indicate an increase in the incidence of DNA fragmentation in male factor infertility and its role in the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). However, reports are conflicting between the relationships of sperm DNA integrity with conventional semen parameters. We examined the relationship between conventional sperm parameters and DNA integrity using acridine orange (AO) test. The study included 373 patients and 28 fertile volunteers. DNA normality was compared with semen parameters between the patient and donor populations. Significant correlations were noted between DNA normality and sperm concentration ( r  = 0.18, P  = 0.000), motility ( r =  0.21, P  = 0.0001), rapid motility (0.19, P  = 0.000), normal morphology by World Health Organization ( r =  0.15, P  = 0.019) and head defects ( r =  −0.15, P  = 0.023). A significant difference was noted in AO levels between donors and patients with asthenozoospermia ( P  = 0.002) and oligoasthenozoospermia ( P  = 0.001). A significant difference in DNA integrity was noted in samples having <30% and >30% normal morphology. A wide range of % DNA normality was observed in the patient group. Sperm assessment for DNA status using AO is reliable and shows good correlation with sperm count, motility and morphology. Assessment of sperm DNA status with AO staining may be helpful prior to ART.     

Combined oral therapy with sildenafil and doxazosin for the treatment of non-organic erectile dysfunction refractory to sildenafil monotherapy

The purpose of this work was to investigate the efficacy and safety of sildenafil in combination with doxazosin for the treatment of non-organic erectile dysfunction in patients who did not respond to sildenafil. We enrolled 28 patients with non-organic erectile dysfunction, for whom 3 months of sildenafil monotherapy had failed. They were divided in two random and homogeneous groups: 14 were treated with doxazosin (4 mg daily) and sildenafil (100 mg 1 h before sexual intercourse); the other 14 patients received sildenafil and placebo. The results were assessed by means of the IIEF questionnaire before the beginning of the study, after 30 days of therapy and after 60 days. Of the 14 patients treated with doxazosin and sildenafil, 11 (78.6%) showed a statistically significant increase of IIEF; in the placebo group, only one patient (7.1%) recorded a significant IIEF increase. The differences observed in the two groups were statistically very significant (P=0.0016). Blood pressure did not show significant alterations. Side effects were minimal and even present during sildenafil monotherapy. The combination therapy with sildenafil and doxazosin resulted in the safe and effective treatment of men with non-organic erectile dysfunction for whom sildenafil alone had failed.     

Therapeutic effects of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollen extract on cadmium‐induced testicular toxicity

Cadmium (Cd) is a well‐known testicular toxicant. This study was designed to explore the long‐term effects of a single low dose of Cd on spermatogenesis, and testicular dysfunction and oxidative stress, and the therapeutic potential of date palm pollen extract (DPP) in averting such reproductive damage. Adult male Wistar rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of CdCl₂ (0 or 1 mg kg^?1). Twenty‐four hours later, they started receiving DPP (0 or 40 mg kg^?1) orally, once daily for 56 consecutive days. Cd exposure caused significant reproductive damage via reduced weight of the reproductive organs, which includes spermatological damage (decreased sperm count and motility and increased rates of sperm abnormalities), increased oxidative stress (increased malondialdehyde and decreased reduced glutathione levels), histological alterations (necrosis, inefficient to completely arrest spermatogenesis and a reduced Johnsen's score) and decreased serum testosterone level. DPP restored spermatogenesis and attenuated the toxic effects of Cd on the reproductive system to the levels observed in the control animals. These findings support the hypothesis that the testis is particularly sensitive to Cd, which can cause testicular damage and infertility. Treatment with DPP can ameliorate the deleterious effects of Cd, probably by activating testicular endocrine and antioxidant systems.     

醇变性大豆蛋白的结构特征及物化性质的研究

圆二色性分析结果表明，醇变性使大豆蛋白α－螺旋构象的含量增加，结构更加有序；同时，荧光偏振测定显示大豆蛋白分子的链运动自由度发生变化。另一方面，大豆蛋白紫外差示光谱未出现负峰，荧光发射波长不变，说明蛋白质的疏水核未被破坏，因而是一种局部变性。运用″溶剂吸附″模型对大豆蛋白的醇变性过程作了理论阐述。     

Treatment of chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia with pollen extract

Chronic abacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia are notoriously difficult both to diagnose and to treat. These patients tend to have received several courses of antibiotics, antiinflammatory agents or adrenergic blockade and various other therapeutic manoeuvres with little success. The pollen extract, Cernilton, is reported to be effective in the treatment of this condition and we present the results of an open trial with Cernilton in a group of 15 patients with chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia. In 13 patients there was either complete and lasting relief of symptoms or a marked improvement; 2 patients failed to respond. Cernilton was found to be effective in the treatment of chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia. Its precise mode of action is not known, although experimental studies suggest that it has anti-inflammatory and anti-androgenic properties.     

