Mast cells in testicular biopsies of infertile men with 'mixed atrophy' of seminiferous tubules

Mast cells in the bilateral testicular biopsies of 30 patients with a 'mixed atrophy' of seminiferous tubules were analysed. Seven biopsies from vasectomized patients served as controls. With regard to their characteristic location within testicular tissue, two groups of mast cells could be distinguished, in both control and infertile patients: 'interstitial' mast cells (located between Leydig and other interstitial cells as well as in the vicinity of blood vessels) and 'peritubular' mast cells (located in the close proximity of the tubular lamina propria or incorporated in the lamina propria itself). Morphometric data indicated a significant increase in the number and volume of mast cells in infertile patients when compared with controls. In the biopsies of infertile patients that were analysed both 'interstitial' and 'peritubular' mast cells showed a significant increase in their number and volume, although it appeared that 'peritubular' mast cells increased at a higher rate than 'interstitial' mast cells. A significant negative correlation was found between the following variables: volume and number of mast cells, testis volume and the status of spermatogenesis evaluated by Johnsen's scoring. It was concluded that the increased presence of mast cells is closely associated with an impairment of spermatogenesis.     

肿瘤-睾丸抗原SSX1基因mRNA在肝细胞肝癌中的表达

目的：检测肿瘤－睾丸抗原SSX1基因mRNA在肝细胞肝癌（HCC）中的表达情况。方法：用逆转录－聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）对47例HCC患者的癌组织和相应癌旁组织以及15例肝硬化和15例正常肝组织的SSX1基因mRNA表达情况进行检测，随机选择4例RT－PCR扩增产物的目的片段进行DNA序列测定。结果：47例HCC患者中，39例表达SSX1 mRNA，阳性率为83％，相应的癌旁组织中有3例为弱阳性，其中2例患者获得了离癌灶更远处的活检组织，对其进行RT－PCR检测，结果显示阴性；所测的15例肝化和15例正常肝组织均未检测到SSX1的表达。4例DNA测序结果表明RT－PCR产物确为SSX1 cDNA。SSX1的表达与年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、分化程度、血清甲胎蛋白（AFP）水平、乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）和丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染无显著相关性（P＞0．05）。结论：SSX1在HCC中呈高比例、高特异表达，可望成为HCC免疫治疗的理想靶位。     

应用CT抗原肽诱导肝癌患者特异性细胞毒反应的研究

目的 研究应用不同肿瘤睾丸抗原（CTA）多肽诱导肝细胞肝癌（HCC）患者特异性细胞毒反应的情况。方法 RT-PCR方法检测一例HLA-A2阳性表达的HCC患者肝癌组织中三种CT抗原（MAGE-1，MAGE-3和NY-ESO-1）基因mRNA的表达情况，用免疫磁珠从该患者外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中分离出CD8 T细胞作为效应细胞；将其余自体CD8-PBMC分别与三种CT抗原肽共孵育，经γ-射线照射后作为抗原呈递细胞（APC），分别与CD8 效应细胞进行混合淋巴细胞培养。7天后同法再刺激患者的CD8 T细胞1次，诱导形成细胞毒T淋巴细胞CTL），同时了以相同的CD8 效应细胞，加入IL-2培养作为对照组。培养两周后将三种CT抗原肽刺激的效应细胞，分别与带有相应抗原肽的T2靶细胞共孵育来检测杀伤效应。效应细胞，靶细胞（E：T）为10：1；用IFN-γ细胞因子分泌检测法，通过流式细胞仪检测产生IFN-γ的效应CD8 T细胞的频数来反映杀伤活性。结果 该患者MAGE-3和NY-ESO-1表达阳性，MAGE-1表达阴性，培养第14天，效应细胞共增加至原细胞数的4倍，NY-ESO-1抗原肽刺激的效应细胞对靶细胞（T2细胞 NY-ESO-1抗原肽0杀伤活性为10.0%;MAGE-3抗原肽刺激的效应细胞对靶细胞（T2细胞MAGE-3抗原肽）杀伤活性为8.5%;MAGE-1抗原肽刺激的效应细胞对靶细胞（T2细胞 MAGE-1抗原肽）杀伤活性为3.2%。结论 本实验结果表明，应用HCC患者阳性表达的CT抗原肽，可以诱导出该患者特异的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞，其杀伤活性较之无抗原肽和阴性抗原肽刺激明显增强。     

原发性睾丸或阴茎非霍奇金淋巴瘤5例临床分析

目的:探讨男性生殖系统非霍奇金淋巴瘤的临床诊断与治疗。方法:回顾性分析5例男性生殖系统原发性非霍奇金淋巴瘤的临床资料,其中原发于睾丸4例,原发于阴茎1例,并结合文献进行讨论。结果:5例患者均行手术治疗,病理类型均为非霍奇金淋巴瘤,术后3例行化疗,2例行放疗加化疗(原发于睾丸1例,原发于阴茎1例)。术后平均随访25个月,1例死亡,其余均存活。结论:男性生殖系统非霍奇金淋巴瘤临床症状不典型,多发生于老年,预后较差,确诊主要依靠组织病理学及免疫组化,治疗宜采取手术联合放疗及化疗。     

The clinical utility of testicular prosthesis placement in children with genital and testicular disorders

Testicular prosthesis placement is a useful important adjunctive reconstructive therapy for managing children with testicular loss or absence. Though these prostheses are functionless, experience has shown that they are extremely helpful in creating a more normal male body image and in preventing/relieving psychological stress in males with a missing testicle. With attention to details of implant technique, excellent cosmetic results can be anticipated in simulating a normal appearing scrotum.     