Physicochemical and mechanical properties of UHMWPE 45 years’ experience

The present paper provides a review of the properties of UHMWPE for total joint replacement and of some key features of its technology. The first paragraphs describe the basic physical and chemical properties of UHMWPE, as well as the main processing and sterilisation methods. The following paragraphs are devoted to the chemical processes that lead to oxidative degradation of the polymer, to its practical outcomes and to the contemporary strategies of packaging which aim to minimize this drawback. Finally, the causes and the effects of wear and debris production are examined and, in the last sections, recent advances and future developments in crosslinking and stabilization are briefly described.     

The ultrastructural research of liver in experimental obstructive jaundice and effect of honey

BACKGROUND: To examine the effects of honey on oxidative stress and apoptosis in experimental obstructive jaundice model. METHOD: Thirty rats were divided into 3 groups: group I, sham-operated; group II, ligation and division of the common bile duct (BDL); group III, BDL followed by oral supplementation of honey 10 g/kg/d. Liver samples were examined under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Hepatocyte apoptosis was quantitated using the terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Plasma and blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutation activities were measured for determining the oxidative stress. RESULTS: The liver levels of MDA and GSH were significantly different between the honey and BDL groups (P = .006 and .001, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the plasma MDA and GSH levels of these groups (P > .05). In group III, significant reductions in the size of enlarged hepatocytes and the edema were demonstrated. The dilatation of the bile canaliculi dramatically turned to original dimention. By TUNEL assay, it was shown that administration of honey decreased the number of apoptotic cells. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we found that honey diminished the negative effects of BDL on the hepatic ultrastructure. We conclude that this effect might be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.     

HIV-associated nephropathy patients with and without apolipoprotein L1 gene variants have similar clinical and pathological characteristics

Recently, an association was found between nondiabetic kidney disease in African Americans and two independent sequence variants in the APOL1 gene, encoding apolipoprotein L1. In this study we determined the frequency of APOL1 risk variants in patients with biopsy-proven HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) and distinctive pathological characteristics potentially driven by those risk variants. Among 76 patients with HIVAN, 60 were successfully genotyped for APOL1 G1 and G2 polymorphisms. In this cohort, 37 had two risk alleles, 18 were heterozygous, and 5 had neither risk variant. There were no differences in the pathological findings of HIVAN and the number of APOL1 risk alleles. Further, the progression to end-stage kidney disease or death did not differ by the number of risk alleles. Median renal survival was 9.3 months in patients with zero or one risk allele compared to 11.7 months in patients with two APOL1 risk alleles. Thus, our study suggests that although the majority of African-American patients with HIVAN have two APOL1 risk alleles other as yet unknown factors in the host, including genetic risk variants and environmental or viral factors, may influence the development of this disorder in those with zero or one APOL1 risk allele.     

胃癌免疫抑制因子理化性状及其免疫生物学特性

肿瘤宿主机体的免疫抑制状态与肿瘤来源的免疫抑制因子(TDISF)密切相关.本研究采用凝胶滤过层析和等电聚焦电泳技术,提取、纯化了人胃癌(SGC-7901)细胞TDISF,并探讨了其理化性状与免疫生物学特性.结果显示该肿瘤细胞TDISF的分子量为41KD、等电5.0,对强酸、强碱、加热(56℃)及胰蛋白酶均敏感,证实其化学性质为可溶性蛋白质类物质.该TDISF能明显地抑制T-细胞的增殖、抑制NK细胞和LAK细胞的杀伤活性,显示出剂量效应依赖关系.并对IL-2产生和活性及IL-2受体表达均有强烈的抑制作用,提示胃癌TDISF对T-细胞增殖、NK细胞和LAK细胞杀伤活性的抑制主要系通过抑制IL-2产生及活性所致.