Pattern of presentation and management of patients with undescended testis at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center,Tanzania

ObjectiveTo assess the pattern or presentation, management and advice given to the parents or guardians of patients with undescended testes (UDT) at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Tanzania.Subjects and methodsFrom July 2010 to May 2011, 30 patients with UDT were prospectively evaluated regarding age at surgery, place of birth, information given to parents or guardians, side and site affected, results of ultrasonography, findings on surgical exploration, follow-up and surgical outcome.ResultsThe median age at surgery was 6 years (range 1–36 years), 4 patients (13.3%) had orchidopexy before 2 years of age, 6 (20%) before 5 years and 4 (13.3%) after 18 years of age. The UDT was on the right side in 56.7%, on the left side in 26.7%, bilateral in 16.7%, in the inguinal region in 70% and in the abdomen in 30%. An associated malformation was found in 53.5% of patients: a hernia sac in 13 (43.3%), hypospadias in 2 (6.7%) and a hydrocele in 1 (3.3%). The UDT was detected by the parents in 13 cases (43.3%), by the patient himself in 9 (30%) and by health care staff in 8 cases (26.7%). Only 10 parents (33.3%) received advice from health care staff: 6 were advised for surgery and 4 were advised to await spontaneous descent. Preoperative ultrasonography was false negative in 56% of cases. Orchidopexy was performed in 28 (93.3%) patients (the testis was secured in the scrotum in 23 and in the high inguino-scrotal position in 5), and 2 (6.7%) underwent orchidectomy. At 3-month follow-up the testes were situated in the scrotum (not retracted) in 25 patients (3 were lost to follow-up).ConclusionsThe late presentation detected in this study is alarming, because the majority of patients were diagnosed and treated after 2 years of age. The role of ultrasound in diagnosis of UDT is limited. Health care workers should perform neonatal examination to detect UDT and inform parents that early correction of UDT will decrease the risk of infertility and facilitate future examination to detect the development of testicular malignancy.     

Cancer–germline antigen vaccines and epigenetic enhancers: future strategies for cancer treatment

Importance of the field: Immunotherapy holds great potential for disseminated cancer, and cancer–germline (CG) antigens are among the most promising tumor targets. They are widely expressed in different cancer types and are essentially tumor-specific, since their expression in normal tissues is largely restricted to immune-privileged sites. Although the therapeutic potential of these antigens may be compromised by their highly heterogeneous expression in many tumors and low frequency in some cancers, recent developments suggest that tumor-cell-selective enhancement of CG antigen gene expression can be achieved using epigenetic modifiers.

Areas covered in this review: We provide an overview of the potential of CG antigens as targets for cancer immunotherapy, including advantages and disadvantages. We also discuss the current state of development of CG antigen vaccines, and the potential synergistic effect of combining CG antigen immunotherapeutic strategies with epigenetic modifiers.

What the reader will gain: The reader will gain an overview of the past, present and future role of CG antigens in cancer immunotherapy.

Take home message: Chemoimmunotherapy using epigenetic drugs and CG antigen vaccines may be a useful approach for treating cancer.     

The efficiency of Poly(ADP‐Ribose) Polymerase (PARP) cleavage on detection of apoptosis in an experimental model of testicular torsion

The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological and apoptotic changes occurring in the rat ipsilateral and contralateral testes, after experimental spermatic cord torsion, and to explore and the role of poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in testicular torsion–detorsion injury. A total of 37 Wistar albino rats were subjected to 720° unilateral spermatic cord torsion for 1, 2 and 4 h, followed by 4‐h reperfusion, or else to a sham operation (control group). Histology of the testicle was evaluated using haematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining and Johnsen's scoring system. Germ cell apoptosis was evaluated via active caspase‐3 immunostaining, and PARP expression levels were evaluated via Western blotting. The mean Johnsen's tubular biopsy scores (JTBS) of the ipsilateral testicles were lower for all torsion groups than for the controls (P < 0.05), but the JTBS of the contralateral testicles were only lower in the 4‐h torsion group (P < 0.05). The mean apoptosis score (AS) of the ipsilateral and contralateral testicles was significantly higher in the torsion groups than in the sham group. AS increased correlatively with torsion time, in both testicles. The effect of testicular torsion on PARP cleavage was time dependent, with the highest effect observed after 4 h of testicular torsion (P < 0.05). Testicular torsion caused time‐dependent histological changes, apoptosis and increases in PARP cleavage. Our results suggest that testicular torsion–detorsion injury caused cell damage and germ cell apoptosis that apparently involved cleavage of PARP. Increased PARP cleavage could, in turn, lead to enhanced apoptosis.